September 29th, 2011 — 7:38am
Excessive consumption of alcohol is known to damage the liver and brain, as well as cause a host of relationship and professional problems for people. As a result, researchers are continually looking into the ways in which alcohol dependence is formed in the mind and how the vicious cycle can be stopped.
A team of scientists at Australia’s University of Adelaide discovered that alcohol may act on an immune system in the brain, triggering rapid changes that lead to risky or harmful behavior when a person is intoxicated.
"It's amazing to think that despite 10,000 years of using alcohol, and several decades of investigation into the way that alcohol affects the nerve cells in our brain, we are still trying to figure out exactly how it works," said lead researcher Mark Hutchinson.
In a mouse study, the team of scientists observed that after blocking a certain receptor in the brain – a known element of the mind’s immune system – alcohol’s effect on behavior was dampened. Authors of the trial said their findings may lead to treatments for individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction and also help identify which people may be at a greater risk of brain injury when they drink.
Results of this study suggest that mind-body-spirit fitness may be helped along by avoiding alcohol. Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes that the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a person's well-being are all interconnected, and that doing harm to one’s body may lead to decreased brain function.
Staying healthy with the seasons is simply a matter of eating well, exercising and keeping a clean, pure mind using techniques like meditation, yoga and tai chi.
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September 20th, 2011 — 9:47am
As is true with most illnesses, cognitive decline and dementia are more easily treated when diagnosed early on. While many individuals experience memory problems as normal signs of aging, specific issues have been linked to the development of more serious brain conditions.
In a study, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital examined data taken from more than 16,900 women, whose average age was 74.
They found that while short-term memory issues may be typical symptoms of aging, having trouble remembering things that were previously commonplace – like familiar roads – could be a red flag for the onset of dementia.
"These findings suggest that clinicians may need to differentiate between the types of memory complaints their patients have, as some are likely due to normal aging whereas others are worrisome for possible cognitive decline," said study author Rebecca Amariglio, MD.
Authors of the study noted that their discovery may have major implications for the aging baby boomer generation, which will eventually double the population of people older than 65.
Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee has some tips for staying healthy. They include many non-medicinal brain-strengthening practices like yoga, meditation and tai chi. Additionally, the philosopher says that consuming a balanced diet and getting plenty of physical activity are key to healthy aging.
These inspirational tips for living may seem like common sense, but in today's world of quick fixes, such basic lifestyle tenets may be lost on some. As a result, it's important to continually remind oneself of the activities and habits that are tried-and-true methods to promote overall wellness.
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September 8th, 2011 — 9:14am
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee recommends an array of physical activities in order to keep the body healthy, thereby nourishing the mind-body-spirit connection. Now, researchers believe that aerobic activity may be especially important to keeping these three aspects aligned.
In a review of more than 1,600 papers and studies on the connection between exercise and cognition, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found significant evidence that aerobic activity induces physiological effects, like stimulated blood flow, that help preserve brain function.
"We concluded that you can make a very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favorably modifying these processes once they have developed," said J. Eric Ahlskog, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Authors of the study noted that brain images of individuals after engaging in aerobic exercise supported the idea that physical activity improves cognition, and may even prevent or help treat dementia. In animal models, scientists have observed an increased generation of trophic factors that are known to strengthen brain function.
These findings suggest that staying healthy with the seasons involves keeping active. Additionally, the results point to a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical way that individuals can keep their minds strong and possibly avoid the life-altering condition known as dementia.
Ilchi Lee cannot stress enough the importance of the mind-body-spirit connection. This study adds further weight to Lee's ideas that a person's mental and physical aspects are inextricably linked, and that health or illness in one can influence another. Considering this, people should keep in mind that strengthening their brain function may also lead to a stronger body and a more balanced spiritual self.
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September 7th, 2011 — 5:10am
It's well known that daily exercise can keep body weight down, prevent illness and promote high levels of energy throughout the day. Now, researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which exercise promotes strong bones.
A team of scientists at McMaster University's Department of Kinesiology conducted a study revealing that exercise encourages naturally occurring mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow to become bone, rather than fat.
The cells are influenced by factors like physical activity, turning into either bone mass or fat, depending on their environment.
Authors of the study said that the more marrow, the more blood stem cells are produced by the body, which promotes the production of healthy blood to boost the immune system. When an individual lacks exercise, bone marrow fills with fat and can potentially cause anemia due to a lack of fresh blood.
"The interesting thing was that a modest exercise program was able to significantly increase blood cells in the marrow and in circulation," said lead researcher Gianni Parise. "What we're suggesting is that exercise is a potent stimulus – enough of a stimulus to actually trigger a switch in these mesenchymal stem cells."
Staying healthy with the seasons can be a difficult endeavor. However, these findings suggest that simple exercise can promote wellness in multiple parts of the body and mind. Choose a form of physical activity that is enjoyable to you, like bike-riding, swimming, yoga, running or even nature walks.
Mind-body-spirit fitness is also important to keep in mind. Addressing all three aspects of your being will lead you to become a well-rounded individual who can reach goals, achieve success and live a fulfilled, happy life.
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