Healthy Minds Matter Newsletter and Brochure (pdf)

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MindfulDon’t forget tokeep your brainactive too.AgingAs we age, our bodies and brains change. Memory loss, shorter attention spans, and problems with speechare common changes. Right now, the aging population in Canada is the highest it’s ever been. The elderlypopulation (65 years and older) accounts for 25% of Canada’s overall population (Statistics Canada, 2010).In 2011, the first of the Baby Boomers turn 65, making this age group and their mental health more of afocus than ever before.Can anything be done? Yes. Keeping your body andbrain active can help slow the aging process of the brain.18Age-related changesIn the elderly, the brain has been found to shrink in size. Forexample, the caudate (responsible for learning and memory),the cerebellum (responsible for coordination, attention, andlanguage), and the hippocampus (responsible for memory)have been found to shrink the most of all brain sections in theelderly (Raz et al., 2005). Certain life events can also speed upthe process by putting extra stress on us.Life events of the elderlyAs we get older, we are faced with many transitions such asretirement, a loss of independence (i.e., losing a driver’s licence,moving into assisted-living facilities), and the loss of lovedones. These transitions put stress on the brain.The elderly brain is very sensitive to stress. For example, thehippocampus has been found to be at high risk for changesduring stressful times. Declines in this area of the brain, fromboth normal aging and stress, can lead to memory problems.Memory loss is a common mental health issue of the elderly(Lupien et al., 2009).Engage your body and brainBetween the normal age-related changes of the brain and thestress of life events, the elderly face many mental health issues.Being physically active, throughout your life, has apositive impact on your mental health. Research showedblood flow to the cerebellum was higher in a group ofphysically active seniors than in a group of inactiveseniors. Those who were active also showed higherperformance in cognitive tests, especially “executivecontrol processes” such as planning, scheduling,remembering, and multi-tasking (Kramer et al., 2006).Don’t forget to keep your brain active too. Reading,doing crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble, and othermentally challenging tasks can help stimulate blood flowand activity in the brain. This has been shown to reducethe risk of memory loss and help maintain balance andcoordination (Verghese et al., 2006).Though age-related brain changes willhappen, being active in both body and mindcan help slow them down.Key References:Statistics Canada. (2010). Population projections: Canada, the provinces andterritories. Retrieved June 30, 2010, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/dailyquotidien/100526/dq100526b-eng.htmKramer, A. F., Erickson, K. I., & Colcombe, S. J. (2006). Exercise, cognition, and theaging brain. Journal of Applied Physiology, 101, 1237 – 1242.Raz, N., Lindenberger, U., Rodrigue, K. M., Kennedy, K. M., Head, D., Williamson,A., Dahle, C., Gerstorf, D., & Acker, J. D. (2005). Regional brain changes in aginghealthy adults: General trends, individual differences and modifiers. CerebralCortex, 15, 1676 – 1689.Lupien, S. J., McEwen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., & Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stressthroughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nature ReviewsNeuroscience, 10, 434 – 445.Verghese, J., LeValley, A., Derby, C., Kuslansky, G., Katz, M., Hall, C., Buschke, H.,& Lipton, R.B. (2006). Leisure activities and the risk of amnestic mild cognitiveimpairment in the elderly. Neurology, 66 (6), 821-827.
Mental HealthWebsitesCanadian Coalition forSeniors’ Mental Healthwww.ccsmh.caCanadian Mental Health Associationwww.cmha.caCentre for Addiction and Mental Healthwww.camh.netCentre of Knowledge on HealthyChild Developmentwww.knowledge.offordcentre.comCheck Up from the Neck Up, MoodDisorders Association of Ontariowww.checkupfromtheneckup.caHelpguidewww.helpguide.orgMental Health First Aidwww.mentalhealthfirstaid.caMental Health Promotion Unit (MHPU),Public Health Agency of Canadawww.phac-aspc.gc.ca/mh-sm/mhp-psmMental Health Workswww.mentalhealthworks.caMood Disorders Society of Canadawww.mooddisorderscanada.caMoods Magazinewww.moodsmag.comNational Eating DisorderInformation Centrewww.nedic.caW.E. Can Quit is a free quit smoking program available to City ofWindsor staff, retirees and dependant family members interested incutting down or quitting smoking.Program Launch during Employee Appreciation WeekIn November, 2010, WE Can Quit offered free carbon monoxide teststo employees as part of the Health Screenings events. Thankyou to the nearly 100 staff who took a carbon monoxidetest; asked questions about the program; discussedjoining; and took home quit smoking materialsto help themselves or their family memberscut down or quit smoking.Butt Out and Win ContestFrom January 18 – February 18, 2011,a Butt Out and Win contest was runat the City. Staff and family memberswho remained smoke-free for 30 daysand had a buddy confirm their statuswere entered into a draw for a chanceto win 1 of 3 Grand Prizes. Kudos toall staff who participated in the contestand congratulations to our Grand Prizewinners: Kelly Stuart, Amber Polak,and Debra Loiselle.City of Windsor StaffHave Their SayThe Windsor-Essex County Health Unitwould like to thank the 200-plus City ofWindsor employees who took the time tocomplete the W.E. Can Quit survey. Your feedback, ideas, andsuggestions were invaluable to understand what worked (or didn’twork) and how to improve W.E. Can Quit, should it be offered again.Thank-YouThank-you to all employees who participated in W.E. Can Quit andto the City of Windsor’s Workplace Wellness Steering and WorkingCommittees, along with all Workplace Wellness Champions fortheir support of this program.19
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