How can we age with dignity and grace? How do our brain and mind change as we age?
Kicking off a five-part series “The Art, Science and Good News of Ageing” on 26 October, The HEAD Foundation Dialogues discussed “Mindful Ageing”, featuring Prof Kua Ee Heok, a Tan Geok Yin Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman of Dementia Singapore and Consultant Psychiatrist at The Psychiatric and Behavioural Medicine Clinic. The insightful and informative dialogue was moderated by Adj Asst Prof Maleena Suppiah Cavert, Chief Wellbeing Officer at the National University Health System (NUHS).
Dr Ang provided an overview of the psychological process of ageing and its impact on our memories, personalities and behaviours. The good news is that mean life expectancy has been increasing to well over 80 years because of improvements in medical technology and healthcare amenities. However, a longer life is only desirable if we age well without a great sense of loss. This can be accomplished by accepting life’s realities and finding age-appropriate ways to achieve life fulfillments.
To do so, Prof Kua recommended tapping into the mental capital of the brain to expand the brain’s creativity and mental resilience. This can be achieved through mind-stimulating activities such as art appreciation, choral singing, gardening or simply being mindful. Research has shown that such activities can help engage the brain and prevent dementia, depression and anxiety. Ongoing research efforts have discovered many nonpharmacologic ways to maintain cognitive health and add stress-free years to our life.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the speakers in this webinar are their own and do not represent the opinions of The HEAD Foundation.
