Boomer Corner

If not Immortality what about The 120 Club? Planning for the End of Your Life Use it or Lose it -- Stimulating the Brain after 60

My good friend Alexander Everett died in 2005 aged 85 on his ranch in Oregon. It wasn’t really a ranch, more like an Ark. Alexander just liked to hang out with animals, certainly not eat them. Hewas an educationalist and an English eccentric much influenced by Rudolf Steiner and Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy, who decamped to Oregon in the 1960s becoming a leading figure in the personal development movement that became popular at that time. As a young man he had been crippled by polio but claimed to have cured himself. He was, he told me a member of the 120 Club, all of whom committed themselves to live to be over 120 years old. Alas, Alexander didn’t make it. He died 35 years short aged 85, which is respectable.

Somewhere around the age of 18 or 19 our bodies cease developing and from that moment on the various body clocks that comprise what is us, start their remoseless countdown to our eventual demise. How long we last from that point on depends on good luck, our genes, our lifestyle and how much money we have. The process doesn’t usually start to manifest visibly until our mid-30s or so and, given good genes, psychologically we don’t usually start to feel old until our early 70s. Here’s what we’re all up against:

Chronic Inflammation

Aging people suffer an epidemic of outward inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, but chronic inflammation also damages brain cells, arterial walls, heart valves and other structures in the body. Heart attack, stroke, heart valve failure, and Alzheimer’s have all been linked to the chronic inflammatory cascade.

Glycosylation

Diabetics age prematurely, but even non-diabetics suffer from this chemical reaction, where protein molecules bind to glucose molecules forming non-functioning structures. Glycosylation is most evident in senile dementia, stiffening of the arteries, and degenerative diseases of the eye.

Methylation Deficit

Our cellular DNA requires constant enzymatic action for maintenance and repair. Aging cripples methylation metabolism causing DNA damage that can manifest as cancer, liver damage and brain cell degeneration.

Mitochondrial Energy Depletion

The cellular energy powerhouse, the mitochondria, requires a complex series of chemicals to maintain critical functions such as transporting nutrients through

Who will end up with your books and your tchotskes,

your gadgets and your garden tools when you change the cell membrane and purging the cell of toxic debris. your cosmic address at the end of your life? Mitochondrial depletion lead to congestive heart failure, muscle weakness, fatigue and neurological disease. It’s probably the easiest and least onerous part of your estate planning to make a list of all your possessions and decide who will get the stuff you have accumulated all these years. Will Junior get your porno movie collection? Your daughter might like some jewellery or family heirlooms; maybe your best friend would appreciate your gadgets or garden tools. You have made your Last Will and Testament? Good. That takes care of your estate, your possessions and financial accounts and settles your preferences. Or does it?

Estate Planning

Planning for the dissolution and distribution of your estate is not that cumbersome but you need to take a few things into account, especially if you have property or a foot in two countries. Besides the bequests and provisions your last will and testament should appoint an executor who will take care of administrative and financial matters such as liquidating bank and investment accounts, your pension or retirement accounts, ensuring your assets go to the proper beneficiaries, paying any debts or taxes. It could also include selling your home or terminating your lease. And with foreign property rights restricted in Indonesia, be sure you don’t leave behind a can of worms your executor will have to deal with. Even if you have little in the way of assets or possessions, you should have a simple will because if you die intestate the legal system in your location will decide who gets your assets, no matter how massive or meager. Things are more complicated if you are the parent or guardian of a minor child, have an informally adopted or sponsored child and there’s no document stating what you want to bequeath them or who will care for them after your demise. By the same token, are you making some provisions for your faithful staff who may lose their jobs and probably have no retirement or financial cushion to fall back on? Another thing to consider is to make sure that your will does not contradict the account beneficiaries named on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies and the like. The person listed as the beneficiary on each of those policies will get the money even if your will says otherwise. Make sure your beneficiary designations are up to date and sync with any other legal provisions you have made. It pays to review the beneficiaries on all your accounts. You may not be ready to die and in fact may yet have a long bout of life ahead of you but remember that things change, people come and go in your life and situations alter. Be sure these changes are updated in your will. Including your will, make a list of critical documents that the will’s executor will need to settle your estate like your insurance policies, bank and investment account statements, credit and debit cards, pension and tax documents and pertinent information like your Social

An early Boomer column ‘Mind Changes – When to Worry’ by Susan Tereba provided information on identifying dementia. The good news is that losing your Security or National Insurance numbers and make sure you tell your family or carers where to find them. This includes keys is just age-relate memory loss, not dementia. We passwords so your online accounts can be accessed. Other can actually delay memory loss and improve brain practical directives should address the paying of any taxes function indefi nitely by adopting lifestyle changes and due, utility bills, recurring payments or donations. Any time keeping the thinking box stimulated. a major change occurs in your life, make sure your will and last directives reflect it. ‘Use it or lose it’ refers to all the equipment we were issued with at birth… physical, sexual and mental. Inevitably it will all start to degrade over time. Hip replacements and Viagra can address the fi rst two, but once our mental acuity disappears it can never be regained. After about age 60 the brain begins to shrink in size. After a lifetime of gaining accumulated knowledge, it becomes less effi cient at accessing that knowledge and adding to it. I’m personally very aware of this slow shift; the mental fi ling system isn’t anything like as effi cient as it used to be. Several studies show a correlation between cognitive stimulation and continued cognitive health in seniors. Stretching our brains in new directions stimulates the grey cells and slows memory loss. Another important factor is social engagement. A study conducted by several leading cognitive scientists and published in The International Journal of Epidemiology found that participation in social activities outside the family may have a bigger impact on cognitive function than social contacts with family.

Keeping your mind sharp is largely a matter of common sense: eat lots of vegetables, don’t smoke, drink in moderation, exercise, read, hang out with your friends, learn new things, don’t sweat the small stuff.

First of all, don’t buy into the stereotypes of aging and memory loss. My mother drove her car until she was 92 and my grandfather was still beating me at chess well into his 80s. In Indonesia we are technically geriatric at 60; we’re not allowed to donate blood after age 60 or apply for a new credit card after 65. Remember when we were in our teens looking at older people? That generation of 65-plus expected to be old, so they mostly looked old and acted old. Our generation is very different. We are the Baby Boomers; not only are we not old, but we have attitude. I think that gives us an edge in the keeping-the-marbles department. There are lots of things we can do to keep the brain agile.

Challenge your brain

According to the Harvard Medical School, challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication between them. Learning a new language is a full-brain workout and also involves social engagement. If your Indonesian is not fl uent, fi nd a teacher or a class at your level. Cinta Bahasa in Ubud is excellent. If we live here even part of the time, it‘s only polite to speak the local language as best we can. Playing games, especially those that involve memory and sequencing such as bridge and mahjong, are excellent for keeping the brain sharp. So are crossword puzzles.

Hormone Imbalance

Trillions of cells in the human body are synchronised to function by chemical signals called hormones. Aging creates hormonal imbalance that can lead to depression, End-of-life preferences osteoporosis, coronary heart disease and loss of libido.

Now that the estate portion of your bounty is settled, have Excess Calcification you given a thought to the other end-of-life decisions you need to make while still, as they say, of sound and competent Calcium ions are transported into and out of cells through mind? What about drawing up a Living Will that will instruct calcium channels into the membrane. Aging disrupts this your nearest and dearest how you want to be cared for process and the result is excess calcium in the cells of the when you are no longer in a position to verbalise coherent brain, heart valves and arterial walls that can lead to thoughts? Remember there are very important instructions arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer’s. in regards to your end of life preferences that simply do not belong in a Last Will and Testament since that document will not be read until after your death.

The western way to do that is to draw up an Advance

Directive, a legal and binding document that outlines your wishes if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury.

It sets forth the specific life- supporting or prolonging measures you would like applied -or not- like resuscitation or CPR, or whether to end all life-saving measures. Your wishes should be written down and the document given to the people most likely to be close at the time of your demise.

You should not leave these agonizing decisions to others.

These instructions should include the type of care you wish to have, the medical team and the hospital you want to end up in. If you wish to be an organ donor here in Indonesia you can register with Komite Transplantasi National (the

National Transplant Committee) or the Eye Bank (Bank

Mata Indonesia) ahead of time and stipulate that in your directive.

Activate all your senses

The more of our senses we use in learning something, the more of our brain is involved in retaining the memory. So try tactile arts like ceramics or wood carving, cook new dishes, guess the ingredients of the dish you are eating.

Remove distractions

De-clutter your house and assign a permanent place for your keys, eyeglasses, purse and other often-misplaced articles.

Auditory discrimination becomes an issue as we grow older; sitting in a restaurant trying to talk to friends with traffi c noise, a juicer buzzing, background music and other conversations going on around you can be very frustrating. Choose a quiet place to meet and don’t be afraid to ask the staff to turn the music down (tolong turunkan musik).

Have an active social life

Fatty Acid Imbalance

The body requires essential fatty acids to maintain cell energy output. Aging causes alterations in the enzymes required to convert dietary fats into specific fatty acids the body requires. The effect of fatty acid imbalance manifests as irregular heartbeat, joint degeneration, low energy, hyper-coagulation, dry skin and a host of other conditions.

DNA Mutation

Numerous synthetic and natural compounds mutate cellular DNA and cause cancer cells to form. Aging cells lose their DNA gene repair mechanisms and the result is DNA genetic damage causes cells to proliferate out of control, i.e., turn into cancer cells.

Immune Dysfunction

For a variety of reasons, the aging immune system loses its ability to attack bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. In aging humans, excessive levels of dangerous cytokines are produced that cause the immune system to turn on its host and create auto-immune diseases,, such as allergies, lupus, anemia, rheumatoid heart disease and arthritis.

Experts believe that social interaction requires us to engage areas of the brain involved in memory and attention, the same mental processes that are used in many cognitive tasks. Staying socially engaged may support brain health, and one study suggests that activities combining social interaction with physical and mental activity may help prevent dementia. So we can bundle this benefi t along with mahjong, dancing and that moderate drinking mentioned earlier.

Repeat things

Repeat aloud what you’ve just heard, read or thought about and write them down to reinforce the memory or connection. If you place one of your belongings somewhere other than its usual spot, tell yourself out loud what you’ve done. Don’t repeat reminders often over a short space of time but space them out for best retention -- remind yourself every hour or three. And don’t hesitate to ask for information to be repeated. Your instructions should also indicate your wishes for Exercise the physical body too preferred last rites, burial, cremation or repatriation There’s an undeniable connection between the brain and preferences, appoint a funeral service and a trusted the body. If you exercise your body, your brain will benefi t. relative or friend who agrees to take care of all that. Also Both high and low intensity anaerobic and aerobic don’t forget to leave behind a list of family and friends you exercise can be benefi cial for brain health. Even walking want notified. ‘Next of kin’ may not be near if you have or cycling for 30 minutes a day reduces brain cell loss and Non-Digestive Enzyme Imbalance family in another country. Indonesian Immigration and can also signifi cantly reduce the risk of heart attack, Internal cellular functions depend on multiple enzymatic your consulate also need to be informed. stroke, diabetes and other tiresome diseases. reactions occurring with precise timing. Aging causes enzyme disturbances in the brain and liver, which result in severe neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or persistent memory loss. Impaired liver function results in toxic damage to every cell in the body. And now for the big caveat: Remember that every country has its own norms and regulations when it comes to durable health care and appointing a health care proxy. If you plan to die in Indonesia you are well advised to inform Yoga is especially good because the mind is constantly engaged throughout the session. A word about yoga safety – there are many poor, even dangerous, yoga classes in Bali with large classes and under-experienced, disengaged ‘teachers’. Avoid fl ow classes unless you are yourself of the practices here. In fact, a quick survey very experienced. Seek a teacher who has small classes Digestive Enzyme Deficit among a few Bali lawyers reveals that unfortunately, the and pays careful attention to alignment and safety. Indonesian law system does not recognise a Living Will. Iyengar, Hatha and Yin are usually safe, slow yoga The aging pancreas often fails to secrete enough digestive However, you can draw up a private statement letter traditions with a focus on alignment. enzymes, while the aging liver does not secrete enough regarding your medical directives and wishes on how bile acids. The results are the chronic digestive problems medical personnel should treat you in case of a lethal Dancing is another excellent way to move the body and many face as they age. condition. This statement letter only indicates your wishes the brain, especially salsa, tango, line dancing or anything and does not have the strong enforcement capacity like a with complex steps. When we dance our brain releases Excitotoxicity The aging brain loses control of its will. It behoves you to discuss these matters with your private physician now and see where you stand. endorphins, neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, enjoyment and power. Music and dance activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and dopamine, and this results In the end it doesn’t really matter - or does it to you? and also the pleasure centers. in devastating brain cell damage and Listen to Music destruction. Statistics claim that nearly half of people age 55 and older don’t have a will. I bet the percentage is even higher for A study in the journal Neuron showed that listening to Circulatory Deficit not having a Living Will. Yet it is important to document music may sharpen the brain’s ability to anticipate events your end-of-life preferences and communicate those to and stay focused. I fi nd choir very mentally stimulating, Microcapillary flow of blood to the brain, eye and skin is impaired as a part of normal aging. The result is that disorders of the eye (such as cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma) are the No.1 your family and/or the people that are likely to be near you at that crucial time. Putting a plan in place for things like medical care and funeral arrangements helps ensure that upon your death, your wishes are carried out and that family squabbles are avoided over your dead body. In especially since I don’t read music and have to memorise the different parts (often in foreign languages) while managing breathing and voice technique and watching the choir leader. It’s a workout. age-related degenerative disease. Major terms of funeral arrangements, you can leave the Above all, perhaps, and mini-strokes are common problems arrangements to a competent service like Antara Bangsa keep your sense of associated with circulatory deficit to the Funeral Services. Expats in Bali concur they are very humour and fi nd brain. good and take care of the details. the light side in the darkest situation. Oxidative Stress Don’t wait to put your affairs in order. Now, while you are When we’re down Free radicals are unstable molecules that have been implicated in most diseases associated with aging. Antioxidants have become popular supplements to protect against free-radical-induced cell damage, but few still hale and healthy and still have control of your belongings and the execution of your last wishes, is the best time to put some order in your end of life preferences. Don’t wait until life’s inevitable loops throw you a curve and to our last few marbles, we’re going to need all the laughs we can get. people take the proper combination of antioxidant beat you to it. supplements needed to do any good.

By Adrian By Shari By Ines Wynn By Shari By Ibu Cat

The Boomer Corner is a column dedicated to people over 60 living in Bali. Its mandate is to cover topics, practicalities, activities, issues, concerns and events related to senior life in Bali. We welcome suggestions from readers. E-mail us at : Baliboomers@gmail.com The Boomer Corner is a column dedicated to people over 60 living in Bali. Its mandate is to cover topics, practicalities, activities, issues, concerns and events related to senior life in Bali. We welcome suggestions from readers. E-mail us at : Baliboomers@gmail.com The Boomer Corner is a column dedicated to people over 60 living in Bali. Its mandate is to cover topics, practicalities, activities, issues, concerns and events related to senior life in Bali. We welcome suggestions from readers. E-mail us at : Baliboomers@gmail.com The Boomer Corner is a column dedicated to people over 60 living in Bali. Its mandate is to cover topics, practicalities, activities, issues, concerns and events related to senior life in Bali. We welcome suggestions from readers. E-mail us at : Baliboomers@gmail.com The Boomer Corner is a column dedicated to people over 60 living in Bali. Its mandate is to cover topics, practicalities, activities, issues, concerns and events related to senior life in Bali. We welcome suggestions from readers. E-mail us at : Baliboomers@gmail.com Copyright © 2019 Boomer Corner You can read all past articles of Boomer Corner at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz Copyright © 2019 Boomer Corner You can read all past articles of Boomer Corner at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz Copyright © 2020 Boomer Corner You can read all past articles of Boomer Corner at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz Copyright © 2019 Boomer Corner You can read all past articles of Boomer Corner at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz

Copyright © 2019 Boomer Corner You can read all past articles of Boomer Corner at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz