These identical twins both grew up with autism, but took very different paths
Original article from NPR ~~ Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins at opposite ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sophomore at Amherst College who plans to double major in history and political science. In his free time, he runs marathons. John[...]
Human brains are getting larger. That may be good news for dementia risk.
Original article can be found in UC Davis Health ~~ Brain size has steadily increased for people born after 1930s, according to a new study. Study participants born in the 1970s had 6.6% larger brain volumes and almost 15% larger brain surface area than those[...]
Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Is Lower Than You Think
A surprising and mysterious trend has arisen in recent years that may help point us toward a cure for dementia: Rates of Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. are actually dropping. Indeed, your risk may be lower than that of your parents or grandparents. The percent of[...]
Neurons help flush waste out of brain during sleep
Original article from Science Daily, Feb 28, 2024 ~~ Findings could lead to new approaches for Alzheimer's, other neurological conditions The night is still, but the brain is far from dormant. During sleep, brain cells produce bursts of electrical pulses that cumulate into rhythmic waves[...]
Pets Help to Protect Your Brain as You Get Older
Original article published in Science Alert ~~ Sometimes what's good for your heart is also good for your brain. A recent study of US adults over 50 found that those who owned a pet for more than five years scored better on cognitive memory tests[...]
4 Things That Increase Your Risk Of Early Onset Dementia (That You Can Change)
Original Mind Body Green article available HERE. By 2050, researchers expect 115 million people will be living with dementia around the world. In the U.S., the CDC expects to see the sharpest increases in cases among Black and Latino Americans. And while dementia risk increases[...]
100-year-old sisters share 4 tips for staying mentally sharp as you age—and they don’t say crossword puzzles
Article courtesy of CNBC Centenarian Ruth Sweedler has impressive recall and can make good conversation about what’s going on in the world. Over the years, strangers and family members alike have commented on it. “My doctor loves to talk to me,” Sweedler says. “He’d say, ‘You’re[...]
Can Optimism Help You Live Longer?
This is for all of us who are battling the long winter weather blues! Article by Jill Horne appeared on the blog for Emeran Mayer Evidence from longevity research studies suggests that optimism may be key factor influencing healthy aging and lifespan, independent of lifestyle factors[...]
Similar brain ‘thinning’ seen in older adults with obesity and people with Alzheimer’s
Article courtesy of Live Science A new study links obesity to patterns of brain tissue loss that overlap with those seen in Alzheimer's disease. The brains of older adults with obesity show patterns of gray matter loss that are strikingly similar to those seen in people[...]
Meditation May Change the Gut Microbiome, Study of Buddhist Monks Suggests
Article courtesy of Technology Networks. A study of 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks suggests that long-term, deep meditation could positively affect the gut microbiome. The research is published in General Psychiatry. How does meditation affect the body? In the era of “wellness”, an increasing number of people[...]
11 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans are affected by the disease. It’s important to distinguish the facts from the myths about Alzheimer’s, especially when it comes to finding information online. Read on to learn about common[...]
A French Village’s Radical Vision of a Good Life with Alzheimer’s
Article courtesy of The New Yorker In the summer of 2020, my grandmother stopped eating and getting out of bed. She had fallen, fractured a vertebra, and forgotten about it. I flew to France with a dozen of Mamie’s favorite sesame-seed bagels, and I lived[...]
Mindfulness Meditation Is Equally Effective as Medication in Treating Anxiety: Study
Article courtesy of Nice News Over 40 million adults in the United States struggle with anxiety. Both medication and meditation practices, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), have previously proved helpful for alleviating symptoms. But in a new study out of Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC),[...]
Midlife Omega-3 Levels Tied to Brain Structure, Cognition
Article courtesy of MedPageToday Omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in red blood cells were linked with brain structure and cognitive function in midlife, an exploratory cross-sectional study showed. In about 2,200 people with an average age of 46, a higher omega-3 index was associated with a larger[...]
World’s oldest practicing doctor turns 100: ‘Retirement is the enemy of longevity’
The Cleveland neurologist shares habits that have allowed his body and brain to stay healthy. Original article from TODAY By A. Pawlowski Ask Dr. Howard Tucker about people who want to retire early and he’s incredulous. At 100, the neurologist has been working in medicine[...]
Hybrid brains: the ethics of transplanting human neurons into animals
Article originally appeared in Nature. Transplanting human cells into animal brains brings insights into development and disease along with new ethical questions. In a darkened room in a laboratory in London, a group of students and researchers watch a clump of human brain cells settle into[...]
Brain Aging Markers Tied to Inflammatory Foods
Article courtesy of MedPageToday Diets high in inflammatory foods were linked with global markers of brain aging and cerebral small vessel disease on MRI, a cross-sectional study showed. Compared with anti-inflammatory diets, those considered pro-inflammatory on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) were associated with smaller total[...]
How Much Radiation is Emitted by Popular Smartphones?
Article courtesy of Visual Capitalist Radiation Emissions of Popular Smartphones Smartphones have become an integral part of our everyday lives. From work and school to daily tasks, these handheld devices have brought everything into the palm of our hands. Most people spend 5-6 hours on their[...]
Loneliness May Triple Dementia Risk
Article from MedPageToday Dementia incidence tripled in lonely older adults who otherwise would be expected to have relatively low risk based on age and genes, researchers found. Lonely older people under age 80 without an APOE4 allele had a threefold greater risk of dementia (adjusted HR[...]
The Brain of an Elderly Person
Article by Dr. P.K. Gupta The director of the George Washington University College of Medicine argues that the brain of an elderly person is much more plastic than is commonly believed. At this age, the interaction of the right and left hemispheres of the brain becomes[...]
How to Reach 100 Years of Age Without Cognitive Decline
Article courtesy of Emeran Mayer, MD Two recent articles in the New York Times addressed the topic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one based on a recent scientific publication that showed resilience and resistance to develop cognitive decline in centenarians, the other one addressing the recent controversial[...]
Where Does Your Mind Go When Your Body Is Near Death?
Original article from Human Parts I am in New York City, at JFK. At the check-in desk, a young woman with a ponytail is taking deep breaths and pointedly adding “Sir” or “Madam” to her repeated apology for the lateness of the[...]
Intermittent Fasting Boosts Long-Term Memory Retention
Original article from Technology Networks A new study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has established that Intermittent Fasting (IF) is an effective means of improving long term memory retention and generating new adult hippocampal neurons in mice, in[...]
Your Brain Evolved in the Sea – Why That Matters
Article courtesy of Vital Choice Our ancient ancestors emerged from the sea. Human fetuses still have “gill-slit” structures, remnants of our watery origins. The fact that we are small, mobile, thinking seas has long intrigued writers and researchers. As pioneering marine biologist Rachel Carson put it,[...]
1 in 3 Have Neurological, Psychiatric Problems Post-COVID
Article courtesy of HealthDay News ~ Doctors are seeing such cases around the world: About a third of COVID-19 patients go on to develop "long-haul" neurological or psychiatric conditions months after being infected, new research shows. The findings suggest a link between COVID-19 and a higher[...]