Late last week, I read an interesting article posted by Mobile Crunch, a blog site focused on trends in the mobile wireless world. They reported on a study by the International Journal of Neuroscience that shares it’s recent finding on a study of 300 mobile phone users and the effects on the brain. Read their summary of that report here….

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Take the informative Brain Food Quiz at WebMD

Are you unable to remember more than two phone numbers? Then you may be a “victim” of new technologies. Chances are, it is easier for you to store information on your hard disk, electronic organizer or mobile phone, rather than use your memory.

This finding is the result of a study on 3000 subjects by Dr. Ian Robertson, a Professor of Psychology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

The study shows that the under-30 generation was less likely to memorize such pieces of information than over-50s who are less keen on new technologies and use their memory more. We have learned to “outsource” our memory by storing this kind of information on mobiles or computers rather than our own brain but “The less you use of your memory, the poorer it becomes.”, said Dr. Robertson.

So do your memory a favor and challenge yourself to remember important details rather than rely on electronic devices. Your brain will thank you in the long run!

Click here to read the full article:

Adding years to your life depends on many things – good genes are a start, but certain lifestyle habits can have quite a significant impact. Living longer is one thing, and living a cognitively strong life can be quite another. Health and Medical magazines have long touted the benefits of certain healthy behaviors for body and mind, and this theme is being expressed in an ever more diverse set of publications. I wanted to share an article you from this month’s National Geographic Magazine. In the article “Complex Miracles of Health and Simple Ways to Enhance It”, they profiled three global hotspots of longevity and found living proof of lifestyle’s powerful effect. Check it out at www.nationalgeographic.com/healthyliving. Also discussed are tips for enhancing your own longevity profile including “Seven Basics for a Better Brain”. These include:

• Laugher has been shown to reduce at least four of the neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response.
• Children who eat more meals with their families feel happier about their lives and prospects for the future
• Breath deeply for five minutes, twice a day
• Drinking more water helps your brain stay focused, think faster, and remember more
• A short, brisk walk helps clear stress hormones from your bloodstream
• Fish rich in omega-3, like salmon, can improve brain function and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
• Exercise sends oxygen to your brain – improving memory, reasoning skills and concentration

It’s all a reminder that we have the opportunity to lead long, healthy, active and cognitively strong lives.

More news suggesting music can help to sharpen the brain.

“Experience with music appears to help with many other things in life, potentially transferring to activities like reading or picking up nuances in tones of voices or hearing sounds in a noisy classroom better,” researcher Nina Kraus, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University”

Read the article here

Another report on how exercise can help our brain.

“Tests on mice showed they grew new brain cells in a certain region of the brain that is known to be affected in the age related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans”.

Read more here

Consumer report has 5 tips on keeping your memory sharp, which includes computer based brain games. All great tips which we strongly recommend.

Read here

The right kind of cocoa might be great for your brain.

“This raises the prospect of using flavanols in the treatment of dementia, marked by decreased blood flow in the brain, and in maintaining overall cardiovascular health”.

Read all about the benefits of cocoa here

Here is a recent study that came out last week.

“Dr Mark Baxter, Wellcome Trust senior research fellow at Oxford University, said: “This study is exciting because it reveals a group of brain cells in the adult human brain that are continuously regenerating”

Read more on this study here

Here is a recent study out of Princeton University that tries to link sleep and brain cells.

“Losing sleep may cause the brain to stop producing new brain cells, a study conducted by New Jersey’s Princeton University has found”

To read more click here