I’ve seen so many articles, blog posts, news updates about this virus, and yet again, I am jumping on the bandwagon of discussing it. It seems like everyday there’s new information about the virus, so I think the news is actually pretty interesting! I’m especially intrigued by the trends, like death rates, of different countries. And so here I am, writing yet another post about COVID-19.
As you probably know, the virus is most fatal for the older population. Therefore, it would make sense that the countries with the biggest proportion of elderlies, like Japan and Italy, would have the highest death rates. In Italy’s case, this is very evident. The number of deaths in Italy surpassed the number of deaths in China when the total number of cases in Italy was only half that of in China. The death rate in Italy is around 10%, which is pretty high, compared to other countries’. Italy’s older population does play a role in this: around 23% of the population is age 65 or older, and many of those who died were in their 80s and 90s. It could also be how the population is arranged: many elderlies live at home with 18-34 year olds, so the younger family members, who may not show many symptoms, can easily pass the virus on to the more vulnerable older family members. Another factor could be that the virus started spreading undetected, when measures, like the country-wide lockdown, were not yet imposed. Italy’s healthcare system is also straining under all of the cases, with a shortage of resources and workers, as nurses and doctors are also becoming infected. This forces doctors to make the tough decision of who to provide resources to, and it can’t be everyone. Other factors to consider: the death rate may actually be lower, considering the amount of people who have the virus but aren’t tested; other countries may just be behind Italy on the trend. Japan, on the other hand, was expected to have a coronavirus explosion, but it didn’t (or has not yet) happen. Some factors that could’ve played into this are Japan’s proximity to China, leading to earlier preparations, overall higher rates of handwashing than in European countries, and a culture of less physical contact, like hugging and handshaking. However, Japan also hasn’t been doing extensive testing, so the numbers may not reflect the true amount of people with the virus. If this is the case, there could be a spike in cases soon. Germany’s trend is interesting: it has one of the highest number of cases, but with a very low death rate. This could be due to a technique opposite of Japan’s: extensive testing in order to detect outbreaks early. Germany’s other policies, like restricting gatherings and closing nonessential businesses, are more or less the same as other countries’. Also, the median age of infected people in Germany is younger, and this could be due to successfully limiting contact with the older population. I think it’s so interesting that so many factors can contribute to how a virus affects a country. I had first thought that population age could be a good indicator of death rate. However, this is not the case: these three countries all have some of the oldest populations, but their death rates vary quite a bit. Nevertheless, I think it’s still beneficial to learn about other countries’ coronavirus situations to understand what works and doesn’t work for containing the virus. For the health of everyone, it is best to stay informed, so we can try to prevent the worst outcome. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! It’s definitely been a long couple of weeks, but I think this situation has helped me appreciate the little things in life, like going to the grocery store or hanging out with friends, even more.
5 Comments
I think we can all agree that this is a strange time, and I’ll just state the obvious reason why: the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Here are some quick facts about the virus, although you’re already probably aware of them, as coronavirus has dominated the news, social media, and dinner conversations.
Hello again! For this post, I decided to explain my experience as a volunteer at a senior living home. As mentioned in the About Me page, I volunteer to play piano for seniors. I truly enjoy doing this for the seniors because it’s a different way to connect with them. Music doesn’t require talking to communicate or convey expressions, simply listening.
I had one experience in the senior living home a couple weeks back that I keep coming back to. I was playing piano for the assisted living area when a senior, Larry*, approached me. He sat next to me for the whole time I played, attentively listening. Once I finished, his eyes were glistening. After talking with him for a little, I learned that he also plays piano. He mentioned how he felt my music deep in his heart and repeatedly praised my playing ability and made me promise to never stop. This made me also tear up a little because I could tell that the music profoundly impacted Larry. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at Larry's words because I never truly realized how much music could connect with someone. After all, my piano playing is far from perfect or professional, but this experience has taught me that it doesn’t have to be because in the senior living home, people aren’t looking for a concert, but rather music that speaks to them in some way, which is different and personal for each person. This is even more evidence of music’s power to connect people with memories, emotions, and each other. Any level of music can stir up these qualities, and for me, this is so much more important than playing the perfect piece. *name has been changed How can we explain the obligation to take care of our elders?
The first theory is the reciprocity norm, which is basically the social norm that if someone helps us or gives us something, we are expected to return the favor. As children, older people have taken care of us. For me, my parents have obviously raised me by providing a home, food, and opportunities. However, they have also received help from their parents, or my grandparents. From helping out when I was a baby to watching over me when I was a child when my parents were working, my grandparents have also played a big role in my upbringing. Therefore, as they grow older, the obligation to take care of them not only falls on my parents, but also myself. However, a criticism of this is that it’s a parent’s moral responsibility to take care of their children, so there isn’t necessarily a debt that needs to be repaid on the child’s behalf. Another theory is that children take care of their older parents because of the relationship between them, not because of owing something. Ideally, the relationship between parent and child is one of friendship. In this type of relationship, both sides look out for each other out of kindness, so the child takes care of their parents because they care for their wellbeing. Of course, this model doesn’t work when the relationship between parent and child is strained in some way, and there are no feelings of friendship. The last theory I want to explore is the special relationship between parent and child. Parents don’t get to choose what child they get to be parents of, and children don’t get to choose who they get born to. This creates a special bond because in other relationships we can choose who we want to be with, like our friends. Therefore, the love between parent and child is unconditional and unchosen. This relationship is also the stem to other familial relationships, like with grandparents, siblings, cousins, so it can therefore be seen as beneficial. To continue this relationship through age, it’s often on the child to keep in contact with their parents or check in on how they’re doing. Obviously, the individual situations of the child-parent relationship are different. If parents adopted their child, isn’t this technically choosing a child, which contradicts the third theory? If a child’s parents pass away when they are young, and they go live with someone else, do these new people assume the same role and relationship with the child as their parents did? Abusive or neglectful parents and poor living conditions can also alter the child-parent relationship. Therefore, it’s important to consider the unique circumstances surrounding this relationship because it’s more likely not the ideal model. In light of the new decade, I decided to look into some creative innovations to improve seniors’ well-being that we have seen in the previous decade.
Liftware: 2012 Liftware specializes in spoons and forks that are designed to help people with hand tremors or limited mobility, like with Parkinson’s disease. Sensors in the utensils work actively to counteract tremors. The type of utensils for limited mobility has a flexible handle and always keeps the utensil level. By being able to feed themselves, seniors and others retain dignity, confidence, and independence. Reminder Rosie: 2014 Reminder Rosie is a talking clock that reminds seniors of tasks, like taking medicine or going to meals. It can also simply give a caring message from a loved one. What makes this reminder system special is that the reminders are spoken in the senior’s loved ones voices, which improves compliance with the task. Embodied Labs: 2016 Embodied Labs uses VR to simulate situations and problems that caregivers and seniors may face. It can help the caregiver gain perspective on a certain disease or impairment and improve communication with the patient. Rendever: 2016 Rendever also uses VR, but this time, for seniors. Seniors can experience a variety of different simulations, including customizable memory lanes, interactive games, and immersive videos of swimming with dolphins, riding in a hot air balloon, and more! They can also participate in group experiences, fostering a sense of connection and friendship in their community. Ageless Innovations: 2018 Ageless Innovations focuses on the power of play to help seniors avoid loneliness and isolation. The toy cats and dogs built-in sensors that respond to touch, realistic fur, and responsive sounds (purring and barking). Basically, the robotic pets act like live pets, just without the mess of having to clean up after them or take them to the vet! It’s crazy to think back on how much technological progress the world has made. Even some of the inventions we have today seem like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie. It’s even harder to imagine what is in store for the future… but I can’t wait to find out Recently, I came upon an article from MIT news: http://news.mit.edu/2019/brain-wave-stimulation-improve-alzheimers-0314
The article discusses research done at MIT that revealed how a unique combination of light and sound can help improve cognitive and memory impairments of mice that were genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Previous studies have suggested that gamma-frequency oscillations (25 to 80 Hz) were impaired in patients with Alzheimer’s. Researchers in this study were able to use light flickering at 40 Hz for one hour a day to reduce levels of beta amyloid plaques, which clump in areas of the brain related to cognitive functions. Then, they decided to try this with sound: exposure to 40 Hz tones for one hour a day also reduced levels of beta amyloid in the auditory cortex and hippocampus. A combination of light and sound had an even greater effect. I think this noninvasive treatment could be a great way to help patients with Alzheimer’s, although we would have to see if people respond in the same way the mice did first. It also probably isn’t the most comfortable to be staring at a flickering light and listening to a monotone sound for one hour a day. After thinking about this, my mind wandered to the piano. What if I played piano pieces around the 40 Hz zone? Would this produce a similar effect as just the 40 Hz tone? Listening to music is definitely a more pleasant experience, and the lowest keys on the piano did fall around 40 Hz, making it possible to produce music around that tone. I decided to make a couple recordings to compare the sound of a piece played normally, played with the left hand shifted down an octave, and both hands shifted down an octave to hear what the differences sounded like. Here is a video I made on comparing these variations: https://youtu.be/w0DC80urR84 This was just a quick experiment to see how different the variations would sound, so the playing is not the best. It would be great if I somehow found a way to test this theory on the same subjects in the research and see how they react to the music compared to the 40 Hz tone. Anyways, I hope you found this discovery as exciting and interesting as I did! Happy New Year! Ever since I was young, 2020 seemed like such a distant future, so I can’t believe it’s already here. So far, my posts have been more involved in music, so for this post, I decided to discuss the aging world in general. According to the United Nations, by 2050, 1 in 6 people will be 65 years old or older (compared to 1 in 11 people in 2019). This means that the population of people 65 or older will be about doubled in this time. Developed countries will have a greater proportion of seniors, while less developed countries will have less, but the general trend is toward an older population. This brings along challenges in the healthcare system because of a greater demand for senior care but a decrease in young workers to take care of the seniors.
What causes this demographic shift? Along with all the technological advancements we see everyday, medicine is a great one. Antibiotics and vaccines have reduced the number of deaths due to communicable diseases. Sophisticated screening tools have helped doctors identify abnormalities earlier, leading to an earlier treatment. Astonishing breakthroughs, like using 3D printed body parts and gene therapy, have saved many people’s lives. Even just a broader knowledge about health has lead to people making more conscious, healthy choices, like quitting smoking and eating fresh foods. All of these and more have led to healthier, longer-living people. Another factor is changes in fertility rates. In the 1960s, the average number of children a woman had was 5. Now, the average is just below 2.5 children. This decrease in average number of children is due to more countries becoming developed and more women having the opportunity to obtain an education and career, making having children less of a priority. Although it may seem like in the near future, there won’t be enough people able to work, therefore bringing the economy into a crisis, it likely won’t be this way. Even if seniors can’t contribute to physical labor, they can still contribute wisdom and experience. Even more, age shouldn’t be the definition of ability, which can vary depending on the health of a person. I think the World Economic Forum brought up an interesting comparison about this concept: a pint of beer that cost $0.65 in 1952 costs $3.99 today. As just numbers, it seems like the price has gone up exponentially, but with inflation considered, the price has actually decreased. The inflation-adjusted price for the 1952 beer is $5.93. Similarly, a 75-year-old today has the same mortality rate as a 65-year-old in the 1950s. Who knows, as noted by David Sinclair, a Harvard genetics professor, it could be that by the end of the century, people will be 80 years old and still active and have the potential to live up to 150 years old Happy holidays! This time of year has always been my favorite, and I hope you’re enjoying it, too. The comfort of being nestled in a blanket, drinking hot chocolate, and being with family brings back fond memories of previous years. Of course, in Texas, winter days can reach as high as 70 degrees and sunny, so I definitely cherish the days when it actually feels like winter. Speaking of relaxing with a blanket, I usually do this with a book in my hands or, more often these days, reading from my laptop. Today, I came across an interesting article on NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2019/12/22/790553867/how-music-therapy-could-help-people-with-dementia In this short interview with Nancy Gustafson, Gustafson reveals the inspiring way her mother regained some verbal communications and memories. Her mother went from answering yes or no to questions and not recognizing Gustafson to communicating with all of her children and recognizing a place she loves. This drastic improvement was due to a simple solution: music therapy. Gustafson first realized the effects of music therapy after singing Christmas carols to her mother. Even after a short 15 minutes of singing, Gustafson noted that her mother made remarks that she would have said “30 years ago, 40 years before”, when her mother didn’t have Alzheimer’s. Every time I read about the power of music, it astonishes me how much it truly helps patients suffering from memory loss to regain some of the life they had before. I hope this story can motivate more caregivers and patients to refuse to believe that nothing can be done after memory is lost because even if the memory and personality of a patient seems lost, there is still hope that they can be unleashed again through music. Wow, it's crazy how fast the year has flown by. Thank you for supporting my blog this year, and I can't wait for what the new year holds! Welcome back! I’ve recently been interested in MRIs. Not because I’m injured or anything, but because of how it can make a picture of your brain structure. I think it would be so interesting to see what my brain looks like and compare it to others. In chapter 7 of Musicophilia, Sacks mentions a Harvard paper published in 1995 showing that the corpus callosum (band connecting the two brain hemispheres) is “enlarged in professional musicians”, and the planum temporale (in the auditory cortex) is enlarged in musicians with absolute pitch. A question of these enlargements was whether they were due to innate predisposition or musical training. Nevertheless, it’s evident that music is brain-altering! Playing an instrument involves many parts of the brain: the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and various areas of the cerebral cortex all show increased activity. Even just minutes of practice can show changes in the motor cortex. Below I have included a few interesting pictures/video of MRIs of musicians versus non-musicians, so you can see for yourself! Here is the link to a music video that I found pretty cool because it shows the creation of an MRI while the artist, Sivu, is singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_964dqQxQwY Video of taking fMRIs of Jennifer Koh, a professional violinist, to study the effects of reading, listening, and imagining music on the brain: https://today.duke.edu/2016/03/koh Brain while listening to music: Comparison of brain images: So, this month has been quite busy. Unfortunately, so busy that I didn't get the chance to make two posts! I'm very disappointed about this, but I think I will be able to manage my time better next time. Thankfully, it's now Thanksgiving break (I'm so glad I have the whole week off)! I feel like I haven't been able to catch a breath until now, and wow it feels great! For this post, I decided to find something fun, although not as related to aging, to write about: earworms.
As I mentioned before, Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks surprisingly struck me as an interesting book. Why is this surprising for me? Well, I’ve never really been a fan of nonfiction, informative books. With fiction, it’s so easy for me to become wrapped in the story, like I’m truly a part of it. However, with nonfiction, the attraction to the story is just not there. This wasn’t the case with Oliver Sacks’ books. Each story in his books is so interesting, and I think a reason for this is that I have to constantly remind myself that these are real people's experiences, and this makes me curious about the neurological explanation behind the phenomena. In chapter 5 of Musicophilia, Sacks discusses earworms, or the catchy song or tune that’s stuck in your head. Towards the end of the chapter, Sacks mentions that it’s possible that earworms are “to some extent, a modern phenomenon”. After all, with the technology we have today, pop culture is spread so much faster than before, and catchy tunes are part of this culture, whether it’s in the commercial on TV or the song on the radio. What songs tend to be earworms? Some characteristics that common earworms share are a fast tempo, common melodic shape, unusual intervals, and repetition. In other words, an earworm tends to be simple enough to be quickly recalled, but also unique so that it’s remembered in the first place. In a study done in the UK from 2010 to 2013, the top three earworms were “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” by Kylie Minogue, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. As probably expected, these songs are very popular, so it’s reasonable that they are heard often, and therefore get stuck in people’s heads. Why do songs get stuck in our heads? In the same study mentioned above, not surprisingly, a common way for songs to get stuck in our heads is repetition and recency. Both these factors contribute to our memories remembering the song better, and once we remember the song, it can be an earworm. Other interesting triggers for earworms include certain memory associations (ex for one person, the word ‘umbrella’ does it), mood (somehow always thinking of the same song when you’re stressed), and even movement (like the pace you’re walking at matches the tempo of a song). And of course, the question you want answered the most if you are currently a victim of an earworm: what are some ways to get rid of earworms? The three common techniques are to engage, distract, or accept. One idea about earworms is that we repeat the song because we haven’t fully processed it, so it could be that simply playing the song to its finish solves the problem. If this doesn’t work, trying to keep busy with another task could help, like working on a sudoku or even chewing gum. If all else fails, it could be best to just let the song be and know that it’ll go away eventually. Well, happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for so many thing in my life, this blog included. I hope you're also taking this time to relax and be with the people you love! |
Archives
February 2021
Categories
All
|