If you want to keep your memory going strong as you get older, you need to know that taurine is central to the health of the brain’s neurons. Although not technically one of the “amino acids” you often hear about, it’s a closely related protein the body can’t live without. Taurine derives its name from the Latin [...]
Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher slept only four or five hours a night, and were proud of it. So is Donald Trump, who seems to wear it like a badge of honor. But both the former president and prime minister went on to develop Alzheimer's after they left office. Perhaps the current president should take [...]
Stress is a brain killer. It can jumble your thoughts, make it harder to learn new information, and blur your memory. And as researchers keep delving into the mysteries about how stress can warp health and mess with our minds, they are placing a major focus on its effect on energy production in cells. On the [...]
Did you know the position you sleep in may have a significant effect on how well your brain cleans itself out at night, and thereby protects your neurological health? We’ve talked in these pages about how removing excess waste products in your brain is critical for health. When this doesn’t happen, waste buildup can contribute [...]
How good is your sense of smell? For over three decades, scientists have been interested in this question because the answer can indicate your risk for Alzheimer's. Back in the 1970s researchers discovered that loss of smell went hand in hand with neurodegenerative conditions. In the decades that followed, further research showed this is one [...]
If you’ve been indulging in sweet squash this winter, like acorn, butternut, or sugar pumpkin, you made a good choice for your overall health. You may even have reduced your risk of dementia. Why? Because winter squash varieties are high in beta-carotene… and beta-carotene is a powerful nutrient that helps keep your brain sharp. One [...]
It decreases blood pressure, boosts athletic performance and improves cognitive function, but a lot of people just don’t like beetroot juice. This was demonstrated in a trial of 14 participants where one person refused to drink it a second time, so the researchers had to boot him off the study. If only the health properties [...]
Some people report that when they get sick with a cold or the flu, it often feels like their brain stops in its tracks. They can’t do any deep thinking, and if they have to make difficult decisions they find it best to wait till they’re feeling better to face them. There’s a good reason [...]
If you find yourself feeling better the last couple of weeks, it could be because spring is just around the corner. During the winter months many people suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). They experience persistently low moods, irritability and lethargy. The condition is thought to be linked to reduced daylight, which disrupts brain hormones [...]
No matter what shape your memory is in, research shows there are easy ways to make it perform better. These 5 techniques are simple, and studies show they’re effective. Quick Memory Boost Research at the University of Surrey in England shows that if you are trying to remember details of something you’ve seen, simply close [...]
