Reduced Generation of New Oligodendrocytes May Contribute to Declining Memory with Age
A number of the aspects of cognitive decline are connected to loss of stem cell activity with age, and thus reduced numbers of new somatic cells created to carry out functions in the brain. This is certainly the case for memory, but most such research is focused on neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are created and integrated into neural circuits. Researchers here point to a different contributing population and mechanism, a reduced creation of oligodendrocytes and thus a reduced supply of myelin, the protein that sheaths nerves and is essential for their function. It is well known that myelin sheathing deterio...
Source: Fight Aging! - February 21, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Ten Tips for Aging with Depression
Major Depression — the clinical type — is not a normal part of aging. Though it can appear at any age, older adults are at an increased risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distinguishes this condition from having “the blues” and likens it to other medical illnesses that are treatable, like diabetes or hypertension. Overwhelming sadness and anxiety can last for weeks at a time or much longer, with a wide range of other discouraging symptoms. Yet, there are things that can help.
Statistics tell us that later in life, at least one chronic disease will affect 80 percent of us. It natura...
Source: World of Psychology - January 24, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jan McDaniel Tags: Aging Depression depression risk Elderly seniors Source Type: blogs
The NeuroGeneration and Humankind ’s Quest to Enhance the Brain
Some people may be uneasy with the idea of “brain enhancement,” but the quest to boost our brainpower is nothing new; it is an essential part of human nature. Ever since Homo sapiens emerged nearly 200,000 years ago, we have been searching for ways to upgrade the hardware and wetware in our heads, and we’ve been creating and using tools to help us do it—physical and cognitive tools that help us solve problems and complete tasks more efficiently, tools that extend our natural abilities and allow us to do things that weren’t possible before. Language, numbers, science, education—these are all tools we’ve develo...
Source: SharpBrains - January 20, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tan Le Tags: Author Speaks Series Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness Technology book brain brain enhancement brainpower enhance the brain grey-matter humankind mental capacities NeuroGeneration Neurons Source Type: blogs
Long-Term Effect of Binge Drinking on the Body
Most people know about the damaging effects that binge drinking can bring to someone’s life. Loss of enjoyment of life, losing family relationships, financial and career struggles, homelessness, and legal consequences are just the tip of the iceberg. However, it can be more difficult to realize the long-term effect of binge drinking on the body, because you cannot always see it. Frequent binge drinking poses many dangerous health risks, and many of them can lead to death.
Facts on Long-Term Effect of Binge Drinking on the Body
For men, binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks within about two hours, a...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - January 17, 2020 Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Alcohol Alcohol Rehab Information Alcoholism alcohol abuse alcohol dependence alcohol treatment alcohol treatment center binge binge drinking Source Type: blogs
We Can Support Our Surviving Parent, but We Can't Erase Their Pain
Photo credit Jeremy Wong
Dear Carol: My dad, who had been Mom’s caregiver for years, died suddenly from a stroke. I can’t say that I’m surprised because he was under enormous stress trying to cope with first Mom’s illness from cancer treatments, and more recently her early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Needless to say, we’re all heartbroken over Dad’s sudden death as well as up in the air about how to handle Mom. She seems to be in total denial, though some of her repeated questions may be due to occasional short-term memory loss. How do we help her with this shock and grief? — VB
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Source: Minding Our Elders - January 14, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Traveling with Dementia Easier with Unique Services
Photo credit Vidar Nordli Mathisen
Dear Carol: My parents dreamed of travel before they retired and were fortunate to live their dream for many years. Sadly, my mom has now developed dementia. She’s still in the early stages and can enjoy life with a few adjustments, but Dad still insists that they travel. After they returned from a two-week jaunt to British Columbia last month, Mom was disoriented, and her anxiety was off the charts. Dad’s reaction was to complain that she “wasn’t herself” when he wanted to hop from place to place without rest. When I tell Dad that Mom just can’t do this anymore, he bru...
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 11, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
All About Blood Alcohol Levels
Blood alcohol levels, also known as blood alcohol content, is a way to measure an individual’s level of alcohol intoxication. It represents the percentage of alcohol that is concentrated in the bloodstream. Blood alcohol levels are used for legal purposes, such as measuring individuals for drunk driving incidents, and for medical purposes, such as testing patients who enter the hospital for alcohol-related health issues.
What Are The Different Blood Alcohol Levels?
There are many factors that influence a person’s blood alcohol levels. They can include body weight, gender, genetics, tolerance to alcohol, drinking patte...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - December 11, 2019 Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Addiction Alcohol Alcoholism alcohol abuse alcohol dependence alcohol dependency alcohol detox alcohol treatment alcohol treatment center alcohol treatment facility alcohol use Alcoholics Anonymous Source Type: blogs
What Are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol?
Drinking alcohol causes damage to your health in both the short term and long term, even for moderate drinkers. For individuals who suffer from addiction to alcohol and frequently drink in excess, these risks become higher. Knowing the risks of drinking alcohol is important to help avoid drinking to excess and reduce the likelihood of these risks.
Short-Term Risks of Drinking Alcohol
There are many short-term risks that occur when drinking alcohol. These risks can happen to anyone, including individuals suffering from alcohol use disorder, or individuals who are drinking for the very first time.
Injuries
When you drink al...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - December 3, 2019 Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Alcoholism alcohol abuse alcohol dependence alcohol dependency alcohol detox alcohol treatment alcohol treatment center alcohol treatment facility alcohol use risks Source Type: blogs
A clue to a cure for Alzheimer ’s disease
Are you worried about Alzheimer’s disease? Does one of your parents or siblings have the disease? If so, your risks are between two and four times that of the general public. What about people without a family history of the disease? Unfortunately, everyone is at risk for it. By age 85, half of you reading this article today will have developed Alzheimer’s disease, with or without a family history.
Sounds pretty scary, doesn’t it?
I’m writing today to give you some good news. A new study from the lab of Harvard researcher Yakeel Quiroz, PhD, has suggested a new target for drugs that might have the potential to slow...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 27, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Andrew E. Budson, MD Tags: Alzheimer's Disease Genes Health Healthy Aging Memory Source Type: blogs
A physician ’s plea to patients
I am a cardiac anesthesiologist. I meet most patients I care for minutes before I take them to the operating room and render them unconscious. I breathe for them, administer pain medicine and drugs to give them amnesia, and I keep their hearts, lungs, kidneys, and brains working. Pretty important stuff. I want to speak […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 30, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/sasha-k-shillcutt" rel="tag" > Sasha K. Shillcutt, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine Surgery Source Type: blogs
Primary care could hold the key to preventing Alzheimer ’s disease
To delay or prevent the onset of memory loss, talk to your doctor. It can really be that simple. Among the diseases that Americans fear most, Alzheimer ’s and dementia consistently rank at the top of the list. What people don’t always realize is that many causes of memory loss are treatable and preventable, and the […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 3, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/william-r-shankle" rel="tag" > William R. Shankle, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions Neurology Primary Care Source Type: blogs
Study supports benefit of statin use for older adults
In this study, the most common reason that patients or their doctors stopped statins was the development of advanced cancer or other major illness.
In my practice, I have also cared for many patients who have stopped taking statins or who express reluctance to take statins due to side effects. The most common side effect is muscle ache (typically tenderness or soreness of the large muscle groups, such as the biceps and thighs), which affects about 20% of statin takers and reverses when the statin is discontinued. There is also a slightly increased risk of diabetes with long-term statin use and, very rarely, liver problems....
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 2, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Dara K. Lee Lewis, MD Tags: Drugs and Supplements Health Healthy Aging Heart Health Source Type: blogs
The Mind and Body Connection; How Posture Affects Your Mood
You're reading The Mind and Body Connection; How Posture Affects Your Mood, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
We all have heard the phrase, Mind, Body, and Soul, but very few people understand how they all work together. Most people believe the phrase "I can achieve anything I put my mind to". In some cases this is true, however, when it comes to physical well-being and posture, the body plays a huge role in how we feel. The body sends messages known as "somatic markers" through neurotransmitters in your br...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - September 30, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: IndySummers Tags: featured health and fitness psychology self improvement confidence posture Source Type: blogs
Is there a test for Alzheimer ’s disease?
After spending 30 minutes hunting for your car in a parking lot, or getting lost on a familiar route, have you ever considered asking your doctor for a blood test or brain scan to find out if you have Alzheimer’s disease?
A number of factors contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. By definition, this form of dementia involves the buildup of a protein in brain called beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid forms plaques that disrupt communication between brain cells, and ultimately destroys them. For this reason, tests for Alzheimer’s disease focus on beta-amyloid.
Blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease are being developed
Recently, res...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 27, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Andrew E. Budson, MD Tags: Alzheimer's Disease Healthy Aging Memory Tests and procedures Source Type: blogs
Your risk of dementia: Do lifestyle and genetics matter?
Globally, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are a major burden on individuals and communities. To make matters worse, there are few treatments to combat these complex illnesses. Even the causes of dementia are widely debated. Sadly, clinical trials for drugs to stop or even slow its progress have come up short. Taking a different tack, some experts hope to intervene before people are diagnosed with dementia by encouraging lifestyle changes.
What is dementia and what makes it so complex?
Dementia describes groups of specific diseases characterized by symptoms such as memory loss. The most common type of deme...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 13, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Chirag Patel, PhD Tags: Brain and cognitive health Genes Medical Research Memory Source Type: blogs
