The idea that puzzles can slow brain aging is controversial.
Some neurologists strongly recommend puzzles like crosswords and sudoku as a way to keep your mind sharp into old age. Others say they don’t help your brain do anything better…other than puzzles.
But major new research shows that crossword and sudoku puzzles are extremely effective in preserving mental sharpness.
The two studies were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.… Read More
Insomnia is one of the most frustrating health problems. Not only is it extremely common (about 31% of Americans suffer from it), but the cause is often hard to pin down.[1]
That makes curing it difficult.
So people resort to sleeping pills, which don’t work well in the long term and have serious side effects.
A new study shows that insomnia may be caused by something almost of all of us have started doing in the last 20 years.… Read More
Mainstream doctors have long been baffled by schizophrenia. They don’t know what causes it. And they don’t have a cure for it.
It’s one of the most common mental illnesses. About 3.5 million Americans have it. And it can be completely debilitating, causing patients to hallucinate and experience delusions.
The first-line treatment is antipsychotic drugs. Some patients are given electroconvulsive therapy.… Read More
Regular brushing and flossing can help you keep your teeth into old age. A new study shows it may also help you keep your mental sharpness.
Scientists at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry infected the mouths of mice with P. gingivalis. This is a type of bacteria that causes periodontitis. It’s the most serious form of gum disease.… Read More
More than 20 million Americans feel so stressed that they feel they have to take anti-anxiety drugs to help them get through the day.
Xanax (alprazolam) is the most common one. It’s one of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines (sometimes called benzos).
Although the opioid epidemic gets most of the headlines, benzos like Xanax are also highly addictive. Overdose deaths involving benzos increased more than sevenfold between 1999 and 2015.… Read More
Everyone knows you can’t turn back the clock, right?
When it comes to your brain, researchers recently discovered that you can.
Dr. Sara Lazar is a neuroscientist. Years ago, she injured herself while training for the Boston Marathon. Her physical therapist suggested she stretch. That led her to take a yoga class.
She took yoga for the physical benefits, but soon noticed positive mental and emotional side effects.… Read More