DH wants us to go Left Handed. HELP.

[PetulaClarkMementoMori]

Not sure if this is the correct thread, but here goes....

My DH and I have been together for over 30 years and, as we're getting on we've both become more aware of and conscious to avoid what I suppose is called Cognitive decline.

I enjoy crosswords and reading, so I think I'm at least using my brain daily. DH has never bothered much with what he ( Mostly jokingly ) calls 'Book-Learning'. Anyway, all of a sudden he's become an 'expert'. He told me he'd read an article ( Although I suspect he means he's seen a two- minute video on Tok Tok ) which claims using your left hand for tasks that you would normally use your right hand for can stave off cognitive decline and now he thinks this is a miracle cure-all.
And, of course, he's become obsessed, everything has to be done left-handed, and if he see's me using my right hand, he booms 'Left!'. I can be chopping vegetables or opening a jar of coffee and I'll suddenly hear 'Left!' in my earhole. I've told him it's annoying, but he's as stubborn as a goat that's been struck by lightning.
Yesterday he spent over two hours repairing the lawnmower left-handed and somehow thinks it's turned him into bloody Einstein in a cloth cap.
I've tried suggesting some 'alternatives', as I read that learning a new language is effective. I've always fancied trying Portuguese, or even Hausa or Finnish. But I suspect trying to entice him with any of this will be met with the equivalent of 'Foreign Muck', and it will be the Moussaka situation all over again.
Honestly, I could scream. I know men get fixated, especially as they get older but this is honestly too much. I'm no Carol Vorderman so can someone explain whether there's any truth in his claims of Neural-plasticity in the brain?
I really need to get some answers because if I keep hearing 'Left!' I may well go hard right! In fact, the other day whilst driving he started rabbitting Left! Left! and it was only when I realised that he was pointing to the entrance to the Garden Centre, that I heeded what he was saying.
So, is there any truth to it? And is anyone else's aging husband going as mad as an Aardwark at an all you can eat Ant-Buffet?
I better go, I can hear him rumaging in the airing cupboard and if he see's me typing with two hands it'll be all she wrote. Literally!

You’re a funny writer OP, no doubt whatsoever about your cognitive abilities.

I had to change to using my mouse left-handed when I injured my shoulder, it was 15 years ago and I still do it even though my shoulder is long healed, it’s completely natural to me, though I can still use the right and am completely ambimousterous now.

But it hasn’t made me left-handed or able to write with my left hand. Nor has it inspired me to do anything else left handed. Not sure it staved off any cognitive decline either!

Every time he shouts ‘LEFT!’ either shout something back in Finnish or Hausa, or hit him with a cryptic crossword clue. That way at least you’re annoying him back.

You are completely missing the humour.

Me too😂

I'm definitely stealing that.

My main takeaways from this so far are

Tell him to feck right left off

Surely goats that had been struck lightning would be dead, not stubborn

I initially read your OP as I'm no Lord Voldemort instead of Carol Vorderman and was really puzzled

I’m definitely getting vibes of Victoria Wood from you OP. Altogether now “Left do it, left do it…”

Writing with his left hand obviously

I don't know about the science of this OP. The geek in me found https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10231800/ and https://wp0.vanderbilt.edu/youngscientistjournal/article/enhancing-cognitive-function-through-non-dominant-handwriting-tasks-a-potentially-promising-intervention-for-alzheimers-disease

However, what your post did was bring back my DM who wrote with her left hand (naturally right-handed in case she had an accident and could not use her right hand). Bless her she was in many respects ahead of her time. She didn't enforce this on the rest of the family, however :-)

Yes, it makes sense what he’s doing but you need to point out to him that you already do crosswords, et cetera and you are doing your bit. He doesn’t do the crosswords and quizzes like you so you do not need to do everything with your left hand like he is. you do you and he does him. And if he keeps telling you what to do, you need to have a very firm word with him

Oh golly, that's an awful lot to consider. Parkour is that Japanese? It's nothing sexual is it? I don't want to be a prude but that might be a bit much, I'm nearly 70!

That made me howl OP 😂

Obviously.

I’d smack him round the head with my left hand.

No it's about stimulating neural pathways. For you, you should probably try doing things with your right hand.

I think this whole idea is loosely connected to that of crossing the midline, which is a really important developmental stage for children to ensure both sides of the brain communicate effectively. Lots of tasks require this. It has been suggested that this is why crawling is really important for babies: the left hand goes forward in tandem with the right knee.

I think as we age it is just about shaking things up a bit and keeping everything activated. The side of the brain contralateral to the hand used is activated, so the idea is that using both hands keeps both sides active. But I don't think you need to suddenly become ambidextrous. Just try swapping sides in bed so when you get up to go to the loo you are using an opposite dominant arm and leg etc to exit the bed,.

Without going into whether his research is bona-fide ... who made him the boss of the household? Why does he think his word is law, shouting left at his wife like a schoolteacher from the 50s. I'd tell him to shut his trap, and use this as a learning experience, scientific experiment if you will. While he uses his.left hand you continue as normal, and see which one of you ascends to the lofty heights of genius faster.

First comment nails it

Yes, I've heard of it, but cleaning your teeth is probably a better way than using a knife.
The NHS doing more to support people would make more difference, though. The way people with cognitive decline are treated is awful.

I would play his own game @PetulaClarkMementoMori and insist that from now on you will only converse with him in Portuguese. Ignore anything he says to you in English. Just look at him like you don't understand and say "Português" very loudly and slowly in your best accent and condescending tone.

And shout "esquerda" (left) every time you see him using his right hand for anything.

For god's sake, don't clean your teeth with a knife! 😵‍💫

"Sorry, darling, did you say something? I was just wondering whether it would be more effective to stab you with my left or right hand."

Parkour is not Japanese. But I think you need stronger knees than mine for it.

I love the idea of mn users recommending sexual parkour to head off dementia 😆

This isn’t going to make a meaningful difference. A sauna for >20 minutes 3x per week along with some exercise, good diet and enjoyable social life have a much stronger evidence base.

🤣 this thread and the many funny responses are brilliant!

Tell him that getting so fixated on something ( including trying to be left-handed) will do nothing for his brain's neuroplasticity.

Tell him thanks I can now stab you left handed and get away with it as everyone knows I'm right handed then laugh crazily

Brilliant, maybe he can do OPs jobs and she can sit doing her puzzles in peace. Be nice for him to do something novel.