Guitar Lessons : Activities for Seniors Citizens and Alzheimers Disease Prevention

Consider Guitar Lessons for Alzheimers disease prevention. In addition, learning to play the guitar can also:

• enhance problem solving skills
• exercise spatial and visualization processes in the brain
• alleviate anxiety, stress and depression
• boost self-esteem
• maintain finger and hand flexibility
• lower blood pressure
• reduce muscle tension
• provide opportunities for social interaction
• contribute to brain plasticity

Mind-Body Connection

Research supports a definite correlation … between one’s physical health and one’s psychological state.

Consistently thinking negatively about yourself and the world… alters brain chemistry. This causes instability of mood-controlling neurotransmitter levels. This affects the severity of depressed feelings experienced by someone having negative thought.

Depressed states directly affect human physiology by causing:

• headaches
• back pain
• chest pain (mimics heart attack pain)
• fatigue and excessive sleepiness
• dizziness
• lack of appetite

More on Activities for Seniors Citizens and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention…
Activities for senior citizens… such as beginner guitar lessons… furnish the older mind with positive and satisfying stimulation. That contributes to a healthier lifestyle. Before the invention of MRI’s and CAT’s, scientists thought… the brain was incapable of changing after a certain age.

We now know that the brain continues to exhibit plasticity. Even into one’s 80’s and 90’s. And thrives on brain fitness exercises such as:

Crossword puzzles

Artistic endeavors

And learning ,how to play the guitar.

More on Beginner Guitar Lessons

Influence on Alzheimer’s

A 2006 study conducted at the University of New South Wales in Australia found …. Vigorous and regular brain stimulation… reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s by 50%. According to the “cognitive reserve” hypothesis…the results of this study… it is possible for the brain to cultivate resistance to neural decline in later years. And delay the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Senior citizens…already suffering from mild symptoms of dementia … also show cognitive improvement, when taking guitar lessons.

Signs of mild dementia include:

• avoiding new situations
• beginning to speak more slowly
• making inappropriate or ineffectual decisions
• depression and irritability
• occasionally losing sense of direction

These symptoms also mimic the long-term effects of social isolation. Studies on seniors who are encouraged to participate in brain fitness programs… such as learning to play the guitar in a group setting… show marked reversals of these symptoms. And a decreased risk of experiencing, Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer-like symptoms.

Research has yet to discover a definite cause of Alzheimer’s. It is apparent that continuing to stimulate the brain with activities conducive to cognitive functioning… such as beginner guitar lessons… is an excellent and enjoyable activity. Seniors can participate and socialize with other future, senior guitar players. If you have an itch to start playing the guitar but don’t enjoy the idea of group lessons we’ve found something good. Adult Guitar Lessons may be the right program for you

More articles in our Activities For Seniors Series

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