Description: The requests and demands for social distancing in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic are new and novel for almost everyone. In addition, the novelty of this experience and the serious uncertainty about how long it will last and what it will involve is adding to our anxiety and potentially eroding our wellbeing. While… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Health and Prevention In Aging
Psychology of COVID-19 Part 1: Some Psychological Facts
Description: As of today (March 15, 2020) the COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and there is a LOT going on at the international, national, community and individual level. The university where I am currently teaching a couple of courses has decided to finish this term with all our courses… Read more »
Pets and Seniors’ Wellness: Are they Causally Related?
Description: I suspect you’ve probably heard that having pets is good for us. You probably have also heard the pets are particularly beneficial for seniors. However, how much do you know about how those benefits actually play out? That is, what does research tell us about the benefits that pets provide to seniors? Think a… Read more »
The Health Value of Optimism: Can We Get Past Correlation?
Description: What do you think and what have your read or heard about the possibly contrasting life circumstances and futures of optimists and pessimists? The idea that it matters has been around forever (you know that some line, “grey skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face”). Ah but what I hope you… Read more »
Do You Know Enough About the Vagus Nerve?
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 »
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 »
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