A song in your heart may help keep your mind young

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

He who sings frightens away his ills, wrote Miguel de Cervantes in Don Quixote. It was written back in the 17th century, but a neurologist confirms that singing stimulates both sides of the brain -- and is believed to help in warding off senility.

"Elderly people have to stay active to avoid or reduce senility, such as doing exercise or recreational activity, or just singing!" Sukono Djojoatmodjo of Mitra International Hospital, East Jakarta, told a seminar here recently.

Other than activating the brain, singing with a group of other people is a form of social activity which also reduces the possibility of senility.

Whether it is due to the natural aging process or disease (dementia), senility is an increasing problem in this country as people live longer, encountering the age-related illnesses rare in the population only 30 years ago.

Data from the National Population Agency (Baknas) in 2001 shows that average life expectancy was about 68 years for both sexes, compared to 45 for men and 48 for women in 1970.

There are about 15 million over-60s, about 8 percent of the more than 215 million population. The number is projected to jump to 11 percent in the next 20 years.

The implication is a greater burden on people of productive age, as every 100 Indonesians of 15 to 60 year olds are taking care of 59 others, both the young and the aged. Compare that to the United States, where the ratio is 100 to 33.

"The more developed a country, the higher the problem of its senior citizens. Senility becomes a problem when it burdens the person and those around them. It can be traumatic and dangerous," Sukono said.

Adhi, 32, experienced difficulties with his 70-year-old grandmother, who frequently wanders out the house. He had a bracelet made with her name and address printed on it, which has helped.

"We're worried all the time, though, because even though we have hired a nurse, my grandmother sometimes manages to get out of the house," he said.

There is also the emotional toll as senile people can behave like children, asking for a walk or a ride in the wee hours, dressing sloppily or losing control of their bodily functions.

According to Sukono, there is no age limit for senility, but Indonesians usually begin to suffer from symptoms at about 50 years old. Cases before that age are rare, and usually caused by degenerative disease or drug abuse.

Senility is usually indicated by memory difficulties but not necessarily forgetfulness. Early symptoms include inability or difficulty in performing simple and regular tasks, like turning on the television or starting up the car.

Other symptoms include repeating the same story over and over again, or having good remote memory (recollection of events long ago) but forgetting recent memory, or even simple things like dates.

"Everyone will be aware of these symptoms except for the senile people themselves. They think they're fine," Sukono said.

Senility can also be due to brain dysfunction, which is called dementia and divided into reversible and irreversible dementia.

Reversible dementia is caused by such conditions as alcoholism, virus/bacteria/ fungi, brain hemorrhaging, normal pressure hydrocephalus and hypothyroidism.

Irreversible dementia, meanwhile, includes Alzheimer's, multiinfarct dementia (usually caused by stroke) and Lewy body dementia, which includes hallucinations and "seeing things".

Aside from memory problems, other symptoms of dementia are language orientation dysfunction, the inability to solve regular tasks, attitude problem, withdrawal from social life and depression.

If such symptoms appear, he added, it is better to consult a neurologist to determine if the form can be cured.

Medicines often prescribed for the condition are donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine, although only the first two types are available in this country.

Better still is to take steps to ward off dementia.

Vegetarian and low fat diets are highly recommended, especially food containing betacarotene, vitamins E and C. Supplements like ginkgo biloba are believed to help, although they are not a cure. Smoking, of course, is prohibited but exercise is beneficial.

"Many elderly people complain that they have trouble sleeping at night, whereas they wake up really late. Just wake up early and do some sport, that will help your sleeping problem," Sukono said.

Maintaining good relationships within the family can also help prevent senility.

Many over-50s, however, are so worried about senility that they may actually bring the condition upon themselves through stress.

Juhanda, 66, one of the seminar participants, said he had become more emotional and prone to crying fits.

Another man, Sumardjo, was upset that his efforts to memorize the Koran over the past two years had been to no avail.

Sukono said forgetting things or becoming emotional do not necessarily mean senility.

"You're aware of it and came to this seminar to talk about the problem, that means you're not senile," he said to both men.

No one has perfect memory, and people of all ages forget things every day.

"As we grow older, the 'filing cabinets' of our memory are getting full. Don't get upset if you can't remember a list or a verse. Just write them down," Sukono said, adding that feeling upset would lead to depression and eventually senility.

The important thing, he reiterated, was to stay active and healthy.

And from now on, you can justify that visit to the karaoke club as being good for your health.