Posts Tagged ‘cognition’
Five ways to clear foggy brains and improve cognitive well-being
The other day, my friend Kristina told me that one evening she unintentionally locked her husband in a downstairs part of their house. She had known he was down there, but while distractedly locking the door for the night, forgot completely. She didn’t realize what she’d done until she saw a text from her husband…
Read MoreComplex occupations help protect our brains from aging-related cognitive decline
Cognitive aging: Work helps our brain (AAAS): A recent study shows that work plays an active role in keeping our brains healthy. “We have demonstrated the role of working activity on cognitive performance”. Professor Raffaella Rumiati says … “Many studies have been focused on the factors influencing our brain aging and differences in cognitive decline…
Read MoreRationality doesn’t equal efficiency: Cellphone data shows how we navigate cities
Think of your morning walk to work, school or your favorite coffee shop. Are you taking the shortest possible route to your destination? According to big data research that my colleagues and I conducted, the answer is no: People’s brains are not wired for optimal navigation. Instead of calculating the shortest path, people try to…
Read MoreStudy in China finds that retirement may accelerate cognitive decline, even for those with stable income
People who retire early suffer from accelerated cognitive decline and may even encounter early onset of dementia, according to a new economic study (Note: opens PDF) I conducted with my doctoral student Alan Adelman. To establish that finding, we examined the effects of a rural pension program China introduced in 2009 that provided people who…
Read MoreDebate: Are depression and dementia two sides of the same coin? And, if they are, how to best approach treatment?
Every seven seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. A typical case that I often see in my practice is as follows: A 76-year-old woman has a two-year history of progressive worsening of short-term memory and cognitive decline. She can’t recall the names of her grandchildren and is devastated by her deteriorating abilities.…
Read MoreStudy: Actual, sustained practice–not mere knowledge–is needed to harness neuroplasticity and improve cognition over time
Lifestyle improvements may lessen cognitive decline (Wiley): ” … 19 individuals older than 65 years of age who were experiencing cognitive decline were randomized to a control group or an intervention group for 8 weeks. The control group received online information related to dementia and lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement.…
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