Musical Mentality
How playing music supports brain health as we age Fact checked by Derick Wilder After Fran Freeman retired from working as a speech-language pathologist at an Evanston school, she kept busy. “I was playing tennis, doing Pilates and cardio workouts, and practicing yoga. I was doing a lot to keep my body healthy, but not […]
Our Top 10 Stories of 2023
In 2023, we covered an amazing variety of caregiving stories. In some, we showcased inspiring ways that older adults challenged themselves physically, socially, and intellectually. In others, we wrote about some of the challenges that invariably arise as we age. You’ll learn about the benefits of reading, tips for traveling (near or far) as an […]
Accuracy Matters
By K.J. Bannan When a loved one can’t find the answers, a caregiver can fill in the gaps Anna Falkenstein’s husband went into cardiac arrest six years ago while walking outside. He pitched forward as he collapsed. Bystanders started CPR, but his brain was without oxygen long enough to cause an anoxic brain injury and […]
Create a Memory Box for Loved Ones with Dementia
We’ve all felt the tug of something tangible snapping us back to moments in our past, such as the whiff of our grandmother’s perfume on a stranger, which reminds us of her warm embrace, or the notes of a favorite song that instantly transport us to our teen years. For the more than 6 million […]
Tips to Combat Age-Related Forgetfulness
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: Why do people become more forgetful as they age? A: It’s common to have moments of forgetfulness about where we put the keys, why we walked into a room, or what an object is called. This reflects age-related changes in thinking skills. Over time we can expect […]
Longevity gene may boost brain power
Source: University of California at San Francisco whatdoctorsknow.com A new study has demonstrated that people with a variant of a longevity gene, called KLOTHO, have improved brain skills such as thinking, learning and memory regardless of their age, sex, or whether they have a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Increasing KLOTHO gene levels in […]