If You Relate To These 13 Things, You're More Than Happy To Stay Single

This is mostly me.

I can't see getting married, it would severely limit my traveling and social connections. 

Marriage linked to lower risk for dementia, mild cognitive impairment

Not in my case, getting divorced was the best thing.

Marriage May Help Stave Off Dementia

 I doubt I will go down that route. The Tao of Dating suggests dating three people at a time which would seem to offer massive amounts of social connections and require great cognitive memory.

 

 

If You Relate To These 13 Things, You're More Than Happy To Stay Single

In a world that’s constantly pushing everyone to couple up, some of us are perfectly happy to stay single for a while (if not forever). We’re the ones who love our independence, our freedom, and our own company. And if you relate to these 13 things, you’re definitely one of us.


1. You Relish Your Alone Time.
Do you find yourself absolutely loving those quiet evenings alone? Maybe it’s curling up with a good book, binge-watching your favorite series, or just enjoying the peace and quiet. If this sounds like heaven to you, and you’re not itching to fill every silent moment with company, then you’re probably totally cool with flying solo. Enjoying your own company is a big sign that you’re comfortable in your skin and don’t need a partner to feel complete.
2. You’re the Master of Your Own Schedule.
Are you the type who loves having complete control over your schedule? Whether it’s impromptu trips, deciding on a whim to try out a new hobby, or just enjoying the freedom of doing what you want, when you want – if that’s your jam, then being single is likely suiting you just fine. There’s something empowering about not having to coordinate plans with someone else, right?

3. You Cherish Your Personal Space.
If having your own personal haven is something you value deeply, then the single life might be your ideal setup. It’s not about being a loner; it’s about loving that uncluttered, personal space where you can be 100% yourself.

4. You’re Pursuing Personal Goals.
Are you all about chasing your dreams and goals right now? Maybe it’s climbing the career ladder, getting fit, or learning a new skill. If you’re finding fulfillment in pursuing these personal aspirations without the need to factor in a partner’s plans, then staying single could be your sweet spot. It’s about channeling your energy into your personal growth and loving every bit of it.

5. You Enjoy Your Social Circle Just the Way It Is.
If you’re not feeling any void and love the dynamic of your current social circle, then being single might just be your happy place. It's about enjoying the platonic relationships you have without feeling the need to add a romantic one into the mix.


6. Decision Making on Your Own Is Your Preference.
Love making decisions without having to consult anyone else? Whether it’s choosing the next travel destination or deciding what’s for dinner, if you find joy and simplicity in calling the shots on your own, then being single might be right up your alley. It’s about the freedom and independence that comes with steering your own ship.

7. You’re Not Looking for Someone to ‘Complete’ You.
If you’re not on the lookout for someone to fill a void because, well, there isn’t one, then you’re likely very content with singlehood. It’s about recognizing that you’re enough all by yourself, and a partner would be a bonus, not a necessity.

8. You’ve Got a Full Plate and Love It.
Are you the kind of person with a to-do list that’s always packed? From work projects to hobbies, personal projects to social commitments – if your life is full and fulfilling just the way it is, then being single probably feels just right. It’s about loving that go-getter life where your time and priorities are entirely your own.

9. You Thrive on Spontaneity.
If the idea of spontaneous road trips or impulsive adventures excites you more than scares you, and you love not having to check in with someone else first, then you’re likely quite happy being single. It’s all about embracing the freedom to be unpredictable.

10. You're Investing in Self-Discovery.
Maybe you’re exploring new aspects of your personality, trying out new interests, or just doing some deep self-reflection. If this journey of self-discovery is your current focus and you’re loving the journey, then singlehood is probably working out great for you. It’s about giving yourself the space to grow and evolve without compromise.

11. You Relish Making Your Space Uniquely Yours.
Love having your living space exactly the way you want it? Whether it’s about decorating choices, cleanliness standards, or just the general vibe, if having your space tailored to your taste without anyone else’s input is important to you, then you’re probably quite content with singlehood. It’s about creating your own sanctuary that reflects your personality to a T.

12. You Value Deep Connections Beyond Romance.
Do you find deep, meaningful connections in friendships or family relationships that fulfill you emotionally? If you’re not feeling any lack because your platonic relationships are strong and satisfying, then being single might be just fine for you. It’s about appreciating the love and support you have in your life, outside of romantic entanglements.

13. You’re Not Rushed About Life Milestones.
If you’re more about letting life unfold at its own pace and not stressing about ‘keeping up’, then the single life might be your best life. It's about enjoying where you are right now, without pressure to conform to the ‘married by…’ or ‘kids by…’ timelines.

14. You Find Joy in Solo Adventures.
Love the idea of solo travel or trying new things on your own? If the thought of a solo trip, dining alone at a new restaurant, or joining a class without a buddy sounds exciting rather than daunting, then you’re probably loving the single life. It’s about embracing independence and finding joy in your own company and adventures.

The post If You Relate To These 13 Things, You’re More Than Happy To Stay Single appeared first on Bolde.

Can Intellectual Engagement Stem Cognitive Decline?

Well shit, that was going to be one of my main prevention ideas. I may now have to up my coffee intake even more. Or become even more socially engaged. Instead of dating 3 people at a time as specified in 'The Tao of Dating: The Smart Womens's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible', maybe I should up that to 7, one for each day of the week.

Can Intellectual Engagement Stem Cognitive Decline?

It may boost mental ability in old age, but won't affect the trajectory of decline, study suggests

• by Judy George, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today December 10, 2018

Self-reported intellectual engagement throughout life, including problem-solving, was not associated with a more favorable cognitive trajectory beyond age 65, according to a longitudinal study from Scotland.
While intellectual stimulation on a regular basis was significantly associated with higher levels of mental ability in old age, it did not influence the course of age-related cognitive decline over 15 years, reported Roger Staff, PhD, of the University of Aberdeen, and colleagues in The BMJ.
"Engagement in problem-solving is associated with a cognitive advantage in late life, after adjusting for life course differences," said Staff. But, contrary to the widely held use-it-or-lose-it belief, "intellectual engagement is not associated with the trajectory of decline," he told MedPage Today.
This finding contrasts a number of observational studies reporting that cognitively stimulating activities reduce the risk of cognitive decline, noted Joe Verghese, MBBS, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
"The current study used a subjective assessment of the engagement in intellectual activities, rather than direct measures of intensity and frequency of participation, and there was major attrition in the cohort over time that might in part explain the different finding," Verghese, who was not involved in the study, told MedPage Today.
These results are not the final word on the role of intellectual activities in preventing cognitive decline, Verghese added. "Clearly, more work needs to be done in defining the role of cognitive activities in preventing cognitive decline."
Staff and colleagues studied records of 498 people from the archives of the Scottish Council for Research in Education, which had maintained population-based records of the Scottish Mental Surveys of 1947. All participants were born in 1936, and all took part in a group intelligence test at age 11.
Participants were about age 64 at baseline, and each person's education history and National Adult Reading Test Score were recorded at the start of the study. Over a 15-year period, participants were tested for memory and mental processing speed up to five times with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, a test of matching symbols with digits, and the Auditory-Verbal Learning Test, a verbal memory test.
The researchers used a version of the Typical Intellectual Engagement questionnaire that assessed four areas of intellectual engagement: abstract reasoning, reading, problem-solving, and intellectual curiosity. They adjusted for possible confounders from early life, including scores of childhood intelligence and length of formal education, and controlled for practice effects that may have been associated with repeated testing.
They found that while overall intellectual engagement had no influence on the trajectory of decline of memory and processing speed, it was significantly associated with the level of cognitive performance in later life, with each point on a 24-point scale tied to 0.97 standardized cognitive performance score for processing speed and 0.71 points for memory (both P<0.05).
Engaging in problem-solving activities had the largest association with life course cognitive gains, with each point accounting for 0.43 standardized cognitive performance score for processing speed and 0.36 points for memory (both P<0.05).
The results "support the life course importance of engagement in complex problem-solving activities for boosting cognitive ability throughout life," observed George Rebok, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who was not involved with the study.
"They also bolster support for the idea that such activities may boost one to a higher cognitive performance level, thereby possibly maintaining cognitive abilities over a longer period of time, even though the trajectory of mental decline, once it occurs, may not be altered," he told MedPage Today.
Studies that track intellectual activities and cognitive decline have two main problems, noted Deborah Blacker, MD, ScD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the study.
"The first is that the results may be an artifact of the baseline cognitive status and the things that come along with that, like education and cognitive reserve," she told MedPage Today. "The second is reverse causation: in a study that spans only 5 years, for example, people may have already cut back on something that once was fun because it's not as pleasurable."
This study, by including childhood cognitive scores and testing people over 15 years, attempts to address both of these issues, she said.
But it has limitations, Blacker pointed out. It tended to be biased toward people with higher levels of education, as evidenced by assessing items like abstract reasoning. And better educated people are more likely to participate in studies like these, Staff and colleagues noted. Details of early life experiences were retrospective and could not be corroborated, and participant dropout may have influenced results, they added. And Scots born in 1936 may not be representative of other populations.

The study was funded by the University of Aberdeen. Staff and co-authors disclosed no relevant relationships with industry.

last updated 12.10.2018

• Primary Source

  BMJ

  Source Reference: Staff R, et al "Intellectual engagement and cognitive ability in later life (the 'use it or lose it' conjecture): longitudinal, prospective study" BMJ 2018; DOI:10.1136/bmj.k4925.

This Relationship Halves Your Dementia Risk

I doubt I will go down that route. The Tao of Dating suggests dating three people at a time which would seem to offer massive amounts of social connections and require great cognitive memory.

I'll do this stuff instead.

Maybe my ideas here?

Dementia prevention 19 ways

Don't follow me, I'm not medically trained.  

This Relationship Halves Your Dementia Risk

It provides an extra layer of protection against dementias like Alzheimer’s disease.

Being married or in a close relationship almost halves the risk of developing dementia, new research finds.
It is likely because those in close relationships have an extra layer of protection against depression.
Depression is a known risk factor for dementia.
Professor Eef Hogervorst, who led the study, explained it could also be down to a healthier lifestyle:

“It might be because other studies often found that married men on average have healthier lifestyles than single men – such as better diets, less alcohol, less smoking and more and earlier health services visits.
Another explanation could be that married couples will try to cope with dementia symptoms on their own for longer before health services are involved.”

The six-year study tracked 6,677 people aged between 52 and 90 to look at the connection between close relationships and Alzheimer’s disease.
It emerged that relationship quality was more important in protecting people against dementia than quantity of relationships.
Professor Hogervorst continued:

“Single people will need help to cope with their symptoms earlier.
Not being married almost doubled the risk for developing dementia.
On the other hand, having close relationships independently reduced the risk by 60%.
We did not find that social isolation per se increased risk but that feeling lonely did, by 44%.”

Along with being single, other risk factors for dementia included heart disease, hypertension, and depression.
Professor Hogervorst said:

“We know that depression and heart disease risk factors are risk factors for dementia.
And, loneliness had a similar strength of association as the heart disease risk factors.
This has been mentioned before for other morbidities where loneliness was said to be as bad for health as smoking.
We are social creatures and reduction of stress through social support may be more important than previously thought.”

Enhancing older people’s relationship quality could be one key to staving off dementia.
Professor Hogervorst said:

“Being lonely can be associated with depression and this has been associated with dementia.
As most people with dementia stay at home most of the time, we try to use technology to do activities which include others, such as modified forms of Facebook, cognitive stimulation therapy and exercises in virtual groups.”