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Local Agent Chris Crawford

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.

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