Better Memory

Health News

Why 5 Minutes of Sun Makes Your Mood Better

"One of my most important rules in life is to take time to soak in the morning sun. I have been talking about the incredible benefits of being in the sun for more than 15 years now, and I encourage people, especially those burdened with excessive thoughts and laziness, to wake up, go out and stay under the sun, with no distractions. Not only does the sun create life, but it also nourishes life. It helps us thrive. We were born under the sun, we grew up with food made by the sun and we ourselves cannot survive without sunlight. So why do we give it such less importance in our lives?", says Radhika Iyer, founder of Anahata Organics and Raa Foundation. Surya Namaskar is the first thing done in the morning in yoga as a salutation to the sun, showing respect to "the giver of life." The sun is revered in Indian culture for its ability to provide energy and lift our spirits. Consider this: you've been in a dark room for two days, and on the third day, you open the window to let in some sunlight. What happens to your disposition? You most likely feel more awake, conscious, and energetic. Sun exposure is crucial for our body to have a good regulatory system. "Our circadian rhythm, or the biological clock, determines our mental and physical health. Your body's clock responds to light as a signal to be awake and dark as a signal to fall asleep. When you go under the sun, your body starts working to provide your conscious mind with more energy to go through your day. This has an effect, as mentioned before, on your health as a whole", adds Radhika, "Another crucial thing the sun provides us with is Vitamin D. Our body produces it naturally when exposed to the sun. Vitamin D is what enables the body to build and maintain healthy bones. Your body can only absorb calcium when Vitamin D is present. It also facilitates your normal immune system and is linked to improved resistance to certain illnesses such as hypertension, heart stroke and IBS. It is also linked to lowering the effects of depression and helps regulate our mood." You can take control of your health by doing something as simple as getting 5 minutes of sunlight right after you wake up. The sun is a life-giver, and once you realise how interconnected we are with the universe and with nature, you can open your eyes to a new, more vibrant life. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe) Read More► Type 2 Diabetes Accelerates Brain Ageing, Cognitive Decline
CoronaVirus Updates

70% Long Covid Patients Face Memory, Concentration Problems: Study

London: Seven in ten long Covid patients experience concentration and memory problems several months after the initial onset of their disease, with many performing worse than their peers on cognitive tests, according to twin studies. In the studies led by University of Cambridge, researchers showed that half of the patients reported difficulties in getting medical professionals to take their symptoms seriously. It was likely because cognitive symptoms do not get the same attention as lung problems or fatigue. In a study of 181 long Covid patients, 78 per cent reported difficulty concentrating, 69 per cent reported brain fog, 68 per cent reported forgetfulness, and 60 per cent reported problems finding the right word in speech. These self-reported symptoms were reflected in significantly lower ability to remember words and pictures in cognitive tests. Participants carried out multiple tasks to assess their decision-making and memory. These included remembering words in a list, and remembering which two images appeared together. The results revealed a consistent pattern of ongoing memory problems in those who had suffered Covid-19 infection. Problems were more pronounced in people whose overall ongoing symptoms were more severe. To help understand the cause of the cognitive issues, the researchers investigated other symptoms that might be linked. They found that people who experienced fatigue and neurological symptoms, like dizziness and headache, during their initial illness were more likely to have cognitive symptoms later on. They also found that those who were still experiencing neurological symptoms were particularly impaired on cognitive tests. The researchers noted that their results support other findings that suggest society will face a 'long tail' of workforce illness due to long Covid. It is therefore important not just for the sake of individuals, but for broader society, to be able to prevent, predict, identify and treat issues associated with long Covid. "Long Covid has received very little attention politically or medically. It urgently needs to be taken more seriously, and cognitive issues are an important part of this. When politicians talk about aLiving with Covid' - that is, unmitigated infection, this is something they ignore. The impact on the working population could be huge," said Dr Lucy Cheke, a researcher in the University of Cambridge's Department of Psychology. (agency) Read More► Severe Covid Linked to Long-Term Adverse Mental Health Risk: Lancet
Food and Nutrition

Snack on Almonds for Better

Women across the country are aware of how nutrition is closely associated with skin health. The food we eat is as important as the products for our skin, as healthy glowing skin is hard to achieve on a poor diet even with the strictest skincare regime. It is evident in the survey that highlights a shift in consumers' preferences towards a healthy lifestyle and natural alternatives for daily diet. According to a recent survey conducted between 7th to 22nd December by YouGov, a research consulting firm, 72 per cent of women in India find healthy dietary changes as an important step for beautiful looking skin. Overall, the results indicate that majority of the females prefer to snack on healthy and nutritious food items such as almonds and fruits as they recognize the beauty benefits of fruits and almonds in particular. Talking specifically in terms of maintaining a healthy diet, most women see a consequent benefit of achieving beautiful looking skin with home meals, a fibre-rich diet and snacking on nuts like almonds. Almonds have emerged as a top choice amongst Indian women as they associate Vitamin E with better skin health. Besides, the survey highlights the fact that 59 percent of women consume almonds on a daily basis, mostly soaked or raw. This makes almonds the most regularly consumed nut. Females of the age group 30-39 and Millennials rate almonds highly on aspects such as wrinkle reduction, skin glow and skin protection. Whereas Gen X highly associates the consumption of almonds with the reduction of wrinkles. This assessment is reinforced by their personal experience as they report having observed positive effects on skin after eating almonds. In fact, those who have been consuming almonds for over 6 months report positive impacts such as skin glow and younger-looking skin more than those who started consuming almonds lately. Commenting on the results of the survey, Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, said, "It is great to see survey results indicating stronger adoption of the idea that a healthy lifestyle, including healthy snacking, can elevate one's skin health. For years now, I have been recommending almonds as a natural healthy snack for better skin health. Almonds are known to be a rich source of antioxidant vitamin E and deliver essential fatty acids and polyphenols, which make them a great choice. A recent study suggests that almonds can help improve facial wrinkles and skin tone, a finding that supports the belief that almonds promote skin health among survey participants. I urge women to include them into their daily diet, to support healthier skin." The quantitative survey by YouGov aimed to assess the correlation between beauty and snacking, and understand women's snacking patterns for beauty benefits. The survey was conducted amongst a sample size of 3,959 women in cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Indore, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Chennai. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe) Read More► A Healthy Summer Diet
Research

Pets May Protect You from Memory Loss, Cognitive Decline

Having a company of a pet friend may protect you from memory loss in later life and other kinds of cognitive decline, finds a new study. The preliminary research found that pet ownership was especially beneficial for working verbal memory, such as memorisation of word lists, reports CNN. "To our knowledge, our study is the first to consider the effect of duration of pet ownership on cognitive health," first author Jennifer Applebaum, a sociology doctoral candidate and National Institute of Health predoctoral fellow at University of Florida, was quoted as saying by CNN in an email. "And it is not just cats and dogs that can boost the brain. People in the study also cared for rabbits, hamsters, birds, fish and reptiles, Applebaum said, although "dogs were most prevalent, followed by cats," Applebaum added. Owning household pets for five years or more produced the most benefit, delaying cognitive decline by 1.2 points over the six-year period of the study compared with the rate of decline in people without pets, the study, to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 74th Annual Meeting, indicated. For the study, the team analysed cognitive data on more than 1,300 adults who participated in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study tracking the lives of Americans age 50 and older. "Having a pet or multiple pets combines many core components of a brain-healthy lifestyle," said Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic in the Center for Brain Health at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine. Read More► Boost Your Pet's Health Using Ayurveda
Research

Exercise Thrice A Week in 50s & 60s to Keep Memory Loss at Bay

Regular physical activity is essential to not only reduce muscle loss and maintain strength as you age, but also to keep your memory intact. Forgetfulness is part of ageing and may worsen into Alzheimer's disease that may affect the quality of life. A new study has shown that practising aerobic exercises like cycling, walking or jogging thrice a week in the 50s and 60s can help stave off memory loss. "Everyone always asks, 'How much should I be exercising? What's the bare minimum to see improvement?'" said lead author Sarah Aghjayan, doctoral student in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. "From our study, it seems like exercising about three times a week for at least four months is how much you need to reap the benefits in episodic memory," she added. Episodic memory is the kind that deals with events that happened to you in the past. It's also one of the first to decline with age. Exercise that gets the heart pumping has shown promise in increasing brain health, and experiments in mice show that it improves memory, but studies looking at the same link in humans have come out mixed. To understand, the team pored over 36 studies with over 3,000 participants. "We found that there were greater improvements in memory among those who are age 55 to 68 years compared to those who are 69 to 85 years old, so intervening earlier is better," Aghjayan said. The team also found the greatest effects of exercise in those who hadn't yet experienced any cognitive decline, and in studies where participants exercised consistently several times a week. The findings are published in the journal Communications Medicine. While the team's analysis couldn't answer how the intensity of exercise affects the memory benefits, and there's plenty to learn about the mechanism behind the link. But the implications for public health are clear: Exercise is an accessible way older adults can stave off memory declines, benefiting themselves, their caretakers and the healthcare system, Aghjayan said. "You just need a good pair of walking shoes, and you can get out there and move your body." (agency) Read More► Ebola Virus Can Hide in Brain, Recur Even After Treatment: Study
NirogStreet News

पचास वर्ष की आयु के

न्यूयॉर्क: बढ़ती उम्र का असर ना केवल हमारी शारीरिक क्षमता पर पड़ता है बल्कि इसे चीजों को याद रखने की क्षमता भी प्रभावित होती है जिसे रोकने में कसरत काफी हद तक मददगार है। उम्रदराज लोगों को भूलने की आदत होने लगती है और इससे उनमें अल्जाईमर रोग अधिक प्रभावी होकर जीवन की गुणवत्ता को प्रभावित करता है। एक नए शोध में सामने आया है कि पचास वर्ष और साठ वर्ष की आयु में हफ्ते में तीन बार कसरत करना जैसे साइकिल चलाना, तेजी से पैदल चलना और जॉगिंग करने से ना केवल हमारी मांसपेशियां मजबूत होती हैं बल्कि यह हमारे मस्तिष्क की कोशिकाओं के लिए भी फायदेमंद है। इससे चीजों को याद रखने की हमारी क्षमता बरकरार रहती है। पिट्सबर्ग विश्वविद्यालय में केनेथ पी. डिट्रिच स्कूल ऑफ आर्ट्स एंड साइंसेज में डॉक्टरेट की छात्रा सारा अगहजयन ने कहा "हर कोई हमेशा पूछता है मुझे कितना व्यायाम करना चाहिए? अपने आप में सुधार लाने में न्यूनतम कसरत कितनी करनी है? हमारे अध्ययन से ऐसा लगता है कि कम से कम चार महीने के लिए सप्ताह में लगभग तीन बार व्यायाम करने से आपकी ऐपिसोडिक मेमोरी में सुधार आ सकता है।" यह हमारे मस्तिष्क की वह क्षमता है जो हमें अतीत में हुई घटनाओं की याद दिलाती है लेकिन बढ़ती उम्र के साथ सबसे पहले इसी क्षमता में कमी आती है। उन्होंने बताया कि ऐसे व्यायाम जिनसे दिल की रक्त पंप करने की क्षमता में इजाफा होता है वे मस्तिष्क की कार्यक्षमता को बढ़ाने में भी कारगर पाए गए हैं। इस बात को समझने के लिए शोध टीम ने 3,000 से अधिक प्रतिभागियों पर 36 से अधिक अध्ययन किए। उन्होंने कहा "हमने पाया कि 69 से 85 साल की उम्र के लोगों की तुलना में 55 से 68 साल की उम्र के लोगों की याददाश्त में अधिक सुधार हुआ है, इसलिए चीजों को बिगड़ने से पहले ही एहतियात बरती जानी जरूरी है।" इस शोध के निष्कर्ष 'कम्युनिकेशंस मेडिसिन' जर्नल में प्रकाशित हुए हैं। इस शोध से एक बात सामने आई है कि व्यायाम एक सहज तरीका है जिससे बढ़ती उम्र में स्मृति लोप को रोका जा सकता है। उन्होंने कहा "आपको कुछ अधिक नहीं करना है और बस पैदल चलने के लिए जूतों की एक अच्छी जोड़ी चाहिए जिसे पहन कर आप बाहर निकल कर थोड़ी बहुत कसरत कर सकते हैं।" (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► योग के जरिये मस्तिष्क पर पड़ने वाले प्रभाव पर जामिया में रिसर्च