2024-01-28 03:46:00
“Regularly participating in challenging activities or skills promotes new neural connections,” according to specialists (Illustrative image Infobae)
The increase in life expectancy has led to people living longer and longer. And while more and more is known regarding the benefits of regular physical exercise and a healthy diet for better health in adulthood, new challenges point to the conservation of psychological and intellectual abilities to achieve longevity in a better state of comprehensive health.
In that sense, the findings of a recent study from University College London, United Kingdom, published in the journal Nature Medicine, were revealing in how better mental health has a positive impact on life expectancy.
According to the meta-analysis of five other studies related to the hobbies of people over 65 years of age in 16 countries, the researchers concluded that those who have a hobby report better health than those who do not.
Hobby is understood as “an activity or pastime that a person does regularly, in free time and for pleasure,” neurologist Alejandro Andersson (MN 65,836), director of the Buenos Aires Institute of Neurology, consulted by Infobae, began to analyze. (INBA). “It is not something that is done out of obligation or to make money, but for pure pleasure and personal satisfaction; that is really the engine”, he defined.
When choosing a hobby, specialists recommend “reflecting on personal interests and values” (Pexels)
And following considering that “hobbies can be extremely varied,” the expert pointed out: “Some people are more intellectual, others are more physical, someone may like to read, there are people who like to paint, listen to music, take photographs.” , cooking, collecting the most diverse amount of objects (stamps, coins, etc.) and of course sports.
And he expanded: “For some people it is a way to escape from daily stress, but for others it is exploring new interests and clearly helps emotional balance and cognitive activity, although one does not necessarily do it with that intention; “You do it because you like it.”
“Hobbies have to do with interests, personal satisfaction and fun, and can be very varied,” said Guadalupe Chacon Lechmann (MN 4926), a graduate in Occupational Therapy and a member of the Ineco Occupational Therapy Department. For her, “getting involved in activities that are meaningful to each person is as important as eating well, getting a good rest or doing physical activity.”
“Hobbies favor our creativity, they will help us to be clear regarding our priorities and objectives, to organize our daily life so that they have their place, causing us to make decisions regarding our routine to have a satisfactory life,” he said.
Andersson: “Performing pleasurable activities improves your mood” (Pexels)
At this point, the doctor in Psychology, specialist in clinical, teaching and Research in Mindfulness-oriented Psychotherapy Mariam Holmes (MP 20.463) added that “empirical research supports that cultivating a hobby not only improves mental health, but also physical health.” .
“Participation in recreational activities has been associated with reduced stress, anxiety and depression. “Comparable in benefits to other healthy practices such as regular exercise, today we know that having a hobby contributes to a better quality of life,” he highlighted, while citing that “some studies suggest that having a hobby works, for example, as a protective factor.” in populations that are especially vulnerable, such as those who are caregivers of patients with mental health disorders, at key moments of vital development such as early adolescence and which also has, for example, a significant impact on the prevention of empathy burnout and promotion of mental health in health personnel.
In his view, “having daily motivation, independent of work, is crucial for emotional well-being.” “Studies indicate that maintaining personal goals and meaningful activities outside the workplace strengthen resilience and life satisfaction,” he added. A motivating activity impacts emotional well-being by providing a sense of purpose and social connection, which positively influences healthy aging. “Mental health is linked to longevity, and staying mentally active can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.”
“Hobbies have to do with interests, personal satisfaction and fun, and can be very varied” (Freepik)
Along the same lines, Chacon Lechmann considered that “by depending on motivation, hobbies help improve self-esteem, enrich life, help emotional regulation, reduce stress, and allow us to train cognitive, motor and social skills.”
In this regard, Andersson assessed that “many hobbies involve some level of physical activity, ranging from sports that can be sophisticated to outdoor activities, and it is well known that regular physical activity is crucial to maintaining good cardiovascular and muscular health, improving sleep, relax the body and mind, prevent stress-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and digestive problems.”
“There is an increase in energy because carrying out activities that are enjoyed provides a feeling of achievement, satisfaction, and self-esteem,” he highlighted. Likewise, concentration and memory are improved, because these activities require concentration, cognitive skills linked to the physical, such as balance and coordination. And this is multiple, because these activities are also often shared with other people who have the same affinities.”
A recent study showed how better mental health has a positive impact on life expectancy (Getty)
“As for strictly neurological matters, participation in a hobby has many positive effects on the brain, and this involves neurotransmitters, neurons, and their connections,” the neurologist began to develop.
And he continued: “Performing pleasurable activities improves mood because endorphins are released, which are the neurotransmitters associated with happiness, endocannabinoids – our endogenous cannabis, which together with endorphins have a lot to do with mood, with laughter, with feeling good, with relaxing and this contributes significantly to the mood, and dopamine is clearly released, when we are exercising a hobby and achieving our goals.”
In a hobby, whatever the type, for Andersson, “there is mental stimulation, that is, it contributes to the active use of the brain because one has to solve a problem, because creativity is required, and there are even hobbies that involve constant learning. , such as building a terrarium, or the facilities to contain an artificial anthill.” “Fans of numismatics (the collection of coins) study a lot and also have to find the pieces that are rarest, they learn the entire history of the origin of each of those pieces, they contact other fans to make the exchange and that In addition, it helps social connection.”
Holmes: “Empirical research supports that cultivating a hobby not only improves mental health, but also physical health” (Getty)
In the opinion of the specialist, “regularly participating in challenging activities or skills promotes new neural connections, what is known as neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the brain to reorganize itself and this improves memory, attention, cognition and prevents the deterioration of cognitive function.”
“And if we delve deeper into the neurotransmitters, it can be mentioned that participating in social hobbies, such as joining clubs or groups, stimulates the elimination of oxytocin, which is the hormone of friendship, of social connection, which gives the feeling of belonging” , he added, and concluded: “The constant stimulation of intellectual activities helps protect once morest age-related brain degeneration, that is, the cognitive deterioration typical of age evolves more slowly.”
At this point, the three experts consulted agreed that “reflecting on personal interests and values is essential; “Looking for activities that stimulate creativity, promote learning, or foster social connection can be a good starting point,” as Holmes recommended.
Chacon Lechmann cited an essay by researchers Irene Muñoz Espinosa and Pamela Salgado López on occupations throughout life cycles, in which the authors mention that people’s free time changes over the years.
A hobby is an activity or pastime that a person does regularly, in their free time and for pleasure (Freepik)
Thus, for them, “psycho-organic deterioration advances more rapidly if older people do not participate in activities of their interest and choice.”
In that sense, Andersson considered that choosing a hobby “is a mental process that can be rewarding and even exciting.” “Someone can follow a series of steps to discover a hobby, and will inevitably take into account that it has to adapt to each person’s personal interests and also to the lifestyle: we have to think regarding the things that have interested us since childhood. , what attracts us, what our abilities are, what our strengths are, what we have that is different from others, we can also think regarding activities that allow us to develop new skills,” he observed, while remarking that “we must also consider lifestyle references, think regarding how much time can be dedicated to the hobby and what moments, and adjust the choice to the budget and availability that each person has.”
“You have to pay close attention to what excites you and makes you feel good, and while it is worth having an open mind and being willing to explore new experiences, you must always keep in mind that a hobby is something that is done for pleasure, motivates us and attracts us and think regarding activities, whether physical or mental, to which we are always willing to dedicate our free time,” he concluded.
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