Over the years you’ve no doubt heard your doctor explain how high blood pressure, or hypertension, increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, and can damage organs like the kidneys and eyes. But your doctor probably hasn’t talked much about how high blood pressure also damages your brain, disrupting your ability to [...]
The performance of the United States in the 2019 Rugby World Cup is something to quickly forget, having lost all four games in the group stages. On the other hand, we may have fond memories of Tiger Woods' triumphs, Michael Phelps winning any one of 18 gold swimming medals, or Michael Jordan leading the Chicago [...]
If you'd like your brain to function more effectively—and who wouldn’t?— I've got some good news for you. There's an easy, enjoyable, affordable, at-home way to improve memory and cognition. Even better, it takes only a few minutes of your time, a few days a week. In addition, this simple brain booster can lift your [...]
Think about what you encounter when you walk along the beach: The soothing sound of waves crashing into the shore. Sea birds darting back and forth. A comforting ocean breeze and the salty smell of the surf. The sun’s light glimmering off the sand and water. Congratulations! You’ve just imagined “blue space,” the kind of [...]
Imagine if you could sharpen your memory and revitalize your brain just by sitting still. Simply relax, take a nap, listen to music, meditate, or watch a DVD. While you take it easy your brain and memory are automatically revitalized. Is this some futuristic medical device? In some ways, yes, but it’s based on techniques [...]
Years ago, I reported on the case of the songwriter Kris Kristofferson who thought his mind and memory were being wiped out by Alzheimer’s disease when, in actuality, it was the result of an infection he’d picked up from a bug bite. Well, the news about these bugs and the brain dangers of their bites [...]
Suffer a poor night's sleep and you may find yourself nodding off during the day -- you might even feel the urge to take an afternoon nap. But if daytime napping becomes excessive, especially in the absence of night-time sleep problems, please don’t believe the myth that it’s just part of the aging process. The [...]
Although you’re well aware of your five senses – hearing, vision, touch, taste and smell – you have a sixth sense that you may never have heard of. (And no, movie fans, it’s not “seeing dead people!”) This sixth sense is not a movie plot gimmick, much less supernatural, but a very real and essential [...]
It's been a major concern for the last 60 years. But as yet, we still don't know whether surgery harms the brain. And I’m not just talking about brain operations – I mean any kind of surgery. Most of the concern focuses on anesthesia and its effects. Previous studies have been inconsistent. Some report negative [...]
What's good for the heart is good for the brain. If we want to stay mentally sharp, we need to give the cardiovascular system a regular workout. Generally, aerobic exercise is the go-to option: walking, running, biking, swimming, etc. But aerobic exercise is not the only kind you need. For a healthy brain, you need [...]
