Last Sunday, a packed crowd at Yad Sarah in Jerusalem heard a fascinating lecture by Dr. Yakir Kaufman, director of the Department of Geriatric Neuropsychology at Herzog Hospital. Many in the audience expressed surprise at what he had to say. Yes, they knew that an active social life is better than isolation and loneliness, that peace and tranquility are healthier than stress and tension and most certainly than trauma. However, the data presented by the lecturer were even more definitive. The factors accelerating Alzheimer's disease and dementia divide into two categories: medical-physical and psychosocial. Classic examples of medical-physical factors include sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking, diabetes, over consumption of alcohol, and poor nutrition. Examples of psychosocial factors are depression, lack of meaning and direction in life, stress and distress, and loneliness. A comparative study conducted about four years ago in Chicago yielded these amazing results: The psychosocial factors account for five times more deterioration of cognitive abilities in humans than do the physical factors. Governments spend billions every year in an effort to stop the decline of thousands of patients with dementia and Alzheimer's, and the situation is deteriorating rapidly. As the life expectancy of the population increases – so too the challenge to find a cure. To illustrate his point, Dr. Kaufman emphasized the part volunteering at an institution like Yad Sarah can play in the delay of dementia in the elderly. Volunteering involves many valuable activities and benefits. Planning how to accomplish a goal keeps the mind active. Satisfaction for a job well done and appreciated by others as well as the helping of those in need gives meaning to life. Working with people helps keep loneliness at bay. Volunteering gives people a break from feelings of isolation and makes them feel part of a family. It offers retired persons a way of utilizing their skills and talents in an accepting and non-stressful environment. For, indeed, what gives human beings the feeling they are leading a life full of meaning? Family connections. Activity. Professional satisfaction. Self-realization. Social interaction. Spirituality. Positive self-image. Working for the benefit of others. Active engagement in life entails responsibility and giving - that is, responsibility towards others, caring for their fate, taking practical steps to help improve their quality of life. Now it is clear that this active engagement in life means creating more brain cells, a significant health benefit. This simple equation has now been scientifically proven: When you improve the lives of others, you improve your own life.

#_lt#div style="text-align#_sc# left;" dir="ltr"#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt##_lt#span style="color#_sc# #000080;"#_gt##_lt#strong#_gt#Last Sunday, a packed crowd at Yad Sarah in Jerusalem heard a fascinating lecture by Dr. Yakir Kaufman, director of the Department of Geriatric Neuropsychology at Herzog Hospital. Many in the audience expressed surprise at what he had to say.#_lt#/strong#_gt##_lt#/span#_gt##_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#Yes, they knew that an active social life is better than isolation and loneliness, that peace and tranquility are healthier than stress and tension and most certainly than trauma. However, the data presented by the lecturer were even more definitive.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#The factors accelerating Alzheimer's disease and dementia divide into two categories#_sc# medical-physical and psychosocial. Classic examples of medical-physical factors include sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking, diabetes, over consumption of alcohol, and poor nutrition. Examples of psychosocial factors are depression, lack of meaning and direction in life, stress and distress, and loneliness.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt##_lt#strong#_gt##_lt#span style="color#_sc# #000080;"#_gt#A comparative study conducted about four years ago in Chicago yielded these amazing results#_sc# The psychosocial factors account for five times more deterioration of cognitive abilities in humans than do the physical factors.#_lt#/span#_gt##_lt#/strong#_gt##_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#Governments spend billions every year in an effort to stop the decline of thousands of patients with dementia and Alzheimer's, and the situation is deteriorating rapidly. As the life expectancy of the population increases – so too the challenge to find a cure.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#To illustrate his point, Dr. Kaufman emphasized the part volunteering at an institution like Yad Sarah can play in the delay of dementia in the elderly. Volunteering involves many valuable activities and benefits. Planning how to accomplish a goal keeps the mind active. Satisfaction for a job well done and appreciated by others as well as the helping of those in need gives meaning to life. Working with people helps keep loneliness at bay.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#Volunteering gives people a break from feelings of isolation and makes them feel part of a family. It offers retired persons a way of utilizing their skills and talents in an accepting and non-stressful environment. For, indeed, what gives human beings the feeling they are leading a life full of meaning? Family connections. Activity. Professional satisfaction. Self-realization. Social interaction. Spirituality. Positive self-image. Working for the benefit of others.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt#Active engagement in life entails responsibility and giving - that is, responsibility towards others, caring for their fate, taking practical steps to help improve their quality of life. Now it is clear that this active engagement in life means creating more brain cells, a significant health benefit.#_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt##_lt#strong#_gt##_lt#span style="color#_sc# #000080;"#_gt#This simple equation has now been scientifically proven#_sc# When you improve the lives of others, you improve your own life.#_lt#/span#_gt##_lt#/strong#_gt##_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#p style="text-align#_sc# justify;"#_gt##_lt#strong#_gt##_lt#span style="color#_sc# #000080;"#_gt# #_lt#/span#_gt##_lt#/strong#_gt##_lt#/p#_gt# #_lt#/div#_gt#