Suffering from ‘Chemo Brain’? There’s Hope
Some of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients are memory problems, difficulties with multitasking, and reduced attention and concentration. Historically, cancer patients with these symptoms were often diagnosed with depression. Research over the past decade has revealed that many cancer patients experience such symptoms as a consequence of specific damage to the brain […]
7 Foundations for a Healthy Brain
While growing older can bring maturity and wisdom, it can also bring a decline in our cognitive abilities, like memory, processing speed and other brain functions. But healthy lifestyle behaviors can reduce the risk of dementia, says Klodian Dhana, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at Rush University Medical Center and […]
How Different Types of Dementia Affect the Brain
Restituto Miranda Sr. occasionally reminisced about driving a taxicab, working in an office supplies store and riding his motorcycle. But there was one problem: To the best of his family’s knowledge, Miranda — who had worked as a meat cutter with the American Meat Packing Corp. in Chicago — never had done any of these […]
Smart Stats Brain – By the Numbers
Brain Food: Eat Smart, Stay Sharp
Brain food is very real, helping to shape your ability to remember simple things (well, allegedly simple things) like where you put your darn keys, as well as fighting serious memory-related disorders. Here are four food tips that may help boost your brain. Sip tea Whether green or black, this brew is rich in micronutrients […]
How the Brain Helps Us Make Good Decisions
A prevailing theory in neuroscience holds that people make decisions based on integrated global calculations that occur within the frontal cortex of the brain. However, Yale researchers have found that three distinct circuits connecting to different brain regions are involved in making good decisions, bad ones, and determining which of those past choices to store […]
4 Natural Ways to Maintain Brain Health
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I keep reading about disappointing drug trials to help prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease. What else can I do to reduce my risk and improve my brain health? A: A few decades ago, the state of our brain was believed to be beyond our control. Conventional wisdom […]
Tips to Combat Age-Related Forgetfulness
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: Why do people become more forgetful as they age? A: It’s common to have moments of forgetfulness about where we put the keys, why we walked into a room, or what an object is called. This reflects age-related changes in thinking skills. Over time we can expect […]
Atypical Brain Development Observed in Preschoolers with ADHD Symptoms
According to researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health, children as young as 4 years old with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have significant differences in brain structure, compared to children without such symptoms. Their study is the first comprehensive examination of brain structure changes in preschoolers with signs of ADHD, […]
Brain Safety Starts With You
Traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs, affect the lives of Americans nationwide. Anyone can experience a TBI, but data shows that children and older adults (ages 65 and older) are at greater risk. Many TBIs, including concussions, are preventable, and you can help. Change your mind about brain injury Brain Injury Awareness Month is […]
For people with multiple sclerosis, can exercise change the brain?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of unknown cause in which the covering lining of nerve fibers (called myelin) is damaged. Myelin is like insulation on a wire — when it is damaged, nerve impulses are not transmitted properly. This leads to an array of symptoms including weakness, vision problems, numbness, tingling and poor coordination […]
Exercise helps aging brain stay young
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: Over the last year, I sometimes forget things. I am 66 but I always have had a great memory. What can I do to avoid becoming more forgetful? A: Most of us have had firsthand experience with memory lapses. We find ourselves flustered trying to recall a […]
Scientists find new path in brain to ease depression
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new pathway in the brain that can be manipulated to alleviate depression. The pathway offers a promising new target for developing a drug that could be effective in individuals for whom other antidepressants have failed. New antidepressant options are important because a significant number of patients don’t adequately improve […]
Study discusses a link between artificial sweeteners and brain risks
A: Sometimes it seems like people trying to choose a healthy diet and watch their weight can’t catch a break. Past studies have linked the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and obesity. So it’s easy to understand the appeal of diet soft drinks and other artificially sweetened beverages. If […]
Curiosity: The Brain’s Superfood
I get really excited about the brain! It is the superconductor of my world. And what I continuously learn, whether I’m studying the brilliant neurological reprogramming methods of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais or reading books by people who have recovered from major brain trauma such as Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, My Stroke of Insight, or Clark […]
Neuroscience can help you live a healthier life
Harvard Health Letter Healthy behaviors clearly make sense from a rational standpoint, but they can be a drag — and difficult to maintain. For example, there are few people who doubt the beneficial effects of exercise, yet one study found that close to 75 percent of people either do not exercise at all or seldom […]
Five things you need to know about multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can happen to just about anyone. The central nervous system disorder affects your brain and spinal cord. But it spares the nerves and muscles that lead away from the spinal cord. About 400,000 people in the United States have MS. MS is a long-term illness. Infection-fighting white blood cells enter the nervous […]
Coronary bypass surgery unlikely to cause cognitive decline
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My cardiologist recommended coronary artery bypass surgery because I have three blocked heart arteries and a weak left ventricle. I’m worried about decreased blood flow to the brain during surgery and loss of brain power. What’s the risk of cognitive decline after this […]
How exercise boosts brain function
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I keep hearing that exercise helps with memory and other brain functions. What’s the connection? What types of exercise and how much do I need? A: Exercise boosts your memory and thinking skills both directly and indirectly. It acts directly on the body […]
A stronger heart may keep your brain young
By Julie Corliss Harvard Health Blog You probably know that regular exercise offers a wealth of benefits for your body, like staving off excess weight and chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise is also good for your brain. A study published in the journal Neurology links better cardiovascular […]
Study shows high school football players exhibit brain changes after single season
Arina P Habich / Shutterstock.com Source: Wake Forest School of Medicine whatdoctorsknow.com CHICAGO — Some high school football players exhibit measurable brain changes after a single season of play, even in the absence of concussion, according to a study presented at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). “This study […]
The Dying Brain – Part 2
When brain dead means total death Read Part 1 Seventy-five years ago, the concept of brain death wasn’t even imagined. “It was only with the advent of successful mechanical ventilation and the advancement of critical-care tools and techniques that a patient could actually be systemically stable after developing the irreversible cessation of brain function,” says […]
The Dying Brain – Part 1
City hospitals team up to better understand brain death Over 99 percent of deaths are cardiac related. This means the heart stops; its monitor’s metronome-like beep flat lines. It’s what TV and movies have made us come to expect death to be like. Then there’s the other 1 percent of deaths, the ones caused by […]
Uncovering Concussions
How They’re Changing Our Brains and the Game It’s nearly kickoff. Families and friends nationwide gather around the television and bundle up in stadiums and bleachers. They cheer on their sons and sports heroes as they battle over the holy pigskin. Bright lights illuminate sweat-drenched and grass-stained soldiers in their armored uniforms as they crouch, white-knuckled, ready […]
Brain Tumors: Critical Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1. What kind of tumor do I have? 2. Where is it located? 3. What are the best treatment options? 4. If surgery is recommended: Please describe the surgery. What are the risks and benefits? Will you be able to remove the entire tumor? How will the surgery affect my cognitive and motor abilities? Will I […]
