Could 3D printing help seniors?
3D printing has become a familiar feature of contemporary life. As machines and materials become more cost-effective and software platforms get more user-friendly, more people are choosing to try it out. This has the potential to make small-scale manufacturing and personal tailoring of products a practical option for many. That said, it’s worth considering the more nuanced benefits 3D printing can provide.
As we age, there’s potential for cognitive deterioration, which can be a distressing prospect. Pursuing projects that boost brain function and overall mental wellness can be a positive approach. Interestingly enough, 3D printing can offer various ways to maintain and improve your mental cognition as you get older.
Benefitting from the Hobby
3D printing is often considered a business or industrial tool. However, it can also provide and support enriching hobbies. This is an important consideration, as there is increasing recognition that some hobbies are beneficial to memory and concentration as people age. 3D printing can be incorporated into many hobbies that improve cognition. For instance, you could boost the cognitive benefits of knitting and crocheting by printing tailored crochet hooks, grips, and looms. The mental stimulation of gardening could also be bolstered with custom 3D-printed irrigators, pots, and seed spacers.
However, it’s vital to recognize that 3D printing in itself can be a cognitively invaluable hobby. This is primarily because 3D printing isn’t a passive activity, like watching a movie or listening to podcasts. You need to be actively engaged in the process. You’ll be utilizing design tools, researching methods and materials, and assessing the finished product. All of these aspects can help you engage parts of the brain that are related to memory and focus.
In addition, you can find that adopting 3D printing as a hobby can have a social element. There are various online communities that share information, advice, and encouragement for 3D printing activities. Some of these focus on niche areas of 3D printing, such as replica props. You might also find opportunities to engage with physical maker spaces in your local area, sharing ideas and tips with like-minded people. This can be vital, as recent studies by Pennsylvania State University suggest that when people participate in regular and pleasant socialization regularly as they age, their cognitive functioning improves.
Engaging in Problem-Solving
Some cognitive changes that occur as we age are not necessarily medical conditions. For instance, many people find they have to navigate experiences of brain fog, which can involve various symptoms, including brief memory lapses, difficulty focusing, and trouble multitasking. In some instances, brain fog can be addressed by identifying root causes, such as malnutrition or hormone fluctuations during menopause. However, regularly taking part in activities that stimulate the brain can also help here and 3D printing is one of them.
Firstly, while many 3D projects can be just fun, there are opportunities to address real-life challenges using this tool. One of the best reasons to have a 3D printer at home is it allows you to address practical issues independently. You’ll be able to exercise your creative and problem-solving abilities to use in designing and printing components to meet specific needs or overcome hurdles. This could be aspects of your own life, such as making your home a safer place or creating more practical storage. You could also take on more ambitious challenges to help public initiatives, such as designing agile prosthetics or environmentally-friendly products.
There are also significant problem-solving opportunities within 3D printing itself. You’ll need to apply your critical and spatial thinking abilities to not just develop suitable designs for printable items but also how your approach can affect the integrity of the print. Your cognitive functions can benefit from the continued need for troubleshooting flaws in your prints. You’ll need to identify the root causes of issues, utilize logical reasoning to devise potential strategies for changes and test out your solutions. In essence, you’ll be utilizing systemic thinking that keeps your mind stimulated.
Gaining New Skills
One of the advantages of being older is that you’ve developed some invaluable skills and knowledge during your experiences. Some of these may be the results of formal training, while others come from hard-earned life lessons. However, it’s important to remain committed to learning as you age. Recent research from the University of California, Riverside has found that gaining new skills can boost cognitive functioning in older people. 3D printing offers the potential to learn a range of new skill sets.
This includes a range of technical skills. Learning 3D design software is essential for printing anything other than standard items that others have made files available for. You’ll also gain a solid understanding of the properties of different types of materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastics, high-detail resins, or carbon fiber composites.
There are also transferable skills you can develop through engaging with 3D printing that can impact not just your ongoing cognition but other areas of your life. A good example of this is design thinking, in which you utilize empathy, creativity, and iteration to solve problems. This skill can be applied to decorating, building, gardening, and other challenges.
3D printing can have a significant impact on your continued cognitive wellness as you age. Firstly, taking up this type of hobby triggers brain functions that can aid concentration and memory. Engaging in the problem-solving elements of the activity can also provide effective neurological stimulation. Importantly, you can gain a variety of skills through 3D printing, which is associated with greater cognitive functioning in older populations.
Perhaps most important of all, though, is that 3D printing can be enriching and just plain fun. Yes, it’s good to know you can boost your wellness in this way, but enjoying this hobby can be equally advantageous to your quality of life.
