EDITORS’ NOTE: The following post first appeared in The Conversation. Social ballroom dancing can improve cognitive functions and reduce brain atrophy in older adults who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. That’s the key finding of my team’s recently published study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. In our study, we Read more
Aging
Editors’ Note: The following blog post originally appeared on Psychology Today. This time of year—blustery fall days closing in on Thanksgiving—makes me glad to be home. I see my teapot and its cozy, both gifts from my children. I know the use and history of the things around me; they are connected to my life and to the Read more
Even the healthiest among us who are lucky enough to live long lives will break down and, ultimately, shut down. We age; we die. Yet this seemingly unavoidable process will likely change in the foreseeable future. In recent years, the prospect of curbing aging has gained traction, increasing not only the average human life span Read more
In late October 1980, Dear Abby published a letter from “Desperate in NY.” Desperate wrote about terrible changes in her 50-year-old husband: he had lost his memory and lost his job. He couldn’t drive and couldn’t be left alone in the house. They’d just been told he had something called Alzheimer’s disease, but they’d never Read more
A report on recent pilot studies describes the development of a “second skin” composed of commonly used chemicals that can be “worn” over a person’s existing skin. While this innovative product has the potential to treat (but not cure) a variety of problematic skin conditions, the headline on the New York Times article on the Read more
Loneliness is a common emotion when someone feels alone, separated from others or unsupported and distressed. It’s often transient. But loneliness that becomes persistent causes accelerated aging with multiple health consequences, including conditions that lead to death. Studies, including one published in March by Brigham Young University researchers, suggest that loneliness, isolation and living alone Read more
