Description: Do you know what the Vagus nerve is and what it does? Well, to begin with, it is not a single nerve cell but rather a complex nerve network with connections throughout the body. In terms of what it does, we are still working on that one, but it could be loosely described as… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Health and Prevention In Aging
Uh Oh! Here Comes New Year’s!
Description: OK so, I hate to be the one to bring it up but hiding just on the other side of exams and the holiday break is a new year, yes a new year, complete with the opportunity to yet again make a few New Year’s resolutions. Ah New Year’s resolutions! How do they work… Read more »
Literacy and Dementia: Think About It!
Description: Here is a somewhat backhanded test of your current understanding of factors relating to rates of dementia in elder individuals. What would you predict about the comparable rates of depression among otherwise similar groups of literate and illiterate elderly individuals? If you think there will be a rate difference between these two groups what… Read more »
Mortality Following Bereavement: What Are the Causal Factors?
Description: You have no doubt heard a story or two about an elderly couple where, when one of them dies, the surviving partner also passes away fairly soon after. Can you recall if an explanation as to why this occurred was offered? Some version of a broken heart perhaps? Or maybe that the surviving partner… Read more »
Anxiety? Saddle up and Take a Ride!
Description: What do you, or how do you, think about anxiety? When you feel anxiety rising is that a sign you should stop what you are doing, or do less of it? Anxiety is typically seen as a sign that something potentially threatening or dangerous is starting or is about to happen and we can… Read more »
Young and Old: Who is happier?
Description: Simple question: who is happier a 30 year old or a 70 year old? What do you think? Must be the 30 year old if only for the existential issues, 70 years of age is WAY closer to death than 30 so, of course the 30 year old is happier right? Well, wrong, actually…. Read more »
Retirement Planning: Its not all finances and it is not just for people getting close to retirement age
Description: When you read the words “retirement planning” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Well, probably money and pension (and even at an early age you SHOULD be thinking about this) but what else should folks be thinking about as they approach and enter their retirement? I have written in an earlier… Read more »
MIND Diet: What Makes for “Good” Diet Research?
Description: One cannot open a paper or a magazine these days (especially in the weekend “lifestyle” editions) without encountering one or more article extolling the virtues of one diet or another for weight loss, health, wellness, vim vigor or longevity. Often such articles are rather light on systematic science or, if they cite studies they… Read more »
Trump, Jong-un, Stress and Resilience: What to do?
Description: I am not prepared to offer any sort of political comments on the current rhetoric being thrown back and forth between American president Donald Trump and Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. What I can do is recommend an insightful piece by Daniel Keating about the impacts of stress and anxiety on us that arise from… Read more »
Want a Positive Retirement? Find your ikigai!
Description: Are you looking forward to the, likely distant point in the future when you will retire? What will that be like? Having recently “retired” myself I can tell you that it is not (or it need not be) about sitting around and relaxing. In fact I have found myself telling people who ask me… Read more »
Books for Success!
