What do you worry about?

My biggest concerns are falling and Alzheimer’s. No one in my family has ever had Alzheimer’s and I’d like to think I’m too old already. But, like hanging onto the rail and taking one step at a time to prevent falling, I exercise my brain – just to make sure. Each Sunday I grab the New York Times crossword and try and avoid answering the phone during “Jeopardy” as I pretend to win thousands of dollars. Maybe all the historical research I do helps, too.

The Maine Senior Guide website has a lot of interesting and worthwhile information, including a column by Jane Margesson of Maine AARP about “brain health” and how to promote it. Sounds like fun to me. She writes that brain exercise “includes reading (aloud), engaging in a favorite hobby, doing simple arithmetic or learning a new skill. Doing a crossword puzzle, playing card games, learning to dance or play an instrument are just a few other suggestions. The brain is like a muscle and the more it is used, the stronger it will be!

“Another important way to support the brain health is through social interaction. Research supports the notion that social interaction plays a positive role in one’s cognitive abilities and overall health. According to the National Institute on Aging, ‘Several research studies have shown a strong correlation between social interaction and health and well-being among older adults, [while] social isolation may have significant adverse effects for older adults.’ In other words, stay in touch. Online social networking has its benefits, but nothing beats the lasting impact of in-person socializing.”

Getting started is often the hardest part of making even minor changes to your daily routine. Stimulating your brain activity to help keep your mind sharp can be as simple as engaging in something that incorporates one or more of your senses, such as gardening or attending a concert. For more information on brain health research, go to the Dana Foundation website www.dana.org or the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . You can also find out more about AARP’s Staying Sharp initiatives at www.aarp.org.

On another topic, as we get closer to Memorial Day, here’s a little reminder for those of you who seek information about the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries. Maine has four of them now – one in Caribou, two in Augusta and one in Springvale. By law, Maine holds title to all grave lots. The state will, without charge, open and close the grave and furnish perpetual care. Eligible dependents will be buried adjacent to the plot of the buried veteran. For information, call 287-3481 or email mvmcs@maine.gov.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.