Concentration & Focus Archive

Some people find it difficult to meditate, perhaps due to inexperience, stress, or chronic pain. To overcome meditation resistance, it helps to take a meditation class or work with a meditation coach; use a meditation app; meditate in a setting free of interruption; meditate at the same time each day, so it becomes part of a daily routine; and try various meditation styles, such as Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness meditation, or guided meditation, to see which one is most comfortable.

A 2024 study involving more than 149,000 people, middle-aged and older, found that those who had shingles were 20% more likely to notice signs of cognitive decline years later, compared with those who didn't have shingles.

In a 2024 study of 900 dementia-free older adults, those who developed mild cognitive impairment had lower levels of life purpose and personal growth years before a diagnosis, compared with those whose thinking skills remained sharp.

When ADHD persists through early adulthood into middle age, it presents many of the same challenges it does in childhood, but with added pressures from the busier pace of life and expectations from work and family. Fortunately there are strategies that can help you navigate this condition.

In addition to hallmark symptoms such as persistent sadness and apathy, depression can also trigger memory problems. People with depression may lack focus, leading to memory lapses. Depression may also alter brain chemicals that help people sustain attention. Memory problems in depression show up differently than in dementia, making people unable to retrieve long-term memories. Positive memories also fade first in depression because brain areas that process positive or rewarding experiences are disrupted.

It's easy to feel too busy to be mindful, but everyone can find a few minutes during the day to pause and reflect. Even a brief, regular mindfulness practice provides a respite from the pace and stress of life, and can help with memory, concentration, and focus.

Bouts of dizziness can be unsettling sensations that may last only a few seconds or linger for several minutes or even longer. Episodes may be isolated or recurrent. Many people have a difficult time articulating what they experience when they say they feel dizzy, because the term encompasses a range of sensations like lightheadedness, wooziness, unsteadiness, or spinning. To help identify the cause, people should first consider whether they are experiencing primarily lightheadedness or vertigo.

A recent study found that engaging in high-intensity interval training may be better for brain health than other less vigorous routines.