How closely does your mental age tie to you physical condition?

[5684697]

42

 

[arkitect]

I mean if it's consistent, why don't old people want to party into the night? Lack of energy, bad back/knees, loss of balance, loss of hearing, less desire to become intoxicated, less incentive/ability to impregnate or be impregnated. These changes seems to be tied more to physical condition versus mental development.

*Peers over sunglasses* Honey, you obviously don't know enough old gay men!
I swear some of them will be out there rattling Zimmer frames.

Then again you get the men like me and my husband, been there done that. Happy to snooze on the sofa on a Saturday.

 

[5684697]

42

 

[AngerDanger]

*Peers over sunglasses* Honey, you obviously don't know enough old gay men!

It's always so hard to gauge how many old gay men one should know. It's like the number of glasses of water one should consume in a day; it varies depending on source consulted and activity level. I think the numbers I tend to hear are six glasses of water and 12 old gay men.

IT is also a change of perspective. Partying for partying's sake is meaningless and a waste of time, which becomes more precious as one ages.

As someone who has never partied and tends to avoid social gatherings, I actually disagree. I'm of the mind that all things are meaningless until we ascribe meaning.

Although, I've never heard of anybody throwing a party explicitly for "partying's sake." I'd imagine there's immense appeal to gathering with many friends, energetic discussion, and finding yourself increasingly inebriated as the night grows long.

 

[Huntn]

It's always so hard to gauge how many old gay men one should know. It's like the number of glasses of water one should consume in a day; it varies depending on source consulted and activity level. I think the numbers I tend to hear are six glasses of water and 12 old gay men.

As someone who has never partied and tends to avoid social gatherings, I actually disagree. I'm of the mind that all things are meaningless until we ascribe meaning.

Although, I've never heard of anybody throwing a party explicitly for "partying's sake." I'd imagine there's immense appeal to gathering with many friends, energetic discussion, and finding yourself increasingly inebriated as the night grows long.

Old gay men don't have bad backs?? (Said to @arkitect)

Partying for parting's sake, actually it's for biology's sake. Although I can't speak for gay men, flashback to the Firehouse dance Saturday Night 1971, looking to meet a girl and maybe get lucky. That was the night that I learned the theory that the more alcohol the better, was not true! Oh yeah, it sucks you in and then Wammo!

We (me and a friend) had introduced ourselves to two attractive girls (as a teen I thought in those terms) danced a while, and were headed out to the car to drive to the local make-out spot, when my partner in crime (just a term) keeled over and started retching his guts up. Could'nt hold his alcohol. So disappointing when the girls did an about face and went back into the dance.

As a member of the volunteer fire department, the social center for rural Maryland, later that night, although I got the girl's name and number, I too realized I had had too much to drink, had been drinking Harvey Wallbangers (have I told this story before?) and laid down in the bunk room. Then the room started spinning. Gawd what a night. Sunday morning I drove home and slept. Monday morning I woke up with a splitting head ache. Lessened learned, older and wiser. I also learned that my appraisal of physical beauty was skewed under the influence, but I'll say no more in this regard. Don't ask!

 

[A.Goldberg]

I mean if it's consistent, why don't old people want to party into the night? Lack of energy, bad back/knees, loss of balance, loss of hearing, less desire to become intoxicated, less incentive/ability to impregnate or be impregnated. These changes seems to be tied more to physical condition versus mental development.

Certainly true. One's physical health regardless of age impacts their mental conditon and their activity in the world. Not surprisingly the physical results of old age result in different behavior.

At the same time too it's important to note the biochemical changes that occur in peoples' bodies and brains as they age. For instance, we all know people through early adulthood are still developing their prefrontal cortex's, which is involved in decision making, judgement, and impulsivity. Hormones are raging therefore the profound sexual desires. That of course dissipates with age as hormones stabilize.

Around 30 pretty much your nervous system begins its long, slow decent. Interesting people in their 40's tend to gain moral decision making skills and tend to remember things more positively than negatively. And from 60 onward the brain begins to shrink as neurons demylenate and die. People lose their memory function, which also means they're less able to learn or explore new things. That results in a tendency to live and perhaps prefer things in the past rather than present.

Neurons also fire slower, which means slower thinking, slower moving, slower reactions, worse balance, etc. Poor memory and confusion can result in mood changes. Senses similarly are progressively lost from your mid 20's. It explains why old people generally eat pretty dull food.

 

[Huntn]

Certainly true. One's physical health regardless of age impacts their mental conditon and their activity in the world. Not surprisingly the physical results of old age result in different behavior.

At the same time too it's important to note the biochemical changes that occur in peoples' bodies and brains as they age. For instance, we all know people through early adulthood are still developing their prefrontal cortex's, which is involved in decision making, judgement, and impulsivity. Hormones are raging therefore the profound sexual desires. That of course dissipates with age as hormones stabilize.

Around 30 pretty much your nervous system begins its long, slow decent. Interesting people in their 40's tend to gain moral decision making skills and tend to remember things more positively than negatively. And from 60 onward the brain begins to shrink as neurons demylenate and die. People lose their memory function, which also means they're less able to learn or explore new things. That results in a tendency to live and perhaps prefer things in the past rather than present.

Neurons also fire slower, which means slower thinking, slower moving, slower reactions, worse balance, etc. Poor memory and confusion can result in mood changes. Senses similarly are progressively lost from your mid 20's. It explains why old people generally eat pretty dull food.

Sounds like an educated post. Interesting and happy that other than periodic acid reflux, my food choices have not dulled, but I'm not yet one of those really old types.

 

[A.Goldberg]

Sounds like an educated post. Interesting and happy that other than periodic acid reflux, my food choices have not dulled, but I'm not yet one of those really old types.

Well if I recall you're not that old (early 60's?). You have the benefit of being physically active. Physical exercise has been widely demonstrated to promote brain health and consequently intelligence, memory, focus, executive functioning, etc plus the bonus of increased mood and reducrd anxiety. For whatever reason, exercise promotes the production of various protiens and enzymes that promote neurogensis, neuroplasticity, protect telomeres, and increase white matter/brain mass. Exercise also improved circulation which helps provide oxygen and nutrients to brain cells and allow for detoxification of metabolic waste and other toxins.

In fact, exercise has been demonstrated to delay or reduce symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease, which is cool considering how ineffective most Alz treatments are. Exercise has been shown to help pretty much every major psychological and neurological disorder in the book- depression, anxiety, insomnia, schizophrenia, ADHD, Parkinson's, etc.

I think many people go through life underestimating the connection of the mind and the body, and the body and the mind. I find it fascinating how much one can influence the other.

 

[kazmac]

It can be anything you want! You've seen Sci Fi movies, repairs would be easy.

Well then, Weapon X sign me up! I want Logan's healing factor dang it...