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Mind & Mood Archive
Articles
When to worry about your memory
Most older adults experience occasional "senior moments" when they forget names, misplace objects, or have difficulty following conversations. While these types of memory issues may come and go, it's when they become more frequent or severe or if new problems emerge that signals a potential issue. A doctor can help determine if underlying issues may be causing memory problems and whether further neuropsychological evaluation is needed.
Bonds that transcend age
Intergenerational friendships typically involve an older adult and someone who's 15, 20, or more years younger. Studies suggest people can benefit physically and psychologically from such friendships. Friends of diverse ages can expose people to different experiences, attitudes, and approaches. To create intergenerational friendships, people can use a shared workplace or activity as a springboard for deeper connection. They should show genuine interest in the other person's life and experiences.
Denial: How it hurts, how it helps, and how to cope
Denial is a natural response at times when you're unable or unwilling to face the facts. As a defense mechanism, it can be helpful or harmful. Here's how to spot it in yourself and others, and how to move from denial toward meaningful change.
Can a multivitamin improve your memory?
Recently published research suggests that a daily multivitamin may improve memory enough such that it can function as if you were three years younger. We take a closer look at the study.
What is somatic therapy?
Trauma can register within our bodies on a cellular level. What that means — and how best to heal from serious traumas — is the focus of somatic therapy, a newer form of mental health counseling that highlights how deeply painful experiences affect us and can be addressed through mind-body approaches.
Protecting yourself from Alzheimer's
Scientists don't fully understand what causes some people to get Alzheimer's and others not. Age is the most significant risk factor, but genetics also plays a role. Alzheimer's has no cure, so the focus is on prevention and slowing the disease's progress once the biological changes are detected or when someone has early symptoms. Research has found that paying attention to certain factors may help, no matter a person's age or family history. These include exercise, diet, hearing and vision, blood pressure, and mind-stimulating activities.
Even a little socializing is linked to longevity
In a 2023 study of more than 28,000 older adults, those who reported socializing the most frequently lived the longest, compared with people who said they didn't socialize.
Will we ever have a vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's disease?
There are currently nine trials of vaccines for Alzheimer's disease under way. All of them are in people with mild Alzheimer's or with the pre-Alzheimer's condition called mild cognitive impairment. All of the vaccines are designed to encourage the immune system to remove protein deposits from the brain. Most experimental vaccines are given by injection; one being tested at Harvard Medical School uses a nasal spray. It will be several years before we know if any of them will work.
Some obesity-related brain changes similar to those with Alzheimer's
A 2023 study suggests that some brain changes in people with obesity appear similar to those that occur in people with Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia.
Regular physical activity can boost mood
A 2023 study suggests regular exercise improves symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress more effectively than sedentary behavior.
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