Posted on 01/22/2023 2:12:33 PM PST by Openurmind
HAMILTON, Ontario — Turning off Waze or your favorite GPS app and using an old-fashioned map may be the best way to fight Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reveals. Researchers at McMaster University say orienteering, an outdoor sport that exercises the mind and body through navigation puzzles, can train the brain and stave off cognitive decline. The aim of orienteering is to navigate between checkpoints or controls marked on a special map. In competitive orienteering, the challenge is to complete the course in the quickest time.
For older adults, scientists say the sport — which sharpens navigational skills and memory — could become a useful intervention measure to fight off the slow decline related to dementia onset. They believe the physical and cognitive demands of orienteering can stimulate parts of the brain our ancient ancestors used for hunting and gathering.
The human brain evolved thousands of years ago to adapt to harsh environments by creating new neural pathways, the McMaster team explains. Those same brain functions are not always necessary today, however, thanks to GPS apps and food being readily available.
Unfortunately, the team says these skills fall into a “use it or lose it” situation.
“Modern life may lack the specific cognitive and physical challenges the brain needs to thrive,” says Jennifer Heisz, Canada Research Chair in Brain Health and Aging at McMaster University, in a media release. “In the absence of active navigation, we risk losing that neural architecture.”
(Excerpt) Read more at studyfinds.org ...
“Using a map instead of a gps can also keep you out of rivers, off of dirt logging roads, and out of the bad part of towns.”
Same stupid one horse pony post.
My DeLormes will never have battery issues, tower issues, Deep State issues...
Back in 2010, we rented a Garmin with our rental car on a trip to San Diego. Garmin (and me) got confused with two highways that ran parallel to each other & I ended up at one of the gates at Pendleton. The Marine guard took my license and told me to do a u turn to exit the base. I asked him if he thought I got my $5 worth by renting the Garmin. He just laughed & told me to have a good day.
“Deep State issues.”
That is a huge one right there...
Durn tootin’!
Based on several recent incidents, using maps rather than trusting GPS for back road directions might be more likely to prevent hypothermia than dementia.
**If you use real maps while driving, you don’t live long enough for dementia to take hold.**
Really? Before GPS screens, OTR truckers read paper maps on-the-go almost daily. I know I did, and had no wrecks. And you learned how to fold them to convenient size with one hand.
I use google.com/maps and write the directions down on paper and take that with me.
I still have Thomas Guides and use them, but in my airplane, the GPS is far superior than me navigating with my charts
**“Deep State issues.”
That is a huge one right there...**
The DS knows how hopelessly reliant probably 80% of modern truck drivers are on GPS, and could severely cripple the industry with a GPS regional ‘malfunction’.
You are correct. Alzheimer can not be prevented by reading maps or solving word puzzles. In my opinion it is plaque buildup just like plaque in heart arteries.
Best defense is exercise! Regular Exercise is keeping me away from heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer’s etc nearing age 83.
>If you use real maps while driving
Cruise control enabled, map(s) in hand, flashlight held between teeth and knees on the wheel.
“Cruise control enabled, map(s) in hand, flashlight held between teeth and knees on the wheel.”
____
Hey! Don’t give away all the tricks!
When I’m driving, I find myself yelling at the wife a lot. “TALK TO ME GOOSE!”
Result was a massive spike in dementia and Alzheimers as critical brain-healthy fats were slashed out of the American diet, and sugar and carb use exploded, increasing diabetes rates as well, which makes dementia even worse.
Sorry, but when I’m in a strange place I just do and go where the voices tell me.
Ah, but what is the plaque?
One of the latest ideas is this: Groundbreaking New Revelations on Alzheimer's Disease
Our mothers had amazing memories when it came to driving over/in areas they hadn’t been to in years.
My MIL was suffering from severe memory loss and someone must have dropped a dime on her driving. She had to renew her written driving license and take a driving test.
She aced both of them and when she returned/drove to her hometown. She stopped at the home where she raised her family and had not lived there for a decade. That had happened before, and the nice “new family” ‘drove her to where she lived at that time’.
My Mother never forgot a road where she had driven on or rode in a car with someone else driving. She was a good driver into her late 80’s. A sister sibling has that ability into her early 80’s.
I’m similar re my mother and sis. Curvy red rivers with a lot of iron in them used to mess me up direction wise. No problem for the last 6 decades.
Our adult sons have gps/directional finders built into their brainstems. They remember every road they have ever driven on or rode on. One look at a map is all they need for new roads, rivers, lakes and the ocean shores. Their kids, our Grandkids have the same ability.
There are a number of forms of dementia, not just Alzheimers and they affect different parts of the brain organically and symptomatically. Calling all dementia “Alzheimers” is like calling all toilet paper Charmin.
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