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Perry County seniors participating in the Wits Workout class from MU Extension. -
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Perry County seniors participating in the Wits Workout class from MU Extension. -
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Perry County seniors participating in the Wits Workout class from MU Extension. -
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Wits Workout participants with MU Extension human development specialist Audrey Johnson (first row, center).
Audrey Johnson is an MU Extension field specialist in human development.
PERRY COUNTY, Mo. – Staying active, connected and engaged can play an important role in healthy aging. For a group of retired women in Perry County, Mo., those principles came together through University of Missouri Extension’s “Wits Workout” program, an interactive brain health program designed to exercise the mind while encouraging social connection.
The participants, a group of retired senior women some who are widowed and some who are married, reported being highly satisfied with their social circumstances and the amount of time they spend with friends and family. They also described themselves as active throughout the day.
Their activities include participating in water aerobics, working on their farms, gardening and taking part in programs offered by MU Extension. The women also expressed enthusiasm for supporting MU Extension and its programs which led them to participate in the Wits Workout program.
When participants learned about Wits Workout, they were interested in trying the program. The four-week class met once a week from 10 a.m. to noon, providing participants with an opportunity to learn about brain health while challenging themselves through a variety of activities.
How Wits Workout works
Wits Workout is an engaging, interactive and educational brain health program. Research by the program’s developers indicates that intellectual challenge and social connectedness are among several factors that contribute to brain health throughout life.
The program is designed around the concept of a physical workout, with each session consisting of three primary components: warm-up, stretching and training.
During the warm-up, participants engaged in activities designed to exercise their ability to remember names and faces. The stretching portion incorporated pen-and-paper activities such as puzzles and worksheets, giving participants an opportunity to challenge their thinking skills.
The final component, training, focused on educational topics related to memory, brain health and aging. Through discussion and activities, participants learned practical information while engaging with one another and putting their minds to work.
More than memory training
For the Perry County participants, social interaction and camaraderie were an important part of the program.
When asked whether they felt the class was helpful, participants shared examples of memories and information they were able to recall because of the activities.
One participant said, “I remembered five addresses I lived at from the past.”
Another participant shared, “I remembered the Ten Commandments.”
For another, one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was simply being together with others: “I enjoyed the camaraderie.”
These personal quotes demonstrate how Wits Workout can provide participants with opportunities to challenge their memory, learn about brain health and remain socially connected. For these Perry County seniors, the program offered another way to stay active and engaged while continuing their commitment to stay involved with programs offered by MU Extension.
As communities look for ways to support healthy aging, programs such as Wits Workout provide older adults with opportunities to exercise their minds, connect with others and discover that staying sharp can be both educational and enjoyable.