Posts filed under '7 keys'
Memories Fade, But Emotions Remain
One of the biggest concerns for Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers is the worry that visits from loved ones don’t matter, that the memory loss robs them of the kindnesses, comforts and care that their friends and family try to offer them. Patients hate the idea that they’ll lose the knowledge of those they love, and caregivers fear that their efforts are pointless exercises.
But a new study suggests that those visits and small kindnesses definitely matter – because even when the direct memory of the visit fades, the warm feelings from it remain.
Add comment May 7, 2010
The Fledgling Science of Brain Fitness: A Reality Check
This week brought an important reminder about just how early we are in the scientific exploration of brain fitness and the influence of lifestyle on diseases like Alzheimer’s.
An independent panel assembled by the National Institutes of Health reviewed available studies on a variety of lifestyle changes that have been suggested to delay, slow or reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Their finding? The evidence just isn’t clear. The studies are promising but often conflicting, and there are problems with even the most basic concepts, like the definitions of Alzheimer’s and how to measure cognitive abilities.
Add comment April 29, 2010
Staying Active: At Age 77, Alzheimer’s Patient Plans To Explore Loch Ness… By Canoe!
I love people who refuse to give up on their brains. According to a story in Scotland’s Inverness Courier, Mr. John Forsyth, age 77, certainly seems to qualify as one of those fighting spirits.
You see, Mr. Forsyth has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. And yet, this May, he plans to spend a little more than 3 days paddling his canoe around Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, about a 50 mile excursion. He’ll be sticking close to the shore, hoping to get close to the native wildlife, and camping at night.
According to the Courier Article, he’s well aware of the risks, and has said “My problems could be the weather, the wind or the sun. I could get heat or sun stroke and there is also my friend Nessie!” (more…)
3 comments April 27, 2010
Going Green as Brain Exercise?
This week marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide effort to raise environmental awareness. Everyone is encouraged to participate by making changes to their lifestyle, changes like recycling household trash, saving energy and water, changing habits that can negatively impact the natural world around us.
What’s this got to do with brain exercise? (more…)
Add comment April 23, 2010
Meditation for Mind Improvement: It Only Takes A Little!
Ever wanted to try meditation, but thought you wouldn’t be able to stick with it for long enough to make a difference? Good news! Even a few short meditation sessions turn out to have measurable effects.
Quite a few studies have documented that that meditation seems to have a positive impact on the brains of long-term practitioners, but it’s usually been assumed that the length and intensity of their practice was necessary to see the benefits.
That made meditation an unlikely tool for your average Jane or Joe, who has neither the time nor the discipline for a 3 hour daily meditation practice.
But a new study (published this week in Consciousness and Cognition) suggests that even brief flirtations with meditation may have measurable brain benefits. Over a period of four days, the study participants were instructed in 20 minute mindfulness meditation sessions. Surprisingly, their cognitive skills improved significantly after the training.
Why is this important?
Add comment April 20, 2010
5 Quick & Easy Brain-Healthy Snacks
Snack foods. They’re typically high in salt, fats, and high-fructose corn syrup. The salt is hard on the heart, the sweeteners can spike glucose levels, and long term, they can put your cognitive function at risk. But snacking itself isn’t a bad idea – it keeps energy levels on an even keel throughout the day, making sure the brain is well supplied with the fuel it needs. Luckily, substituting brain-healthier snack foods is simple and tasty. Read on for 5 examples of healthy snack alternatives!
1. Grab a handful of almonds and dried berries – look for unsweetened dried blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries in your grocery store. Easy to carry in a ziplock bag, the berries add antioxidents and satisfy your sweet tooth, while almonds are rich in Omega-3′s, give you a crunch and a feeling of fullness from their healthy fats. For even more variety, add walnuts, raisins, pumpkin and sunflower seeds – just try and choose unsalted, unsweetened varieties!
2. Try smoked wild salmon, or foil pouches of salmon and albacore tuna. Again, it’s easy to carry with you, provides you with a mid-afternoon protein boost, and plenty of omega oils for an extra brain boost.
3. If you’re more adventurous with fish, try canned sardines, herring and kippers. Opt for lower salt versions packed in water.
4. If your sweet tooth needs a fix, try the darkest chocolate you can find. Yes, chocolate can actually be *good* for your brain if you eat it in moderation, keep the sugar content down and the cocoa content up.
5. Experiment with teas. Herbal teas come in a wide variety of types and flavors – green teas are a great choice, and have been the focus of many brain-related studies. Other herbal teas are being investigated for stress and mood related impact… and simply the ritual can be calming and beneficial.
With a bit of creative thinking, snacks can do far more good than harm when it comes to cognitive health. And as a bonus? Every time you stretch your synapses to think up new snacks, you’re exercising your brain.
What’s your favorite brain healthy snack? Have an idea or recipe to share?
Add comment April 15, 2010
How Spring Cleaning Can Exercise Your Brain
One of the simple (and perhaps slightly wacky) pleasures of my life is trying to figure out how even the most mundane of tasks can be done so that they help stimulate the brain, trigger new neural growth, and maintain old memories and skills.
This week’s focus? That odd urge so many of us get this time of year, to clean out the corners and cubby holes of our homes. So in between my own dust-triggered sneezes, I’ve been pondering how spring cleaning could be used to exercise our brains. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
1. Refresh Old Memories
Digging through closets, project boxes, and even dresser drawers always seems to trigger old memories. Whether it’s a box of old family photos, a blouse you wore for a special date many years ago, or scraps of wood that came from the birdhouse you built with your father many years ago, don’t just skip over these items. Let the memories flow, and see just how much you do remember about each item. The very process of remembering strengthens the memories, and makes it more likely you’ll hold onto them in the future.
2. Change Your Environment (more…)
Add comment April 9, 2010
Finding Calm: Deep Breaths For Your Brain
Stress relief is an important part of keeping your brain healthy, and since modern life is full of ongoing stressors, it’s a good idea to keep a tool kit of stress busting techniques handy.
One of the simplest and most effective tools? Learning (and remembering!) to breathe deeply, from the abdomen.
Here’s how it works:
Add comment April 6, 2010
Remembering Who You Are: Genealogy For Your Brain Health
By now, you probably know that exercising your brain is an important part of maintaining the health of your mind and memory. You may also know that specially targeted brain fitness programs (like Dakim) and intellectually challenging hobbies can be part of that exercise, helping to keep your brain fit and healthy. This week, I thought we’d look at a popular hobby that offers a unique set of challenges to our minds and memories – tracing the family tree.
Why is it so unique? Building your personal family history starts with your own memories. Recording what you know about your family strengthens those memories, and every time you go back over that information, the neural network that supports it becomes stronger.
At the same time that you’re reinforcing old memories, you’re laying down new memories – new information that you’ll discover about family members, history, geography.
1 comment March 30, 2010
Get Moving for Your Memory (even if you’re out of shape or physically limited)
If you’re looking for a quick brain boost, nothing compares to the benefits of physical activity. One study after another has confirmed that exercise improves, maintains and protects cognitive functions in a whole wealth of ways( and that’s in addition to all of the other healthy goodness that being active and fit brings)
But actually *being* active?
Sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially as we age. Injury, illness, and just general out-of-shapeness make the idea of going to the gym or jogging around the park out of the question.
So what can we do, when our bodies just can’t drop to the floor and give us 100 push-ups anymore?
Add comment March 25, 2010
