We love meeting old friends and making new ones. BA Seniors has helped us enjoy life more.
Sandra & Larry
How Did I Miss All This Bad News A Closer Look By Sean Simpson, Broken Arrow Senior Center President, CEO
Sleeping fewer than six hours a night in midlife raises your risk of dementia by 30%. This would have been good information to have 20 to 30 years ago.Being more conscientious and extroverted can keep mild cognitive impairment at bay longer, while being more neurotic increases the chances of cognitive decline. Why am I just now finding out about this? Having high cholesterol and blood sugar in your 30s may raise your risk for Alzheimer’s disease decades later in life. Seriously? Did I miss this life lesson, too? For every 15 points that your blood sugar goes up, your risk of Alzheimer’s goes up by 14.5% later in life. And high cholesterol may not cause Alzheimer’s, but it presses the fast-forward button on the disease pathology, according to researchers. A balanced diet that includes lots of greens and vegetables has always been linked to heart health and other nutritional well-being. I think I’ve heard that before. But now there is increasing evidence that such a diet is also good for brain health. Kale. Spinach. Lettuce. Nature’s superfoods. Rich in vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin K and beta carotene. Now research suggests that some or all of these nutrients may play a role in protecting the brain against inflammation and damage. My doctor explained it this way: You and Sherri are the same age. You have a plate of healthy fresh green salad every day, and your friend rarely eats salad. Your memory and cognitive skills are likely to be stronger than Sherri’s. Here’s the kicker. Research indicates that over the next five years – if all other habits continue – your friend’s memory and cognitive ability will decline twice as fast as yours. What? By the time you’re both 75, a battery of exercises that test several types of memory could show that your mental age is typical of a 70-year-old’s. Meanwhile, Sherri’s performance on the same cognitive tests may look more like that of an 81-year-old. Leafy greens are one part of a healthy diet consisting of healthy fats, grains and protein. We serve a nutritious meal each day, Monday through Friday, at 11:30 a.m. here at the BA Senior Center. The Weekender Each Friday older adults are welcome to share a meal. After lunch, members will play a game or participate in a group activity. Thanks to a new program through our partnership with Broken Arrow Neighbors, at 1 p.m., members can shop for groceries to stock their pantries and refrigerators for the weekend. Gas costs more. Goods and services cost more. And groceries certainly cost more. This innovative and muchneeded program makes an immediate impact in addressing food insecurity needs in our older adults. One more piece of good news – this is the first season that shoppers at the Rose District Farmers Market can use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.