The Brain Protection Campaign for Seniors: Brain Nourishment Through Knowledge, Acupressure Massage, and the "Nine Hearts" Theory of Leisure

Modern medicine has proven that life depends on brain activity, and aging begins in the brain. Regularly using the brain can effectively slow down brain aging and extend the lifespan of brain cells. Even in their sixties and seventies, older adults who frequently engage their minds can maintain the sharpness of middle-aged individuals. Experts conducted grouped experiments on people over 80 years old, and the results showed that the group with naturally active thinking had better blood pressure, memory, and lifespan than the group with slower thinking, and a significantly lower mortality rate. This proves that having something to strive for is an important factor in healthy longevity; older adults should not spend their days idle and unproductive.

Using your brain scientifically and maintaining brain health should start from four aspects. First, enhance mental activity; broad knowledge can improve memory, which plays an important role in preventing Alzheimer's disease. Second, regulate brain state; breathe fresh air outdoors in the morning, and when tired, appreciate green grass and red flowers to relax tense nerves using the beauty of nature. Third, nourish the brain through diet; walnuts, black sesame seeds, peanuts, soy products, and fish are excellent brain-boosting foods, providing essential lipids, proteins, and vitamins for the brain. Finally, massage the head; massage in a straight line from the hairline to the hair roots with your ten fingers every morning and evening, and rotate and press at the temples; consistent practice over many years can significantly improve blood circulation in the head.

Acupressure massage is very practical for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The massage consists of three parts: head and face massage, such as combing the hair 32 times with your fingers to directly stimulate the brain nerves; facial massage, pressing acupoints on Yingxiang and eyelids to promote circulation; and acupoint pressing, focusing on stimulating major acupoints such as Baihui, Taiyang, Neiguan, Hegu, Zusanli, and Yongquan. The pressure applied during the massage should be moderate, enough to stimulate the meridians without causing pain.

Psychological adjustment is also key to anti-aging, and older men should cultivate "nine hearts." These include maintaining a childlike heart to play with grandchildren, building confidence to overcome difficulties, lovingly accompanying their spouses, and keeping a cheerful smile. In addition, they need to treat others with kindness, approach things with a broad mind, cultivate ambition to slow brain aging, calm their minds to eliminate physical fatigue, and possess the perseverance needed for anything. For those who have just retired, it's important to actively navigate the "psychological menopause," correctly understand job turnover, and recognize that they can still contribute socially after retirement. Through this combination of "mental exercise" and "mental well-being," older men can effectively build a double defense against Alzheimer's disease and physical and mental aging.