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Last month, Jeanna Bryner, Managing Editor of LiveScience, published a list of 5 reasons why aging is awesome. It was so good we wanted to share it with you.

Intro
The saggy, wrinkly view of aging may have a much more positive, and real, conterpart: Getting older has its perks, lots of them, from needing less sleep to having better sex. Here's a look at why the crowded candles on your birthday cake, as you enter middle age and beyond, are just plain awesome. (photo credit: stock.xchng)


More Awake Time
That's right, more time to enjoy life. Seniors need about 1.5 hours less sleep on average than their younger counterparts, according to one study.

In another study of 110 healthy adults who were allowed eight hours of bed time, the oldest group (ages 66 to 83) snoozed about 20 minutes less than the middle-agers (ages 40-55), who in turn slept about 23 minutes less than the youngest group (ages 20 to 30). The simplest explanation for the fewer shut-eye minutes: Older adults need less sleep.

Another explanation, and one supported by research: Older adults just can't get the sleep they need, taking longer to nod off, spending less time in deep sleep, and having more trouble staying asleep. In fact, more than half of men and women over the age of 65 say they suffer from at least one sleep problem, with many experiencing insomnia, according to WebMD. (photo credit: © Rozenn Leard | Dreamstime.com)


Wearing Rose-Colored Glasses
Being happy may come down to attitude, studies have shown. That's great news for older adults, whose brains seem to be wired to remember the good times. A brain-scanning study published in 2010 in the journal Cortex revealed that older adults' rose-colored glasses may be linked to the way the brain processes emotional contents.

The researchers scanned the brains of participants — young adults (ages 19-31) and older adults (ages 61-80) — as they viewed a series of photographs with positive and negative connections between the brain regions that process emotions and those known to be important to the successful formation of memories, particularly when processing positive information. The same strong connections weren't found for the younger participants.

Aging adults don't just recall blissful moments of the past in vivid colors. It's also becoming apparent to researchers that being old could lend itself to optimism. In one recent study, both old and young participants where shown virtual faces portraying sadness, anger, fear and happiness. Eye-tracking technology revealed the older participants, ages 18 to 21, focused on fearful faces, while those ages 57 to 84 zeroed in on the happy faces, avoiding the angry ones. The researchers, who detailed their study in 2006 in the journal Psychology and Aging, think that as a person's life expectancy decreases, they might focus on what makes them feel good now rather than focusing on the negative. (photo credit: Dreamstime)


Being Grandparents
No diapers. No temper tantrums. No fevers and ear infections. Aging means you get to enjoy grandkids, as if they were your own, but without any of the frustrations. Pop-pop and G'ma can do no wrong in the eyes of grandkids. Research has suggested grandparents can increase the chances of a child surviving during the high-risk period of infancy and childhood in traditional societies. The same link may hold true in Western societies, according to David A. Coall of Edith Cowan University. "We felt if such an association existed in Western societies, where the fertility and childhood mortality rates are much lower, grandparents could make a substantial public health contribution to our society," Coall said in a statement.

And you're good at it, too. A study published in the November 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics, by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, showed that kids cared for by a grandmother were 50-percent less likely to get injured than children cared for by daycare workers, other relatives, or even the child's own mother. (photo credit: © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com)


More Wisdom
Like a fine wine, older adults have been aged to perfection it seems, at least when it comes to wisdom. As you age, you may have a tougher time tuning out irrelevant information, but this lack of focus can actually boost memory, according to research published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science. More specifically, seniors have the unique ability to "hyper-bind" the irrelevant information, essentially tying it to other information that is appearing at the same time. This type of memory could help older adults with decision-making and problem-solving, the researchers suspect. For instance, if a manager wants to promote an employee, it might be helpful to recall not just that employee's work performance, but also his interaction with other employees. (photo credit: © Denis Raev | Dreamstime.com)


Rewarding Sex Life
Sex drive seems to stay strong as you age. One 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine surveyed adults ages 57 to 85, finding more than half of 75- to 85-year-olds reported a roll in the hay at least two to three times a month, and 23 percent reported having sex at least once a week. oral sex appeared to be less "ageless." nearly 60 percent of the participants under 65 years old said they had engaged in oral sex in the previous 12 months, compared with 31 percent for the over-75s. (photo credit: © Alexander Raths | Dreamstime.com)

What else do you think makes aging awesome? Leave a comment!

Labels: Aging, Cross Post, Elderly, For the Body, For the Mind, For the Spirit, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandparents, Healthy Aging, Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience, Optimism, Seniors, Sexuality, Sleep, Staff, Wisdom

As we age, many of us find it is harder to fall asleep. We may awaken more frequently during the night, and have a tougher time getting back to sleep.

Studies show us that seniors have less Stage III and IV deep sleep and fewer episodes of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when dreaming occurs. As a result, we may find ourselves feeling tired, discouraged, and depressed after a series of 'sleepless' nights.

The good news is that there are several things you can do — starting tonight — to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep and your functioning during the day.

Creating a Good Environment for Sleep

Heavy curtains or drapes can shield your sleeping area from unwanted noise or light. If soundproofing is difficult, consider a sleep machine that provides soothing sounds that help lull you to sleep.

If you have a clock radio or clock with a bright digital display, turn the light away from your eyes. Consider a new mattress or pillow. A few cents per night spent on a good mattress and pillow can be an excellent investment.

Dedicate your bedroom to two activities only — sleep and sex. Move that widescreen TV to another room. Leave your books, knitting, to-do list outside the bedroom. Your brain needs to associate walking into the bedroom with rest and sleep.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

When you enter the bedroom, turn off the mental tape for tomorrow's plans. Endlessly revisiting the next day's concerns impinges on your time and place of rest.

Worrying at night is unproductive and even self-destructive, but many of us have a hard time breaking out of the pattern. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can make you aware of bad habits, and help you practice more productive, sleep-inducing habits.

Reduce Your Stimulants

If caffeine sensitivity is a concern, eliminate caffeinated coffee or teas after noontime. Recent studies indicate that caffeine's detrimental effect on sleep can last longer than previously thought.

Read labels, and remember that there is caffeine in Coke, Dr. Pepper, Iced Tea, Snapple flavored teas, and many other beverages. Chocolate is loaded with caffeine, so reduce or stay away from it in the evening.

Health Issues and Sleep

If you get up at night to urinate, consider not drinking beverages for a couple of hours before bedtime. This is a characteristic problem for men with enlarged prostates.

A variety of other conditions can also interfere with sleep, including arthritis, emphysema, and heart disease. Ask your physician for ways to make sleep easier if you have these conditions.

Many older individuals suffer from sleep apnea. This breathing interruption disorder is particularly prevalent among the overweight. Sleep apnea is easily diagnosed in a sleep lab, and there is an effective treatment that uses a small mask and pressurized air. Another sleep-disturbing condition is Restless Legs Syndrome, in which individuals have involuntary leg movements during the night.

Treating Insomnia

A number of studies now show that cognitive behavioral therapy is a more effective treatment for insomnia than medication. This therapy begins with many of the techniques described above to optimize your sleep environment.

It is also recommended that you go to sleep and wake up at the same or nearly the same time every day. If you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes of trying, you should leave the bedroom, then return in 30 minutes.

Sleep therapists also teach relaxation and meditation techniques to prepare the mind and body for sleep.

Medications in a Pinch

If you are desperate to break the insomnia cycle, a sleeping pill can be a reasonable option. But don't reach for antihistamine-heavy, over-the-counter sleep aids that will leave you feeling groggy the next day.

Prescription medications are preferred, and come in short, intermediate and long-lasting versions such as Sonata, Ambien, and Lunesta. Stay away from long-acting agents like Restoril. Rozerem is meant for those who have a hard time falling asleep but do not awake frequently.

Finally, don't give up trying! With a little planning, practice, and perseverance, you should be able to find the solution and begin enjoying the daily benefits of a good night's sleep.

Dr. Edward L. Schneider heads the largest private center for research and education on aging, the Andrus Gerontology Center of the University of Southern California. He also serves as Dean Emeritus of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Schneider has written or co-written twelve books, including Ageless: Take Control of Your Age & Stay Youthful for Life, and published more than 180 scientific articles on topics related to aging.

Labels: Feature Articles, For the Body, Medication, Sleep