Beginner Guitar Lessons Activities for Seniors Citizens and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

Beginner Guitar Lessons offer … cognitive and physical benefits. These may prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

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

Published research results… support a definite correlation between physical health and a person’s psychological state.

Consistent negative thinking about yourself and the world around you alters brain chemistry. Causing instability of mood-controlling neurotransmitter levels. In turn, this affects the severity of depressed feelings.

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

Activities,such as beginner guitar lessons provides the aging mind with positive and satisfying stimulation. This contributes to a healthier lifestyle. Before the invention of MRI’s and CAT’s, scientists thought the brain was incapable of change. They believed the brain did not improve after a certain age.

We now know that the brain continues to exhibit plasticity. Even into one’s 80’s and 90’s.

It thrives on brain fitness exercises such… as crossword puzzles, artistic endeavors and learning how to play the guitar.

Influence on Alzheimer’s

The University of New South Wales in Australia did a study in 2006. It found that regular brain stimulation reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s by 50%.

According to the “cognitive reserve” hypothesis… it is possible for the brain to cultivate resistance to neural decline. This occurs in later years and delays the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Senior citizens, suffering from mild symptoms of dementia … can 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 participate in brain fitness programs… such as learning to play the guitar. The benefits have been show even in in a group setting. They show marked reversals of symptoms. They experience a decreased risk of experiencing Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer-like symptoms.

Research has yet to discover a definite cause of Alzheimer’s. Continuing to stimulate the brain… with activities to stimulate the brain … such as beginner guitar lessons… is an excellent activity. An activity, in which seniors can participate and socialize with others.

More articles in our Activities For Seniors Series

Beginner Guitar Lessons Part One
Brain Fitness and the Wii
Activities for Senior Citizens
Acrylic Art Lesson Plans
Growing Bonsai Trees