Raleigh Elder Law | On Cynicism, Dementia, and Irony

Apparently a new study published in the online publication Neurology has found a correlation between cynicism and dementia.  Newsweek published an article on the study, and highlighted the main finding, which seems to be this: there is strong evidence that consistent social interaction helps maintain cognitive functioning as a person ages, and cynical people tend to shy away from consistent social interaction. Therefore, cynics don't participate in the types of settings that provide cognitive stimulation, thereby removing one of the bolsters to cognitive functioning. 

Ironically, while cynics may chose to avoid social interaction, many other elderly members of the population crave social interaction, but are deprived, either because of health or a lack of transportation.  These folks are therefore at risk of losing the same bolster that cynics may knowingly avoid.

Many local elder groups have group activities, and many counties in North Carolina provide transportation services for the elderly.  Additionally, your church or other civic group may have teams that visit people who are unable to get out.  Finally, local programs like Meals On Wheels also provide an opportunity for social interaction for the elderly.  Take time to research your area and see what programs are available if you are interested in helping provide that link between an elderly person and society.

For folks in the Raleigh area, here are some good places to get started:

http://www.resourcesforseniors.com/
http://www.wakemow.org

Important note: dementia is not the actual disease; it's a term used to describe the "symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities."  The Alzheimer's Association has a very good overview of dementia and the different diseases here, which is where the above definition came from.  There is no specific test for determining whether someone has dementia or one of its diseases.  If you or a loved one are having or suspect issues that are affecting your ability to conduct day-to-day activities, please consult with your physician.