Served cold, fresh and crisp, an apple rewards us with a juicy mixture of tart and sweet with each crunchy bite. Is it any wonder that apples have inspired people to think of good health? Turns out there might have been a good reason and moreover, there may be a connection to Alzheimer's prevention. Apples contain flavonoids, antioxidants and vitamins that may all work together to reduce the risk of...
Most of us spend more time staring at a screen than we’d care to admit. It’s easy to do; devices have become a big part of our daily lives. Too much of a good thing is never good, however, and our phones and tablets are no exceptions. All that screen time could be taking its toll on our attention spans. Screentime has a Detrimental Effect on Children - No matter their age, children need strict limits...
How old is your brain? Depending on how you treat it, your brain’s age and your physical age could be two vastly different figures. About 15 minutes a day of this one simple practice could make the difference between having an aging brain and having the brain of a 25-year-old. Research has shown meditation can alter brainwaves and benefit brain health. People who meditate may preserve areas of the...
The brain is, without a doubt, our most valuable asset. It houses our personality, defines who we are and allows us to navigate the world. We want to preserve as much of it as possible, but we may also have multiple hurdles working against us. Genetic issues and neurodegenerative diseases can significantly affect our mental functioning. We still have more power than we may realize, though, and some...
Like other systems in your body, the better you maintain your brain, the more efficiently it’s going to run. Your - cognitive reserve - , or your brain’s ability to problem-solve and adapt around complex issues, can decline over time. Brain games and crossword puzzles might help, but you’ll need more than mental exercises to keep your reserves at their best. Good diet and proper exercise are vital...
Alzheimer's and dementia devastate lives. They destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and they have a way of making us feel helpless. But maybe we're not as helpless as it seems. Maybe we can do something to keep these monsters at bay. We already -know that interventions like cognitive training and physical exercise -can delay dementia. But we also know from other conditions that almost...
Sugar can be downright divine. Just thinking about all the sinful, sticky, gooey possibilities can get our mouths watering. Humans and animals alike are -programmed- to love the sweet stuff, but too much of it may trigger a nasty spiral that can be difficult to escape. Excessive sugar consumption can cause changes to the brain similar to those caused by drug addiction, leading to cravings, binges and...
Physical fitness and exercise improve cognitive performance — that is, processing, attention and memory — regardless of age, says a -new study. It's believed that physical activity causes actual physiological change within the brain, which, in turn, improves cognitive ability. While many of us believe the reasons to get active include longer lives, better function, and healthier retirements, this is...
Are you drinking enough water? Dehydration can have -serious effects- on a person, affecting multiple systems in the body. But the long-term effects it can have on the brain are particularly scary. Research has shown dehydration can cause impaired performance, depressed mood, memory problems and structural changes to the brain that can be visualized on an fMRI. Over time, those changes, which include...
Being creative is more than just fun; it’s actually good for us. Creativity might feel a little different for everyone, but its effects are universal. Being creative can make you happier and more productive, expanding your horizons and possibly even restructuring your brain. It may also be especially beneficial for the mental wellbeing of young people. Let's look at the benefits. Creativity Makes Us...