Tag Archives: Brain Research

Our Best Years Are Yet To Come

You’ve probably heard that your brain starts to shrink as you get older, and that it gets harder to learn new skills and absorb new information. It is true that certain human brain parts stop developing in our mid 20s. However, (as discussed in a previous blog entry) medical scientists are now saying that in [...]

2 New Genes Associated with Alzheimer’s Discovered

Last week we talked about diet and Alzheimer’s, which led to questions from some of you about the genetic factors associated with Alzheimer’s. Recently scientists have identified two new genes they believe are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Dr. Sudha Seshadri (an [...]

Mediterranean Diet Might Protect Against Alzheimer’s

It is well documented that a diet rich in antioxidants, leafy greens, nuts and fish benefits the body in a whole host of different ways. Fresh produce, fish – especially the kind rich in omega-3s like mackerel and salmon – and nuts provide lean protein, healthy fats and plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals to [...]

How Moms Help Our Brain

Being a mom is one of the most important (and often under-appreciated) jobs in the world. We owe our mothers a debt of gratitude. According to data collected by Happy Worker, your mom probably changed your diaper over 7,300 times before your second birthday. As a toddler, chances are you demanded your mom’s attention about [...]

Meditation Could be Easier than You Think

Meditation has long been reported as a great way to clear the mind and reduce stress. In my post in February, 5 Strategies to Improve Memory, I pointed to a research study that found that the daily practice of meditation thickened the parts of the brain’s cerebral cortex responsible for decision making, attention and memory. [...]

Challenging the Nature & BBC Brain Games Study

As you may have read, the BBC  just published the results of a ‘brain training’ study in Nature magazine. The show “Bang goes the Theory” funded and conducted a study with 8,600 subjects using a simple set of light-weight computer games, played them for a minimal time and declared to the world that “brain games [...]

Does Television Rot Your Brain?

I’m sure you have heard the old adage television will rot your brain. There might just be some truth to that. First, there is the obvious. Watching television is a sedentary and passive activity. Watching TV is a choice, and like most choices, there is an opportunity cost. When you watch television you forsake other [...]

Why Do Omega-3s Help Your Brain?

Doctors and scientists have long known that n-3 fatty acids, also known as omega-3s, are purported to have a positive influence on brain health. If you are concerned with maintaining your cognitive abilities and keeping your brain healthy you likely already sustain a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids through fish, walnuts, supplementation and/or other [...]

Hypertension and Cognitive Decline

Can Reducing Hypertension Also Reduce the Risk of cognitive decline? The ill effects of hypertension (high blood pressure) have been well documented by the medical community. If you suffer from high blood pressure, there is a good chance you might also suffer from: Pulsating headaches Retinopathy or related eye damage and vision impairments Nausea and [...]

Is Your Brain Tangled?

Have you ever been curious why some people are able to keep their memory sharp without much effort, where the rest of us have to do all we can to ensure that we keep our cognitive abilities from declining? A new study presented by Changiz Geula, PhD, (principal investigator of the Northwestern University Super Aging [...]