Good morning and welcome to agebuzz… Headlining today’s topics:

-Breathe Deep: Mindfulness Meditation May Help With Mental Decline

-Brain Candy: Is Chocolate Really Beneficial For Your Brain?

-Living The High Life: The Advent Of Luxury Senior Housing In Manhattan

-Social Seniors: What Older Users of Facebook Like And Dislike

-Hop On The Bandwagon: Senior Travel Pushes New Boundaries

-Village People: A TED Talk On The Benefits Of Social Interaction For A Long Life

-The Last Word

Breathe Deep: Mindfulness Meditation May Help With Mental Decline: As we age, many of us feel the effects of cognitive changes in our brains: we may struggle to remember a name, forget where we put our glasses or perhaps get more rigid in our thinking. All of us could use a little more focus and flexibility, and for some, mindfulness meditation may be the way to get the help we need. Mindfulness meditation can improve the neuroplasticity, or changes to the brain, that have occurred over our lifetime. Want to learn more? Take a deep breath and read about this easy to learn technique Here. And check out this scientific study of 55 to 75 year-olds which found an improvement in cognitive tasks with a daily 10-minute mindfulness practice Here. Finally, clear your mind and begin your own mindfulness practice with this simple guide.

Brain Candy: Is Chocolate Really Beneficial For Your Brain?: If you can satisfy your chocolate craving and improve your cognitive functioning, wouldn’t you like to know that? Well, according to Harvard physician Robert Shmerling, there is some, but not conclusive, evidence that this may be so. Dark chocolate and cocoa contain flavanols, plant-based substances that act as anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants. Other foods, including many fruits and vegetables, also contain flavanols, which is why they are essential to a healthy aging diet. Unfortunately, chocolates can also contain sugars and high calories, so gorging on them to improve your cognitive clarity may not always be the best idea. However, as Dr. Shmerling notes, there is evidence that those places where there is the most chocolate consumption also have the most Nobel laureates. If that sounds persuasive to you, you need to learn more by Clicking Here.

Living The High Life: The Advent Of Luxury Senior Housing In Manhattan: Manhattan has, for many of us, been a siren song- we can’t stay away and are always drawn back. For some lucky (and wealthy) seniors, there will now be the option of continuing the luxury life of a sophisticated Manhattanite, with all of the supports a senior could desire.Bloomberg’s Pursuits section recently featured an article about the arrival of high-end assisted living apartments for urban seniors with large bank accounts. With features including spas, farm-to-table dining and broadway tickets, along with senior-friendly designer finishes and support services, these are residences that will attract those at the top of the income and asset chain. Prices will be upwards of tens of thousands of dollars a month for the apartments which, given Manhattan prices, may not be all that outrageous. Looking for your next living space once you win the lottery? If so, take a look Here.

Social Seniors: What Older Users of Facebook Like And Dislike: If you have the chance to see photos from your grandson’s latest travel adventure, or can wish an old friend birthday wishes with the click of a button, who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that? If recent research is correct, it does seem like senior users of Facebook are enjoying the ease of connection and observation that Facebook allows. What they don’t like, however, is equally important. According to new research out of Penn State, older participants on Facebook enjoy being “voyeurs” of other people’s life events, but sharing their own personal details? Not so much. Researchers found that seniors have significant concerns about the privacy of their personal information as well as disinterest in the “triviality” of much of what appears on social media. To find out more about what attracts and what repels older users of social media, Click Here. And for those of you who are confused and confounded by the slangs and abbreviations that appear all over social media, get some translations by looking Here.

Hop On The Bandwagon: Senior Travel Pushes New Boundaries: With estimates of spending $120 billion a year, seniors are a force to be reckoned with in the world of travel. With more time and resources than previous generations, older travelers are now jumping on the travel bandwagon like never before, and entities such as National Geographic’s Expedition Trips are creating opportunities for memorable travel moments. Whether your interest is in heritage, culture or nostalgia, there are innumerable opportunities that the travel industry is now rushing to create. So pack your bags and read more about this senior travel explosion Here. And for those of us a bit hesitant, given the uncertainty and terror that can emerge at a moment’s notice, senior travel writer Donna Hull has some advice about steps you can take, both prior to and during your trips, to lessen the likelihood of danger and distress. Check out her suggestions Here.

Village People: A TED Talk On The Benefits Of Social Interaction For A Long Life: Psychologist Susan Pinker’s most recent book, The Village Effect, marshals original field research with psychological theories and evidence to arrive at a singular conclusion: Face-to-face social interactions are probably the most determinative factors in whether you live a long life. Pinker, a journalist and developmental psychologist, has explored the reasons that some people become centenarians, especially women rather than men. Her work has led her to understand the essential value of close relationships in your life and why they may be better for you than any medications you take or health regimens you follow. In her recent TED talk, she discusses the residents of Sardinia and why their dense village life of close proximity and daily interaction has led to a spate of centenarians on this Italian island. Calling social isolation “the public health risk of our time,” Pinker makes a compelling case for getting out from behind our screens and getting back in physical contact with each other. Watch her engaging TED talk Here and check our her personal website Here.

THE LAST WORD: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”  Thomas Edison