Mind & Mood Archive

Mind & Mood

The book of neurogenesis

Published August 1, 2021

The brain can continue to produce new neurons as people age, even late into life, through a process called neurogenesis. Right now, scientists are looking at why neurogenesis especially happens in the hippocampus, the region responsible for learning information and storing memories. Animal studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise is associated with an increased production of neurons in the hippocampus. If the same is true in humans, it may be the reason for the observed link between physical activity and maintaining cognitive fitness, and perhaps a lower risk of dementia.

Mind & Mood

Nicotine addiction explained — and how medications can help

Published July 27, 2021

Addiction is now understood to be a neurological disorder that results from changes to the brain's reward center caused by addictive substances. Ideally, treatment for nicotine addiction combines medication to suppress cravings with counseling to help patients reprogram their behavior.

Mind & Mood

Misgendering: What it is and why it matters

Published July 23, 2021

For people who are transgender or nonbinary, being misgendered may be a daily occurrence. When this happens, people feel invalidated and unseen, and the burden can negatively affect their mental health. Making the effort to use the right names, pronouns, and honorifics when addressing a person shows respect and support for those around you and how they identify themselves.

Mind & Mood

Stories connect us

Published July 21, 2021

Research has shown that social isolation is bad for our health. Sharing our personal stories helps connect us, and it is an important aspect of maintaining mental health and managing chronic conditions.

Mind & Mood

Why it's hard to change unhealthy behavior -- and why you should keep trying

Updated July 20, 2021

Adopting healthier lifestyle habits doesn't happen at once, but is a process that happens in stages. Setbacks along the way are normal, but they provide opportunities for growth and learning.

Mind & Mood

Hope: Why it matters

Published July 16, 2021

As humans, we live our lives in a chaotic world, knowing that bad things happen to people every day, yet we are expected to continue moving forward. How do we do this? By finding ways to confront life's dangers with hope, an essential component of our well-being.

Mind & Mood

A new Alzheimer's drug has been approved. But should you take it?

Updated July 15, 2021

The FDA has granted accelerated approval to the first new drug in nearly two decades for Alzheimer's disease. But there are potential side effects, and results of studies of this drug have been mixed. It is not yet known whether the drug truly works, or how effective it will be, so the approval is contingent on the drug's maker conducting further studies over the next several years.

Mind & Mood

Ask the doctor: Which antidepressants have anticholinergic effects?

Updated July 14, 2021

An article in your April issue, ?Common drugs linked to dementia,? states that anticholinergics are used to treat depression. I wasn?t aware of this. Which types of anticholinergics are used for depression?

Mind & Mood

What's the relationship between diabetes and dementia?

Published July 12, 2021

It has been known for many years that type 2 diabetes increases a person's risk for stroke and heart disease, and more recent studies have shown that diabetes also increases risk of dementia. But new research examined the association between when a person first is diagnosed with diabetes and their risk of developing dementia later.

Mind & Mood

Are toxins flushed out of the brain during sleep?

Published July 1, 2021

The glymphatic system is the brain's "waste management" system. It carries fresh fluid into the brain, mixes the fresh fluid with waste-filled fluid surrounding brain cells, and flushes the mix out of the brain and into the blood.

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