A survey of more than 1,500 working Americans found that many people are unable to relax and enjoy their time away from the office. More specifically, when participants returned to work after time off, 68% said they were in a better mood; 66% were energized; and 27% reported feeling motivated and less stressed. Unfortunately, 40%…

After monitoring the health status of about 12,000 older adults for fifteen years, researchers found that those with a history of heart failure had up to a 60% increased risk for developing dementia by the conclusion of the study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, July 2018

In this study, researchers interviewed children from 236 families and found that teens who had good relationships with their siblings experienced less distress when answering questions about observed parental disagreements. Study co-author Dr. Meredith Martin writes, “We showed that having a good relationship with a brother or sister reduced heightened vulnerability for youth exposed to…

If teens are offered the possibility of a good future, they may become more peaceful. A survey of 866 male teens in poorer neighborhoods showed that those who had a positive outlook were less likely to say that they’d threatened somebody else or injured others with a weapon in the past nine months. Based on…

Do you have problems getting out the right words from time to time? An analysis of thousands of voice recordings from around the world revealed that there is a tendency to slow-down before saying nouns. In other words, you’re more likely to pause a little bit or use “uh” or “uhm” when using a noun.…

Following a review of patient data concerning over eight million individuals, researchers report that type 2 diabetics have a 32% increased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. The researchers note their “findings may reflect shared genetic predisposition and/or disrupted shared pathogenic pathways with potential clinical and therapeutic implications.” Neurology, June 2018

The Mediterranean diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, healthy fats (such as olive oil), and lean sources of protein such as fish and poultry. In addition to improved heart health, studies show that the Mediterranean diet may also protect against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Current Nutrition Reports,…

Swedish researchers monitored the health status of 1,806 individuals for nearly twenty years and found that participants who lived in areas with a higher utilization of wood burning stoves had an elevated risk for dementia. Though further research is necessary, the results suggest that exposure to air pollution from wood burning stoves may be an…

Researchers surveyed 831 patients who suffered a concussion or mild-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that only 47% received educational materials about TBI from their doctor following their diagnosis. About a third of the patients in the study experienced three or more moderate-to-severe concussion symptoms within the proceeding three months but only half had a…

An analysis of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study revealed that obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension during middle age are each associated with an increased risk for dementia later in life. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, May 2018