Have you ever been transported to another place and time by a specific smell? Whether it’s freshly cut grass, your mom’s perfume, or your favorite comfort food, a scent can have a powerful effect on your psyche. That’s because smell is the only sense with a direct connection to the limbic system, which plays a […]
Your skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs EVERYTHING that is applied to it. This is very evident with bio-identical hormone treatment. When you apply a treatment cream to your skin that contains estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, it alters your entire hormonal system, your endocrine system, your musculoskeletal system, and your nervous […]
Have you ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat”? Well, when it comes to anti-aging and youthful skin, this statement holds true. What we put into our bodies can have a significant impact on the health and appearance of our skin. One way to promote healthy and youthful skin is by incorporating probiotic-rich […]
Over 80 million people worldwide suffer from glaucoma, experiencing a progressive loss of vision that can lead to total blindness. This neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve has no cure, and once a person starts losing their vision, it cannot be restored. At best, current treatments such as laser therapy, surgery, and eye drops slow the progressive […]
As human beings, our social connections can significantly impact our overall well-being and quality of life, especially as we age. Social relationships help us to feel happier, more secure, and less stressed, all of which can contribute to healthy aging. Here are some ways in which social connections can help us age well: 1. Reducing […]
While many older adults value the independence of driving, changes that happen with age may alter a person’s ability to drive safely. You may notice driving becoming more difficult over time for yourself or for your loved ones. Changes in health, including medical conditions or injuries, also may impact a person’s driving skills. Learn more […]
Memory and thinking skills tend to decline as we get older. Certain lifestyle factors — such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and social interactions — might help to protect cognitive health as we age. Some studies have suggested that taking multivitamins or other dietary supplements may help protect thinking and memory. But few large-scale […]
Diet affects lifespan but hunger itself also can increase longevity. In Drosophila melanogaster — fruit flies — feeling hungry can increase lifespan because of changes in the brain, according to a new NIA-funded study published in Science. For this study, researchers from the University of Michigan promoted hunger in Drosophila in two different ways. First, they fed […]
High blood glucose levels in stroke survivors are associated with faster cognitive decline, according to an NIA-funded study. In contrast, the researchers found no evidence that post-stroke LDL cholesterol or high blood pressure levels accelerate cognitive decline. These findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that glucose management in stroke survivors may help preserve cognition after […]
As the world population ages, the number of people living with dementia and other types of cognitive impairment continues to rise. Safe and affordable interventions to prevent or slow age-related cognitive decline are greatly needed. Studies have found an association between hearing loss and the development of dementia in older adults. Research also suggests that […]