The power of reminiscence

For thousands of years, people from various cultures around the world have passed on their traditions, beliefs, and advice through storytelling. These stories have explained the following:

• Life lessons

• How to survive in difficult circumstances

• Why things have happened the way they have

• Tales of great adventure, tragedy or love

In addition to the wisdom passed down, we now know that reminiscence and life review is a proven way for older adults to gain self-esteem, learn more about themselves, and give the gift of their stories to the next generation. The recollection of life stories should be encouraged at any time in life, but mainly when people reach the end of life. A number of studies have shown that reminiscence and life review affect people’s lives in extraordinary ways that stimulate the brain, promote lifelong learning, and lead to healthy aging.

Brain fitness and lifelong learning

Our life experiences impact the brain as we age. Each person is completely unique, with different people, events and learnings that shape who we are. Wisdom and experience gained helps our brains prepare for the future. Engaging our brains in learning throughout our lives can help people age positively. New research shows how the brain continues to adapt and gain neurons over the years if the brain is challenged.

“We can make the brain work better simply by accumulating more knowledge, which creates more networks of connections in the brain. The wisdom we gain can offset decline that may be gradually occurring,” says James McGaugh, PhD, a member of the Dana Alliance. for a member of the Brain Initiatives at the University of California, Irvine.

Learning strengthens the brain like lifting weights strengthens the body. Focusing on learning can lead to positive aging experiences.

Healthy aging, wellness and reminiscence

Human interaction is important to promote positive brain health. “There’s a lot of evidence that other people are the most unpredictable things you can find. So activities that engage you with other human beings are a fantastic form of brain exercise.” said Lawrence Katz, a neurobiologist and researcher at Duke University Medical Center.

Opportunities to reminisce together and learn about each other’s lives in autobiography classes show positive results in community settings. People have the opportunity to go beyond the typical everyday conversations, such as the weather, health, sports and food. Now conversations about grandparents, the neighborhood, school experiences, and personal values ​​and beliefs are more common. Reminiscence opens a door to new discoveries.

Genetics play an important role in successful, active aging and well-being, but the choices people make every day are also critical. Cognitive stimulation is important, but the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives also pointed out that physical exercise, diet, social connections, how we handle stress, and seeing ourselves and the world in a positive way are also important.

What the experts say…

• Dr. Robert Butler, author of Why Survive? Being old in America, he coined the term “life review” fifty years ago. Before that time, researchers and doctors viewed reminiscence as a stepping stone to senility and dementia. He disagreed with this belief and proposed that as people age, memories and life review are a normal part of healthy aging. Now large bodies of research show the positive results of reminiscence and life review.

• Dr. Gene Cohen, author of The Mature Mind, considers reminiscence a critical brain activity, recently commenting, “Autobiography for older adults is like chocolate for the brain.” Cohen cites a 2003 study by Eleanor Maguire and Christopher Frith that performed brain scans on people in their 70s and 30s as they remembered. They found that the entire hippocampus is “lighted up” and actively involved in older adults, while people in their 30s only use a small part of the left hippocampal region.

• Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Healthy Aging, encourages older adults to record wisdom, values, and life lessons in an ethical will or heartfelt letter to loved ones. He writes, “An ordinary will…is concerned with the disposition of one’s material possessions at the time of death. An ethical will is concerned with non-material gifts: the values ​​and life lessons you wish to leave behind.” to others… At critical points in your life, take your ethical will and read it. Add to it. Review it and share it with the people you care about. An ethical will helps you organize your own experience and focus on who you are. It’s a spiritual inventory of what you want to pass on to others.” Life stories can lead to a letter from the heart.

Skilled nursing care, memory care and reminiscence

Studies have shown that communities see remarkable results when reminiscence and life review are encouraged.

Increases satisfaction with life

With female nursing home residents, one study randomly assigned participants to a reminiscence, discussion of current events, or no treatment group. The results showed significant increases in life satisfaction in the reminiscence group.

Improves relationships between residents and staff

Nursing home residents were interviewed with and without staff present and in either a memory/life review format or a more present-time focused format. Residents’ attitudes toward staff improved with recollection and with the presence of staff at the interview.

Reduces geriatric depression

Residents of newly relocated nursing homes underwent a study to examine whether life review could prevent clinical depression. Significant positive results were shown in reducing depression in the short-term trial stage with a further decrease in depression and hopelessness at one year.

Decreases disorientation, improves social interaction

One study showed that it is possible for older people with dementia to remember, and that this is significant for them in particular, due to the losses associated with dementia. Another related case study used life review with groups of people with Alzheimer’s disease. They were assigned to groups with some participating in life reviews and others not. The results showed importance for life review groups in decreasing disorientation and improving social interaction.

Increases orientation and competence after relocation

One case study examined the use of a life review program with newly relocated nursing home residents and found that it decreased depression, while increasing orientation, perceived competence, and social interaction.

Increases sense of purpose and meaning

Following group therapy with older adults in a long-term care setting over an 8-week period, this study found that the two treatment groups were significantly different from the control group, showing a greater sense of purpose and meaning in their actions. lives.