Welcome to my page!

I'm probably a little nutty (well, I'm freaking nuts!) to start learning this game in my 40s (gasp) for cripe's sake, but hey, I love a challenge. Besides, studies have shown that regular participation in cognitive stimulating activities do help to lower the risk for the development of dementia in the later adult years. Soooo..... I'd better do everything possible!

I have given myself the name of "Cris Angel". I have named myself after the master "magician of the century", Criss Angel. I'm not a HUGE fan of magic although it is certainly fascinating. The reason that I have named myself Cris Angel (notice the spelling difference) is because Criss Angel has some philosophies on life that I think are worth sharing.

1. Believe in yourself.

2. Negativity never EVER breeds anything positive.

3. Never give up.

4. Practice, practice, practice.

Sometimes I think I wouldn't have become a Ph.D. had it not been for Criss. I ran into so many brick walls and wanted to give up... and then I'd look over on my bookshelf and see Criss' book and remember that he, too, ran into many obstacles. Somehow I'd find the energy and courage to keep trying.

And I did it.

In September 2011, I graduated with a Ph.D. in health education and research. My dissertation had to do with cognitive stimulating activities and leisure activities and their relationship with the development of dementia in later years. Not surprisingly, my own study also found that cognitive stimulating activities (such as chess, crossword puzzles, playing cards, etc) and leisure activities (golfing, socializing, going to the theater, etc) are influential insofar as the development of dementia. Of course, there are a multitude of variables. More and more research, however, is showing that we need to USE IT OR LOSE IT...

Dr_Cris_Angel