The Secret of Long Life is in the 'Mind Tray'
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University and a psychiatrist, stated that a humorous and positive lifestyle is related to long life, and emphasized that for a long and healthy life, not only physical health but also mental activities should be given importance.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Our body has an incredible pharmacy. If we use this pharmacy well, we can achieve Longevity, long life."
Prof. Tarhan also pointed out that selfish individuals lack mental flexibility. "Stubborn people cannot be happy. Stubborn people cannot achieve Longevity. Here, the mind tray is very important. What is in the mind tray? The balance of health, wealth, and wisdom," he added.
President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluated the concept of Longevity (healthy long life) and discussed the topic of 'Longevity in the triangle of soul, brain, and body.'
Zara Ağa, who lived to 157, says he always had a humorous life!
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University, stated that the concept of "Longevity," or long life, is not a new topic. He expressed that "Do you know Zara Ağa? He passed away at the age of 157. Because he lived so long, he was invited to speak about the secrets of long life in America, London, and Budapest. He was born in 1777 in Bitlis and worked as a porter in Istanbul. He also worked for the Istanbul Municipality. When they asked him, 'What do you owe this to?' Zara Ağa said he never drank alcohol or smoked. He lived on yogurt and milk and always had a humorous life."
The importance of a humorous and positive lifestyle…
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the importance of a humorous and positive lifestyle in relation to long life. Tarhan said that "I had a conversation with the Nobel Prize-winning neuropsychiatrist Eric Kandel at a conference in Los Angeles. He is now 95 years old... He told me, 'I enjoy everything.' He was born in Vienna and comes from families who escaped the Holocaust. He is someone who has succeeded in finding happiness in small things and in having a humorous life."
The magical concept of long life is a joyful and happy life…
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan mentioned that the magical concept of Longevity (long life) is a joyful and happy life. Tarhan added that "Live humorously. Being able to look at life positively, even under stress, might be one of the most important secrets of long life. How do our cells age? How do they die? This is also very important in Longevity. There are programmed cell deaths. Cells multiply on their own and when the time comes, cell death occurs. Autophagy plays an important role in this process. Hunger does the same... It slows down cell aging and induces autophagy. When a person is hungry, the survival program in the brain is activated. The system in our body starts to renew itself."
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that the fast-paced, pleasure-driven, irresponsible, and limitless lifestyle brought about by modernity disrupts the body’s intelligent operating system. He said that “A businessman once told me, ‘I manage a billion-dollar budget, but I cannot manage my blood pressure.’ That’s a panic disorder. His need for control is so intense that he wants to dominate everything, manage everything, and control everything. The capitalist system also fuels this mindset, to boost economic activity. Howecer, in the process, people end up being used. Those who become aware of this and choose a more sedentary, mindful way of life tend to be happier and live longer.”
The brain works like a muscle and its mental capacity increases with use
Prof. Tarhan, who also pointed out the importance of lifestyle, emphasized that for a healthy life, attention should be paid to protective and risk-reducing factors. These include ideal weight control, regular physical exercise, balanced nutrition, and mental activities. He explained that the brain works like a muscle and that its mental capacity increases the more it is used.
Prof. Tarhan mentioned that some people are referred to as super seniors, and despite being 80 years old, their mental performance can be at the level of someone aged 55. He stated that an active lifestyle, social development, and mental exercises are important. For a long and healthy life, not only physical health but also mental activities should be given importance.
The ideal way is to age healthily
Prof. Tarhan, emphasizing that maintaining telomere length signifies healthy and long life, continued his remarks as follows:
"Telomeres are like a credit given to us from birth. You can consume this credit in one day or in 80 years. People are born with equal telomeres. Someone who takes good care of themselves can live for many years, while someone who doesn’t take care of themselves ages quickly. Diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s rapidly consume the telomeres. The speed and rhythm of the human body should align with the speed and rhythm of nature, and it should be used correctly. Previously, longevity was referred to as anti-aging. Now, instead of being anti-aging, the goal is to age healthily and live long healthily. The ideal way is to age healthily."
General lifestyle is also important for longevity!
Prof. Tarhan pointed out the importance of stress management, nutrition, exercise, and general lifestyle for longevity. He mentioned that in human development, epigenetic mechanisms play a more significant role than genetics, and that epigenetic mechanisms can change depending on an individual’s will.
Prof. Tarhan also stated that the brain is a plastic organ and is constantly changing. He explained that just like a sculptor shapes a statue, the brain needs to be processed and that the brain is a neuroplastic organ.
The body is an incredible pharmacy!
Prof. Tarhan, explaining that the brain experiences pleasure and joy through dopamine, that the brain releases endorphins during exercise, and that endorphins have pain-relieving and pleasurable properties, also stated that mitochondria function like the body's furnace. He made the following remarks:
“When we exercise, the body releases adenosine. Adenosine is stable in individuals who take 5,000 steps a day or live in a certain rhythm. We have an incredible pharmacy in our body. If we use this pharmacy well, we can achieve longevity and long life. Pleasure has a short-term effect in the body, but the search for meaning and pursuing ideals release the happiness hormone and the bonding hormone. The happiness hormone is serotonin… If a person lives a pleasure-oriented life, thinking about short-term pleasures like status, fame, and money, the brain constantly tries to be happy through dopamine. People who search for meaning, think abstractly, and turn an idea into an ideal activate serotonin in the brain in the long run, leading them to achieve inner peace. Those who embrace spiritual life also release these hormones. Because they aim to be part of a greater meaning. They aim to connect with a higher power. The bonding hormone, oxytocin, is released. The bonding hormone is most commonly released in breastfeeding mothers.”
It is important to say no to pastry for immune cells
Prof. Tarhan, stating that the feeling of connecting to a higher power, a higher meaning, or a creator also causes the brain to release oxytocin, pointed out the importance of the immune system. He explained that thoughts communicate with the immune system, the brain and the gut influence each other, and that a carbohydrate-heavy diet disrupts this communication. He also emphasized the need to say no to pastries for immune cells.
Breathing healthily also positively affects mental health
“Breathing healthily is very important. Proper breathing techniques not only improve our physical health but also positively impact our mental health. Deep breathing reduces stress,” said Prof. Tarhan. He added that “Place your right hand over your heart. Place your left hand on your abdomen. Lean against a comfortable spot. Close your eyes and breathe in for one, two, hold for three, four, then exhale for five, six, seven, eight. Do this under any stress. It increases oxygenation in the brain. We train the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic system kicks in, and you relax. It is a simple exercise that quickly reduces stress hormones and relaxes muscles.”
Calf muscles reduce the load on the heart
Prof. Tarhan also pointed out that the calf muscles function as a second heart. He expressed that “A study conducted at a university in Canada found that after six months of walking briskly for an hour a day, only walking was involved in the exercise. It was observed that the volume of women’s brains increased in thinking and memory functions. When walking, the calf muscles contract and pump blood. This reduces the load on the heart. The heart’s load is lightened. Adrenaline is released during walking, and the energy level in the body increases. The best is brisk walking, walking close to fast. This is very beneficial not only for the body but also for the brain.”
The common trait of those who live long and happy is high social support
Prof. Tarhan, stating that folic acid, B12, and vitamin D are very important for the brain and help protect it, emphasized the significance of social interaction. He said, "Loneliness is also a risk factor for early death in the elderly. People with strong social connections tend to live longer. Harvard conducted a 75-year study. The common trait of those who live long and happy lives is that they have high social support. People with strong social networks and connections have longer lifespans. Social isolation has a toxic effect. There is an epidemic of loneliness in the world. In the UK and Japan, ministries of loneliness have been established. The World Health Organization lists loneliness as one of the three major threats facing the world."
Prof. Tarhan also highlighted the importance of making changes and breaking routines, saying, "Don't always take the same route to work; try different paths. Don’t always shop at the same place, shop elsewhere. Stimulate all areas of your brain. Change is important."
Scent strengthens memory
Prof. Tarhan emphasized the importance of using scents and expressed that "Scent strengthens memory. If you study or do something while surrounded by pleasant scents, the scent activates the brain at that moment. Nutmeg and cinnamon scents increase efficiency."
The brain cleanses toxins during sleep
Prof. Tarhan noted that brain exercise and thinking using the 5Ws and 1H method are crucial for staying sharp, and he also mentioned that 8 hours of sleep are needed, as sleep is when the brain essentially "recharges." He explained that "The brain doesn’t have a lymphatic system. The lymphatic system in the body cleans toxins, fatigue substances, and waste products. It collects what accumulates in the body, channels it into veins, and the liver cleans it. The brain doesn’t have such a system. During sleep, the brain slightly shrinks. Spaces form around the vessels, and toxins are flushed out. During sleep, the brain cleanses toxins. If we don’t sleep, all the fatigue substances and toxins accumulate in the brain. That’s why drinking plenty of water is also important to flush out the toxins in the brain."
Lifestyle plays a huge role in mental health
Prof. Tarhan emphasized the importance of managing negative emotions like "anger, hatred, jealousy, and hostility," saying these emotions release chemicals in the brain that cause damage. He pointed out the importance of stress management.
Stating that a stress-free life is not possible, Prof. Tarhan added that "Our lifestyle plays a huge role in our mental health. One of the key factors that determine our relationship with stress is our lifestyle. Modernity has made our lives easier in many ways, but it has also raised our expectations and made competition between people more brutal. This has led to an increase in psychiatric illnesses. The rising suicide rates, narcissism, and addictions are no coincidence. Nowadays, they’re even researching whether there is a virus that causes depression. In fact, there is such a virus: It is called the 'hedonism virus.' People who constantly chase pleasure fall into a deeper emptiness when they don't experience pleasure and harm themselves."
Rubber personalities are resilient and do not break down easily
Prof. Tarhan explained that people have different ways of coping with stress and that personalities can be categorized into "sponge, Teflon, and rubber personalities." He said, "Sponge personalities absorb everything, constantly complain, and are always unhappy. Even if you put them in heaven, they will still find something to complain about. They always adopt the victim role, constantly cry, and seek sympathy. Teflon personalities seem unaffected by outside harm, but they burn the people they encounter. Especially in marriage, they are the types who wear down their spouse but seem indifferent to it. These individuals are narcissistic; they hurt others but believe they are special and powerful. Rubber personalities are the healthiest. They show flexibility, are resilient to shocks, and don’t break down easily."
Don’t be afraid of stress!
Prof. Tarhan, explaining that psychological resilience involves the ability to bend without breaking, maintain composure, and bounce back from stress, emphasized that one should not fear stress.
The remedy for a happy and long life is balance
Prof. Tarhan stressed that the remedy for a happy and long life is balance, and continued his remarks:
"To achieve this balance, emotional positivity must be established. There is a difference between positive thinking and positive emotions. Positive thinking can sometimes be perceived as excessive optimism or Pollyannaish, but even in the most difficult situations, you will live with a positive focus. Being able to do this is a concept related to mental flexibility. Selfish individuals cannot demonstrate mental flexibility. What is the opposite of mental flexibility? Stubbornness. Stubborn individuals cannot be happy. Stubborn individuals cannot achieve longevity. Therefore, persistence in what is right is a good thing, but insisting on something wrong, even when you know it’s wrong, is blind stubbornness. This will lead a person to the edge. Here, the ‘mind tray’ is very important. What’s in the mind tray? Health, wealth, and values. All three together. The balance of health, wealth, and wisdom. All three must coexist in the mind tray. If you live by focusing only on health, saying that longevity is important, the balance of the tray will be disturbed. If you chase wealth alone, it will also be disturbed. Wisdom, life wisdom, is also necessary."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)