Browse Category: Brain
In many regards, the final days of life are a deeply unique experience for everyone. Happy memories, sadness, contentment with a life well lived, regrets, peace, or fear combined with our own beliefs about life after death make dying profoundly personal. However, there are some commonalities in death and awareness of these factors can make it a little easier to cope with approaching the end of life.
Growing older often means foggy memories and worrying about the progression of dementia. However, the result of a two-year clinical trial has been released that offers new hope for a sharp and active mind for years to come, no matter how old you may be right now.
Stress is the number one killer of memory. In today’s hectic world, stress is a never-ending cycle that causes memory lapses, and becoming forgetful leads to yet more stress. It becomes a viscous cycle, but there are strategies you can use to help improve your memory and thus reduce your stress. One major strategy is to take certain vitamins and herbs to help improve both your short and long-term memory. These natural supplements boost your memory without any of the side-effects of prescription medication, giving you a safe, alternative method for promoting – and saving - your memory.
The John Hopkins University Research Department has conducted a study that has come up with some amazing conclusions when it comes to a little vino at happy hour and your health. The researchers believe they have discovered how resveratrol – a major component of red wine - may prevent the brain from suffering further damage from a stroke.
If you are middle aged, fish oil may help your body in more ways than one. You do not have to be a nutritionist to know of Omega-3s cardiovascular benefits. However, a new study has shown additional evidence that suggests DHA can help improve non-verbal reasoning and working memory in people between 35 and 54.
You may think that the memory loss you experience as you age is inevitable. For instance, that forgetting where you set your keys or where you parked in the parking lot is just something that you’re going to have to deal with. Well, research begs to differ. And you don’t have to take some expensive pill to get the job done, either. New studies are suggesting that drinking something as simple as grape juice can reduce, and even reverse, memory loss.
You might have thought that your “general intelligence level” was predetermined, based on such measures as your IQ. Well, that’s simply not true. And believe it or not, you may be able to improve your intelligence just by eating more fish! A recent study showed that teenage boys who consumed fish at least once a week had higher intelligence scores than boys who did not consume as much. Keep reading to find out the details of this study, and to learn how you can “get smart.”
Along with millions of other Americans, you may have decided to make fitness a bigger priority this year. That’s fine—but don’t limit your exercises to the gym! A training program for your mind might just be the best thing you can do for yourself.
You’ve probably heard of the “Mediterranean Diet” and its ever-growing list of health benefits, including a reduced risk for metabolic syndrome, heart problems, diabetes, and inflammation. Well, it looks like there’s one more reason to turn to this way of eating! Recent studies give even more credibility to the notion that eating a Mediterranean diet can help your brain stay sharp, more focused and may even ward off dementia well into your elder years.
Do you constantly ask yourself, “Did I forget something? I know I did.” Or do you know someone who frequently says "Oh dear, I'm having another senior moment." If so, it may be time for memory boosting supplements. There are a lot to choose from, so keep reading to learn more about which supplements work best to help you boost your memory.
As you get older, you might expect one of the “symptoms” of aging to be memory loss. You might chalk this up to the aging process and figure there’s nothing you can really do about it. But guess what? There is something that you can do to prevent memory loss and even improve your memory: cutting down on calorie consumption. Keep reading to find out the most recent details of research on diet and memory.
In our "Under the Microscope" series, we're presenting you with some heavy-duty scientific articles about recent discoveries in alternative health. Dopamine and Serotonin are both neurotransmitters, or in simpler terms, “chemical messengers.” Each has a specific role, however, in how it affects the body and the brain. Keep reading to discover the natural magic inside your brain and how these neurotransmitters promote euphoria and excitement.
One of the top killers of them all for many people over the age of 65 is stroke (it actually doubles each decade after age 55). But don’t let that age bracket fool you -- there are significant risk factors that can lead up to a stroke occurring at any age.
You likely know Taoism. Maybe you don’t know that one of China’s great thinkers, Laozi, was its founder. It’s so long ago that no one can document it for certain, but Laozi also developed what he called “brain tonic” exercises. Centuries old, it still works today as a break at your computer screen. Keep reading for the step-by-step process to “tonify” your brain.
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function due to poor blood supply; this causes brain cells to die. Some possible causes include blockages in the arteries, a blood clot that has traveled to the brain, or bleeding of the brain. This is a serious medical emergency that can result in permanent brain damage or death if left untreated.
If your years in college were more than just an excuse to party, than you may have done more for yourself than you know – in terms of your health. A recent Italian study has shown that a higher level of education, as well as a more demanding job, will help to prevent your body from developing dementia, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s take a closer look . . .
Are you a right- or left-brainer? According to science, knowing the answer to that question can have an impact on preventing dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease! I would consider myself left-brain dominant, but I guess it can’t hurt to see the “other side” of things when it comes to brain function. So how do you know which side of your brain dominates? And how can you take steps to start using the other half? Keep reading for all the answers.
Do you suffer from epilepsy, or know someone who does? If so, you know the impact it can have on your life, and the lives of those around you. But if you don’t suffer from epilepsy (or know someone who does) you may not know much about it or even what it is. So, what is epilepsy? Can you “catch” it? What are the symptoms? Keep reading to find out the answers to all of those questions and more.
Do you feel like your memory is not as sharp as it used to be? Perhaps you find yourself forgetting the little things, like where you set your car keys, or where you parked your car in the grocery store parking lot. Maybe it takes you a few minutes to conjure up certain details that normally you would know off the top of your head – like the name of an old flame, or what year your granddaughter is in school. You may have just chalked up such mental fogginess to the normal aging process and figure nothing can be done to change it.
You probably have experienced a headache at some time in your life, whether the cause was getting knocked in the head or one too many cocktails the night before. But maybe you have had the unfortunate experience of much more than just that – a pain so severe that you were unable to function normally or even became sick to your stomach. Is such an experience just a really bad headache? Or is there more at hand?
