Memory Archive

People who struggle to remember names, details, or words during conversation are dealing with a phenomenon called "blocking," which is related to diminished memory recall. Addressing issues like stress, depression, an unhealthy diet, insomnia, lack of exercise, and prolonged isolation can improve recall. Otherwise, when blocking situations arise, people can try to incorporate cueing, a method that uses "hints" to help the brain better retrieve information.

When adult children express concerns about their parents' health, it benefits the parents to consider them. It could be that the kids are observing symptoms of conditions best treated early. If parents disagree with their kids' concerns, experts advise that parents simply express appreciation for the feedback and say they'll think about what the kids have said. If the parents want more information, experts advise writing down the concerns and either calling the doctor or bringing the matter up at the next appointment.

Hiking continues to be one of the safest activities people can enjoy during COVID because it is done outside and away from confined group settings. The outdoor adventure also is one of the best exercises for both body and mind, as it can improve lower-body strength and endurance, increase balancing skills that can protect against falls, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and reduce the risk of depression.

Cognitive distortions are internal mental filters or biases that fuel anxiety and make us feel bad about ourselves. These filters can cause us to devolve into counterproductive brooding that can worsen depression or anxiety and stall positive lifestyle changes. So how can you recognize and overcome these distortions?

LATE is a brain disorder that causes dementia in older individuals. In fact it is the third most common cause of dementia, but it affects many of the same brain regions as Alzheimer's disease so it presents with similar symptoms, and it's only with the advent of special diagnostic tests that clinicians have realized how common it is.

We all have habits we'd like to break, but the brain doesn't make changes easily. Breaking an unhealthy habit can be done; to do so, it helps to understand what's happening in the brain, know why you want to change, and accept that there will be setbacks along the way.

Practicing self-forgiveness about a past wrongdoing is not easy, but it can have a range of health benefits. Studies have shown that self-forgiveness is associated with reduced guilt, shame, stress, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, as well as greater self-esteem and life satisfaction. The process of self-forgiveness follows four Rs: responsibility, remorse, reorienting, and renewal.

Studies suggest that the world is facing two different dementia trends. One is that dementia rates are falling steadily in the United States and Europe. The other is that the number of dementia cases globally is rising, and will likely triple in the next 30 years, mostly due to population increases. People can try to reduce their dementia risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes lots of exercise, a healthy diet, at least seven hours of sleep per night, limited alcohol consumption, socializing, improved balance, stress management, smoking cessation, and control of underlying health conditions.