Botanically, it's closer to an animal than a plant. Some types glow in the dark, others are hallucinogenic, many are poisonous. Fortunately, the safe, edible variety is not only chock full of nutrients, but could be the single, most valuable food for the brain. You may have guessed I’m talking about mushrooms. I’ve long recommended [...]
If you’re an avid follower of the research into improving brain health, you’ve probably heard about the benefits of fasting or near-fasting – when you eat a very limited amount of food during a 24-hour period. “Near-fasting” is more commonly called “intermittent fasting.” If you haven’t heard about fasting, then it’s time you did! Simply [...]
The birth, growth and development of new brain cells - neurogenesis - happens throughout life. Or does it? This has been one of the liveliest debates among neuroscientists for over half a century. If the answer is yes, then we can regenerate our aging brains. The argument goes back and forth. Last year, researchers at [...]
In Issue #583 I warned about the brain dangers of BMAA, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria. These are very common microbes found in algae blooms in lakes and oceanic red tides – and recently linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological illnesses. These are early days – more research is needed – but there’s reason [...]
It's FDA-approved for major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and migraine headaches. I’ve also been told that similar devices can relieve joint and muscle pain almost anywhere in the body. Now there are hopes this therapy will also give people back their memories, whether dimmed from stroke, early-stage Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury or just from normal [...]
Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was an easy, low cost, non-invasive way of reversing Alzheimer’s – one that didn’t involve turning your life upside down? Well, perhaps there is. A new study by MIT scientists found they could do just that. Okay, it was in mice, but the results were dramatic, and hold out [...]
It’s frustrating when you draw a blank while trying to remember something you need to recall -- now. But it happens to everyone. The name of someone you just ran into on the street ... where you left your keys ... a phone number you’ve dialed dozens of times ... the third thing in the [...]
A plant that has been used for generations to treat a wide range of health conditions is now known to contain a powerful compound that protects the brain. This remarkable plant chemical not only reduces inflammation in the brain, but also increases antioxidant activity, shields nerve cells from the build-up of toxic proteins, and protects [...]
Behind almost all Alzheimer's drug research is the idea that you need to clear away the build-up of brain plaques (beta-amyloid proteins) and stop the development of new ones. It’s a dubious theory. As I’ve been trying to caution readers for years, every drug aimed at these plaques has failed miserably, with just a few [...]
You know omega-3-rich fish, berries and even dark chocolate are your brain’s best friends. But did you know that for every brainy food out there, there’s a tempting food that can undo all your good efforts? Worse yet, you probably think some of these foods are healthy, when in fact they damage your memory and [...]
