[Spartikus Rex]

http://www.scienceda...http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123163348.htm

Lifelong Brain-Stimulating Habits Linked to Lower Alzheimer's Protein Levels

ScienceDaily (Jan. 23, 2012) — A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, provides even more reason for people to read a book or do a puzzle, and to make such activities a lifetime habit.

Brain scans revealed that people with no symptoms of Alzheimer's who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities throughout their lives had fewer deposits of beta-amyloid, a destructive protein that is the hallmark of the disease.

While previous research has suggested that engaging in mentally stimulating activities -- such as reading, writing and playing games -- may help stave off Alzheimer's later in life, this new study identifies the biological target at play. This discovery could guide future research into effective prevention strategies.

"These findings point to a new way of thinking about how cognitive engagement throughout life affects the brain," said study principal investigator Dr. William Jagust, a professor with joint appointments at UC Berkeley's Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, the School of Public Health and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "Rather than simply providing resistance to Alzheimer's, brain-stimulating activities may affect a primary pathological process in the disease. This suggests that cognitive therapies could have significant disease-modifying treatment benefits if applied early enough, before symptoms appear."

(continued)

I really do hate boring crosswords and anagrams myself. Hope the therapy busybodies don't make it somekind of compuslory routine on the wards after reading this?

[CaptSpaceBat]

Two of the "five ways to wellbeing" promoted by the New Economics Foundation include "Take notice" and "Keep learning." These are demonstrated to help build resilience and maintain a more balanced and healthy life. See http://www.neweconom...http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being for more details.

[Spartikus Rex]

CaptSpaceBat, on 24 January 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

Two of the "five ways to wellbeing" promoted by the New Economics Foundation include "Take notice" and "Keep learning." These are demonstrated to help build resilience and maintain a more balanced and healthy life. See http://www.neweconom...http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being for more details.

Economics as if people and the planet mattered? as if use of past tense in mattered? Surely the planet and people are a given in any rational economic system?
As it says all brands of political party might find something here since it is pretty vague. Even extreme brands of politics could find the concept woolly enough to hide some obnoxious policies. Like the great leap forward, five year plans and nsdp policies of full employment there are plenty of good soundbites that turn sour in practice. Learn? What to learn? Verses from the little red book? Notice? Whom? People who are not conforming? Be active? What to? A marching song? Give? All your time to the the business? the party? I'm not saying there aren't good intentions here but the road to hell is often paved with these vague open ended good intentions. And based on scientific research? with 400 scientists they could pick and choose what they already decided upon to start with concerning these five precepts. Not that they are bad however without a context they are tools waiting for a tyrant, loaded guns left on the street.

[CaptSpaceBat]

It is probably put across better at http://www.nhs.uk/Li...http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/mental-wellbeing/Pages/five-ways-mental-wellbeing.aspx

[Spartikus Rex]

CaptSpaceBat, on 13 February 2012 - 07:37 AM, said:

It is probably put across better at http://www.nhs.uk/Li...http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/mental-wellbeing/Pages/five-ways-mental-wellbeing.aspx

There's a time to disconnect. Sometimes it is wiser to avoid the consensus and be alone.

There is a time to be still and avoid activity. Do net aid those who are working towards a war of aggression. Do not appear committed to their cause when they are hoarding weapons. But provide a wealth of sluggish labor, doing less than you might when villains are in power.

Avoid those who would indocrinate in the name of education. They are the majority at the best of times and this isn't exactly the best of times.

The community is a construct of the hive-mind and the state often uses it to oppress in such times as this. Do not join the oppressors cause out of a false sense of obligation. Look overseas and look to history and see how often the faith in community is a misguided loyalty. If the community is moving away from virtue then you must undermine it in any way. There is a time to give a angry glance as well as a smile to the patrons of community.

Think about things in the round. Take heed of your full life and look to history. In times of trouble some would like you to think only of now. This is a absurdity that makes you forget your own past and more likely to commit atrocities on their behalf. Do have some awareness of the present but keep your perspective and be aware that there are other times and people are not always as they are at present.