Cognitive Malfunction

Dementia? Alzheimer’s? Forgetfulness?  

Age brings many new struggles, as does life’s little journey. With age the blame for slowing down, aches and pains, lack of energy or desire is the villain.

Yes age also gives the opportunity to put aside all those distractions of everyday life to spend time focusing on what we should have been paying attention to all along.

Instead of worrying about another cup of coffee or if the oil needs changing, age can take time to relax and watch the sunrise. Instead of worrying if you children will be late for school or if you left the stove on, age can read the weather in the clouds. Instead of being frustrated with your boss or spilling your lunch back to your desk, age can take a nap in the middle of the day. Instead of getting your blood pressure up over some silly matter or staying up late night television after a delivered meal of cold pizza, age allows the dirty laundry to sit on the floor while you eat ice cream at 3AM.

Forgetting where your keys are better than forgetting where you left your kids? Not remembering a birthday is better than not remembering your name. Walking into a room and not remembering why is better than being found wandering outside not knowing where you are.

With age, time will become less important but times together will be more appreciated and cherished. With age, those times will start to disappear.

The adult human brain weighs on average about 1.2–1.4 kg (2.6–3.1 lb) that is about 2% of the total body weight. There is substantial individual variation, with the standard reference range for men being 1,180–1,620 g (2.60–3.57 lb) and for women 1,030–1,400 g (2.27–3.09 lb).

The human brain is the central organ of the human nervous system, and with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. The brain consists of the cerebrum, the brain-stem and the cerebellum. It controls most of the activities of the body, processing, integrating, and coordinating the information it receives from the sense organs, and making decisions as to the instructions sent to the rest of the body. The brain is contained in, and protected by, the skull bones of the head.

The brain is susceptible to degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia including Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and clinical depression, are thought to be associated with brain dysfunctions. The brain can also be the site of tumors, both benign and malignant; these mostly originate from other sites in the body.

How this 3 lb. piece of hamburger is used or abused is our decision to make. Age will deliver the consequences, like it or not.

The quality of life for a senior citizen may be the ability to read or recognize family and friends. The appreciation of music and memories and joy of laughter might fade away and be forgotten in a fog of confusion.

To be the encyclopedia is not what the cognitive reasoning is for. There is Google for that.

To discover something new and exciting and wondrous experiences might, in the long run, be more valuable.

Comprehension and cognitive reactions may not be our species finest points, but if we take the time to observe and contemplate, this brief stay on the spinning blue marble may leave some value other than a rock with our name etched in it.

Wonder where I put my glasses?