Is the real risk of aging all in our minds?

My annual physical was last week. As the day approached, I felt the usual nagging dread, Lately, my numbers (weight and cholesterol) have been inching up instead of down. However, this physical gave me another reason of concern.

My health provider began to question my daily habits in a rather bizarre and unfamiliar way. Have I fallen lately? Can I spell the word “WORLD” backwards? Have I recently felt sad or hopeless? Am I depressed, anxious? Do I have trouble sleeping?

My first inclination was to deny all of the above, which I did. Then he proceeded to give me five words to remember at the beginning of the test and asked me to repeat them at the end of it. Of course, I failed miserably.

The results of this test (euphemistically called the mini mental status exam) left me confused and more anxious than I was before. My mother developed dementia in her 80s and sometimes I fear I am not far behind. I wished I had a chance to study for this exam and later felt unfairly targeted. As a 73-year-old woman, it is assumed that my mind is the next thing to go.

When did this happen? Proper nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle were drummed into me from a very early age. No fat, low sugar, high fiber and protein were emphasized ad nauseum. I avoided snack aisles, even the “healthy” Skinny Girl popcorn and Diet Cokes, thinking my healthy habits would lead me on the road to a long and productive life. But what about my mental health?

The results of my recent mental status exam reminded me that our physical health is secondary to our mental health. Now I am told I must remember to do puzzles, word games, learn a new language and challenge my brain every day.

Nursing homes, memory care units and Alzheimer wards are filled with seniors who are in great physical health. Some don’t even take prescription medications. But what good did a healthy body do for these poor souls. They are now living a useless life despite it all. Their minds, which had never given them a moment of concern, now have failed despite all their best efforts to remain healthy.

Seems like I had been focusing on all the wrong things after all this time. I feel betrayed, as if there were some parts of the equation that had been missing from all the health magazines I devoured when I was younger. No one told me I was supposed to be focusing on my mind instead of my body.

It is probably too late for me. And maybe too late for everyone since the cure for our aging brain function does not yet exist in solid form. I for one, don’t agree that exercising our brain with busy tasks such as puzzles and games makes one bit of difference. Perhaps it’s mostly genetic, but who can say. I cannot, so for that reason I prefer to keep my life as it is, exploring, traveling and enjoying my time left. My advice to all my aging peers? Carpe diem to the best of your ability and memorize those five words for your next exam!