The part of your brain called the hypothalamus plays a central role in your daily life. It keeps tabs on your daily rhythms – regulating appetite, metabolism, sexual behavior, the release of hormones, and your internal temperature. When this part of the brain starts to slip, your memory can weaken. But there are ways you [...]
Driving is complicated. And dangerous. Roughly 43,000 people died in car crashes in the U.S. in 2021. And for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the joy of driving that was once a symbol of independence can become a point of contention with family members and friends. It begs the question, when should someone with [...]
If you’re buying a joint pain supplement, chances are good that it has glucosamine in it. This popular natural remedy is often touted as an effective pain reliever for aching arthritic joints. But research into this compound shows that glucosamine has another, hidden health benefit that may be just as important: It strengthens your brain… [...]
Listening to music can reduce stress, boost immunity, and improve cognitive skills. But if you want an even bigger mental boost, learn to play an instrument. Best of all, you don’t even have to be a talented musician to reap significant brain benefits… Music can make us feel happy or sad; calm or energetic; exuberant [...]
Current methods of diagnosing Alzheimer’s come far too late to help the patient. This has incentivized scientists to search for biological markers that indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s early on in the disease process. We’ve reported on many of them in this newsletter. Today, we’re going to look at another remarkable discovery that may help [...]
The use of the spice ginger has a long, venerable history in medicine and in the kitchen that goes back at least 5,000 years. Nowadays, it's still a prized spice and, along with ginger’s recognized culinary value, researchers are exploring its potential for treating disease and helping the brain remain sharp. Ginger has been used [...]
As one of our frequent readers you’re no stranger to the link between processed foods and poor cognitive function. But now, new research offers undeniable evidence that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods puts you at a higher risk for cognitive decline and memory loss. Equally concerning, even a modest amount of these tempting foods may [...]
For most of us, flickering lights and clicking sounds would drive us to distraction. But for people with Alzheimer’s, they could be a life saver. Studies in mice with Alzheimer’s suggest delivering these sensations in a specific way improves learning, memory, and brain function. Would it have the same effect in human patients? MIT scientists [...]
To suggest microbes that reside in the gut could impact the health of the brain was considered heresy just a decade ago. And yet today the gut-brain axis is well recognized. The connection is demonstrated in a new human study on depression. It’s one of the first to show that you can lift your mood [...]
