Thursday, December 30, 2010

History of the New Year Celebration

While most of the world now celebrates New Year's Day on January 1st, it was not always that way. If you had lived in Mesopotamia and Babylon 4,000 years ago (c. 2000 B.C.), you probably would have celebrated the New Year in mid-March, at the time of the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. If, however, you were an Egyptian, your new year began with the Autumnal Equinox and the flooding of the Nile. If you were Greek, the Winter Solstice began your New Year celebrations. All these seasons reflected a time of renewal, re-birth and regeneration. However, it was secular, civic and religious influences that eventually changed most "new year" celebrations to January 1st.

Measuring time was, historically, determined by the easily observed cycles of the sun (solar), the moon (lunar) and of the regular occurrences of seasonal events that influenced agriculture. However, since solar, lunar and seasonal events were not consistent, formulating a reliable calendar evolved over eons.


The earliest known Roman calendar designated March as the beginning of the New Year, on the Vernal Equinox - the beginning of spring and a time when warring could begin, again. Depending upon whether one focuses on Mars or Martius as the derivation of that month's name, either interpretation is acceptable, as the return of spring begins a new crop season; and, with the winter ending, the weather was favorable for moving troops. Their calendar had ten named months, reflected in the historic, numerical names of six of the months. The origin of the names of the months were:

  • March - Mars, Roman god of war; or, Martius - Roman god of fertility and vegetation
  • April - perhaps derived from aperire - Latin from open; or, from Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty
  • May - Maia, Roman goddess of spring
  • June - Juno, principle Roman goddess of marriage and the well-being of women
  • July - originally Quintilis, Latin for 5th month, renamed for Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.
  • August - originally, Sextilis, Latin for 6th month, renamed for Augustus Caesar in 8 B.C.
  • September - septem, Latin for 7
  • October - octo, Latin for 8
  • November - novem, Latin for 9
  • December - decem, Latin for 10
Before 700 B.C. the calendar year began with the month of March, until the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the month of January and February. The month of January was named to honor Janus, a Roman god with two faces - one looking back and the other looking forward, signifying the old and the new.

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February is derived from Februa, the Roman festival of purification.

In 46 B.C.E. the Roman emperor Julius Caesar first established January 1 as New Year's day. In later years, Roman pagans observed the New Year by engaging in drunken orgies�a ritual they believed constituted a personal re-enacting of the chaotic world that existed before the cosmos was ordered by the gods.

As Christianity spread, pagan holidays were either incorporated into the Christian calendar or abandoned altogether.  By the early medieval period most of Christian Europe regarded Annunciation Day (March 25) as the beginning of the year. According to Catholic tradition, Annunciation Day commemorates the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would be impregnated by G-d and conceive a son to be called Jesus.

After William the Conqueror (AKA "William the Bastard" and "William of Normandy") became King of England on December 25, 1066, he decreed that the English return to the date established by the Roman pagans, January 1.  This move ensured that the commemoration of Jesus' birthday (December 25) would align with William's coronation, and the commemoration of Jesus' circumcision (January 1) would start the New Year - thus rooting the English and Christian calendars and his own Coronation.  William's innovation was eventually rejected, and England rejoined the rest of the Christian world and returned to celebrating New Years Day on March 25.

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About five hundred years later, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII (AKA "Ugo Boncompagni", 1502-1585) abandoned the traditional Julian calendar.  By the Julian reckoning, the solar year comprised 365.25 days, and the intercalation of a "leap day" every four years was intended to maintain correspondence between the calendar and the seasons.  Really, however there was a slight inaccuracy in the Julian measurement (the solar year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds = 365.2422 days).  This slight inaccuracy caused the Julian calendar to slip behind the seasons about one day per century.  Although this regression had amounted to 14 days by Pope Gregory's time, he based his reform on restoration of the vernal equinox, then falling on March 11, to the date had 1,257 years earlier when Council of Nicaea was convened (March 21, 325 C.E.).  Pope Gregory made the correction by advancing the calendar 10 days.  The change was made the day after October 4, 1582, and that following day was established as October 15, 1582.  The Gregorian calendar differs from the Julian in three ways:  (1) No century year is a leap year unless it is exactly divisible by 400 (e.g., 1600, 2000, etc.); (2) Years divisible by 4000 are common (not leap) years; and (3) once again the New Year would begin with the date set by the early pagans, the first day of the month of Janus - January 1.

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 Throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years at January 1 - supposedly the day on which Jesus' circumcision. So, the January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.

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Sources and Additional Information:

Funny Retirement Poems by Angela Rose

Enjoy It

Congratulations on a job well done.
You may be retiring, but you're still number one.
Now every day, you'll get to sleep in late.
Is that the early bird special on your plate?

This place won't be the same without you.
Just thinking about it makes us all feel blue.
But think of the fun that's within your sight,
you can take the misses out to party all night.

Retirement is just the next step in your life.
I sure hope you like spending time with your wife.
Maybe you can stop back in and see us some day.
"Don't be a stranger," we say to you, okay?

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Discounts

Now that you are a retiree,
think of all the discounts you'll see.
You can go to the movies for less than the rest.
With early bird specials, you're sure to be blessed.

Zoo entrance is yours at a reduced price.
Museums also discounted, retirees to entice.
As a senior citizen, you'll be treated like royalty.
Because of your free time, they all want your loyalty.

Weekly paychecks may be a thing of the past.
But if you are frugal, your savings should last.
All of the discounts will surly assist.
Just make sure you stay off those credit card mailing lists.

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Now

Now that you've retired, are you going to move somewhere warm?
I've heard Florida is nice, if you don't mind their springtime storms.
Of course a move down there will mean you have to forget how to drive.
With all the retirees on the roads, no one makes it out alive.

Now that you've retired, are you going to take up shuffleboard?
I've heard it's a popular pastime with most of the retirement hoard.
They also enjoy bocce and the occasional game of rummy.
With the rest of the old folks, you can become quite chummy.

Now that you've retired, are you going to eat real early?
It's a well-known fact, they must eat by four, or a retiree gets surly.
You'll also have to develop a taste for all-you-can-eat buffets.
And learn to bore everyone you meet with stories of the good old days.

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Now That You're Leaving

Now that you're leaving, can I have your cube?
I hope that my asking doesn't make me a boob.
Your cube is really much nicer than mine.
But you know me, I don't whine.

Now that you're leaving, can I have your parking spot?
Yours is so much closer than the one that I have got.
I have coveted it forever, though silently it's true.
I'm certain that you never had a clue.

Now that you're leaving, can I have your computer?
I hope you don't think that I'm acting like a looter.
My PC is slow and takes an hour or more to boot.
But happy retirement, here is some fruit.

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I've Heard

I've heard that retirement is often quite boring.
Unless you enjoy spending afternoons snoring.
With no one to answer to, and no place to be,
you might as well float out to sea.

I've heard that retirement often leads to death.
Not just 'cause you're old and often out of breath.
But because you're so bored and no longer have drive.
I guess you should enjoy these last days you're alive.

I've heard that retirement means no more spending.
There goes all of that money you're lending.
I recently did some gambling, and had a losing streak.
Do you mind if I pay back what I owe you next week?

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http://tinyurl.com/25eckyp

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

BitDefender Free Online Scanner

BitDefender offers absolutely free and highly efficient solution to clean different kinds of malware from your computer from your browser.

Incorporating the BitDefender award-winning scanning engines, BitDefender Online Scanner is an on-demand antivirus and antispyware tool that shows how safe your PC is. Accessible from your browser, it will scan and automatically clean the system memory, all files and drives' boot sectors.

Normally, it is not recommended to run several antivirus or antimalware scanners at the same time due to the limited computer resources. One major advantage of BitDefender Online Scanner is that you can use it without having to uninstall or to disable your existing data security product.

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Key features

* Superior proactive detection. BitDefender is well known for its ability to detect new and unknown viruses for which signatures have not been released yet.
* Virus and spyware cleaning. Powerful scan engines detect and remove all viruses and spyware.
* Always up-to-date. The virus signatures are updated automatically each time the product is launched.
* Effective right away. The scanner is configured to automatically clean all infected files.
* Convenient. Double-checks the security status of your PC even if you already have an Antivirus program installed.
* Detects automatically the anonymous proxy settings set in Internet Explorer.
* You can save the scan report for later analysis.
* Free for everyone.

System requirements

* Microsoft Windows 2000, XP SP2, Vista.
* Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 or later.

Limitations

BitDefender Online Scanner does not protect your computer real-time from getting infected. It scans the computer only for existing viruses. So, it should be used as a secondary solution, not abandoning your main antivirus solution.

Access free BitDefender Scanner from the following link: http://ping.fm/eKc4X

For your convenience, the scanner widget is embedded to this post, so you can start the scan right away, without leaving the site. Click on the button below to start the process. Enjoy an instant clean-up of your PC!


Embed easily forum in your blog with Tal.ki

If you plan to bring more interactive communication to your blog, you may be interesting in embeddable free forum offered by Tal.ki , so your visitors can have discussions right in your site.

Main Advantages
  • No account registration needed. Your forum will be integrated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, and other services so members can skip registration.
  • Engage your website's visitors. Turn passive blog and content readers into participating members, contributing content.
  • Make your website stickier. Forums tend to keep people on a website longer and have them visit 50% more pages.
  • Seamlessly blends into your website. Tal.ki detects the colors of your website, the layout, and the fonts and automatically styles itself to blend it with your site.
  • Easy to use Admin Tools. Configure the privacy settings for each forum to choose who has access, from guests to moderators.
Screenshot

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AppVita Review

Tal.ki is an application that lets users embed forums into their websites just like they would a YouTube video. If you can copy and paste, then you have the skills necessary to create a fully functional online forum where the readers of your blog or website can interact with each other and discuss the day's latest events. Much more than just a souped-up commenting feature, Tal.ki forums put the control in your readers' hands by letting them create new discussions centered around the topics that matter to them most.

Multiple Tal.ki pricing options let you select the plan that fits best; depending on the number of visitors you expect to have using the forums on your site. After signing up, Tal.ki will give you a line of HTML code to embed in your website just like you would embed a YouTube video clip. Paste the code wherever you like, and within an instant you've got a functioning forum where your readers can sound off. Individual Tal.ki forums can be run across multiple pages of your website, allowing people to check out the forums no matter what page they're on. Even better, your readers don't have to sign up for an account with Tal.ki before they get started posting. Instead, they just need to log in with a Google, Facebook, Yahoo, or Twitter account and they're ready to go.

Like other online forums, Tal.ki forums feature multiple categories and sticky posts, and let users subscribe to certain threads to find out when new content has been added. And because the forum is located on your site, you'll always remain the key administrator in charge of determining who is and isn't allowed to post what types of content. For bloggers and developers who need a better way to increase the amount of time users spend on their sites, Tal.ki forums are an obvious solution that can ramp up user interaction on any website or blog.

Practical Uses:
  • Create a forum on your blog where readers can chat with each other
  • Get to know your fans by communicating in your own forum
  • Find out what readers would like to read more about on your site
  • Encourage your website readers to spend more time on your site
Insider Tips:
  • Users can log in to post with a Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, or Open ID account
  • Forum users can change their display name to whatever they want
  • Hide your member list from the view of others at any time
  • Allow members to include photos with their forum posts
What we liked:
  • Adding a Tal.ki forum to a website is as simple as clicking copy and paste
  • Admin panel is easy to understand and use
  • Tal.ki offers plugins for increased integration with WordPress and Google sites
  • Forums are a great way to get to know your readers

What we didn't like:
  • The Tal.ki forums design might not blend in seamlessly with all websites
Costs:
  • Free account with limited features
  • Pro account is $9.95/month
  • Platinum account is $59/month
  • Max account is $249/month

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Use time spent on airplane for social interaction

Time you spend on airplane, or while you are waiting for your connecting flights, might be so boring! Therefore, meeting a friend or co-worker is usually a pleasant surprise helping to short long hours. Sometimes, new acquaintance "on the road" might bring you even better satisfaction. At least one of my friends met his future wife, suffering with computer battery down at the delayed flight at San Francisco Airport. He still considers these hours as the most significant event and turnaround point in his whole life.

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But that is a pure chance. If you want to make it more predictable and better planned, you may find useful free services offered by the new Web 2.0 site, called Planely.

Register on the site, and whenever you're travelling by plane, enter your flight details. You will get information on any other registered Planely Fliers who are on the same flight, or at the same departure or arrival airports as you are. You can then make arrangements to sit together on the plane, have a coffee on the ground or share a cab home.

Planely has created the opportunity for you to contact passengers with overlapping itineraries ahead of time and make mutual arrangements. The new services are especially useful for those who have difficulties to start communicating with strangers. When your common ground is already established, everything rolls out much easier. Even more beneficiary that will be for people coming for the same conference, sport events, unique travel destination, etc.

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Have a flight soon? Give it a try. Check Planely at http://www.planely.com/


Rolfing as Alternative Depression Treatment

Rolfing Overview

According to "Wikipedia Dictionary", Rolfing is a manipulation of the body and tissue to realign the structure of a body. The deep massage treatment was developed by Dr. Ida Pauline Rolf. Studies show the deep tissue rub is combined with pinpointing specific areas of the body in order to maintain or correct posture. Thus, Rolfing is referred to as Structural Integration, or Posture Realignment.

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Depression can be a devastating alternative when combined with tragedies such as divorce, and lead to medications prescribed by physicians. However, physicians will also advise patients to seek massage therapy, when they feel Rolfing can benefit the patient. Actually, Rolfing is
not a massage and it is not bone manipulation. It works from the fact that our muscles each have a wrapping which is a bit like being encased by a silk bag. These silk bags can start to stick to each other as a result of life's stresses, including depression. As they stick together, instead of working individually they start to work as a mass and this mass starts to pull the spine and bones in the wrong directions, thereby pulling you out of alignment. A physician may find a back out of alignment due to continuous slumping or bad posture. The therapist will work on the area of concern, and trigger in with a deep tissue massage, ultimately releasing the point of contention. It may require up to ten visits to completely release the pained area, or it could only take a few visits.

Rolfing works to free up your muscles so they can move freely and independently again. This is vital in returning your body to a state of balance and health. Once this happens, your spine can improve its alignment and posture. Once the muscles work properly the whole skeletal system can start doing what it's meant to do - support the muscles and protect the organs. It will improve you muscle and back pain, and it will also have a wonderful effect on your breathing and digestion, amongst other things.

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Physical pain and Depression

In March 2008, a team of brain researchers at Harvard medical school published a paper investigating the relationship between pain and depression. The researchers observed that patients with pain often show signs of depression. They designed their experiment to investigate the mechanisms by which pain and depression might interact and confirmed that some chemical and a part of the brain are involved in the simultaneous presentation of depression and pain. They are strongly related at a very basic level.

Another team of researchers at the University of Toyama in Japan published research in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology on the relationship between anxiety and pain and stated:
"Clinically, it is well known that chronic pain induces depression, anxiety, and a reduced quality of life. There have been many reports on the relationship between pain and emotion. We previously reported that chronic pain induced anxiety with changes in opioidergic function in the central nervous system."
So if pain is directly related to anxiety and depression, and Rolfing is doing great job in relieving pain, so it can provide a direct impact on patient's levels of anxiety and depression.

How does Rolfing differ from Chiropractic and Massage?

Chiropractic care generally focuses on joint and bone alignment through quick and high velocity adjustments. Unless the connective tissue (muscle, tendon, ligamentous) tensions and strains are balanced and repositioned, the bones, which are embedded in this tissue will find their way back into patterns of misalignment. Rolfing works to achieve this balance of tensional strains and creating space by using slow applied pressure to reposition the soft tissue allowing bones to fall back into their natural relationships, optimizing joint motility and thus allowing more permanent changes in bone alignment. In certain cases Rolfing coupled with Chiropractic care can be highly effective.

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The general goal for most types of massage is to bring relaxation and stress relief to individual muscles yet offering just temporary relief from symptoms. Rolfing addresses the underlying causes for pain and tension in the body truly holistically, resulting in often profound and significant lasting changes. Rolfers usually have more technical training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and therapeutic relationship than the average massage therapist. They understand the relationships that exist between regions of the body and know how to work methodically on a deeper more intrinsic level to bring about lasting change. Not just immediate pleasure, they are trying to encourage you to find a place of freedom and spaciousness that has been lost due to a lack of or limited patterns of movement. This is also achieved throughout each session by having the client actively perform specific movements, breathing into new areas of their body, calling attention to new sensations and even standing and walking during certain sessions.

What Does Rolfing Feel Like?

Rolfing generally feels like slow, applied pressure, similar to a deep tissue or myofascial massage. Today Rolfing is practiced with more effective results using gentle, techniques ranging from light to deeper pressure. Sensations typically range from pleasurable to a deeper feeling of release, depending on factors such as past injuries and chronic stress in the afflicted area that can be either physical or emotionally related.

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Clients report a sense of lightness, awareness and better balance. Movement feels easier and more resourceful. Feelings of wellbeing reflect the body's higher energy level. Chronic pain or discomfort often disappear rapidly throughout the sessions or soon after the series is complete.

The results of Rolfing are not only lasting, they are progressive. Clients report feeling and looking better long after their last session.

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Other benefits of Rolfing

* Poor Posture
Almost everyone has a poor posture to certain degree. As the body collapses we get uneven tension in our body. This feels uncomfortable and puts a lot of stress and strain on joints, nerves and internal organs. Good posture feels great!

* Joint Pain
Back, neck, hip, knee, ankle, wrist, shoulder pain can all be alleviated with Rolfing. Balancing the joints takes away the pain.

* Headaches
Most headaches come from neck and/or shoulder imbalance, which interferes with blood flow and/or puts pressure on nerves in the neck and head. You don't have to put up with headache pain from these causes.

* Breathing Difficulties
Asthma, emphysema, and panic attacks involve breathing disorders. These conditions, although varied, all respond well to Rolfing. The balancing of the rib-cage (and body generally) and the releasing of pressure on the lungs and diaphragm helps with the overall health, wellbeing and functioning of the respiratory system.

* Anti-Aging
As posture becomes more stooped, internal organs have inhibitory pressure applied on them, preventing them from functioning to their optimum. As Rolfing prevents the breakdown and collapse of the structure of the body, we can stand straight, giving our whole body the opportunity to function properly. The lift and balance of Rolfing helps to organize and space the systems of the body, enabling them to function without stress.

* Arthritis
Helps to unclog and free the joints and move toxic build-up out of the body.

* Improving Performance
Many athletes, dancers, yoga students and sportspeople have noticed that the increased flexibility, mobility and fluidity that comes from Rolfing has enhanced and improved their individual performances.

* Post Partum
Most women will tell you that their body just isn't the same after their pregnancy. It is important to know that as your body expands for the baby, tissues are stretching and migrating into unfamiliar positions. For some women the pushing out of the abdomen also externally rotates the hips, which stay rotated after the birth. This means that the hip joints no longer fully support the spine and the ribcage collapses down, putting strain on shoulders and neck. For other women the diaphragm might be re-located, the spine compressed or the pelvis itself becoming unstable. Rolfing will put you back together, better than before your pregnancy.

Summary

Physicians and chiropractors believe Rolfing is a safe alternative to medicine, including prescribed drug treatment. Unfortunate side effects are linked to medications for depression that can cause dependability.
And if you have heard talk of it being incredibly painful, the perception was once correct, but it is outdated now. In the old days Rolfing was known to hurt quite a lot. However things have changed, and the new breed of Rolfers are gentle and just as effective.


Sources and Additional Information:


Monday, December 27, 2010

How to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?

Researchers across the world are racing towards a cure for Alzheimer's disease. As prevalence rates climb, their focus has broadened from treatment to prevention strategies.

Although there are no magic solutions, tantalizing new evidence suggests it may be possible to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease through a combination of healthful habits.
Scientists now suggest you can stimulate your mind, improve your mood, sharpen your memory, and reduce your Alzheimer's risks.

Which Alzheimer's risks can you control or reduce?

Although scientists are still working to find causes and cures for Alzheimer's disease, conditions and behaviors that leave you more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease have been identified.

Did you know:
  • Smoking after age 65 increases your chances of developing Alzheimer's by 79%?
  • Obesity in midlife makes you 3 � times more likely to experience Alzheimer's?
  • Diabetes makes you twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's?
  • Genetics account for only 25% of Alzheimer's cases?
  • Chronic stress may quadruple your risk?
Although you cannot change your inherited genes, ethnicity, gender, or age, you can address the following risk factors:
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Obesity
  • Chronic Stress
  • Poor quality or insufficient sleep
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Liver and kidney disease
  • Smoking, alcohol, drug use
  • Head injury
  • Toxic insults to your brain
Strategies to Prevent and Delay Alzheimer's Disease

  • Get plenty of exercise
  • Eat a brain-healthy diet
  • Keep your mind active
  • Sleep regularly and restfully
  • Learn to relax
  • Protect your brain
Physical Exercise

According to a recent Mayo Clinic review, no single lifestyle choice has as much impact on aging and Alzheimer's disease as exercise. In a 2009 review of literature from the International Journal of Clinical Practice, scientists documented that over time, physical activity effectively reduces the probability of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Additional research shows those with existing cognitive problems and dementia receive a protective benefit from regular exercise.

These tips will maximize your exercise plan:
  • Exercise at a moderate pace-for at least 30 minutes five times per week. Just five workouts every seven days can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's by as much as 35%. When serious brain damage has already occurred, brisk walking and other cardiovascular exercise can slow further injury.
  • Build muscle to pump up your brain-moderate levels of weight and resistance training not only increase muscle mass, they maintain cognitive health. Combining aerobics and strength work is better than either activity alone. Add 2-3 strength sessions to your weekly routine, and your risk of Alzheimer's is cut in half if you are over 65.
  • Stretch for success-agility not only makes you light on your feet, it improves balance and reduces head injuries. Remember the Tin Man… and reach, twist, and flex often to keep your frame limber and your brain supported.
  • Think movement-those who are physically active throughout life have improved cognitive forecasts. Gardening, cleaning house, and taking the stairs build brain-healthy movement throughout the day. Look for opportunities to walk, bend, stretch, and lift your way to vitality.
Healthy Food

In Alzheimer's disease, inflammation and insulin resistance injure neurons and inhibit communication between brain cells. In Freedom from Disease, Alzheimer's is described as "diabetes of the brain," and a growing body of information suggests a strong link between metabolic disorders and the signal processing systems. In addition, the American Academy of Neurology recently warned elevated cholesterol in your 40's increases your risk of Alzheimer's.
Eating habits that reduce inflammation and promote normal energy production are brain-healthy. These food tips will keep you protected:
  • Follow a Mediterranean diet. Control inflammation by eating foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, cold water fish, nuts, whole grains, and abundant fresh produce. Avoid transfats, full-fat dairy products, and red meat, but treat yourself to a glass of red wine and a dark chocolate square.
  • Eat fish. According to a U.S. study, a diet rich in omega-3 would reduce by 47% the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. There is also a good way to prevent cardiovascular disease. The omega-3 are particularly present in salmon, sardines, mackerel and tuna. Fish oil, less rich, is also a good source of omega-3. For best results, it is advisable to consume at least two servings of fish per week.
  • Maintain consistent levels of insulin and blood sugar. Eat several small meals throughout the day. Avoid packaged, refined, and processed foods, especially those high in sugars and white flour, which rapidly spike glucose levels and inflame your brain.
  • Eat across the rainbow. Emphasize fruits and vegetables across the color spectrum to maximize protective anti-oxidants and vitamins. Daily servings of berries and green leafy vegetables should be part of a plant-centered, brain protective regimen.
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  • Eat purple-colored fruits. Researchers believe fruit such as blueberries absorb harmful iron compounds in the body that produce toxins. Certain toxins are believed to cause degenerative diseases.
  • Drink tea daily. Green, white, and oolong teas are particularly brain-healthy. Drinking 2-4 cups daily has proven benefits. Although caffeine can inhibit stress reduction and become addictive, moderate coffee drinkers also enjoy reduced cognitive risks.
  • Drink red wine. There had been studies involving the moderate use of red wine to give protective measures for the brain's cognitive function and likewise lessening the risk of acquiring diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. This can be due to the flavonoids that are present in its components. It is also said that green tea has its own kind of health measures not only for the two mentioned ailments but has the ability to put the risk of cancer to a lesser level.
  • Eat dark chocolates.  One of the foods that help prevent AD is dark chocolates.  Buy the kind that is high in cocoa content which can be at the 70%-80% levels as cocoa has large flavonoids contents.
  • Include asparagus in your diet. Patients afflicted by these diseases are more likely to lack on folate. A cup of asparagus spears is equivalent to 66 percent of the required daily dose of folate. Other good sources of folate are citrus fruits.
  • Eat curry. Curcumin present in turmeric removes plagues from the brain. This food had been proven since time immemorial to remove said plagues present in the brain. This substance is added as spices on food and is present in curry.  It has been reported that Indians who are fond of eating this dish have lower risks of dementia. This substance is even cheaper than you think. It is advisable to add some onto the dish of those who have the disease so as to lower the risk of acquiring it.
  • Drink coffee and smoke marijuana. The last recommendations might sound a bit controversial due to the traditional suspicion to these components, especially marijuana, which is still considered as illegal substance by Federal Government. While these elements are commonly considered as one of the most effective in AD prevention, you should apply great precaution using them and be careful to avoid any chance of health abuse.
Vitamins

Vitamins, herbs, and amino acids may provide additional brain protection. Some vitamins are recommended for preventing Alzheimer's disease. This applies, for example, vitamins E and C. According to two studies published in 2002 in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), their antioxidant properties would promote the prevention of this disease. The recommended intake of vitamin E is 12 mg per day and for vitamin C of 110 mg per day.
- Foods rich in vitamin E are vegetable oils, cereals, nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc..), Sweet potatoes, mangoes.
- Foods rich in vitamin C are blackcurrant, pepper, lemon, cauliflower, melon, orange.

A recent Swedish study, vitamins B12 and B9 (folate) would prevent Alzheimer's disease. For proof, among 370 people aged over 75 years and followed for three years by researchers, 78 have developed a form of senile dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. However, these 78 participants, 46 had a deficiency in vitamin B12 or B9. The explanation? The deficit in these two vitamins enhance neuronal death, a phenomenon strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease.
- Foods rich in vitamins B12 and B9 are: bananas, vegetables, broccoli and legumes (beans, peas, chickpeas).

Brain Exercise

According to the 2008 Wall Street Journal review "Neurobics and Other Brain Boosters," an active, stimulated brain reduces your odds of developing Alzheimer's. Those who remain engaged in activities involving multiple tasks, requiring communication, interaction, and organization, who continue learning, and constantly challenge their brains earn the greatest protection.

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A recent 2010 review published in Volume 6 of "Nature" cited evidence that cognitive intervention can be effective in preventing, slowing and treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The benefits of brain training are thought to reflect increases in cognitive reserve, which allows the brain to perform tasks (using cognitive skills like memory, visual and auditory processing, logic and reasoning, and attention) even if there is damage to the pathways between brain cells. One study of 29,000 people demonstrated that those with the highest cognitive reserves had a 46 percent reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those with lower reserves. In addition, brain training might be able to partially reverse dementia even after the symptoms are apparent.

Cross-training with these brainpower activities will keep your mind sharp:
  • Set aside time each day to learn something new - read a good book, study a foreign language, play a musical instrument. The greater the novelty and challenge, the larger the deposit in your brain reserves.
  • Practice memorization - start with something short and progress to the 50 U.S. capitals. Create rhymes and patterns to strengthen your memory connections.
  • Solve riddles and work puzzles - brain teasers and strategy games provide great mental exercise and build your capacity to form and retain cognitive associations. Look for activities that use both sides of your brain…logic and language versus artistic and creative challenges.
  • Practice the 5 W's - observe and report like a crime detective. Keep a Who, What, Where, When, and Why list of your daily experiences. Capturing visual details keeps your neurons firing.
  • Follow the road less traveled - take a new route, eat with your other hand, rearrange your computer desktop. Vary your habits regularly to create new brain pathways.
Good Sleep

Your brain needs regular, restful sleep to process, store, and recall information. Nightly deprivation not only leaves you cranky and tired, but according to memory experts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Gary Small, poor sleep can significantly damage your brain and central nervous system.

These tips will help you catch your Z's and quiet the demons that keep you awake:
  • Establish a regular sleep schedule. Going to bed and getting up at the same time reinforces your natural circadian rhythms. Your brain's clock responds to regularity, and long term disruption has been associated with heart disease, cancer risks, and cognitive problems.
  • Set the mood. Reserve your bed for sleep (and sex), take a hot bath, and dim the lights. Brisk evening exercise, comfortable temperatures, and white noise machines can also signal your brain that it's time for deep restorative sleep.
  • Stop snoring, dear! Alcohol, smoking, sedating drugs, excess weight, high blood pressure, and clogged nasal passages can rock the timbers. Snoring may signal sleep apnea, a respiratory condition that threatens your heart and mind. A new study from the University of California at San Diego estimates seventy to eighty percent of Alzheimer's patients experience sleep apnea. Cognition is frequently improved following Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment, which mechanically regulates the rise and fall of blood pressure and oxygen to the brain.
  • Quiet your inner chatter. When mental dialogues keep you awake, get up. Try reading or relaxing in another room for twenty minutes then hop back in. If repeating this cycle doesn't work, check your stress levels. Your memory may depend on it.
Relaxation and Stress Management

According to USC's Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, lifelong stress can double or quadruple your chances of Alzheimer's disease, yet simple daily tools can minimize its effects. The harmful stress hormone cortisol hampers nerve cell growth and connection and accelerates cognitive decline, premature aging, depression, diabetes, and other assaults on your brain.

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Conquer cortisol with these proven techniques:
  • Breathe! Stress alters breathing rates and impacts brain oxygen levels. Turn off your stress response with quiet, deep, abdominal breathing. From momentary inhale, hold, and exhale sequences to guided group exercises, restorative breathing is powerful, simple, and free!
  • Schedule daily relaxation activities - From a walk in the park or petting your cat to Tai-chi, guided imagery, or yoga, make relaxation a priority. Keeping cortisol under control requires regular effort.
  • Stay connected - We are social creatures, and the most connected fare better on tests of memory and cognition. Developing a strong support system through family, friends, exercise groups, clubs, and volunteer activities improves mood and slows cognitive decline.
  • Nourish inner peace - Most scientists acknowledge a strong mind-body connection, and various studies associate personal spiritual activities with better cognitive aging. Regular meditation, prayer, reflection, and religious practice may immunize you against the damaging effects of stress.
Brain Protection

By the time Alzheimer's disease appears, irreversible damage has already occurred. Preventing and delaying Alzheimer's includes three protective tips:
  • Avoid toxins - Among the most preventable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are smoking and heavy drinking. Not only does smoking increase the odds for those over 65 by nearly 79%, researchers at Miami's Mt. Sinai Medical Center warn that a combination of these two behaviors reduces the age of Alzheimer's onset by six to seven years. If you stop smoking at age, the brain benefits from improved circulation almost immediately. Brain changes from alcohol abuse can only be reversed early.
  • Wear a helmet - and limit distractions. A National Institute of Health study suggests head trauma at any point in life significantly increases your risk of Alzheimer's. Dr. Andrew Weil cautions that repeated hits in sports activities including football, soccer, and boxing, or single traumatic injuries from bicycle, skating, or motorcycle accidents make Alzheimer's disease more likely in later life. Preserve your brain by wearing properly fitting sports helmets, buckling your seatbelt, and trip-proofing your environment. Avoid activities that compete for your attention�like driving with cell phones and running with your MP3 player. A moment's distraction can lead to a brain-injuring thud!
  • Create a brain-safe environment - The evidence on modern technology is mixed. Scientists continue to examine links between neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and exposure to environmental contaminants. UCLA's Memory Center Director Gary Small warns that lead, pesticides, mold, and other substances in your environment may damage your brain. Studies on the impact of electromagnetic energy from cell phones are still debated. Although definitive links to Alzheimer's can be elusive, making choices that limit chronic exposure to environmental harm makes good sense.

Sources and Additional Information:


15 million songs: free legal download

Nexus Radio is a free all-in-one application for all of your music needs. Search and download over 15 million songs directly to your PC, or listen to and record over 11,000+ radio stations free of charge! You can play downloaded songs directly within Nexus Radio, or transfer songs to your iPod/iPhone or any other multimedia device effortlessly. In addition to a library of rich music content, Nexus Radio is also loaded with additional free easy to use music tools. Create custom ringtones using the built in music trimmer, or use the Nexus Radio ID3 tag editor to easily tag your music files. Users can also create a custom profile and take advantage of the other many free services we offer. You can upload photos, create personal blogs, establish groups, and post events all for free. Version 5 improves compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Features:

� No monthly fees.
� No spyware, malware, or adware.
� Over 15 million songs.
� 11,000+ radio stations.
� 38 music genres.
� Full featured media player.
� Straightforward audio editor.
� One click recording.
� Easy to use TiVo style recording.
� Recording filters.
� iPod & iPhone compatible.
� File support: AAC, MP4, MP3, MP2, MP1, OGG, WAV & WMA.
� Dynamic stream recorder with auto file naming features.
� Automatic ID3 v1/v2 tag support.
� ID3 v1/v2 tag editor.
� 32 Bit Digital effects.
� 5.1 Surround Sound.

Selected Reviews

Nexus Radio is a outstanding radio program, in a very nice and modern way to completion. The software collected a countless number of online radio stations, now certainly more than 8000 radio stations and music. When you run the pleasant voice you say "Welcome to Nexus Radio".

Stations divided into musical genres, if you go to the selected species have a long list of themes already the name of the radio station and the quality of music played. When you run the selected radio station immediately displays in which the team plays, the singer and what is the title track.

Selected stations can burn to disc to MP3 format, the software has a recording function in the time specified by us, with the gradual mute sound at the end. The software complements the MP3 tags, the quality of MP3, we can determine for yourself. The software is also in the history of our recordings. It should go to options and set everything.

Attached to the radio are very interesting visualizations that can be viewed pe noekranowo. If a station interested in adding us to her favorite, will henceforth be in the tab favorites, before adding, we can still change its title. The software has also equalizers, special effects, options for adding filters.

During installation, the software proposes to install a radio toolbar to your browser, this can be waived.


Nexus Radio is a free music software application that lets users download music and discover streaming radio stations from around the world. It also doubles as a media player, and recording tool that can record in-line audio from your computer, or from the radio streams to which you're listening. In addition, the app plays fetch--create a filter and it will capture songs or artists according to your keyword choice. That spells "free music discovery" to us.

Like competing music jukebox software, Nexus Radio has its own plug-in architecture that allows third parties to create their own add-ons. One of the most popular applications of that has been visualizations, which users are able to add or remove from the player. The app also offers drag-and-drop functionality for creating your own playlists from music stored on your hard drive, and there are built-in tools for saving clips as MP3s and editing clips.

Nexus Radio has an attractive interface that offers plenty of functionality without being overly complex. The main screen has built-in volume control, menu options, and a dropdown for on-the-fly burning. Stations are listed alphabetically, but other than the name, there's really no additional information, so you'll have to hunt and peck to find the stations you like. It's best to add stations as favorites for easier access with further use. The app isn't the most polished we've seen, but it offers a simple way to save songs and create playlists of tracks heard on Internet radio.

Developer's website: http://ping.fm/pk8GE


Screenshots (Click to Enlarge):


  

Friday, December 17, 2010

How to Fight Brain Aging?

Anatomical changes

The human brain is considered as the most complex structure in the universe. It is also a most vital organ, responsible for everything in our body from involuntary life support functions like heartbeats and breathing to the essence of personality and memory. It contains more than 100 billion cells including neurons-the specialized cells of the nervous system responsible for the transmission of electrical impulses to and from the central nervous system. Neurons can send signals to thousands of other cells at a rate of about 200 miles per hour. Just how these neurons work-a complicated system involving various chemicals (neurotransmitters) and electrical impulses-is only slowly coming to light.

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Until recently, brain aging-and everything that entails, from the annoying inconveniences of age-related memory loss to more serious conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia-was equated with neuron failure. Now, scientists discovered that if you don't have a specific disease that causes loss of nerve cells, then most, if not all, of the neurons remain healthy through your life. One reason for the change: improved technology like higher resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. These help scientists pinpoint the parts of the brain that function or fail as individuals' age. The technology has also generated a wealth of information about the physical changes in the aging brain, including:

  1. Brain weight and volume decrease.
The brain weighs around 350 g at birth and increases to around 1,375 g by the age of 20. The largest increase in brain weight takes place in the first three years of life during which time it quadruples in size. Brain weight starts to decline between the ages of 45 - 50 and decreases by around 11 per cent from its maximal weight in young adulthood.

In the older brain tissue loss is most obvious on the surface and is seen as shrinkage of the natural convolutions in brain tissue. Changes are most prominent in the forebrain and less so in the cerebellum - the area at the back of the brain mainly responsible for balance and dexterity of movement.

In the young brain the ratio of gray to white matter is 1:28 and this declines to around 1:13 in the brains of people in their sixties. Curiously, there is evidence to suggest a reversal in trend as the brain ages further with gray to white matter back to 1:55 by the age of 90.

  1. The grooves on the surface of the brain widen, while the swellings on the surface become smaller.

  1. So-called "neurofibriallary tangles," decayed portions of the branch-like dentricles that extend from the neurons, increase.

  1. "Senile plaques," or abnormally hard clusters of damaged or dying neurons, form.

Along with realizing these physical changes in the brain, one of the big surprises in recent years is data that suggests cognitive decline like age-related memory loss is not due to neuron loss, as previously thought. Instead, scientists now believe changes in function as we age have more to do with complex chemical interactions in the brain that occur over time.

Working Memory

A function called "working memory" occurs in the hippocampus and in the frontal cortex. Working memory is temporary storage of information and includes processes for analyzing information, decision-making and information selection. On the other hand, long term memories have been found to be stored in many different locations in the brain.

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With aging, our brains change. Brain cells die off and in some people, a number of brain structures such as the hippocampus become smaller. Brain changes such as these may not have any impact on memory and the changes vary widely from person to person. Although brain cells do die off, the process does not accelerate with age, and the areas of the brain that lose cells are not necessarily the ones that relate to memory. Researchers who study the effects of aging on the brain say that even though the hippocampus shrinks, it probably compensates for its smaller size by working harder.

Though the brain's physical changes do not necessarily relate to loss of memory, changes do occur in memory function as we age. The way the brain processes information is often slowed, affecting the rate that people can put new information into their permanent memory, especially rote, factual information. With aging, we often experience delayed recall � not being able to remember a familiar name or word � and it becomes harder to pay attention to more than one thing at a time.

In a study done by Dr. Monte Buchsbaum, Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a group of young and old people who had equally good memories were tested. They were told to look at 16 words on a screen, organize the words into categories and then memorize them. The younger people used the frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain generally used for organizational tasks such as categorizing words. The older group, on the other hand, used a different part of the brain, an area used for processing visual images. According to the researchers, the results suggest that healthy aging may involve the ability to move tasks out of the frontal lobe into other areas of the brain. Though researchers do not know how this is done, the answer could help people train their brains to use different regions as they age.

Research also shows that though most older people tend to experience some memory deficiency, others maintain a high level of cognitive functioning into their later years. These "successful agers," as they are sometimes labeled, show less age-related memory loss. They generally have higher levels of education, stay involved in their work and spend more time doing activities that require complex thought.

People who have a positive mental outlook tend to show slower decline in mental functioning as they age, as well. Research is showing that a positive relationship exists between physical fitness and memory, especially for those participating in aerobic exercise.

Factors of Influence

  1. The genetic influence on the rate of brain aging is one of the potential factors due to the genetic evolution, favoring those who, while getting older, retained the active capacity to teach and provide emotional support to the younger people. However, until recently, the average life span was much lower, and it was rare for people to live past age 40 or 50, leading to very weak evolutionary selective pressure to make the brain work after 60. That's probably why all brains decline with aging.
  2. The rate of change may be hastened or slowed by lifestyle factors. For instance, maintaining a lower weight might affect brain aging. The opposite condition is diabetes-a condition with elevated blood sugar- those with diabetes typically show more signs of brain aging than non-diabetic individuals.
  3. Education: Those who 'use it, don't lose it' as quickly, according to studies that compare brain function in adults who attended college and those who did not. One recent study showed that cognitive challenge actually created new neurons in the adult brain, which means that the old idea that we have all the neurons in the brain when born, and then we start losing them gradually, is probably wrong.
  4. Exercise: Those who walk rapidly for as little as 45 minutes three times a week significantly improve age-related declines in cognitive abilities.
  5. Rest: A regular pattern of eight hours of sleep per night helps protect against age-related chronic illnesses including memory loss.
  6. Hypertension: Hypertension speeds up normal brain shrinkage and loss of mental abilities. Even those on antihypertensive medication have accelerated aging and shrinking of the brain.
  7. Stress: When under stress, the human body produces a hormone called cortisol. In small amounts, it can improve memory-which is what helps emotional events stay vividly in our minds. In larger amounts, however, it wears away at the neurons in the hippocampus.
  8. Head trauma: It has long been known that boxers get punch drunk and their brains exhibit changes that mimic Alzheimer's disease, only much earlier. A new series of studies show that former soccer players have declines in cognitive function in proportion to their use of their heads in propelling the ball.
Aging Generation

Some researchers believe that the baby-boom generation could be less at risk of cognitive decline than their parents because they have higher education levels, which may serve to increase the density of their neural synapses. People who engage in cognitive activities�reading a book, playing chess or crosswords, listening to a radio program�are less likely to lose their mental edge than those who do not. Older people can improve their memory capacity through training to the point that it equals that of untrained younger people, recent research shows.

Brain Maintenance

From the brain aging processes and factors of influence, you have probably already figured the ways on how to keep it in the best state. There are some advices from the specialists:

  1. Move It
"The best advice I can give to keep your brain healthy and young is aerobic exercise," says Donald Stuss, PhD, a neuropsychologist and director of the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto.

Mark McDaniel, PhD, professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, agrees, but adds, "I would suggest a combined program of aerobics and weight training. Studies show the best outcomes for those engaged in both types of exercise."

As we age, our brain cells, called neurons, lose the tree-branch-like connections between them. These connections, or synapses, are essential to thought. Quite literally, over time, our brains lose their heft. Perhaps the most striking brain research today is the strong evidence we now have that "exercise may forestall some kinds of mental decline," notes McDaniel. It may even restore memory. Myriad animal studies have shown that, among other brain benefits, aerobic exercise increases capillary development in the brain, meaning more blood supply, more nutrients and -- a big requirement for brain health -- more oxygen.

The preeminent exercise and brain-health researcher in humans is Arthur Kramer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In a dozen studies over the past few years, with titles such as "Aerobic Fitness Reduces Brain Tissue Loss in Aging Humans," Kramer and his colleagues have proved two critical findings: Fit people have sharper brains, and people who are out of shape, but then get into shape, sharpen up their brains. This second finding is vital. There's no question that working out makes you smarter, and it does so, Kramer notes, at all stages of life. Just as important, exercise staves off heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other maladies that increase the risk of brain problems as we age.

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2. Feed It

Another path to a better brain is through your stomach. We've all heard about antioxidants as cancer fighters. Eating foods that contain these molecules, which neutralize harmful free radicals, may be especially good for your brain too. Free radicals have nothing to do with Berkeley politics and everything to do with breaking down the neurons in our brains. Many colorful fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, as are some beans, whole grains, nuts and spices.

More important, though, is overall nutrition. In concert with a good workout routine, you should eat right to avoid the diseases that modern flesh is heir to. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol all make life tough on your brain, says Carol Greenwood, PhD, a geriatric research scientist at the University of Toronto.

If your diet is heavy, then you're probably also heavy. The same weight that burdens your legs on the stairs also burdens your brain for the witty reply or quick problem solving. The best things you can eat for your body, Greenwood notes, are also the best things you can eat for your brain. Your brain is in your body, after all. Greenwood's recommendation is to follow the dietary guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.

3. Speed It Up

Our brains naturally start slowing down at the age of 30. New studies show that people of any age can train their brains to be faster and, in effect, younger. "Your brain is a learning machine," says Michael Merzenich, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is dedicated practice: exercises for the mind.

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Merzenich has developed a computer-based training regimen to speed up how the brain processes information (positscience.com). Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to improve both speed and accuracy. Over the course of your training, the program starts asking you to distinguish sounds (between "dog" and "bog," for instance) at an increasingly faster rate. It's a bit like a tennis instructor, says Merzenich, shooting balls at you faster and faster over the course of the summer to keep you challenged. Though you may have started out slow, by Labor Day you're pretty nimble.

Similarly, Nintendo was inspired by the research of a Japanese doctor to develop a handheld game called Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, which has sold more than two million copies in Japan. No software out there has yet been approved by the FDA as a treatment for cognitive impairment, but an increasing number of reputable scientific studies suggest that programs like Merzenich's could help slow down typical brain aging, or even treat dementia. The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly adaptable, or "plastic," as neurologists put it. If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn. And it may speed up in the process.

To keep your brain young and supple, you can purchase software like Merzenich's, or you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing Ping-Pong or contract bridge, doing jigsaw puzzles, learning a new language or the tango, taking accordion lessons, building a kit airplane, mastering bonsai technique, discovering the subtleties of beer-brewing and, sure, relearning differential calculus.

  1. Stay Calm
While challenging your brain is very important, remaining calm is equally so. In a paper on the brain and stress, Jeansok Kim of the University of Washington asserts, in no uncertain terms, that traumatic stress is bad for your brain cells. Stress can "disturb cognitive processes such as learning and memory, and consequently limit the quality of human life," writes Kim.

One example is a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is a primary locus of memory formation, but which can be seriously debilitated by chronic stress. Of course, physical exercise is always a great destressor, as are calmer activities like yoga and meditation. And when you line up your mental calisthenics (your Swahili and swing lessons), make sure you can stay loose and have fun.

  1. Give It a Rest
Perhaps the most extreme example of the mental power of staying calm is the creative benefit of sleep. Next time you're working on a complex problem, whether it be a calculus proof or choosing the right car for your family, it really pays to "sleep on it."

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have looked at the conditions under which people come up with creative solutions. In a study involving math problems, they found that a good night's rest doubled participants' chances of finding a creative solution to the problems the next day. The sleeping brain, they theorize, is vastly capable of synthesizing complex information.

  1. Laugh a Little
Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. That puts laughter in the category of activities you want to do over and over again, such as eating chocolate or having sex. Laughter is pleasurable, perhaps even "addictive," to the brain.

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  1. Get Better With Age
In our youth-obsessed culture, no one's suggesting a revision to the Constitution allowing 20-year-olds to run for President. The age requirement remains at 35. You've heard about the wisdom and judgment of older people? Scientists are starting to understand how wisdom works on a neurological level.

When you are older, explains Merzenich, "you have recorded in your brain millions and millions of little social scenarios and facts" that you can call upon at any time. Furthermore, he notes, "you are a much better synthesizer and integrator of that information."

Older people are better at solving problems, because they have more mental information to draw upon than younger people do. That's why those in their 50s and 60s are sage. They're the ones we turn to for the best advice, the ones we want to run our companies and our country.

As Barry Gordon, a neurologist at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of Intelligent Memory: Improve the Memory That Makes You Smarter, puts it, "It's nice to know some things get better with age."


Sources and Additional Information:


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