How to Improve Brain Function and Memory

How to Improve Brain Function and Memory

Is it possible to improve memory and brain function? There are vital elements to get a good memory working in your favor! Do I forget things? Have I lost my mind? These possibilities have always been a bit of a hot topic in our home. With a family history of dementia and Alzheimers Disease, I’ve realized the burden of care will likely fall on my shoulders. Because of that possibility, studying what can help or hurt our memory is a side interest of mine. For three years, my father-in-law lived with us as we cared for him, and his slowly declining cognitive skills. In some ways, it was like having another child because he needed help with everything. Part of me cherishes those years and the lessons we learned about compassion and kindness as our children helped grandpa with the simplest of tasks. While preventing some forms of this challenging disease are still in the future, there are things we can do today to improve our memory and brain function. Information in your brain is collected, stored, and retrieved by neural pathways. These pathways are responsible for you being able to solve problems, remember familiar faces and tasks, without exerting a ton of effort. Millions of these neural pathways begin developing from the time of infancy. To keep our memory healthy, we need to create new pathways continually. If you don’t use it, you lose it. As we age, our lifestyles often change, keeping those pathways from being developed. Two frequent changes are a decrease in exercise and less attention to our diet. These two combined affect our brain and memory. Sticking with our regular and familiar habits doesn’t challenge our memory. Our brain requires consistent stimulation, regardless of our age, and looking for ways to spur the production […]

Why our venue has become dementia friendly

Why our venue has become dementia friendly

Alison Wallington, event centre manager of Kent Event Centre, discusses how to achieve a dementia friendly venue There are currently 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, a number that is expected to increase to two million by 2050. Dementia is a progressive condition that damages the nerve cells in the brain so messages can’t be sent to and from the brain effectively, which prevents the body from functioning normally. While 10% of dementia cases are inherited, recent research suggests it can be delayed or prevented by practicing good physical and mental health. As a venue that works with our staff to encourage positive mental health, we recently took part in dementia training ahead of an upcoming dementia charity conference being hosted at the venue. The training would make us dementia aware and dementia friendly and better equipped to offer understanding and assistance to our visiting guests living with the condition. Fifteen members of our event team took part in the training to understand the condition and find out what it is like living with dementia on a daily basis. Even simple tasks like making a cup of tea when you have dementia can be so tricky and this training opened our eyes to the condition. There were five key messages delivered which included the fact that dementia is not a natural part of ageing, dementia is caused by diseases of the brain, dementia is not just about losing your memory, it can affect thinking, communicating and doing everyday tasks, it’s possible to live well with dementia and there’s more to a person than dementia. Taking part in this training from the Dementia Friends charity has given us insight and understanding in an area that most of us had no experience. We have dementia friendly badges that people […]

Understanding Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

Understanding Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

Pilates provides and supports both your physical and mental health. It has numerous benefits that will help improve mental health conditions. But it’s vital to know that Pilates or any other form of exercise will not be able to help you if y Exercise is deemed as one of the best solutions when it comes to maintaining good health. It speeds up the brain, strengthens the muscles and generates happy hormones (endorphins) in the body, which helps overcome almost all illnesses. Pilates is one form of exercise that has been part of the fitness world for a long time and is one of the most popular forms of exercise today. This particular exercise involves the use of your mind to control the body. It transforms not just your body but your mind as well. It has a wide range of mental health benefits. Pilates Improves your Memory Pilates engages both the brain and the mind and keeps it engaged at all times by challenging it. Exercise helps pump blood in the brain, which makes us think clearly and improves memory. A study conducted at the University of Illinois reported that people who did Pilates or Yoga regularly have superior brain function. Thus, Pilates can boost your memory and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease . Pilates Relieves Stress Juggling your professional and personal life can spike up your stress levels, which can lead to some serious health conditions. So, it is important to keep your stress levels in control. Pilates is widely used to reduce stress and keep your brain healthy. Pilates Treats Depression Depression or anxiety affects nearly 20 million people every year, but this disease is often misunderstood and left untreated. Pilates can help deal with depression by increasing the level of serotonin, responsible for reducing the […]

Could falling prey to financial scams be a sign of dementia in older people?

Could falling prey to financial scams be a sign of dementia in older people?

( Natural News ) To err is human. But if an older person falls for a financial scam, it may be an early warning sign of declining mental powers . And such cognitive decline eventually leads to dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s afflicts a third of the population aged 85 or older. The disease is incurable. Existing “treatments” only serve to delay the loss of memory and must be taken as early as possible. However, most patients retain their ability to remember names and other memories until Alzheimer’s disease reaches the late stage. As such, effective treatment relies on spotting the incipient signs of the disease at the soonest. On a related note, $35 billion annually get stolen from older people in elder fraud cases. Figuring out how many people are vulnerable to falling for financial scams will also help protect senior citizens from criminals. Con artists consider it easy to target older folk. The typical case is the “grandparents scam,” where the criminal gets in touch with their victim, pretends to be a grandchild or other family member, and begs for financial assistance to help cover the expenses of a sudden emergency. Older people often keep large amounts of cash around the house. They are also often on their own at home and more inclined to answer a phone call, even if they do not recognize the number. (Related: Can essential oils be used to treat certain symptoms of dementia? ) Falling for cons, frauds, and financial scams may be an early sign of cognitive decline Researchers believe that the trend of con artists targeting older people involves something deeper than gullibility. Eventually, a team from Rush University found that falling for a financial scam might be the first sign of cognitive decline in senior citizens. If […]

Flush heavy metals from your body with these 10 natural detox foods

Flush heavy metals from your body with these 10 natural detox foods

( Natural News ) Heavy metals are everywhere nowadays. They contaminate air, drinking water, food, and personal care products. Fortunately, eating plenty of detox foods will help the body purge itself of the toxic chemicals. Start with cilantro. The popular herb helps remove mercury and other toxins that affect the nervous system. It goes well with salads, salad dressings, and detox drinks. Blueberries make healthy ingredients for smoothies. They are a welcome addition to coconut yogurt with almonds. They are rich in antioxidants, with wild ones having higher concentrations. Antioxidants not only help expel heavy metals, but also repair the damage caused by oxidative stress. Lemon supports the detoxifying efforts of the body by boosting hydration. A well-hydrated body is better at expelling toxins. Squeeze one of these fruits and add the freshly pressed juice to a glass of water. Being a rich source of vitamin C, lemon juice helps protect cells from oxidative stress caused by heavy metals. Additionally, vitamin C assists the body in eliminating lead. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to a glass of warm water. Drinking this first thing in the morning improves digestion and elimination, which contribute to effective detox. (Related: Unraveling the science behind “detox dreams” .) These detox foods cleanse heavy metals from the body Spirulina is a superfood made from edible blue-green algae. It helps manage inflammation levels and supports the body’s natural detoxification of heavy metals . It also protects the brain from oxidative stress. Sprinkle a teaspoon of spirulina powder over smoothies, freshly pressed fruit juices, and guacamole. Discover how to prevent and reverse heart disease (and other cardio related events) with this free ebook : Written by popular Natural News writer Vicki Batt, this book includes everything you need to know about preventing heart disease, reversing hypertension, and […]

Can’t sleep? You probably need to make these changes.

Can’t sleep? You probably need to make these changes.

The latest in entertainment Designer Ryan Korban says light floors lend themselves to a more serene sleeping environment. He used them in this New York City bedroom. [Williams New York] Hide caption By Eustacia Huen / The Washington Post Brain research has shown how relevant sleep is to health, so it’s more important than ever to get a good night’s sleep. In the bedroom, that means not just decorating in calming colors but also minimizing stressors and optimizing conditions for a restful night. We asked some experts for advice and products to achieve that. Minimize noise A key obstacle to uninterrupted sleep is noise. To reduce it, Brooklyn-based architect and designer Adam Meshberg, founder of Meshberg Group, recommends soundproofing the walls — building an additional thin wall in front of the original, adding a layer of QuietRock sheetrock, or sealing any cracks or gaps within the walls. To a lesser extent, wallcoverings can also absorb sound, he says, though a padded wallcovering will do more than a simple wallpaper. Cracks and gaps are also a problem when it comes to windows. Restoring or replacing drafty windows won’t just improve your heating and cooling bills; doing so can make a huge difference in the amount of noise seeping in. If renovation isn’t an option, some companies will install a thin window behind your existing window for extra soundproofing. CitiQuiet in New York says it can eliminate 95 percent of street noise. For a simpler fix, getting an upholstered headboard (or a bed that comes with one) helps with acoustics, says Florida-based designer Adriana Hoyos. Go for fabrics at least one millimeter thick; suede, velvet, leather and leatherette are stylish options for absorbing excess noise. Andrew Bowen, director of staging at ASH NYC, suggests a combination of loose items — a […]

Peex let me remix augmented reality sounds at Elton John’s concert

Peex let me remix augmented reality sounds at Elton John’s concert

Above: Elton John live at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Peex is a United Kingdom tech startup that has invented a concert audio remixing system that lets fans control and customize the audio at live concerts , allowing them to hear the music with close to studio-quality remixed sounds. Peex Live promises to deliver perfect sounds, no matter where your seats are in a big stadium. John’s final tour before retirement was a great chance to test the Peex technology on the road in America. I tried out Peex Live at last week’s concert at the Chase Center in San Francisco, which featured Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour . And it really worked. I felt like I could hear more of the legendary singer’s voice and his piano skills, instead of being overwhelmed by the drums, bass guitar, keyboards, and guitar. To me, it was an amazing experience that made me feel like John still had a solid singing voice, as I remembered from his records decades ago. Above: Elton John amid the confetti. Normally, the concert sounds I hear — like I remember from John’s previous tour in San Jose, California — are muddy. They blur together, and his voice gets drowned out by other noises. But to me, the remix that I created with the Peex headset and mobile app, sounded great. On the other hand, my wife couldn’t tolerate the loud sounds in the remix, and she had to take the headset off. Therein lies the complexity of the concert music problem that Peex is trying to fix. Every listener is different. Graham Tull, chief technology officer and cofounder at Peex, calls it “augmented audio reality.” During John’s goodbye tour, Peex is renting out audio wearables and headsets to concert-goers as part of […]

The ultimate guide to sleep

The ultimate guide to sleep

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) From personal experience, I’ve found that taking control of my mornings–and popping out of bed as soon as the alarm clock rings–has changed my life. If you’ve read or listened to The 5 Second Rule , you already know how I feel about the mornings! I’m obsessed with mornings and, in the book, I outline exactly how I use the 5 Second Rule to wake up early and take charge of my day. Your mornings set the tone for your day. And when I wake up early and have time for relaxing, planning, and being with my family, I tend to always have a better day of work. Here’s the thing…when I’m tired, it’s hard to do this. It’s tougher to wake up early and I’m lagging the whole day. I decided to delve into the topic of sleep and figure out for myself if waking up early (and going to bed early) is actually any better for us. My personal experience says it is…but I wanted to see what the experts said. Like I do with many other topics, I wanted to know everything. So I pulled together the best research about sleep on four different topics: Which Hours You Sleep, Staying Up Late, Sleep Deprivation, and Waking Up Early. FIRST: WHICH HOURS YOU SLEEP The first thing I discovered is that the hours that you sleep DO matter. In fact, sleep is made up of 2 phases: REM sleep, in which memories and thoughts are processed, and non-REM sleep, in which restorative functions occur and hormones are released to help the body recover. As we sleep, we experience 90-minute cycles of these 2 types of sleep. The ratio of the types of sleep, however, changes during the night – no matter what […]

World Alzheimer’s Day: Too much stress is toxic, can damage your brain

World Alzheimer's Day: Too much stress is toxic, can damage your brain

Along with stress, hypertension also play an important role in Alzheimer’s. You may be losing as much as 1% of your brain mass every year. By Dr Suryanarayana Sharma Even if you seem perfectly healthy, you may be losing as much as 1% of your brain mass every year. The rate of brain shrinkage increases with age and is a major factor in early cognitive decline and premature death. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Common age of onset of the disease is above 65 years. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease occurs between a person’s 30s to mid-50s. There are several factors influence when Alzheimer’s disease begins and starts to progress. A host of factors beyond genetics may play a role in the development and course of Alzheimer’s disease. There is a great deal of interest, for example, in the relationship between cognitive decline and cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity. When a person has Alzheimer’s, his brain changes. It has fewer healthy neuron controlling memory, and it gets smaller over time. Plaques damage the healthy brain cells around them. The damaged cells die, and the brain shrinks. These changes cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, speech problems, confusion, and mood swings. With Alzheimer’s disease there is great individual variability as to the nature of symptoms experienced and the speed at which deterioration occurs. The types of behaviour change and the length of time symptoms are present are different for each person. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease typically develop quite slowly. Stress and hypertension play an important role in Alzheimer’s. Whenever an individual feels stress, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to cope with the situation causing […]

IntelliFlare IQ — Boost Energy Levels And Sharpens Memory

IntelliFlare IQ — Boost Energy Levels And Sharpens Memory

IntelliFlare IQ you ought to deal with all elements of your body. You eat Correct, and you workout, yet why we don’t to take such mind of their cerebrum? The real rationale is that the huge majority don’t have the foggiest notion how. That’s the reason we will need to IntelliFlare IQ educate you seeing a fresh from the box new supplement that’s meant to raise mind psychological capacity — IntelliFlare IQ tablets! They are explicitly designed to assist your psychological abilities and fortify your skin’s overall. You should just add it to a daily life by day schedule! From that point, your brain gets every one of the nutritional supplements you ought to succeed, and you should see better and faster rationale! We are going to disclose to each one of you about it from our IntelliFlare IQ survey! Just continue perusing!Your head is the bit of you which makes you what your individuality is. It retains your recollections, personality and basic reasoning aptitudes. To dismiss it would be a mind blowing botch. Together with the IntelliFlare IQ nutritional supplement, you can make certain that your head is taking each nourishing bit of leeway. That should enhance your abstract capacities, enabling you to think faster, hold more information, and give fast review! Within our IntelliFlare IQ audit, we will make certain you recognize what this enhancement accomplishes on your mind and you will need to add it to your life now! You’ll likewise get acquainted with all of the item subtleties that you need prior to placing in your petition! In case you’re ready to be the most picky individual within the room, how about people start! Benefits The Most Crucial inquiry you Probably have relating to this improvement is what’s it going to achieve for your brain? […]

What Is Nitric Oxide? Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

What Is Nitric Oxide? Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

Originally posted on https://www.ageless-nutrition.com/nitric-oxide-benefits-uses-side-effects/ Nitric oxide is a gas, but like oxygen, it is a vital part of our body chemistry. It is a free radical, i.e., it has an unpaired electron, which is sometimes denoted by a dot in its chemical formula, i.e., NO Wikipedia. So much so that in 1992 when its significance was recognized as a chemical messenger within all mammals, it was announced as the Molecule of the Year by the American Association for the advancement of Science. It hit the headlines again in 1998 when three scientists were awarded a Nobel Prize for discovering that it played a vital role in the cardiovascular system by regulating our blood pressure and keeping our blood vessels healthy. How does nitric oxide help the body? Further research has shown that nitric oxide is vital to much of our body and keeps us healthy in many ways. It plays an active role in our immune system and nervous system, including our brain activity. Too much or too little of this molecule can affect many chronic conditions. Now research is focused on this molecule to discover its potential for medical treatments. Nitric oxide is produced within the body during the breakdown of food and is quite an unstable molecule that degrades reasonably quickly due to its free radical condition. For its presence to be increased, we need to introduce nitrates from natural sources such as green vegetables and beetroot. Let’s not forget about the amino acid, arginine , which is also an active part in the production of NO. What are the benefits of nitric oxide? Within the blood system, it is found to be released by the cells lining the blood vessels. This produces the effect of relaxing the blood vessels and therefore keeping them flexible and easing […]

The Healing Power of Mushrooms

The Healing Power of Mushrooms

At first glance, mushrooms might seem unimpressive, but apparently they are the new “it” food and are good for more than just mealtime. “Mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries,” says Bart Wolbers, MS, researcher at Nature Builds Health. “Though each variety has its own unique properties, they are generally known for promoting heart health, well-being and immunity.” Here’s what you can expect from a few popular varieties. Mushrooms can serve as a flavorful meat substitute in plant centric meals, and their inherent umami or savory essence makes them a great addition to many dishes. Shiitake This mushroom adds a distinct flavor to spaghetti, stir-fry or salads , and recent research shows it can aid in heart health and help decrease blood pressure. Shiitake also can help reduce cholesterol because of the presence of compounds called sterols and beta-glucan, according to a Japanese study. “Beta-glucans are a fiber that makes the gut lining thicker,” Wolbers explains. “That thicker lining prevents the dietary absorption of cholesterol.” Reishi Because of their woody texture and bitter flavor, reishi mushrooms are typically found only in supplement form. This variety is reputed to reduce inflammation and help prevent the onset of certain cancers by acting as an antioxidant when ingested, scavenging for and disposing of free radicals that can cause cellular damage. A study published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications determined that reishi may even inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Cremini, Portobello and Button Fun fact: All three of these mushrooms are of the same variety, and it’s simply the level of maturity that dictates its name — portobello being the most mature. Another fun fact: Mushrooms are the only natural source of vitamin D in the produce aisle, and these three contain the most. All three are also […]

Inspiring Morning Routines for INTPs, ENTPs, INTJs, and ENTJs

Inspiring Morning Routines for INTPs, ENTPs, INTJs, and ENTJs

As an Intuitive-Thinking personality type you’re someone who craves mastery and competence in every area of your life. You seek a life filled with meaning, discovery, and understanding. Determined and driven by an inner vision of what is possible, you want to flip tradition on its head and find original, new ways to do things. How can your morning routine propel you towards your goals for life? For most of us, mornings are about hitting the “Snooze” button as much as possible, gulping down coffee, and racing to work or the school drop-off in a frenzy of stress and exhaustion. But did you know that your morning can be something you look forward to? The tone you set in the morning can stick with you throughout the entire day and make you powerful, enthusiastic, and creative. Stop “surviving” your mornings and really start LIVING them! Some of these ideas are healthy for anyone regardless of their personality type, but I’ve also tried to select routines and tips that will specifically benefit you based on your type. Prepping for a Positive Morning (The Night Before): Pick a quote to put on your bedside table that will get you started in the right mindset. Here are a few examples: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein “On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.” – Friedrich Nietzsche “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and […]

Keto Supplement Recommendations

Keto Supplement Recommendations

Keeping your body healthy doesn’t end with eating the right foods. You need to make sure that your micronutrients are in check and ready for the day ahead. It seems like everywhere you look now, there is always a new gimmick on the market to make you gain muscle, lose weight, or be healthier – quicker and easier than the others. If you believed half of the slogans that you read, you’d be out of a lot of money and it’d take you a long time to realize how utterly worthless a lot of these supplements are. But, while most are a waste of money, we can find the quality in a few supplements here and there. There are supplements with proper scientific research behind it that shows why it works, and how it works. These are the ones that you rarely see at the front section of GNC, but the ones that are well hidden in the back that nobody goes to. General Health Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to perform the millions of processes that keep you alive on a daily basis. Ideally, we get all the vitamins and minerals we need just out of our diet, but with some of the foods we eat, it’s easier said than done. The quality of the foods that are put out is becoming less and less nutrient dense, which means that we can try to supplement the essential micronutrients into our diet this way. Any and all holes that are left in my diet are properly taken care of by my multivitamin. I recommend using a high quality, natural vitamin that will give you what you need. Garden of Life has a great reputation and the research done on their products confirm the quality […]

A Deeper Understanding Is Needed To Improve Neural Networks

A Deeper Understanding Is Needed To Improve Neural Networks

The development of neural networks is not a new thing. In fact, neural networks have been around since the 1940s, according to MIT News . No one has really been interested in the application of this technology until now. To begin, let’s define a neural network. According to the definition by Investopedia : “A neural network is a series of algorithms that endeavors to recognize underlying relationships in a set of data through a process that mimics the way the human brain operates. Neural networks can adapt to changing input; so, the network generates the best possible result without needing to redesign the output criteria.” The inspiration for algorithms comes directly from the biological function of the human brain. As MIT News notes, "The one-layer networks of the 1960s and the two- to three-layer networks of the 1980s [have blossomed] into the 10-, 15-, even 50-layer networks of today." So, when we talk about deep learning, in English, it means that today there is layer upon layer of networks all interconnected in functionality and communication. Neural networks are systems of hardware and/or software patterned after the workings of human neurons in the human brain. There are layers upon layers of data all being associated to perform the act of learning and memory, known as artificial intelligence (AI). I believe that the marriage of data and artificial neural networks are our best chance to move toward real AI. As we move further into the 21st century, we will be working alongside products built on deep learning technology. The problem is that the union of data analytics and neural networks (known as deep learning) are so new that data scientists, upper management and CEOs alike don’t really understand what can be done with this technology. Thus, how can this new technology […]

How Artificial Intelligence is changing the world

How Artificial Intelligence is changing the world

The technology of AI has been improving every year for the past 20 years, and today it is a very mature technology. Many companies and organizations are actively employing AI in different ways. AI is also developing into the next generation of computing, where big ideas can come from and many people can become an expert on a new discipline. Today, there are many companies working on various AI projects that are shaping the future of the technology. While AI is generally synonymous with artificial intelligence, more technically sophisticated systems can be described as “artificial general intelligence”. These systems are able to solve problems that are very different from those that can be solved with a machine, in an extremely fast and scalable fashion. Since computer hardware has continued to improve to become incredibly efficient and powerful, many companies have sought to improve on machine learning capabilities — in the form of neural networks. Neural networks are simply algorithms that train one another by combining their experience to perform many different tasks. Neural networks can now be used to perform tasks that were once performed exclusively by a human brain, such as automatically recognizing faces and speech in images, as well as making decisions based on a set of data such as a person’s previous experiences, or the number of likes they have on a social network. As such, the possibilities for using neural networks to process massive amounts of data in order to reach the answer are limitless. For most of us, the idea of machine learning may sound like science fiction, but it has already been used in a wide variety of applications. The first good example of machine learning was teaching artificial neural networks how to recognize faces in a database. Many more applications include the […]

California’s “Holy Herb” Found To Be An Effective Natural Treatment For Alzheimer’s

California’s “Holy Herb” Found To Be An Effective Natural Treatment For Alzheimer’s

California’s “Holy Herb” Found To Be An Effective Natural Treatment For Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and aging is its primary risk factor. Therefore, researchers continue to look for ways to counter the effects of aging on the brain. In a recent study, researchers from The Salk Institute for Biological Studies discovered a potential natural treatment for Alzheimer’s in the form of a medicinal herb found in California. In their study published in the journal Redox Biology, they found that yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), a plant native to California, contains an active compound called sterubin that could be used to treat people with Alzheimer’s. Yerba santa, which is the Spanish for “holy herb,” is highly regarded as a medicine for respiratory diseases, bruising, fever, headaches, infections, and pain. In an earlier study, the same team of researchers used a screening method to identify plant compounds that could reduce inflammation and protect nerve cells. From this, they developed a screening tool that can both identify compounds that might protect cells, but also find the target pathways of these compounds. For the current study, the researchers first examined 400 plant extracts with known medicinal properties for their ability to prevent oxytosis – a type of cell death that occurs in Alzheimer’s disease – in mouse hippocampal nerve cells. Extracts that have this ability underwent more tests – some tests used mouse nerve cells, while others used human nerve cells. The researchers investigated the compounds’ ability to prevent the effects of aging on the brain. The researchers found that sterubin exhibited the greatest protective effect against inflammation and other triggers of brain cell death. In particular, sterubin strongly reduced inflammation in microglia, which are brain cells that provide support to nerve cells. In addition, the researchers found […]

How your relationship status could double your dementia risk

How your relationship status could double your dementia risk

I’m not sure that there are many diseases out there that the medical community understands less than dementia. In fact, it seems that beyond your genetics most doctors look at your risk of losing your memory as a crapshoot. And, I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s simply not good enough. I believe that forewarned is forearmed when it comes to your health. So, the more you know about what could cause a disease, especially one as devastating to your life and family as dementia, the more you can do to prevent it. That’s why a new study out of Michigan State University was so interesting since it found a significant link between your relationship status and your dementia risk. Double the risk The team of scientists analyzed the data from more than 15,000 people over the age of 52, separating them into four groups of unmarried individuals: Divorced or separated Widowed Never married Cohabiters And, the researchers found that hands down, people who were divorced had the highest risk of dementia. In fact, the results showed that divorce doubles your dementia risk compared to marriage! They also found that the risk was higher for divorced men than women. “This research is important because the number of unmarried older adults in the United States continues to grow, as people live longer and their marital histories become more complex,” said Hui Liu, professor of sociology, Michigan State University. “Marital status is an important but overlooked social risk/protective factor for dementia.” Confirmed link And, this wasn’t the first study to demonstrate such a profound link between a relationship (or, the lack thereof) and dementia. Just two years ago, after performing a review of 15 separate studies, researchers from University College London found that people who are single or widowed […]

Best Mattresses For Seniors

Best Mattresses For Seniors

There have been many advances in the health care world which is why people, seniors in particular, are able to live longer, healthier lives. It’s one of our world’s greatest achievements. Not only are seniors able to live longer, but their quality of life has greatly improved, as well. This is important because seniors are often plagued with health issues, some are due to medication conditions while others are simply part of the natural aging process. Either way, seniors require much more assistance than the average person and some of their needs can be quite costly. Everyone understands the importance of a good night’s sleep. We all need it, but for seniors it’s much more important and they often struggle the most due to things like chronic pain. Research shows that a deep, restorative sleep is how the body rejuvenates. It can help the brain fight against memory loss and dementia, help strengthen our immune system, and repair residual damage. In order to reap the benefits of sleep, we need a good mattress that is comfortable, but also provides adequate support. If you’re looking for the perfect mattress, try any of these 5 mattresses that are designed to help seniors, particularly those suffering from chronic pain in their back, neck, shoulders, or hips, sleep more soundly. Layla The Layla mattress is super unique as it’s the only mattress that is made out of copper-infused foam which will help relieve any unwanted pain and pressure on the body. You’ll get the most out of your money by going with Layla because you essentially get two mattresses for the price of one! Let’s be honest, there are two types of people in this world, those who sleep on a soft mattress and those who like a firm mattress. It all depends […]

High Levels of Stress Prevent You Thinking Clearly

High Levels of Stress Prevent You Thinking Clearly

Image from rawpixel.com Almost everyone knows that stress is bad for their health. It does odd things to our bodies — it causes headaches, chest pains, fatigue, and digestive issues. The faster pace of life today means lots more stress for a lot of people. That feeling you are overwhelmed, overloaded and struggling to cope with the demands of life has also been shown to take a toll on your thinking ability. A study of more than 2,000 people, most of them in their 40s, found that participants with the highest levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol performed worse on tests of memory, organization, visual perception and attention. Stress is the body’s natural defence against danger. It’s a ‘fight-or-flight response’ to anything that may harm us — physically or emotionally. When your body perceives danger, it releases stress hormones (cortisol) to prepare systems to evade or confront danger. When you’re stressed, cortisol levels increase which impacts your ability to think clearly. The stresses of daily our lives can take a toll on the brain for the worse. Stressful events and experiences throughout life can impact the brain decades later. But it’s never too early to be mindful of reducing stress. Studies have shown that the stress hormone cortisol might be linked with degrading memory and poor thinking skills in middle-aged adults. “Stress absolutely affects memory,” says clinical psychologist and behaviorist Dr. Jennifer Guttman. The journal Neurology says that people with higher levels of cortisol in their blood have impaired memories and lower brain volume. “Cortisol affects many different functions so it is important to fully investigate how high levels of the hormone may affect the brain,” said study author Justin B. Echouffo-Tcheugui, MD, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. The study concluded that “Higher serum cortisol was […]

Nature Knows and Psionic Success