Category Archives: Brain Function

If you’re 60+ and want to boost your brain, here’s a tip: move more. A new study has found that aerobic exercise plays an instrumental role in reducing brain age. Activities like walking, dancing, swimming, and more can improve older adult’s thinking and memory, even if they’ve spent a long time sitting on the couch. ...click here to read more

Among the older population, health care professionals are noticing an increase in depression in those who suffer from insomnia. Researchers from John Hopkins recently studied the effects of lack of sleep among seniors and found a relationship to depression and thinking problems. The study, published in the journal Sleep, looked at data from nearly 600 ...click here to read more

New research has found some people with certain pre-existing diseases such as dementia may be at a higher risk for COVID-19. Experts believe that those with pre-existing conditions may need special treatments and more shielding as the world starts to slowly reopen. A research team based at the University of Exeter and the University of ...click here to read more

By now I’m guessing you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet. It’s the style of eating that’s associated with many health benefits including better cognitive function, improved heart health, and a lower risk for a host of illnesses. For the most part, it is built around fish, olive oil, leafy greens, and other high fiber and ...click here to read more

According to new research, patients with type 2 diabetes had worse cognitive performance three to six months after a stroke. Compared to patients with normal fasting blood sugar levels, researchers found diabetics had poor results in cognitive function, but not those with prediabetes. Published in the journal of the American Stroke Association, Stroke, the study ...click here to read more

Sleep is extremely important for all aspects of health, but a new article reveals how sleep disruption can negatively impact adults with asthma. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the study showed how disturbed sleep can increase the risk of an asthma attack and other side effects of the condition. Faith Luyster, ...click here to read more

There are several factors that can contribute to episodic migraine headaches. Lights, a lack of sleep, stress, food, and even lighting can trigger the relentless pounding that has the potential to leave you incapacitated. What’s worse is that the most common treatment, medication, only works about half of the time. Add that on to the ...click here to read more

Middle-aged men are facing more stress compared to those a few decades ago, even before the coronavirus started spreading across the globe. According to a study led by a team of researchers from Penn State, there is a slight increase in daily stress for everyone compared to the 1990s. However, when researchers looked at samples ...click here to read more

Can snack-time decisions today make a difference 20 years from now? A new study suggests they could. Berries, apples, tea, and other high-flavonoid foods may help keep your brain younger for longer by reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other related diseases. A new study looked at the effect of these foods over 20 ...click here to read more

Experts agree that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk could be influenced by hearing loss. Among older adults, sound is important for stimulating the brain, and studies show the profound effect it has on health. There are many theories behind the relationship between hearing loss and dementia. Some experts believe that dementia creates certain conditions that ...click here to read more

A good night’s sleep may be a little tough to come by these days. But if you’ve struggled with insomnia and poor sleep patterns for a long time, there could be one fix you’ve overlooked. You may have heard of the circadian rhythm. It’s your body’s natural clock that helps regulate several cycles, including the ...click here to read more

One great way to regulate mood and stave-off depression during lockdown is with activity. Of course, for many, the options available just a few months ago no longer exist. A new study published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) found that activities are a useful form of mood regulation. They found that ...click here to read more

On sunny days, it’s even harder to stay inside. With temperatures climbing and the sun making outdoors more inviting, is getting outdoors to enjoy it worth the risk? Sunlight has never been particularly simple. For decades, we’ve been told to limit exposure to protect from harmful UV rays. With the added risk of COVID, getting ...click here to read more

A few weeks ago, I read an article about a spike in calls to divorce lawyers in and around Wuhan, China. Wuhan is where COVID-19 had its first outbreak. Lockdown restrictions were easing and couples had simply had enough of each other. Spending an inordinate amount of time in close quarters with your partner or ...click here to read more