The Livelong Newsletter: Feature Edition

Hi Livelongers,

Welcome to our Feature Edition, where we break down a topic in longevity to give you a more in-depth and well-rounded understanding of it.

Today we are learning about imagination, a powerful component of the human experience that is intricately connected with memory, a hallmark of aging. In fact, the same part of the brain regulates the ability to form new memories and the ability to imagine.

Let’s dive right into it.

Inspiration for imagination

Last weekend, I went to the movie theater (Yes, it is still a thing, AND many theaters offer $5 movies on Tuesdays). I went to see the children’s movie IF because I’m a sucker for a sweet ending. IF tells the story of a young girl who rediscovers the power of imagination and cherishes good memories. This opens the door to creativity, connection, and happiness.

I left the theater feeling resolute about using my imagination more. Like most adults, I’m guilty of repressing those youthful urges out of a false obligation to “be an adult,” be productive… even be stressed. 

But I did not expect to find a catch—imagination mainly depends on having memories, a hallmark of healthy aging that more and more older adults are losing.

We love to hear from our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas, and more with us at [email protected].

Memory loss and aging

In 2023, nearly 6.7 million adults in the United States aged 65+ had some type of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Rates of disease are so standard among older adults in the U.S. that longevity expert Peter Attia considers it one of the four most significant aging contributors (it is 1 of his four horsemen of aging, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes).

Rates of death are also incredibly high, as Alzheimer’s disease is one of the top 5 causes of mortality among Americans in this age group. 

Another critical implication of the disease is loss of identity. For many, losing our identity is more scary than any aspect of physical decline, and this loss of identity (a loss of the ability to imagine the self) may be partly related to imagination. So, while imagination can seem anecdotal to memory loss and dementia, it shares intricate ties with it. 

Become your own expert at Livelong Summit

Celebrate the biggest event in longevity, which is coming to:

Los Angeles, CA | Aug 3-4, 2024
Santa Clara, CA | Aug 17-18, 2024

The link between imagination and memories

“Why do we talk about imagination separately from memory?” asks György Buzsáki, a systems neuroscientist at New York University, in Scientific American. “There is no way you can imagine anything without the past.”

It turns out that memories and imagination are functions of the hippocampus in the brain—both connect experiences with emotions, inner commentary, and external inputs of information.

Studies have shown that people with a damaged hippocampus and associated amnesia cannot easily recall events, make plans, or even imagine themselves.

And in a sense, “memory is a form of imagination,” said Donna Rose Addis, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto and the University of Toronto, in the article.

Some researchers like Loren Frank, a systems neuroscientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of California, San Francisco, believe that memory is an evolutionary skill and helps us to make future decisions based on past experiences. Imagination is what gives memories a purpose though, he says.

“We are reasonably sure that the purpose of memories is actually in the future,” said Frank.

Imagination in action

Close your eyes and imagine yourself seated in the sand next to an ocean. What color is the water? Do you smell anything in the air? How does the sand feel between your toes?

Look at the sky above the horizon line. What color is your sky? How do you know it the sky versus the ocean? Are there any clouds dotting the scene? If so, what do they look like?

Great job 👏. You created a unique scene that is like a collage of information, experiences, and other inputs collected during your life.

Why is imagination important for memory and aging?

Imagination allows us to envision different future events, and this can motivate us to take action to achieve those events. Imagination can also incentivize positive change, promote creative thinking and new problem-solving methods, and change how we view our current reality. 

In this sense, using imagination to visualize our aging selves—particularly envisioning aging with health, energy, and vitality—may motivate us to take steps that actualize this desired future.

On a biological level, imagination can also promote the growth of synapses in the brain, according to brain coach and entrepreneur Jim Kwik.

Syapse growth can improve neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change and adapt. Neuroplasticity is connected to both memory formation and learning, so tools that enhance imagination (such as focused visualization exercises) may be therapeutic and reduce age-related brain degeneration, Kwik said.

Moreover, imagination inspires creativity, which can ward off cognitive decline and dementia, according to a CNN article which discussed findings from a study published in Neurology.

During the study, which looked at the impact of creative activities on cognition in older adults, researchers found that middle-aged and older adults who performed creative and artistic activities (i.e., painting) were “73% less likely to have memory and thinking problems, such as mild cognitive Impairment, that lead to dementia,” according to the article.

Big picture

During IF, one character points out that imagination becomes more critical when we are adults, and I can’t help but agree. You see it again and again—the most life-changing innovations, inspiring humans, and breathtaking art are all products of imagination, a skill that we now know is intricately linked with memory.

Imagination can improve functions of memory (such as enhancing word recall), give purpose to memories by guiding future decisions (hopefully wise decisions) based on past experiences, and it can be a motivator for creative-problem solving and guiding positive life changes, which may be helpful as we age. 

Adopting a lifestyle and habits that promote neuroplasticity and reduce the risk of memory loss may be crucial to preserving imagination.

How to preserve and sharpen memory:

• Exercise: The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week.

• Keep your brain active: Practice imagination (hint hint), learn a new skill, play games, socialize, and challenge your brain to promote neuroplasticity.

• Healthy diet: The MIND diet may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

• Socialize: Reduces stress and depression, known risk factors for memory loss.

• Get adequate sleep: 7-9 hours of quality sleep is recommended for adults (get provider help if you suffer from sleep apnea).

How to improve imagination:

• Seek adventure and new experiences: Adventure creates new neural connections.

• Daydream: It inspires problem-solving, creativity, and mental wellbeing.

• Participate in imaginative play: It can help cope with stress, improve creative problem-solving, and increase life satisfaction.

• Go to a blue environment: Or invite blue elements into your environment, as studies have shown this color inspires creativity.

Longevity Media LLC

Be your own expert. Optimize your health. Look beyond conventional.

Livelong is your trusted source for happy and healthy living. Share the memory tips you learned today with your favorite people and get healthier, together.

We can’t wait to cover more trending topics in longevity in our next newsletter. Stay tuned, Livelongers.

-Erin Hunter, Chief Editor, Livelong

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider.