As a fitness expert and neurosurgeon, Dr. Brett Osborn says he appreciates the growing public interest in general health and fitness. Now, he says, that attention needs to extend to arguably our most essential organ – the brain. “There are several, multi-billion dollar industries out there dedicated to burning fat and building muscle; cognitive health,… Continue reading 5 Brain-Health Tips
Category: Brain Health
The brain is our most complex + vital organ, which is why brain health is so important to overall well-being. Learn more about maintaining optimal brain health.
New Treatment for Frontotemporal Dementia
Belgian researchers have identified a new strategy for treating an inherited form of dementia after attempting to turn stem cells derived from patients into the neurons most affected by the disease. In patient-derived stem cells carrying a mutation predisposing them to frontotemporal dementia, which accounts for about half of dementia cases before the age of… Continue reading New Treatment for Frontotemporal Dementia
Study: Patients Accurately Report Their Cognitive State
A device that measures the state of an aging brain is reliable and valid when patients themselves use it, according to a new study. The patient self-reporting version of the Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor measures 27 items on a four-point scale to assess cognitive, psychological and functional symptoms. It operates in the same way… Continue reading Study: Patients Accurately Report Their Cognitive State
16 Ways to Stay Positive While Living with Parkinson’s Disease
This article originally appeared on DemosHealth.com and was adapted from Parkinson’s Disease http://www.demoshealth.com/store/parkinson-s-disease-2024.html 1. Learn about your illness. Don’t be afraid to read about Parkinson’s disease (PD) or talk to others who have it. Remember that no two cases are exactly alike, and no one can predict exactly how the disease will progress or… Continue reading 16 Ways to Stay Positive While Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Another “Alzheimer’s in a Dish” Model
In October 2014, we posted an article on ThirdAge.com about an “Alzheimer’s in a Dish Model” (https://thirdage.com/node/2884631) developed at Massachusetts General Hospital. Now, in December 2014, the search for a living laboratory model of human neurons in the grip of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)–the so-called “Alzheimer’s in a dish”–has a new candidate. In work presented at… Continue reading Another “Alzheimer’s in a Dish” Model
Holiday Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Many caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease have mixed feelings about holidays. Caregivers may have happy memories of the past but they also may worry about the extra demands that holidays make on their time and energy. Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are some suggestions to help you find a balance between… Continue reading Holiday Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Many Seniors Aren’t Getting Dementia Tests
Millions of seniors with signs of cognitive impairment haven’t seen a doctor about them, according to a new study from the University of Michigan. The researchers said the findings indicate that up to 1.8 million seniors over 70 aren’t evaluated for cognitive symptoms. A failure to do that, the investigators said, could mean that some… Continue reading Many Seniors Aren’t Getting Dementia Tests
Surprise! With Age, We Sometimes Learn More Than Younger People.
Older people can actually take in and learn from visual information more readily than younger people do, according to research done at Brown University and reported in the Cell Press journal “Current Biology” on November 26th 2014. This surprising discovery is explained by an apparent decline with age in the ability to filter out irrelevant… Continue reading Surprise! With Age, We Sometimes Learn More Than Younger People.
A New Cause of Alzheimer’s?
Blocking a key brain–cell receptor may eventually lead to neutralizing some consequences of Alzheimer’s, according to a new study from Temple University. The brain cells are used by “oxygen free radicals” that are linked to “oxidative stress.” That “stress” occurs when the production of the free radicals is greater than the body’s ability to detoxify… Continue reading A New Cause of Alzheimer’s?
Life after Heart Attack and Stroke
Increasing numbers of people are surviving heart attacks and stroke, but they may suffer a sharper, decline in physical abilities than previously thought, according to a new study led by the University of Michigan. Many heart attack and stroke survivors required long-term assistance for activities such as dressing, bathing, grocery shopping and managing finances. Additionally,… Continue reading Life after Heart Attack and Stroke
Cocoa Flavanols Combat “Senior Moments”
Taking the chill out of winter weather by indulging in cup of hot cocoa may also be helping to dial back cognitive decline – but only if the naturally occurring dietary flavonols haven’t been removed by processing. Dietary cocoa flavanols—naturally occurring bioactives found in cocoa—reversed age-related memory decline in healthy older adults, according to a… Continue reading Cocoa Flavanols Combat “Senior Moments”
Molecular Chaperones, Aging, and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Aging is the most significant and universal risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. This risk increases disproportionately with age, but no one really knows why. Now a team of scientists from Northwestern University, Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc. and Harvard University has uncovered some clues. The… Continue reading Molecular Chaperones, Aging, and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Drug for a Genetic Disease Slows Parkinson’s
Research done at the University of California, Los Angeles discovered that a drug being evaluated to Gaucher disease, a rare genetic disorder, helped slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease in mice. The study was published in the October 2014 edition of the journal Neurotherapeutics. A release from the university explains that that a drug called… Continue reading Drug for a Genetic Disease Slows Parkinson’s
Turmeric Boosts Brain Stem Cell Regeneration
A bioactive compound found in turmeric promotes stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the brain, according to research published in September 2014 in the open access journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy The findings suggest aromatic turmerone could be a future drug candidate for treating neurological disorders, such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. A release… Continue reading Turmeric Boosts Brain Stem Cell Regeneration
Immune System Affects Cognitive Decline
Scientists have discovered that cognitive decline over the years may be connected to a weakening immune system. The study, by researchers from the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel, breaks new ground in the understanding of a connection between the brain and the immune system. Until recently, scientists believed that the barrier between blood and brain prevents… Continue reading Immune System Affects Cognitive Decline
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: For a Good Cause…or Foolishness?
It all began quite simply. A novel idea to raise awareness about a lesser-known terminal disease. The idea: Dump a bucket of ice water over your head and donate $10.00. Choose against dunking and instead donate $100.00 (or whatever you are able). An idea that took on a life of its own and catapulted awareness… Continue reading The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: For a Good Cause…or Foolishness?
Memory & AD: Understanding Brain Circuitry
A study published August 31st 2014 in the journal Nature Neuroscience by,Sylvain Williams PhD and colleagues at the Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University opens the door towards better understanding of the neural circuitry and dynamic mechanisms controlling memory as well of the role of an essential element of… Continue reading Memory & AD: Understanding Brain Circuitry
Pomegranate Tx for AD, PD, & RA
The onset of Alzheimer’s disease can be slowed and some of its symptoms curbed by a natural compound that is found in pomegranates, according to the findings of a two-year project headed by scientist Dr. Olumayokun Olajide, at the University of Huddersfield in the UK. Also, the painful inflammation that accompanies illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease could be reduced by the pomegranate drug. The study was published in August 2014 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.