brain health

NEW YORK -- Can you remember your best friend's address? Your cousin's birthday? Your own child's cell phone number? The name of the attorney general of the United States? No? You're not alone, and you're not necessarily on the far side of 40. The proliferation of cell phones, BlackBerries, Outlook calendars and other "smart" technology -- not to mention frenetic multitasking Read more...

To have a family member show early signs of Alzheimer's disease can be a hard fact to face. Such was the case for the Hughes family when their loved one, Dr. Janet Mitchell, 57, was stricken with an early onset of the neurodegenerative disease. Mitchell, who had served as a leading OB-GYN in the New York area specializing in neonatology, is believed to have lost her home as a result of an Read more...

Can you remember ... The address of the last place you lived? Your second-cousin's wife's first name? What's on your shopping list? If not, don't worry. As people age, memory lapses are common -- but not inevitable. A healthy lifestyle, including plenty of mental stimulation, will help keep your brain in shape. Shakespeare called memory "the warden of the Read more...

No longer content to "retire" their minds, people aged 50+ are demanding learning opportunities. They're onto something: Staying engaged and trying stimulating new things may actually help keep their brains healthy and fit.If you want to join their ranks, here are some resources: ElderhostelImagine yourself studying the ecology of the Everglades ... in Florida. Studying the poetry of Read more...

For the next three minutes, list all the foods you can think of that are green. Then list all the things you can think of that come in pairs. Examples: salt and pepper, burgers and fries. Again, take three minutes. Now draw a picture of one side of a coin from memory. Buffalo nickel, Lincoln penny -- whatever you want. If you can get a group of people to play along, these make Read more...

Our brains define us. They express our thoughts, ideas and emotions. They store our memories and allow us to feel. Not long ago, it was widely believed that if our brains slowed down, there wasn't much we could do about it. Not anymore. Scientists have now proven what many people have long intuited: that we can take steps to keep our brains fit and functional -- regardless of age. Test Read more...

Want to improve your memory? Scientists have found that the more mentally stimulating activities you engage in, the less your risk of developing age-related memory loss. But is there anything else that can be done? Many ThirdAgers are enticed by the memory-enhancing claims made by over-the-counter remedies. The most popular is ginkgo biloba, whose proponents claim it can improve memory, Read more...

The good news about stroke is that it's now more treatable than ever before. However, clot-dissolving agents -- most notably tPA -- are most likely to improve a patient's condition if administered within the first three hours -- and the sooner the better. Beyond three hours, treatment options become much more limited. So the best way to treat a stroke emergency is to recognize its early Read more...