Download or read book Random Thoughts from an Aging Brain written by Lucy Horwitz and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2005-08-02 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book recounts more than seven decades of the author's adventures (and misadventures), interspersed with reflections on the joys and tribulations of membership in the human race. Here are accounts of her travels by bicycle through Africa and the Middle East, and by PMV through the highlands of New Guinea, with asides on the glories of human diversity. The story of her lifelong pursuit of learning, from a one-room schoolhouse in rural France to the halls of MIT, is sprinkled with musings on the problems of learning and teaching. Further, the author pursues her passion for truth and justice from the streets (and jails) of Washington and Boston, to the wilds of Los Angeles.
Download or read book Concentration written by Ernest Wood and published by . This book was released on 1923 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Noisy Brain written by Edmund T. Rolls and published by . This book was released on 2010-01-28 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The activity of neurons in the brain is noisy in that the neuronal firing times are random for a given mean rate. The Noisy Brain shows that this is fundamental to understanding many aspects of brain function, including probabilistic decision-making, perception, memory recall, short-term memory, attention, and even creativity. There are many applications too of this understanding, to for example memory and attentional disorders, aging, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Download or read book Death at Clover High written by Lucy Horwitz and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-11-14 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Death at Clover High is an equally mind-blowing and educational fiction about a high school s baffling death and the student s brain-busting algebra class In this proficiently written self-contained book, Horwitz will take the readers to two different but solidly connected situations. A high school student at Clover High is found dead in the lavatory, with her head thrown back, mouth open, and eyes looking completely blank. The situation elicits questions and confusion, and leads few other students to investigate. While the mysterious death continues to infuse anxiety and puzzlement among the students, the Algebra class is also facing its own numerical battle. Each meeting presents increasingly complicated algebra problems from signed numbers and absolute values to equations and variables to linear equations, inequalities, and to quadratic equations that appraise each student s intelligence. How algebra relates in analyzing and solving the murder mystery is quite surprising.
Download or read book When I m 64 written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-02-13 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By 2030 there will be about 70 million people in the United States who are older than 64. Approximately 26 percent of these will be racial and ethnic minorities. Overall, the older population will be more diverse and better educated than their earlier cohorts. The range of late-life outcomes is very dramatic with old age being a significantly different experience for financially secure and well-educated people than for poor and uneducated people. The early mission of behavioral science research focused on identifying problems of older adults, such as isolation, caregiving, and dementia. Today, the field of gerontology is more interdisciplinary. When I'm 64 examines how individual and social behavior play a role in understanding diverse outcomes in old age. It also explores the implications of an aging workforce on the economy. The book recommends that the National Institute on Aging focus its research support in social, personality, and life-span psychology in four areas: motivation and behavioral change; socioemotional influences on decision-making; the influence of social engagement on cognition; and the effects of stereotypes on self and others. When I'm 64 is a useful resource for policymakers, researchers and medical professionals.
Download or read book Brain Aging written by David R. Riddle and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2007-04-19 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recognition that aging is not the accumulation of disease, but rather comprises fundamental biological processes that are amenable to experimental study, is the basis for the recent growth of experimental biogerontology. As increasingly sophisticated studies provide greater understanding of what occurs in the aging brain and how these changes occur
Download or read book Food for thought Nutrition and the aging brain written by Richard A. Dienstbier and published by Vernon Press. This book was released on 2022-09-06 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Food for Thought: Nutrition and the Aging Brain" presents and analyzes the research on nutrition’s impacts on the aging brain, on possibly-declining cognitive abilities, and on changing emotional dispositions. With 40 pages of references, the depth of coverage of the underlying science makes the book appropriate for scientists in fields such as nutrition, geriatrics, and psychology. However, the book was also designed to be understandable for lay readers wanting a deeper understanding than can be found in typical books on food-brain relationships. To make this book useful for non-scientists and for students, the first three chapters provide background. They sketch relevant brain structure and neurochemistry, and then discuss in only slightly more detail how aging and stress affect neurochemistry, brain structure, cognitive capacities, and resilience. The third chapter introduces basic nutrition research issues, and the extensive Glossary provides additional explanations of scientific concepts. The subsequent 14 chapters consolidate modern research on impacts of nutrition on brain and cognitive capacities. The research shows how much various nutrients can affect cognition in aging people, and then how those impacts are achieved—that is, how genes are affected that in turn have impacts on neural structures and neurochemistry. That series of 14 chapters begins with analyses of general diets such as the Mediterranean and the MIND, but subsequent chapters examine impacts of specific classes of nutrients. Chapter 18 describes nutrition that affects resilience, interpreted as stress tolerance, and resistance to both anxiety and depression. Chapter 19 describes how other types of activities that affect brain and cognition, such as programs of physical exercise and cognitive stimulation, can interact with nutrition to build brain and sharpen cognition. The final chapter summarizes the information on nutrition impacts on brain and cognition, and extends the discussion of interactions of nutrition with other brain-enhancing activities.
Download or read book Aging Representation and Thought written by Matthew J. Sharps and published by Transaction Publishers. This book was released on 2011-11-30 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The brain contains many distinct functional and anatomical regions. Despite these differences, brain tissues are sufficiently uniform in the fact that they can engage in various types of processing. How can functionally different kinds of processes, such as verbal memory and reasoning, visual and auditory memory, and mental imagery, all be supported by the relatively uniform electrochemical activity of a brain’s neurons? How are they appropriately segregated and integrated as needed? In Aging, Representation, and Thought, Matthew J. Sharps provides an empirically based, functional answer to what is, from the standpoint of modern cognitive psychology, a critical theoretical issue. Sharps argues that the crucial factor is the degree to which information is subjected to processing that is more gestalt or feature-intensive in nature. Sharps shows that purely gestalt processing deals with information in large “chunks,” providing for relatively little incisive analysis. Purely feature-intensive processing, on the other hand, tends to ignore the overall nature and context of information in favor of comparatively minute analyses. It provides for relatively comprehensive analysis, but also for slow, cumbersome processing. Neither process, however, works in isolation, and Sharps demonstrates how information processing occurs on a continuum between the two extremes. Sharps’ theoretical perspective is amply borne out by the results of specific experiments in all of the cognitive realms he addresses. He provides relatively comprehensive explanations for a variety of phenomena including the diminution of specific cognitive processes with age, and errors in eyewitness memory, reasoning, and decision-making at all levels of human activity. Aging, Representation, and Thought will be of interest to psychologists, students of adult development and aging, and management specialists.
Download or read book Discovering the Brain written by National Academy of Sciences and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."
Download or read book The Age Proof Brain written by Marc Milstein, PhD and published by BenBella Books. This book was released on 2022-10-25 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “An absolutely fabulous, invaluable read!” —Dr. James B. Maas, Weiss Presidential Fellow, former professor and chair of psychology, Cornell University “A wonderful, life-changing book.” —Brian Tracy, international bestselling author of Eat That Frog! Serious mental decline is not an inevitable part of aging. You can boost your short and long-term brain health and significantly lower the risk of dementia—if the right steps are taken now. Fifty million people have dementia worldwide, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We—not our genes—can control our cognitive destiny. Serious mental decline is not an inevitable part of aging. You can boost your short- and long-term brain health and significantly lower the risk of dementia—if the right steps are taken now. In The Age-Proof Brain, scientist and popular speaker Dr. Marc Milstein reveals the secrets to improving brain function, which lie in the brain’s surprising connection with the rest of the body. Debunking common misinformation, he offers science-driven strategies in an entertaining, motivating, and easy-to-follow guide to: Improve memory and productivity Increase energy and boost your mood Reduce the risk of anxiety and depression Form healthy habits to supercharge your brain Prevent nongenetic Alzheimer’s and dementia Dr. Milstein arms you with knowledge about common and often overlooked issues that prematurely age the brain (including the surprising truth about what doctors previously got wrong about Alzheimer’s and dementia), and shares a seven-day challenge to help you jump-start new brain-healthy habits. Small changes can make a big difference right away. The Age-Proof Brain will provide the tools you need to ensure that you’re living a happier and more fulfilling life—today, tomorrow, and well into your future.
Download or read book Cognitive Aging written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-07-21 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For most Americans, staying "mentally sharp" as they age is a very high priority. Declines in memory and decision-making abilities may trigger fears of Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases. However, cognitive aging is a natural process that can have both positive and negative effects on cognitive function in older adults - effects that vary widely among individuals. At this point in time, when the older population is rapidly growing in the United States and across the globe, it is important to examine what is known about cognitive aging and to identify and promote actions that individuals, organizations, communities, and society can take to help older adults maintain and improve their cognitive health. Cognitive Aging assesses the public health dimensions of cognitive aging with an emphasis on definitions and terminology, epidemiology and surveillance, prevention and intervention, education of health professionals, and public awareness and education. This report makes specific recommendations for individuals to reduce the risks of cognitive decline with aging. Aging is inevitable, but there are actions that can be taken by individuals, families, communities, and society that may help to prevent or ameliorate the impact of aging on the brain, understand more about its impact, and help older adults live more fully and independent lives. Cognitive aging is not just an individual or a family or a health care system challenge. It is an issue that affects the fabric of society and requires actions by many and varied stakeholders. Cognitive Aging offers clear steps that individuals, families, communities, health care providers and systems, financial organizations, community groups, public health agencies, and others can take to promote cognitive health and to help older adults live fuller and more independent lives. Ultimately, this report calls for a societal commitment to cognitive aging as a public health issue that requires prompt action across many sectors.
Download or read book Brave New Brain written by Nancy C. Andreasen and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here, leading neuroscientist Nancy Andreasen offers a state-of-the-art look at what we know about the human brain and the human genome--and shows how these two vast branches of knowledge are coming together in a boldly ambitious effort to conquer mental illness. Andreasen gives us an engaging and readable description of how it all works---from billions of neurons, to the tiny thalamus, to the moral monitor in our prefrontal cortex. She shows the progress made in mapping the human genome, whose 30,000 to 40,000 genes are almost all active in the brain. We read gripping stories of the people who develop mental illness, the friends and relatives who share their suffering, the physicians who treat them, and the scientists who study them so that better treatments can be found. Four major disorders are covered--schizophrenia, manic depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia--revealing what causes them and how they affect the mind and brain. Finally, the book shows how the powerful tools of genetics and neuroscience will be combined during the next decades to build healthier brains and minds. By revealing how combining genome mapping with brain mapping can unlock the mysteries of mental illness, Andreasen offers a remarkably fresh perspective on these devastating diseases.
Download or read book Aging with Grace written by David Snowdon and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2008-11-19 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1986 Dr. David Snowdon, one of the world’s leading experts on Alzheimer’s disease, embarked on a revolutionary scientific study that would forever change the way we view aging—and ultimately living. Dubbed the “Nun Study” because it involves a unique population of 678 Catholic sisters, this remarkable long-term research project has made headlines worldwide with its provocative discoveries. Yet Aging with Grace is more than a groundbreaking health and science book. It is the inspiring human story of these remarkable women—ranging in age from 74 to 106—whose dedication to serving others may help all of us live longer and healthier lives. Totally accessible, with fascinating portraits of the nuns and the scientists who study them, Aging with Grace also offers a wealth of practical findings: • Why building linguistic ability in childhood may protect against Alzheimer’s • Which ordinary foods promote longevity and healthy brain function • Why preventing strokes and depression is key to avoiding Alzheimer’s • What role heredity plays, and why it’s never too late to start an exercise program • How attitude, faith, and community can add years to our lives A prescription for hope, Aging with Grace shows that old age doesn’t have to mean an inevitable slide into illness and disability; rather it can be a time of promise and productivity, intellectual and spiritual vigor—a time of true grace.
Download or read book How Not to Study a Disease written by Karl Herrup and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2023-03-07 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An authority on Alzheimer's disease offers a history of past failures and a roadmap that points us in a new direction in our journey to a cure. For decades, some of our best and brightest medical scientists have dedicated themselves to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease. What happened? Where is the cure? The biggest breakthroughs occurred twenty-five years ago, with little progress since. In How Not to Study a Disease, neurobiologist Karl Herrup explains why the Alzheimer's discoveries of the 1990s didn't bear fruit and maps a direction for future research. Herrup describes the research, explains what's taking so long, and offers an approach for resetting future research. Herrup offers a unique insider's perspective, describing the red flags that science ignored in the rush to find a cure. He is unsparing in calling out the stubbornness, greed, and bad advice that has hamstrung the field, but his final message is a largely optimistic one. Herrup presents a new and sweeping vision of the field that includes a redefinition of the disease and a fresh conceptualization of aging and dementia that asks us to imagine the brain as a series of interconnected "neighborhoods." He calls for changes in virtually every aspect of the Alzheimer's disease research effort, from the drug development process, to the mechanisms of support for basic research, to the often-overlooked role of the scientific media, and more. With How Not to Study a Disease, Herrup provides a roadmap that points us in a new direction in our journey to a cure for Alzheimer's.
Download or read book Counterclockwise written by Ellen J. Langer and published by Random House Digital, Inc.. This book was released on 2009 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientifically riveting and practically empowering, "Counterclockwise" offers a bold new way to think about aging and lifelong health from the trailblazing social psychologist and author of the bestselling classic "Mindfulness."
Download or read book Das Gehirn meines Vaters written by Jonathan Franzen and published by PONS. This book was released on 2009 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2-sprachiger Lektüreband mit einer Erzählung von Jonathan Frantzen und einer Audio-CD mit dem englischen Text; für Lernende mit guten Vorkenntnissen.
Download or read book Retirement Is For Sissies written by Keith Barton and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2007-04 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You've got the 401k, the back porch overlooking a pond stocked with bass, the grandkids, the wife, sunrises and sunsets, so what do you do now? The only constant you need worry about is time. No more eight am meetings, traffic gridlock, stained white shirts from leaky pens, spam emails, and cute greeting cards reminding you that you're a year older. You sit on the back porch with your wife of forty years sippin' on Starbucks dark roasted Columbia blend as the sun casts an orange hue over the pond rippling with large-mouth bass enjoying the morning cool air in the Sandia Mountains. Route 66 and Albuquerque can be seen in the distance as the purple shadows grow shorter and the morning dew evaporates from the Yaupon on your five-acre spread.
