Depression Increases the Risk of Developing Dementia

A new study has untangled the connection between depression and dementia, providing clear evidence that depression is a risk factor for dementia. Prior to this finding, it was unclear to researchers whether depression increased the risk of developing dementia or if dementia led to increased depression. Researchers screened nearly 1,000 participants and found 125 who [...]

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Posted July 27, 2010 by Amy Abramowitz under Alzheimer's disease, Neuroscience, Research studies

Brain-to-Computer Chip to Treat Neurological Disorders

For many years scientists have been able to stimulate certain brain regions to treat various disorders, including depression and Parkinson’s disease.  This treatment method is often imprecise and over-stimulation of the brain can have damaging effects.  A recent study of deep brain stimulation therapy in patients with Parkinson’s disease found that patients with the brain [...]

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Posted July 15, 2010 by Amy Abramowitz under Neuroscience, Odds and Ends

Want to Live Longer? Keep Driving!

Recently Dr. Jerri Edwards of the University of South Florida published a paper showing that older adults who cease driving have higher mortality rates.1 You might think this can be easily explained by the fact that unhealthy people are more likely to cease driving. However, Dr. Edwards used an analytical method to take into account [...]

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Posted February 4, 2010 by Peter Delahunt under Benefits of Brain Fitness, Brain exercise, DriveSharp, Driving, InSight, Neuroscience, Research studies

Having Correctly Prescribed Glasses Improves Quality of Life

Studies have shown that nursing home residents in the United States and other industrialized countries have rates of vision problems that are 3 to 15 times higher than community-dwelling older adults. About one-third of these vision problems can be attributed to improperly prescribed glasses. Dr. Cynthia Owsley of the University of Alabama wondered if improving [...]

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Posted December 15, 2009 by Peter Delahunt under InSight, Odds and Ends, Research studies