Those who learn to be happy by producing, instead of consuming, are also happy at an advanced age

In the "Happily Aging and Old Age Symposium" organized at Üsküdar University as part of the Elderly Week, old age was discussed in a multidimensional way.

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "The thing that develops the brain the most is that it is open to new experiences and learning new information. For this reason, learning computers and following new technologies is the cure for Alzheimer's. Those who learn to be happy by producing, instead of consuming, are also happy at an advanced age..."

Prof. Tarhan: "People who are open to learning new things develop their brains the most, and since the conductor who manages our body is the brain, the one who manages their brain manages their life."

President of Darülaceze and Advisor to the President Hamza Cebeci: "As in the world, Türkiye is getting older...”

Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör: "There is a widening gap between generations."

Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan: "Türkiye also has an aging population. Türkiye's average age has increased to 34 years."

Futurist Ufuk Tarhan: "Young people should not age quickly, and the old should not be considered as if they will pass on to the great beyond quickly."

The opening speeches were made by Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Symposium President Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör, President of Darülaceze and Advisor to the President Hamza Cebeci, President of Üsküdar University and Honorary President of the Symposium Prof. Nevzat Tarhan.

Prof. Arıboğan: "Now, second spring universities are opening in the world."

Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan stated that concepts such as old age are no longer used and said that at this point where the search for immortality, which is the most ancient quest in history, has come, and people have managed to catch a life span that will reach the ages of 100-150.

Noting that the budget of national defense expenditures worldwide is 2.2 trillion dollars and the money spent on brain and neurodegenerative diseases is 5 trillion dollars, Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan stated that this figure is said to reach 16 trillion dollars in 2030.

Stating that the needs of the aging populations are now considered, Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan said that second spring universities have now been opened, and people over the age of 60 are studying again.”

Stating that at the beginning of the 20th century, the average life expectancy of a person was 50, and today we are talking about the 80s, Arıboğan said that "Türkiye also has an aging population. Türkiye's average age has risen to 34. Around 8 percent are over the age of 65. This will reach 40 percent by 2100."

Prof. Güngör: "The increase in distance between generations increases stress"

Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that the gap between generations has gradually widened with digitalization recently, and Güngör said that "There is an increasing distance between today's digital youth and the elderly or elderly population who are out of digital. There is a distance that is gradually widening. On the one hand, this increase in distance between generations increases some depressive states and stress."

Prof. Güngör pointed out the transfer of knowledge and experience between generations and explained that there is loneliness in generations outside of digital technology.

Emphasizing that environments should be prepared for children in kindergartens and those staying in elderly care homes to come together from time to time, Prof. Güngör expressed that “The transfer of experience and knowledge from intergenerational adults to minors is decreasing. We need to work to narrow the generational rupture."

Hamza Cebeci: "The point is to live happily, peacefully and beneficially"

In his speech, President of Darülaceze and Advisor to the President Hamza Cebeci stated that if a long life is not beneficial, peaceful and beneficial, it will be against the society, and said that "What matters is to live happily, peacefully and beneficially."

Pointing out that negative perceptions about the hospice still continue, Cebeci said that there are nearly 500 people staying in the hospice and that there is one doctor for every 50 people, but the perceptions of the past still cannot be erased.

Noting that the state should allocate very serious budgets for elderly care as the age progresses, Cebeci stated that "It is desirable to live long, but there are also problems that come with living a long life. Precautions need to be taken. As in the rest of the world, Türkiye is also aging."

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, "As aging increases, people need to spend the last periods of their lives with quality"

President of Üsküdar University and Honorary President of the Symposium Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the average age in the world and in Türkiye has increased a lot, and Tarhan expressed that "As aging increases, people need to spend the last periods of their lives with quality."

Pointing out the importance of preparing for this to live happily at an old age, Prof. Tarhan said that there are neuroscience studies on how aging happens, and the lengthening of the telomere in DNA means the prolongation of the average age.

Noting that healthy aging should be learned while the average life expectancy is extended, Prof. Tarhan noted that being happy by consuming instead of being happy by producing is a negative situation for an elderly person because people live with what they eat until a certain age, and after a certain age, they live with what they do not eat.

Stating that 60-70 percent of the diseases are related to nutrition and lifestyle errors, Tarhan stated that as the diet and lifestyle change, the diseases end before they start.

Prof. Tarhan: "Being super old is not about genetics, but it is about lifestyle..."

Stating that the philosophy that glorifies being happy by consuming is the biggest enemy of aging, Prof. Tarhan said that "It is important to be happy by producing. Those who learn to be happy by producing, instead of consuming, are also happy at an advanced age. The thing that develops the brain the most is that it is open to new experiences and learns new information. For this reason, learning computers and following new technologies is the cure for Alzheimer's. When people learn something new, the hippocampus region related to memory produces stem cells. Nerve stem cells also stimulate growth factor in the brain in people who are interested in learning new things. New cells are forming in the brain. There are super-seniors who have nothing in their memory at 100 years old. It is called super old. Being super old is not about genetics; however, it is about lifestyle... You have to be open to learning new things."

Stating that living a certain routine is not good for the brain, Prof. Tarhan said that "People who are open to learning new things develop their brains the most, and since the conductor who manages our body is the brain, the one who manages their brain manages their life. Fear of innovation is an important thing that prevents quality aging."

"Relieving loneliness at an advanced age has a rehabilitation effect"

Emphasizing the importance of the meaning given to aging, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that when aging cannot be transformed into healthy aging, people are interested in their physical appearance for fear of aging.

Stating that those who have exaggerated behaviors about making themselves look young do this to overcome the fear of aging, Prof. Tarhan also pointed to the fear of death and emphasized the importance of managing the fear of death.

Stating that people are not programmed to live alone, Prof. Tarhan reminded that eliminating loneliness at an advanced age has a rehabilitation effect, and that the thing that makes an elderly person happiest is asking for their opinion.

Prof. Tarhan also stated that studies that attach importance to healthy aging are related to the level of development of the society.

In the symposium, old age was discussed in a multidimensional way

At the symposium, Prof. Hulusi Keçeci from İstinye University Faculty of Medicine gave a presentation on "Neurocognition in Aging", and Asst. Prof. Zeynep Gümüş Demir made a presentation on "Psychotherapy in the Elderly".

In the panel on "Multidimensional Perspective on Old Age", Futurist, Economist, Writer Ufuk Tarhan, Assoc. Prof. Merve Çebi from the Department of Psychology at Üsküdar University and Asst. Prof. Hazal Ayas participated as a speaker.

Ufuk Tarhan: "The world does not want to use the word old age as a trend"

Futurist, Economist, Writer Ufuk Tarhan drew attention to the new trends in old age and said that "The world does not want to use the word old age as a trend. Age-related data is not very popular because of its negative relationship with aging because getting older brings many negative assumptions and categorizations. In other words, if you are old, you are close to the end of life, you are unproductive, you are needy... The preconceptions for young people should also be changed. The issue of old age will turn into a long life, and the data on young people will be affected by this and will change." Ufuk Tarhan stated that the world has a serious problem with the age issue and needs revision and said: "We have to plan this urgently. It is the first step that we need to take a different perspective on the issue of age and old age. We are moving forward in an integrated system, and accordingly, we must put these issues back on the table and produce solutions accordingly. Therefore, at what age is what to do? Since people will live to be 100 years old, 60-70-80-year-olds will work, then let young people finish school at the age of 20 and get rid of the stress of working and growing up quickly. We can re-evaluate what to do at what age. The young should not grow old quickly, and the old should not be treated as pass on the great beyond quickly."

Plaques were presented and a group photo was taken

After the speeches, a group photo was taken with the participants and Hamza Cebeci, Prof. Hulusi Keçeci, Ufuk Tarhan, Assoc. Prof. Hamza Kurtkapan and Asst. Prof. Fatma Sıla Ayan were presented with a plaque.

At the symposium, those who made a presentation are as follows: Üsküdar University / Department of Psychology Prof. Tayfun Doğan with the presentation on "Psychological Well-Being in the Elderly", İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Assoc. Prof. Hamza Kurtkapan with the presentation on "Social Reflections of Population Aging in Türkiye", Üsküdar University / Department of Philosophy Asst. Prof. Baver Demircan with the presentation on "A Philosophical Approach to Aging", Gelişim University / Department of Gerontology Asst. Prof. Fatma Sıla Ayam with the presentation on "Aging and Gerontological Transcendence" and Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences/Nursing Department Asst. Prof. Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk with the presentation on "Using Innovative Approaches in Elderly Care".

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)