Whether we are a newborn infant, a petulant teenager, an overwhelmed new mother or an aging senior citizen, the power of touch can produce miraculous results. With a simple touch, we can express love, support, gratitude, sympathy, and trust. A simple gesture of holding hands, patting shoulders and giving hugs can make all the difference in the world. Sight can
Remember in elementary school when kids got to choose who would be on their teams for sports? I wasn’t high on anyone’s list, thanks to my limited athletic ability. But there is one activity almost anyone can excel in—walking. In an earlier post (Moving More in 2014) we noted that even 20 minutes of walking can benefit your brain. But,
We all know we need to exercise—but can music really help? Well, humans love rhythm. We tap our toes, and nod our head to the beat. Even toddlers will waddle to the rhythm. And if we add music to exercise, the brain benefits, along with the heart. When researchers at Ohio State University added music to exercise, the participants who exercised
Do you remember those Reader’s Digest articles, “It Pays to Increase Your Word Power”? Well, the word of the day when it comes to Brain Fitness is: neuroplasticity. It simply means that your brain can create, change and strengthen neural connections—and it can do that even as we age. But just like a regular muscle, if you don’t work it, it doesn’t
I have seen people write about ending it all when it comes to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. They assume they know what it will be like to deteriorate in terms of their own self -awareness and personality. Such is the case in the movie, Still Alice. A college professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Alice desires to live “in the moment” as
Who says seniors can’t use the computer? Today, interactive technology is transforming how memory care and assisted living communities are engaging their residents. Using new technology, residents in memory care and assisted living communities are able to play games, video chat with their loved ones, look at family photos, exercise, enjoy singalongs, and far more. Technology at New Perspective New Perspective Senior Living (NPSL) is utilizing
What’s black and white, and healthy for you? Crossword puzzles! What was once just a great Sunday afternoon pastime has now been shown to produce real benefits for our cognitive health. In addition to being fun, the top three reasons why you should be kicking back with a good puzzle are: Keeping your brain sharp and possibly helping prevent cognitive
For anyone over the age of 50, you know that the last time your misplaced your keys, or you forgot your sister’s birthday, you immediately thought ‘I have Alzheimer’s’. This knee jerk reaction is a default for our generation. For years we’ve seen the commercials on TV, witnessed the cognitive decline of our older relatives and friends, and secretly or
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 65 seconds someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s Disease. That means in the time it will take you to read this article, 8 people in will develop this disease. While there are 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, by 2050 that number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million if a cure is
According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the five most chronic diseases afflicting the elderly are adult onset diabetes, arthritis, kidney/bladder problems, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Though we are all familiar with many of the warning signs of the top four diseases, Parkinson’s, in many cases, remains a mystery. What are the symptoms and what warning signs should you