Stating that the brain also ages like other organs, but brain aging can be slowed down with proper care, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “A person who uses their brain correctly, even if they reach 100 years old, their memory and mind remain sharp. Early precautions regarding forgetfulness are important at the beginning. Only 5-10% of forgetfulness in Alzheimer's is genetic. The rest is entirely related to improper brain use.” Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, also pointing out the importance of keeping one's brain active and open to new experiences, said, “The brain works on a 'use it or lose it' principle. Just like a well, it's an organ that opens up as you use it. As it opens up, it produces new cells from stem cells. Those cells migrate. Thanks to new learning, memory does not weaken.”
Beware of habit traps to protect brain health!
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made evaluations on simple forgetfulness, Alzheimer's, and brain health.
Simple forgetfulness should not be overlooked
Stating that there are two types of forgetfulness, benign and malignant, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “One is simple forgetfulness, which we also call benign forgetfulness. The other is malignant forgetfulness, which we call bad-natured forgetfulness. These two types of forgetfulness are often confused. When forgetfulness starts over the age of 60, people say 'this much forgetfulness is normal,' and the risk of Alzheimer's is ignored. Since the first symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia are forgetfulness, it is necessary to pay attention to this. We should not dismiss that simple forgetfulness in our brain.” he warned.
Referring to simple forgetfulness, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “You open the refrigerator. You think, 'What was I going to get?' You pick up your phone and say, 'Who was I going to call?' and then you remember. Such forgetfulness can occur.” he said.
Alzheimer risk rises to 50% over the age of 85
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the average human lifespan has increased worldwide and in our country, with an average age of 78 for women and 74-76 for men in both the world and Turkey. “This average has even risen to 80-90. For example, if a person reaches 60-65 years old and starts to experience forgetfulness. If they say 'this much forgetfulness is normal' and do not take precautions, after a while, it can be understood that the cause of this forgetfulness is Alzheimer's. A person can spend the last 10 years of their life with Alzheimer's because the probability of Alzheimer's in people over the age of 85 goes up to 35-50%.” he said.
Using the brain correctly is good for memory
Stating that our brain also ages just like our skin, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “A person who uses their brain correctly, even if they reach 100 years old, their memory and mind remain sharp. Early precautions regarding forgetfulness are important at the beginning. Only 5-10% of forgetfulness in Alzheimer's is genetic. The rest is entirely related to improper brain use.” he said.
Memory does not weaken with new learning
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also referred to a phenomenon that emerged in the USA: “This is an interesting phenomenon that has also entered the literature. A mathematics professor in San Francisco realized that while he could see 8 moves ahead in chess, this had dropped to 5. Then he went to a neurologist. The neurologist performed tests. Everything came back normal on all scales. In intelligence tests, he was within the normal database for his age group. Later, he had a brain check-up. The definitive diagnosis was made based on plaques in the brain. It was determined that he had numerous plaques in his brain, but no loss of function. Subsequent research revealed the following: He used his brain so well that even though there were amyloid plaques in his brain, the brain found its own way, and the person's memory never weakened with new learning.” he said.
The brain works if it's open to new experiences
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that it was once accepted that the number of brain cells was fixed and that these cells died as one aged, adding, “This was discovered in 1998. Brain cells do not die. There is a hippocampus region in the brain. This area, located in the middle of the brain and responsible for memory formation, produces stem cells. If a person actively uses their brain, meaning they are open to new experiences, the brain works on a 'use it or lose it' principle. As it is used, the brain opens up, and as it opens up, it produces new cells from stem cells. Those cells migrate to wherever the brain area being used is. They form networks there. The person's brain works brilliantly. Memory does not weaken even if there is plaque formation in the brain.” he said.
Lifestyle is important for a healthy mind
Emphasizing that lifestyle is also important for a healthy mind and memory, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Nutrition is important, lifestyle is important, and having a guide for using our brain is important. If we use our brain correctly, we should not confuse simple forgetfulness with illness and panic. Genetics play about a 15% role in Alzheimer's. Lifestyle plays a 70-85% role. Forgetfulness is related to whether we use our brain well or not.” he said.
Be careful against habit traps
Noting that a brain-friendly life is important for brain health, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Brain-friendly nutrition and brain-friendly habits are important. Our brain has such a characteristic that in a study, it was determined that if a person gambles 440 times, they start doing it automatically. This is frequently encountered in daily life. A person driving a car always goes by rote on the route they always use. They have been there many times before; the brain performs automatic learning. When thought and emotion are added, it becomes a belief. When repeated, it becomes a habit. When repeated for 6 months, it becomes part of one's personality. That's why repetitions are very important. When you repeat something wrong, it also becomes a habit. That's why the biggest mistakes people make in old age are habit traps; habits are mental traps.” he said.
Being open to new experiences activates the brain
Stating that the brain needs to be kept constantly dynamic, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “The brains of people who are open to new experiences are constantly working brilliantly. We put them in an MRI machine. Every part of their brain is active in every aspect. It is even likened to this: Imagine a valley; in summer, if there's an unsprayed area in the valley, it's yellow, but if an area is cared for and watered, it's a green area with trees, flowers, and birds. It's the same in the human brain. Well-maintained areas in the brain are active, lively, and dynamic. This is related to use. Unused areas dry up like a dry valley. Therefore, what is important here is to see the big picture and use the brain skillfully and wisely. Being able to use the brain is the most important step in preventing forgetfulness and the greatest solution against brain aging.” he said.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also offered advice on protecting brain health and preventing brain aging: “It is important to use our brain intensively in daily life activities. More important than solving puzzles and sudoku, for example, it can be suggested to take different paths instead of going the same way every day. In other words, instead of always continuing the same habits, it is advisable to frequently change habits and frequently change positions.” he said.
They forget their spouse, but not their parents…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that in Alzheimer's disease, the brain cannot perform new learning, saying, “Alzheimer's patients remember and recount old things very well, but they cannot remember new things; they forget.
This is a typical characteristic of Alzheimer's. We call this retrograde amnesia. When Alzheimer's progresses significantly, they forget their spouse but do not forget their mother and father. This is because things related to childhood remain in the brain. For this reason, in Alzheimer's disease, the brain cannot perform new learning.” he said.
Our brain is also an organ that opens up like a well as we use it…
Stating that the brain constantly works if a person is open to new learning, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, “Because the brain is constantly learning new things, it always uses its layers actively. The brain works on a 'use it or lose it' principle. For this reason, it resembles a well. Just as a well opens up as water is drawn from it, our brain is an organ that opens up as we use it.” he said.