Have I managed to convince you that exercise is an optimal way to encourage neuroplasticity (brain growth) and maintain a healthy brain? Good. However, now I have a caveat: exercise can sometimes be bad for the brain. Just ask the people who end up with one of the estimated 300,000 sports-related injuries per year.* For […]
When the VW Bug fell off a cliff –and other things that can harm the brain
We want our brains to remain fully functioning until we’re 100. Right? But will that happen? What makes the difference in whether our brains stay healthy or not? Daniel Amen, MD has conducted over 70,000 brain scans and thus has some hard-won insight into what the pre-cursors might be to a less-than-optimally-functioning brain. Based on […]
Turmeric for a Healthy Brain: Part II
Have you had your turmeric yet this week? In a recent post, I talked about the neuroplastic possibilities of curcumin (a brain-boosting chemical in turmeric) for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Did that convince you to start eating it? If not, consider this my second attempt. Slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease isn’t the […]
Could Brain Science Help us Treat a Cold Without Cold Medicine?
Could empathy have the power to heal? The link between stress and susceptibility to illness is fairly well established but what if you could start healing just by going to see your doctor? No pill. No x-rays. Just the experience of being heard and listened to. Now “power” is a strong word and I don’t […]
Increasing Your Brain Size with . . . Walnuts?
What foods could strengthen your memory, improve your problem-solving ability, and make you an even better multi-tasker? In short, can any foods help to improve your brain power? Are there foods that would increase the size of your brain? Studies suggest that omega-3s help brain function, specifically visual memory and executive function, including problem-solving, multi-tasking […]