Staying fit in later life also means keeping the mind active. In Luxembourg, this is precisely what GERO's Flux2 project is examining.
Flux2 is a collaboration between several partners: the University of Luxembourg, LUNEX, fitness partner CK, and GERO, Competence Centre for Ageing, a gerontological competence centre. The initiative receives financial support from, among others, the Ministry of Family Affairs and the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.
The aim is to train memory, reaction speed and movement, with one clear goal: preventing falls and helping older people maintain their independence in everyday life.
At first glance, it looks like a series of computer games. But there is much more behind the images on the screen. Participants train their attention, reactions, and memory skills.
One example is a word game in which they always have to take the second letter of a word and use it to find a new one. It is an exercise that quickly becomes more demanding than it may sound.
Alongside cognitive exercises, movement also plays a major role. A camera detects the participants' movements and translates them directly onto the screen.
For participants, it is a mix of game and training, requiring balance, coordination, and quick reactions.
The figures show why initiatives like this are needed. Luxembourg is among the countries where falls among older people remain a significant problem. The aim of the project is to reduce those figures and improve quality of life.
For those taking part, one thing matters above all: staying active. Many have already experienced falls themselves or want to prevent them. Through the different exercises, they gain not only greater safety, but also more confidence in their own abilities.
The results of the study will only be known in 10 weeks.
Whether at the computer or in front of a screen, the combination of movement and memory training is becoming increasingly important. Even before the study results are available, GERO's Flux2 project already shows how people can remain active and fit in later life.
