New Diet – MIND Diet – Linked to Cognitive Performance
Razi Berry Aging takes a toll on the body and on the mind. For example, the tissue of aging human brains sometimes develops abnormal clumps of proteins that are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. How can you protect your brain from these effects? Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found that older adults may […]
Guessing When to Pay Attention
Razi Berry Fast reactions to future events are crucial. A boxer, for example, needs to respond to her opponent in fractions of a second in order to anticipate and block the next attack. Such rapid responses are based on estimates of whether and when events will occur. Now, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for […]
Afternoon Napping for Better Brain Health
Razi Berry Taking a regular afternoon nap may be linked to better mental agility, suggests research published in the online journal General Psychiatry. It seems to be associated with better locational awareness, verbal fluency, and working memory, the findings indicate. Longer life expectancy and the associated neurodegenerative changes that accompany it, raise the prospect of […]
Brain Regions Smaller in Birth Control Users
Razi Berry Researchers studying the brain found that women taking oral contraceptives, commonly known as birth control pills, had significantly smaller hypothalamus volume, compared to women not taking the pill, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Researchers found that women taking oral contraceptives […]
Link Between Students’ Grades and Sleep Habits
Razi Berry Two MIT professors have found a strong relationship between students’ grades and how much sleep they’re getting. What time students go to bed and the consistency of their sleep habits also make a big difference. And no, getting a good night’s sleep just before a big test is not good enough — it […]
Fitter Body, Fitter Brain
Razi Berry In a large study, German scientists have shown that physical fitness is associated with better brain structure and brain functioning in young adults. This opens the possibility that increasing fitness levels may lead to improved cognitive ability, such as memory and problem solving, as well as improved structural changes in the brain. This […]
Teen Cannabis Use May Have Lasting Effects on Cognitive Function
Razi Berry With changing thoughts and legislation surrounding the use of cannabis, the need to understand the effects of cannabis use on adolescent development is even more necessary. Most studies that have linked alcohol and cannabis misuse and abuse to cognitive impairment have not been designed to differentiate a causal relationship between use and long-term […]
Belly Fat Associated with Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Razi Berry A recent study from Ireland has found that belly fat is associated with a lower cognitive functioning in older adults (60 years and older).1 The study may have profound implications for a global dementia population that is predicted to increase 3-fold by 2040. Research shows that overweight individuals underperform normal weight controls on […]
Healthy Muscles = Healthy Aging
Razi Berry It’s a common question: “what is the best exercise?” And more and more research is supporting a single answer. Exercise that supports healthy muscles seems to be the best for improved aging, as well as lowering risk factors for chronic disease. Muscle health + improved aging rate of the brain A recent research study […]
Sleep – Another Timeless Quality vs. Quantity Question
Dr. Catherine Darley, ND @naturalsleepdr The most common sleep problem is not getting enough sleep. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control has declared that “insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic”.1 About 30 percent of adults get less than six hours of sleep nightly, although we know almost everyone needs more.2 Surprisingly, the number […]