Does heart health affect cognitive health?
Dementia has been a growing problem across the world, with the current 50 million patients expected to triple by 2050. As the condition continues to affect more people, the medical community has yet to fully understand its development and treatment. Dementia commonly occurs as an effect of aging. However, researchers discovered that there are other factors that may trigger its development. The risk of having the mental condition may increase due to diet and lifestyle factors. Surprisingly, dementia shares the same risks with heart disease, Monique Tello, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, said in a blog posted on Harvard Health.
Night owls can ‘retrain’ their body clocks to improve well-being
A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of ‘night owls’ – people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits – could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress. International research by the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey in the UK, and Monash University in Australia, showed that, over a three-week period, it was possible to shift the circadian rhythm of ‘night owls’ using non-pharmacological and practical interventions.
Can computer use, crafts, games slow age-related memory loss?
A new study has found that mentally stimulating activities like using a computer, playing games, crafting and participating in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delay of age-related memory loss called mild cognitive impairment and that the timing and number of these activities may also play a role. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a medical condition that is common with aging. While it is linked to problems with thinking ability and memory, it is not the same as dementia. People with MCI have milder symptoms though there is strong evidence that MCI can be a precursor of dementia.