Breakthrough in Search for Tinnitus Cure

August 11, 2022 Source: University of Auckland After 20 years searching for a cure for tinnitus, researchers at the University of Auckland are excited by ‘encouraging results’ from a clinical trial of a mobile-phone-based therapy. The study randomised 61 patients to...

Has the shape of the human brain changed over time?

[From the New Scientist] An analysis of fossils suggests changes in the shape of the brain case during human evolution were linked to alterations in the face, rather than changes in the brain itself Amazing: The shape of human brain has barely changed in past 160,000...

Is Wordle really brain training?

Do you play Wordle? (An addictive word game popular with New Zealanders.) The big question is: Do puzzles or “brain training” games work?   Along with many of its other tips, Dementia UK emphasises that “taking part in hobbies, learning a new...

Struggling to Recognize Different Racial Faces?

Cognitive psychologists at the University of Exeter believe they have discovered the answer! Decades of debate since the 1960s resulted in social scientists taking the view that people, particularly those with more prejudiced racial attitudes, are less motivated to...

Which memory training works best as we age?

It depends, a new study from the University of Michigan suggests. But your fourth-grade  mathematics teacher may have been onto something with that phrase to help you remember how to work out a complicated problem: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.   Do you...

Taking the Driver Test with your Doctor.

‘What has drawing a clock and remembering an address got to do with actual driving on the road?’ This is a question I was asked at a recent 60s-Up presentation. And it’s a good question! One of the things I do at my Brainfit® classes is teach people like...

Playing a duet? What your brain needs to do.

Making music together is a unique challenge: Not only must a musician plan and execute the sounds made by their own instrument, but they have to coordinate their actions with those of others. This is an extraordinary accomplishment on the part of the brain, one that...

How to Write your Life Story.

Have you ever considered putting pen to paper? (Or fingers to keyboard?) There are few better ways to activate your brain connections than writing your life story or memoir. A memoir maps an aspect of your journey, turning it into a written narrative of a moment in...

Age 40 Is When Busy Americans Get the Least Sleep

Neuroscience Articles June 14, 2022   Summary: Sleep efficiency dips for most around age 40, increasing again at around age 50. Researchers say that for most aged 60 and older, sleep duration increases. Source: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University A...

Avocados – are they good for my Brain?

Yes! Avocados are great brain food, in moderation. (See more about this below). What you eat affects how well you think. Just as your body needs to be in peak condition as you approach your 40’s and 50’s, to have a memory that keeps growing and never lets you down,...

Have you tried these Balancing Tips?

Maintaining proper balance at any age requires attention, strength, and flexibility. One skill that can sharply decline with age, though, and often with little warning, is your sense of balance. “As people age, changes in flexibility, muscle strength and power,...

10 signs of hearing loss you don’t want to ignore.

Have you noticed any of these? About half of people 75 and older have lost 35 decibels or more of hearing — the point at which a hearing aid is needed. But it can be tough to tell when someone’s hearing is starting to go, even (or especially) if that someone is...

The 4 Worst Habits for Your Brain

These have the greatest effect on cognitive function. Many habits contribute to poor brain health, but four areas can have the most influence. They are too much sitting, lack of socializing, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress. “The good news is that they also...

Is Forgetting Actually a Form of Learning?

We create countless memories as we live our lives but many of these we forget. Why? Counter to the general assumption that memories simply decay with time, ‘forgetting’ might not be a bad thing – that is according to scientists who believe it may represent a form of...

Tinnitus, Memory and Attention

Do you hear ringing, buzzing or other noises in your ears (or your head)? You may be one of the estimated 10-15% of our population who lives with tinnitus. Over the age of 60, this number goes up to 20%. Most of the time tinnitus is temporary or manageable but it sure...