[Myeonmanbo Harucheonja] MZ Generation's Unavoidable 'Mwodeora' Syndrome

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] As people age, it becomes increasingly difficult to recall memories at some point. During conversations, the title of a movie or the name of the main character may not come to mind, and faces and names of frequently met people may be forgotten. Passwords become so hard to remember that they are often written down in notebooks or separate files. This is commonly referred to as the "What was that again?", "Uh, uh, uh," or "What was it?" syndrome. The phenomenon of forgetting a sentence or word just as you are about to search for it on an internet browser is also called "Internet MIA Syndrome."

This is a phenomenon that can happen to anyone. Although there are individual differences, by the time people reach their 40s and 50s, they often feel a decline in physical stamina, such as persistent fatigue, and opportunities to experience new things decrease. As a result, stimulation to the brain also diminishes, leading to a decline in brain performance. However, this aging process does not necessarily lead directly to dementia. Still, feeling the weakening of the brain and experiencing anxiety but leaving it untreated can certainly have negative effects on the rest of one’s life.

Dr. Yoshiya Hasegawa, a dementia specialist from Japan, says, "For those who recently realized they forgot something, there is an opportunity," and adds, "The best way to prevent the decline of brain function due to aging is to write by hand." He explains, "If you spend your days feeling 'every day is the same as yesterday' or 'there is no joy in anything,' the brain stops preserving new memories. However, I do not recommend traveling or starting new learning just for that reason," and insists, "While it is certainly important to stimulate the brain, there is absolutely no need to be pessimistic and think 'it’s too late even now' just because of age."

Dr. Hasegawa Yoshiya, Japanese Dementia Specialist

According to his claim, developing the habit of writing by hand increases concentration. When writing characters, the process of remembering the characters themselves and consciously focusing on the space where they are written, concentrating on the fingertips to complete each character, works in conjunction with motor nerves and activates the brain in various ways. Taking a diary as an example, it first involves recalling past memories. The memory "drawer" operates, and decisions are made about what to write or not. Then, the process of verbalizing one’s actions is added, and even the transformation of verbalizing one’s thoughts and emotions at that time occurs. This shows that the brain is fully activated.

Dr. Hasegawa’s emphasis on handwriting stems from his experience of having a grandfather with dementia during his elementary and middle school years. At that time, understanding of dementia and social support were lacking, and the hardships faced by families caring for dementia patients were even greater than now. He said, "The pain of patients whose past lives are denied is immeasurable, and my grandfather’s presence sometimes caused family discord," and added, "I often thought, 'If only there were no dementia grandfather.'" When his grandfather passed away, he agonized over whether he could have done more as a grandson and family member, which led him to pursue a career as a doctor and choose neurology specializing in dementia diagnosis. Dr. Hasegawa opened a dementia specialty clinic in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in 2000 and has treated over 200,000 patients to date. One of his works is the 2019 book .

Citizens visiting the Seoul Cheonggyecheon Used Bookstore Street are browsing books. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Dr. Yoshiya Hasegawa’s Essential Brain Health Note Guidelines

(Use one A4 sheet after reading a book. Organize separately after printing.)

- Date, place, weather of reading

- Title, author’s name, publisher

- Helpful information

- Impressive phrases

- Fresh expressions

- Questions that arose while reading

Walking is also important along with writing. Dr. Kiyoshi Oshima, a neuroscientist and medical doctor and professor emeritus at Kyoto University, says, "Brain age is unrelated to chronological age," and "Youth does not necessarily mean age." Brain age can become younger as much as it is trained, regardless of age. He is an advocate of walking. He claims that entrusting the body to the rhythm of nature allows the brain to regain a calm mind. According to him, when we walk, the brain instantly judges "whether the whole body is balanced, whether the ground contact is safe, what the slope is like, and how to prepare for temperature changes," and sends commands to the muscles. The brain uses all five senses, such as seeing with the eyes, swinging the hands to maintain balance, feeling the air temperature with the skin, and smelling the scent of flowers.

Dr. Oshima says, "Walking in the morning promotes dopamine secretion, increasing motivation for life, and walking while basking in sunlight during the day promotes serotonin secretion, making life more enjoyable and happy." He advises walking unconditionally when one has lost confidence, feels depressed, becomes angry, or faces complicated human relationships. He explains, "Once you start walking, although your situation may not change, your brain becomes fresh and your body becomes energetic, leading to positive and proactive thinking."

Shane O'Mara, a brain research professor at Trinity College Dublin, praises walking in his book . According to him, walking changes breathing, activates the previously quiet heartbeat rhythm, and alters brain activity. At this time, the brain and body enter a preparatory state for future movement. This is called a state of "cognitive activation" and involves "cognitive shifting." O'Mara says, "Our upright walking is not just simple movement but involves recognizing certain facts as we go," and explains, "When waiting at a traffic light, we may be absent-minded, but when the light changes and we start walking, our mind becomes alert for this reason."