Take this quiz and see if you have accurate information about the aging brain.  The only rule:  Take off your glasses so you can’t see the answers. Ready… set…Go!

1.  As you get very advanced in years, it is most likely that you will get dementia (previously called senility) .

True         False

2.   A weakened memory is inevitable as you age, and there is almost nothing you can do about it.

True         False

3.  Disorders or diseases associated with aging  are:

a)Insomnia  b)Depression  c)Loneliness   d)Anxiety  e)A, B & D    f)A, B, C & D

4.   Older people are seldom creative, because they’re fixed in their thought patterns.

True         False

5.  Drinking alcohol is unhealthy for seniors, and should be avoided.

True         False

6.  At least fifty thousand brain cells are lost daily as we age.

True         False

1.  False – Dementia is a disease of an abnormal brain.  2.  False – The only difference between the memory of an aging brain and a young one: The aging brain takes longer to retrieve information.  3.  All except C – Loneliness is a challenge for seniors, but not a disorder.  If they manage it well, the brain improves.  4.  False – A creative person will remain that way as they age, and it’s possible a person will become creative for the first time starting in their 60s.  5.  False – If combined with healthy diet, alcohol in moderation can actually improve brain functioning.  6.  False – Amount of brain cells lost depends on the individual.