Mass disability event’

April 3, 2022

Mass disability event’

Long Covid: ‘Mass disability event’ warning for virus sufferers

February 5, 2022 by Editorial staff

A “mass disability event” is already under way at a scale “truly hard to imagine” as one

expert warns thousands of Aussies may be forced out of work.

A Pulitzer Prize winner has warned a “mass disability event” is already under way, as

numbers of those suffering long-term symptoms after having Covid continue to grow.

And the growing crisis could put more pressure on an already struggling Australian

health system, as well as see thousands of people forced to leave their jobs for health

reasons.

Ed Yong, a science writer at The Atlantichas been chronicling symptoms of patients

post-Covid since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when the term “long Covid”

was yet to be coined.

At the time, tens of thousands of people across the world, known as “long-haulers”,

began reporting debilitating symptoms even after they recovered from their initial

illness.

“I first wrote about them in early June,” Yong wrote in August 2020.

“Since then, I’ve received hundreds of messages from people who have been suffering

for months – alone, unheard and pommeled by unrelenting and unpredictable

symptoms.”

The Washington-based journalist’s collection of work on long Covid in 2020 earned

him the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.

‘Mass disability event’

Two years since Yong began reporting on long Covid, he told news.com.au he is still

receiving emails “from people who’ve been dealing with symptoms since near the start

of the pandemic, and others who’ve started down that path more recently”.

He’s warned that the huge number of infections seen by Omicron and its predecessors

will see millions of people around the world affected by a “mass disability event”.

“Even if you take the most conservative estimates for the proportion of people with

Covid who develop long-term symptoms, that still translates to tens of millions of

people worldwide,” he said.

“Some of those people will recover, but others will be disabled for the foreseeable

future.

“The scale of such a mass disability event is truly hard to imagine, and it is appalling

that we are forced to imagine it because two years on, long Covid still isn’t being

counted, and many long-haulers are still being ignored. ”

Yong likened long Covid to other “marginalised” diseases.

“The piece I want to highlight, and that I think a lot of people still miss, is that long

Covid has important similarities to ME/CFS, dysautonomia and other chronic, complex,

marginalized conditions.

“There aren’t many scientists who study these conditions but they do exist, and their

work means that we’re not starting from scratch when it comes to understanding long

Covid.

“Even many scientists are unaware of this, and are thus reinventing the wheel.”

More than 200 symptoms

Long Covid has more than 200 different symptoms across 10 organ systems

associated with it, according to research conducted in Canada late last year.

The most common include ongoing debilitating fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath,

pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression.

Other symptoms include muscle weakness and joint pain, stomach and intestinal

symptoms such as diarrhoea, psychological effects like mood swings, and sensory

symptoms such as changes to smell or taste.

Individuals with the post Covid-19 condition may also have impaired cognitive and

physical functional status, including limitations in the ability to perform daily activities

such as dressing or bathing, reduced ability to care for family members or dependents,

difficulty returning to work and increased health care use.

Insane numbers in Australia

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that about one in four cases

experience symptoms of long Covid for at least a month, and one in 10 experience

symptoms lasting beyond 12 weeks.

In Australia, a study by associate professor of health systems financing and

organization at Deakin University Martin Hensher examined the 2021 Delta outbreaks

in Victoria and NSW where nearly 140,000 people had already been infected.

“It is clear that a number of people developed long Covid [in Australia] following the

first wave,” he told news.com.au.

“People start to feel better and then often overdo it and relapse.”

Before Omicron, he predicted the combined outbreaks had led to up to 20,000

Australians having developed long Covid.

Along with a piece for The ConversationAssociate Professor Hensher calculated that

limited relaxation of public health measures “could generate 10,000 to 34,000 long

Covid cases” while a complete relaxation of public health measures “could lead to

60,000 to 133,000 long Covid cases”.

Of that number, 2000 to 11,000 people might still be sick a year after their initial

infection.

But those are underestimated in the current climate.

Associate Professor Hensher warned that with the current outbreak in Australia, it was

“foolish” to think there wouldn’t be cases of long Covid.

“[It’s] possible that Omicron might behave similarly to earlier variants in terms of long

Covid, because remember, with Delta and the original strain, from what we understand

with long Covid, is that it’s entirely possible for people with quite mild infections to go

on to develop long Covid.

“I think it would be foolish to assume that we won’t get significant long Covid cases

coming out of this,” he said.

“There’s just so many people getting sick that that kind of arithmetic is going to crunch

through.”

Australia not ready

Associate Professor Hensher warned Australia is already struggling under the pressure

of the recent Omicron outbreak and faces further disruption due to long Covid.

“We are talking about millions of thousands of people [potentially affected]but they’ll be

presenting themselves to the health system which is already trying to tread water and

not go under from the impact of the Covid wave itself,” he told news.com.au.

“The problem with long Covid is these
are people who would otherwise not have been ill, so there is a whole new set of

demand for health care for people who really wouldn’t have been needing health care

at a point when the system is under incredible strain or trying to recover from this

incredibly stressful period we’re going through at the moment

“It’s going to be really difficult and I think we’ll probably start to see stories of frustration

of people who are not getting real support and left to fend for themselves, but the

problem is we’ll now see them in potentially quite big numbers .

“I think you will see more people forced to withdraw from the labor market for health

reasons.

“You’ll see people who can’t go back to work

“Post Omicron, if we start to see larger numbers of people with long Covid, you will see

people forced to drop out of the labor market.

“It will be yet another pressure on wages and the labor force and it will also add

pressure on government spending because you will have people who will need welfare

or disability benefits.”

What does the Government say?

The Department of Health told news.com.au: “Synthesizing and interpreting data on

long Covid will require ongoing collaboration between academia and governments to

inform decision-making at all levels.

“The Australian Government is actively monitoring the emerging research on long

Covid.”

You can read the government’s full statement to news.com.au here.

Are you a “long-hauler”? Share your story – [email protected]

Originally published as ‘Mass disability event’ warning as huge numbers diagnosed

with long Covid

.
Categories Latest News

Tags America, Australia, Australia and New Zealand, brain fog, Canada, care unit,

case numbers, cases experience symptoms, colorized scanning electron, Deakin

University Martin Hensher, Department of Health, disability benefits, Europe,

experience-symptoms, family members, force plowing, France Media Agency, grim

warning, health care, health reasons, health system, Health Systems Financing &

Organization, horror bombshell, Infectious diseases, interpreting data, labor market,

lockdown restrictions, Mark Butler, mass disability event, Matt Young, mild infections,

mood swings, muscle weakness, National Institute, National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases, New South Wales, North America, Northern America, Northern

Europe, Oceania, organ systems, people getting sick, physical functional status, post

Covid-condition, post-Covid patients, public health measures, Queensland, scanning

electron micrograph, Sky News Australia, sleep disturbances, Sodersjukhuset hospital,

South australia, Stockholm, Sweden, Sydney, Victoria, virus particles, World Health

Organization

TechnologyScienceHuman Body

‘Mass disability event’ warning as huge numbers diagnosed with long Covid

A “mass disability event” is already under way at a scale “truly hard to imagine” as one

expert warns thousands of Aussies may be forced out of work.

More from human body

‘Highly virulent’ new HIV strain circulating
‘Highly virulent’ new HIV strain circulating
Why ’natural’ Covid immunity can fail
Why ’natural’ Covid immunity can fail
Latest change to booster rollout revealed
Latest change to booster rollout revealed

A Pulitzer Prize winner has warned a “mass disability event” is already under way, as

numbers of those suffering long-term symptoms after having Covid continue to grow.

And the growing crisis could put more pressure on an already struggling Australian

health system, as well as see thousands of people forced to leave their jobs for health

reasons.

Ed Yong, a science writer at The Atlantic, has been chronicling symptoms of sufferers

post-Covid since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when the term “long Covid”

was yet to be coined.

At the time, tens of thousands of people across the world, known as “long-haulers”,

began reporting debilitating symptoms even after they recovered from their initial

illness.

“I first wrote about them in early June,” Yong wrote in August 2020.

“Since then, I’ve received hundreds of messages from people who have been suffering

for months – alone, unheard and pommeled by unrelenting and unpredictable

symptoms.”

The Washington-based journalist’s collection of work on long Covid in 2020 earned

him the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.

‘Mass disability event’

Two years since Yong began reporting on long Covid, he told news.com.au he is still

receiving emails “from people who’ve been dealing with symptoms since near the start

of the pandemic, and others who’ve started down that path more recently”.

He’s warned that the huge number of infections seen by Omicron and its predecessors

will see millions of people around the world affected by a “mass disability event”.

“Even if you take the most conservative estimates for the proportion of people with

Covid who develop long-term symptoms, that still translates to tens of millions of

people worldwide,” he said.

“Some of those people will recover, but others will be disabled for the foreseeable

future.

“The scale of such a mass disability event is truly hard to imagine, and it is appalling

that we are forced to imagine it because two years on, long Covid still isn’t being

counted, and many long-haulers are still being ignored.”

Yong likened long Covid to other “marginalised” diseases.

“The piece I want to highlight, and that I think a lot of people still miss, is that long

Covid has important similarities to ME/CFS, dysautonomia and other chronic, complex,

marginalised conditions.

“There aren’t many scientists who study these conditions but they do exist, and their

work means that we’re not starting from scratch when it comes to understanding long

Covid.

“Even many scientists are unaware of this, and are thus reinventing the wheel.”

Stream the latest health news with Flash. Stay up to date with more than 20 global &

local news sources. New to Flash? Try 14 days free now>
A colorised scanning electron micrograph of a cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-

CoV-2 virus particles (red). Picture: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases/AFP

A colorised scanning electron micrograph of a cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-

CoV-2 virus particles (red). Picture: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases/AFP

More than 200 symptoms

Long Covid has more than 200 different symptoms across 10 organ systems

associated with it, according to research conducted in Canada late last year.

The most common include ongoing debilitating fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath,

pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression.

Other symptoms include muscle weakness and joint pain, stomach and intestinal

symptoms such as diarrhoea, psychological effects like mood swings, and sensory

symptoms such as changes to smell or taste.

Individuals with the post Covid-19 condition may also have impaired cognitive and

physical functional status, including limitations in the ability to perform daily activities

such as dressing or bathing, reduced ability to care for family members or dependants,

difficulty returning to work and increased health care use.

Long Covid cases in Australia before the Omicron wave were estimated at 20,000.

Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Long Covid cases in Australia before the Omicron wave were estimated at 20,000.

Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Insane numbers in Australia

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that about one in four cases

experience symptoms of long Covid for at least a month, and one in 10 experience

symptoms lasting beyond 12 weeks.

In Australia, a study by associate professor of health systems financing and

organisation at Deakin University Martin Hensher examined the 2021 Delta outbreaks

in Victoria and NSW where nearly 140,000 people had already been infected.

“It is clear that a number of people developed long Covid [in Australia] following the

first wave,” he told news.com.au.

“People start to feel better and then often overdo it and relapse.”

Before Omicron, he predicted the combined outbreaks had led to up to 20,000

Australians having developed long Covid.

Along with a piece for The Conversation, Associate Professor Hensher calculated that

limited relaxation of public health measures “could generate 10,000 to 34,000 long

Covid cases” while a complete relaxation of public health measures “could lead to

60,000 to 133,000 long Covid cases”.

Of that number, 2000 to 11,000 people might still be sick a year after their initial

infection.

But those are underestimates in the current climate.

Associate Professor Hensher warned that with the current outbreak in Australia, it was

“foolish” to think there wouldn’t be cases of long Covid.

“[It’s] possible that Omicron might behave similarly to earlier variants in terms of long

Covid, because remember, with Delta and the original strain, from what we understand

with long Covid, is that it’s entirely possible for people with quite mild infections to go

on to develop long Covid.

“I think it would be foolish to assume that we won’t get significant long Covid cases

coming out of this,” he said.

“There’s just so many people getting sick that that kind of arithmetic is going to crunch

through.”
Health care is already struggling under the weight of the current case numbers. But

there could be chronic cases of long Covid for a long time to come. Picture: Jonathan

Nackstrand/AFP

Health care is already struggling under the weight of the current case numbers. But

there could be chronic cases of long Covid for a long time to come. Picture: Jonathan

Nackstrand/AFP

Australia not ready

Associate Professor Hensher warned Australia is already struggling under the pressure

of the recent Omicron outbreak and faces further disruption due to long Covid.

“We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people [potentially affected], but they’ll

be presenting themselves to the health system which is already trying to tread water

and not go under from the impact of the Covid wave itself,” he told news.com.au.

“The problem with long Covid is these are people who would otherwise not have been

ill, so there is a whole new set of demand for health care for people who really wouldn’t

have been needing health care at a point when the system is under incredible strain or

trying to recover from this incredibly stressful period we’re going through at the

moment.

“It’s going to be really difficult and I think we’ll probably start to see stories of frustration

of people who are not getting real support and left to fend for themselves, but the

problem is we’ll now see them in potentially quite big numbers.

“I think you will see more people forced to withdraw from the labour market for health

reasons.

“You’ll see people who can’t go back to work.

“Post Omicron, if we start to see larger numbers of people with long Covid, you will see

people forced to drop out of the labour market.

“It will be yet another pressure on wages and the labour force and it will also add

pressure on government spending because you will have people who will need welfare

or disability benefits.”

What does the Government say?

The Department of Health told news.com.au: “Synthesising and interpreting data on

long Covid will require ongoing collaboration between academia and governments to

inform decision-making at all levels.

“The Australian Government is actively monitoring the emerging research on long

Covid.”

More Coverage
Teen’s unexplained symptoms after Covid

Major Omicron variant data released

You can read the government’s full statement to news.com.au here.

Are you a “long-hauler”? Share your story – [email protected]

WordPress.com VIP

August 17, 2022

Harvard University uncovers DNA switch that controls genes for whole-body regeneration

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2019/03/14/harvard-university-uncovers-dna-switch-controls-genes-whole/

A master regulator of regeneration

Michael Alonge1, Michael C. Schatz1,2,3

Summary

HUMANS MAY ONE DAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REGROW LIMBS AFTER SCIENTISTS AT HARVARD

UNIVERSITY UNCOVERED THE DNA SWITCH THAT CONTROLS GENES FOR WHOLE-BODY

REGENERATION...

A PIECE OF NON-CODING DNA MAY HOLD THE KEY TO HOW HUMANS COULD REGENERATE BODY PARTS...

Hofstenia miamia, commonly called the three-banded panther worm, is a small flatworm that can be found along the shores of the Caribbean and other warm waters.

It is known for its impressive regenerative capabilities,

including the ability to regenerate any body part within a few days of amputation. Previous reports identified some

of the molecular signals used to coordinate regeneration (1), although the specific genes and gene networks that regulate this response were unknown. On page 1191 of this issue, Gehrke et al. (2) developed an impressive
collection of genomic resources for the species, including extensive DNA, RNA, and chromatin accessibility data to promote H. miamia as a new model system for studying regeneration.

Using these data, they identify early growth

response (Egr), which encodes a candidate pioneer transcription factor responsible for regulating the molecular

regenerating response to wounding.

http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse

This is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/363/6432/1152

PERSPECTIVEGENOMICS

A master regulator of regeneration

Harvard University Uncovers DNA Switch That Allows Whole-Body Regeneration

Harvard scientists discover DNA switch that allows whole-body regeneration

Harvard University scientists have uncovered the DNA switch that controls genes for whole-body regeneration,

paving the way to allow humans to regrow limbs.

Some animals are able to achieve extraordinary feats of repair, such as salamanders which grow back legs, or

geckos which can shed their tails to escape predators and then grow new ones in a matter of weeks.

Yahoo News reports: Planarian worms, jellyfish, and sea anemones go even further, actually regenerating their entire bodies after being cut in half.

Now scientists have discovered that that in worms, a section of non-coding or ‘junk’ DNA controls the activation of a ‘master control gene’ called early growth response (EGR) which acts like a power switch, turning regeneration on or off.

“We were able to decrease the activity of this gene and we found that if you don’t have EGR, nothing happens,”

said Dr Mansi Srivastava, Assistant Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.

“The animals just can’t regenerate. All those downstream genes won’t turn on, so the other switches don’t work,

and the whole house goes dark, basically.”

The studies were done in three-banded panther worms. Scientists found that during regeneration the tightly- packed DNA in their cells, starts to unfold, allowing new areas to activate.

But crucially humans also carry EGR, and produce it when cells are stressed and in need of repair, yet it does not seem to trigger large scale regeneration.

Scientists now think that it master gene is wired differently in humans to animals and are now trying to find a way to tweak its circuitry to reap its regenerative benefits.

Post doctoral student Andrew Gehrke of Harvard believes the answer lies in the area of non-coding DNA controlling the gene. Non-coding or junk DNA was once believed to do nothing, but in recent years scientists have realised is having a major impact.

“Only about two percent of the genome makes things like proteins,” added Mr Gehrke said. “We wanted to know:

What is the other 98 percent of the genome doing during whole-body regeneration?

“I think we’ve only just scratched the surface. We’ve looked at some of these switches, but there’s a whole other aspect of how the genome is interacting on a larger scale, and all of that is important for turning genes on and off.”

Marine animals, such as the moon jellyfish, are masters of regeneration and some have been found to clone themselves after death.

In 2016, a Japanese scientist reported that three months after the death of his pet jellyfish, a sea anemone-like polyp rose out of the degraded body, and then astonishingly aged backwards, reverting to a younger state.

In the 1990s, scientists in Italy discovered that the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish switches back and forth from being a baby to an adult, resulting in its nickname, the immortal jellyfish.

Dr Srivastava added: “The question is: If humans can turn on EGR, and not only turn it on, but do it when our cells
are injured, why can’t we regenerate?” added Dr Srivastava.

“It’s a very natural question to look at the natural world and think, if a gecko can do this why can’t I?

“The answer may be that if EGR is the power switch, we think the wiring is different. What EGR is talking to in human cells may be different than what it is talking to in the three-banded panther worm.”

SOURCE:

The research was published in the journal Science.\

https://newspunch.com/harvard-university-dna-switch-whole-body-regeneration/

August 19, 2022

I remember seeing some Hollywood movie wherein one character gets ability to renew a damaged limb. But this is not good news because if those abilities are acquired by wicked characters, then humanity could be in peril.

September 23, 2022

China develops 'brain control weapons' for future wars

Are brain-control weapons becoming reality?

It looks like such a science-fiction concept could be coming to fruition very soon.

Last year, the U.S. government learned a variety of Chinese companies were helping develop biotechnology that can potentially alter the brain function of a human being.

That led to 34 entities in China being placed on the Federal Register’s blacklist, since they were a threat to U.S. national security, according to a report in Sofrep.

Among the companies are the Institute of Radiation and Radiation Medicine, the Institute of Basic Medicine, the Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, the Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, the Institute of Medical Equipment, the Institute of Bioengineering, the Field Blood Transfusion Institute, the Institute of Disease Control and Prevention and the Military Veterinary Research Institute.

The report noted: “Other companies such as the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 52nd Research Institute, Shaanxi Reactor Microelectronics Co. Ltd., and Shanghai AisinoChip Electronics Co., Ltd. were accused of supplying Chinese research institutions and the People’s Liberation Army with U.S.-origin items that were vital with developing these biotechnology weapons. Some items of U.S. origin were also used to support Iran’s missile and weapons programs. Similarly, companies from Turkey, Malaysia, and Georgia were also accused of supplying materials to Iran, which raises a security concern.”

Intelligence officials in America had also disclosed Beijing was pursuing an “intelligentization” of future warfare through such research.

The Chinese were said to be shifting from physically destroying bodies through bullets and explosives to paralyzing and controlling the enemies. These weapons, whose mechanical functions are currently unknown, can supposedly use cross-domain mobile warfare supplemented by artificial intelligence to pursue attrition warfare—slowly breaking down a soldier to the point that the mind is too weak to function on its own and cognitive performance can be manipulated through vulnerability resulting in brain control.

“The Chinese were said to be shifting from physically destroying bodies through bullets and explosives to paralyzing and controlling the enemies,” the report explained.

“These weapons, whose mechanical functions are currently unknown, can supposedly use cross-domain mobile warfare supplemented by artificial intelligence to pursue attrition warfare — slowly breaking down a soldier to the point that the mind is too weak to function on its own and cognitive performance can be manipulated through vulnerability resulting in brain control.”

According to Sofrep, “Sources have revealed that Chinese operatives have made it a point to engage in espionage work in the United States or casually lure out high-ranking officials unknowingly in order to steal U.S. top-secret technology in an effort to bolster the speed of their traditional and modern weaponry.”

“A report published by National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the following sectors are critical to economic and national security in the coming years due to their links with not just the economy but also warfare. These sectors include artificial intelligence, bioeconomy, autonomous systems, quantum information science and technology, and semiconductors. With these sectors being highly prized, they also remain tremendously vulnerable to U.S. adversaries trying to obtain a competitive edge not just confined to China and Russia but also other countries who aim to use these technologies for warfare.”

SOURCE:

China develops 'brain control weapons' for future wars

https://www.wndnewscenter.org/china-develops-brain-control-weapons-for-future-wars/

September 23, 2022

Boost Your Brainpower at Any Age

BOOST BRAIN FREE ?

SOURCE:

https://www.consumerreports.org/mental-health/boost-your-brainpower-at-any-age-a1999739192/

Consumer Reports
Health
How to Boost Your Brainpower at Any Age

It's Not Too Late. You Can Boost Your Brainpower at Any Age.

Memory-building games, superfoods, supplements. What really works to preserve—and even enhance—your thinking skills.

BOOST MEMORY FIX BRAIN ??

Keeping our brains and memories sharp is certainly on our minds these days. In fact, 34 percent of Americans say they’ve noticed signs of forgetfulness significant enough to worry them, in a March Consumer Reports nationally representative survey of 2,116 adults.

It’s true that the numbers of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which robs sufferers of cognition, are predicted to keep climbing. And we’ve yet to find a cure. In fact, aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first new Alzheimer’s drug to be approved in almost two decades, may offer little benefit, according to a number of experts.

But evidence is piling up that lifestyle steps may reduce brain disease risks and help us maintain cognitive strength. A major 2020 report in The Lancet suggests that 12 factors within our control—including smoking, poor fitness, and obesity—are responsible for up to 40 percent of dementia cases.

We’re also seeing the potential in personalized prevention for those at higher risk for poor brain health. Take one study published in 2019, where researchers tailored risk reduction advice to volunteers’ cognitive test results, weight, and levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

After 18 months, most of the 174 participants—all with a family history of Alzheimer’s—had improved on thinking and memory evaluations. For those who had followed recommendations closely, “results were quite stunning,” says study co-author Lisa Mosconi, PhD, director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. More research is needed, but “our findings make clear that it’s never too late to make key lifestyle changes, and see brain benefits,” Mosconi says. And because issues like high blood pressure are now known to have negative effects on thinking many years later, it may never be too early to focus on brain health, either. What follows are some strategies to consider.

brain health

Keeping an eye on your overall health is key for brain health, but it may be especially important to prevent certain medical issues—and address them promptly if they do crop up. A few other regular self-care steps may also help you preserve thinking and memory.

Watch These Health Numbers

Monitoring and managing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels are essential for optimal brain function, research suggests. “We know diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes damage the small blood vessels in the brain, affecting parts that you need for thinking and memory,” says Gary Small, MD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and author of “The Memory Bible” (Hachette Go, 2021). This may be important sooner in life than you’d expect. While we know that uncontrolled hypertension in midlife hikes the risk of dementia in older age, a study published in March in JAMA Network Open found that higher blood pressure in young adulthood was linked to poorer brain health as early as in middle age. Another study published in March found that lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol and higher triglycerides in people as young as 35 was associated with dementia decades later—and linked high blood glucose between ages 51 and 60 to a higher risk of future cognitive problems.

Go for a Hearing Exam

If you often have difficulty following a group conversation, have your hearing checked. A number of studies suggest that hearing issues may affect your brain. For instance, an analysis of 36 studies, published in 2018 in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, found that age-related hearing loss was linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline. Even very minor losses may contribute. “Your brain is like a computer that’s reliant on input source—if you distort the audio and video quality, it can’t compute properly,” says Ronald Petersen, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Rochester, Minn. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as having your doctor remove excess ear wax (don’t DIY). But for permanent hearing loss, a hearing aid may be your best bet.

Get Good Sleep

As you slumber, your brain stays surprisingly busy, helping to solidify your memories for long-term storage. In addition, “When you’re asleep, your brain goes into housekeeping mode and cleans out toxins that can impair brain health,” says James Leverenz, MD, director of the Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic. While sleep needs vary from person to person, about 7 hours a night appears to be the sweet spot for the brain, according to a 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open. Getting some of your snooze time during the day is okay, too: A regular afternoon nap of no more than 2 hours was associated with better language use and memory in older adults, in a study published last year in the journal General Psychiatry. But frequently sleeping more than 9 hours a night may signal that you have an underlying condition that can negatively affect brain health, like obstructive sleep apnea, says Small—so check with your doctor if you typically sleep this long.

Have Your Meds Reviewed

Your doctor or pharmacist should go over your regular meds—including over-the-counter products and supplements—at least once a year, says Soo Borson, MD, professor emerita of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine. They can see whether any may temporarily impair memory or thinking, such as prescription and OTC sleep drugs, older antihistamines, and anti-anxiety meds and narcotics. Note: Certain anticholinergics, like some older antidepressants and overactive bladder meds, are linked to a higher dementia risk, even 20 years after use.

Feeling Anxious

Both depression and chronic anxiety may make people more vulnerable to dementia as they age, so you may want to reach out to a therapist if you’re experiencing either. “If you’re depressed or anxious, you’re more likely to experience an increase in stress hormone levels, which are very toxic to brain cells,” says Petersen. “We also know that depression and anxiety have been linked to a shrinkage of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory.” Plus, mood issues can reduce your desire to see friends and family, and isolation itself can raise your risk of dementia. (For more on how social activities can help shore up your cognitive reserves, see “Keep Your Brain Engaged,” below.) brain

4 Things That Are Hard On Your Brain

Smoking

Tobacco use can hurt your brain. One review of 37 studies found that compared with never-smokers, current smokers are 34 percent more likely to develop dementia in later life for every 20 daily cigarettes. Quitting can lower risks significantly, especially if you kick the habit by middle age.

Junk Food
Limit highly processed foods and those high in saturated fat, like red meat and full-fat dairy. “They increase inflammation everywhere in your body, including your brain, which raises your risk of dementia,” says Gary Small, MD.

Too Much Alcohol
Heavy drinking can kill brain neurons and accelerate memory loss, says Small. Research bears this out. More than 14 weekly drinks was linked to brain damage and a higher dementia risk, in a 2020 review published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. Small advises no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one for women.

Air Pollution
“We think pollution is toxic to nerve cells,” says neurologist Joel Salinas, MD, who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease at NYU Langone in New York City. In his research on elderly women, those exposed to the most fine-particle pollution—think car emissions—had the largest amount of brain shrinkage. Earlier research suggests that middle-aged and older people living in London’s most polluted sections have a greater likelihood of dementia. Consider restricting outdoor activities if the air quality index is over 100 (check at airnow.gov), avoid high-traffic areas while exercising, and at home, ban smoking, limit fireplace use, and keep rooms well-ventilated.
brain health

Consuming a mix of nutrient-packed foods—not focusing on a single “superfood”—and maintaining a normal weight are two pillars of cognitive well-being. And embracing the former can help with the latter.

Choose Flavonoids

People who got as little as a daily half-serving of flavonoid-rich foods like apples, berries, and pears were 20 percent less likely to report thinking declines than those who rarely ate them, in a long-term study. Flavonoids may curb inflammation and cell damage, and aid artery blood flow, says co-author Walter Willett, MD, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Boston’s Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Be Careful With Supplements

A host of dietary supplements are sold as brain-boosters. But they have no benefit for most people, says a report by AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health. And 2020 research found that some may contain unapproved drugs. Still, omega-3 fatty acid supplements may be worthwhile for those with a family history of dementia, says Mosconi. Vitamin B12, vitamin D, and folate deficiencies have also been linked to cognitive issues, so consider having your levels tested. Talk with your doctor before using supplements.

Serve Up a Salad

Eating just 1 cup of lettuce daily, or ½ cup of cooked dark leafy greens, may delay age-related cognitive declines, say researchers at Rush University Medical School in Chicago. In their study, the brains of daily leafy greens eaters functioned as well as those of people 11 years younger.

Consider the Big 3

Meals that are 1/2 produce, ¼ lean protein, and ¼ whole grains, with a bit of fat, will generally keep you on a healthy track. But three plant-based eating plans—the DASH, Mediterranean-style, and MIND diets—which are rich in produce, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and healthy fats found in foods such as avocado, fatty fish, and olive oil, are a boon for the brain, says Weill Cornell’s Lisa Mosconi, PhD. Research supports all three, but a 2019 review published in Advances in Nutrition found that the MIND eating style—which puts more emphasis on berries and leafy greens—seems to have the most robust brain benefits.

Load Up on Berries

These tiny fruits are powerhouses for both learning and memory, says Barbara Shukitt-Hale, PhD, a neuroscientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. In her own research, older people who consumed the equivalent of 1 cup of fresh blueberries each day for three months performed better on cognitive tests than those who were given a placebo. And a 20-year study of women ages 70 and older suggests that eating blueberries at least once each week or strawberries at least twice a week may delay brain aging up to 2.5 years.

Indulge That Coffee Craving

People who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee plus the same amount of tea daily had about a 30 percent lower risk of dementia and stroke compared with those who sipped neither drink, in a study published in PLOS Medicine in 2021. This may be thanks to the drinks’ plentiful antioxidants and flavonoids, says Small. Note: U.S. guidelines recommend no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily—approximately 3 to 5 cups of coffee.

Dine on Seafood Often

You’ve probably heard fish has brain benefits, and plenty of research backs this up. For instance, a study published last November in the journal Neurology found that healthy people over age 65 who eat two or more weekly servings of fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines may have a lower risk of developing vascular brain disease, which can cause dementia. Dining on fin food four or more times weekly offers the most benefit. “Fatty fish is rich in omega-3s, which help quell brain inflammation,” says Willett. “It may also be that fish is a healthy substitution for foods high in saturated fat, like red meat, which can be harmful for brain health.”

Brain Power

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about “brain fog,” which can manifest in fuzzy thinking and poor focus. While brain fog can be caused by anything from a sluggish thyroid to a vitamin B12 shortfall, it may also occur with and after recovery from COVID-19.

In one study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, of 740 people who’d recovered from COVID-19 an average of 7.6 months earlier, a quarter of the study volunteers reported that they had experienced memory issues, while another 18 percent said they had trouble processing information. In addition, 16 percent struggled with executive function, which is related to skills like organization and self-control.

Do you suspect your cognitive fogginess is related to coronavirus? Ask your doctor about an appointment for a neuropsychological evaluation at a post-COVID-19 recovery clinic. You may be an appropriate candidate for cognitive rehabilitation therapy, which works to improve your memory, attention processing, and problem-solving.

If your fogginess is unlikely to be a result of COVID-19, your doctor can run blood tests to determine whether you have an issue that may respond to medication, or in the case of a vitamin deficiency, possibly a supplement, says Petersen.

brain health

We’ve long known that what’s good for your heart is good for your brain—especially physical activity. “Regular aerobic exercise boosts blood flow to your brain and also increases the size of your hippocampus, the part of your brain that’s involved in verbal memory and learning,” says Zaldy Tan, MD, MPH, medical director of the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Try these steps to reap the rewards.

Get Enough Physical Activity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults get 150 weekly minutes of moderately intense exercise, such as brisk walking. That could mean exercising for about 30 minutes five times a week. Tan, meanwhile, recommends about 30 minutes each day. But if you can go longer, do. Research suggests that exercise sessions of 45 to 60 minutes offer the biggest brain benefits. Been inactive? Sedentary people older than age 55 showed improvements in thinking after just six months of walking three times a week, in a study published in 2019 in the journal Neurology.

Give Yoga or Tai Chi a Try
Yoga’s benefits are two-fold: It’s effective for easing stress (which can muddy your thinking) and practicing unfamiliar moves helps your brain to create new neural pathways, says Cathy Ciolek, PT, president of the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy. Tai chi, with its slow, gentle movements, “forces your body to work on both strength and balance, and you have to learn and remember various poses,” says Leverenz. Research suggests that tai chi may also improve your ability to multitask.

Take a Dance Lesson (or Two)

Older adults who danced several times a week showed less loss of the brain’s white matter than those who did activities that weren’t as cognitively challenging, socially engaging, or vigorous, in a study in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. If dance isn’t for you, try another activity where you can learn or socialize, like water aerobics.

Pump Some Iron

Six months of resistance training may help prevent the brain’s hippocampus from shrinking with age, says a 2020 University of Sydney study. “When you lift weights, you’re really focused on form and performing specific moves, which in turn exercises the neural circuits in your brain,” says Small. “It also improves balance, which reduces your risk of a bad fall that could potentially cause a head injury”—a threat to cognitive health. Small recommends two weekly resistance training sessions of 30 to 45 minutes. You don’t have to bench-press the big weights, though. Using your own body weight, hand weights, or exercise bands will do the trick. Start light and increase reps and weight gradually. Find four moves.
Brain Power

Keep Your Brain Engaged

Will one of those brain-training programs sharpen your thinking skills? Research suggests they’re only minimally useful, says Mosconi. “Just because you’ve learned to play a brain game doesn’t mean you’ll see an improvement in memory, attention, and focus in other areas.” Instead, check out these science-backed ways to challenge your brain.

Make Learning a Lifelong Pursuit

Education early in life appears to help preserve brain health many years down the road. But trying new activities and building new skills throughout life may also help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, says Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association. Anything that stimulates your brain counts, Snyder says, from learning to paint to a college lecture to a new exercise class—especially if it brings the chance for some social engagement.

Retire a Little Later

Working until age 67 or later may offer a buffer against age-related cognitive problems, suggests a study published in 2021 in the journal SSM Population Health. When researchers tracked the work histories of 20,469 people, they found that those who retired sooner experienced earlier declines in memory and thinking than those who stayed on the job. Volunteering probably has similar benefits, perhaps by keeping people cognitively, socially, and physically active, and instilling a sense of purpose.

Focus on Simple Acts

Learning to speak French or taking courses in an area that’s new to you may both be good for the brain. But the truth is, so are everyday activities like letter writing, reading, playing board games, and doing puzzles, according to research published in the journal Neurology last year. Even mowing the lawn or doing laundry helps you hang on to brain cells: In another study published in 2021, adults who spent more time on household chores had a larger hippocampus and frontal lobe than those who didn’t.

Hang Out With Friends

Socializing looks to have brain-positive effects. One example: People who were more socially active had more healthy brain tissue than those who were less likely to spend time with others, in a study published in 2020. But a large friend group isn’t essential. “The key is the quality and frequency of social support they provide, so if you just have a handful of close friends who are good listeners and supportive, that may be enough,” says neurologist Joel Salinas, MD. The goal is warding off loneliness, because it “might increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can have a negative impact on the brain,” he says.

Mix Things Up

Regularly engaging in a wide variety of activities may give your brain more protection than any single pastime does, a study published in 2021 in the journal Aging suggests.

Practice Relaxation

Mindfulness activities like meditation may help curb brain issues—even in those who already have cognitive problems. In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2018, people with memory challenges who did a daily 12-minute meditation reported clearer thinking after three months. Meditating “reduces stress and inflammation, which are both toxic to the brain,” says Ronald Petersen, MD. It may also enhance connections between brain nerve cells, another plus for cognition. Meditation workshops are often offered at community centers and medical centers, or via videos, apps like Headspace, or websites like UCLA’s MARC. But you can also simply spend a few minutes a day breathing in and out slowly and deeply, or do an activity that relaxes you, like taking in the greenery and sunshine at a nearby park.
brain Health

More Than Forgetfulness?

It’s normal to occasionally misplace your eyeglasses or forget where you parked at a mall, especially if you’re multi-tasking, sleep deprived, or stressed, says James Leverenz, MD. With age, you may also notice that it takes longer to retrieve some information—such as people’s names—but that with a bit of time or a hint or two, you remember. But see a doctor if you (or others) notice that you have a regular pattern of one or more of the following:

• Asking the same question repeatedly, especially with behavior changes.
• Mixing up words, saying “radio” instead of “TV,” for instance.
• Placing items in inappropriate places, like car keys in the fridge. Eleven percent of Americans reported doing this in CR’s survey.
• Getting lost while driving to places you know well.
• Experiencing mood changes for no apparent reason.

Your doctor will first check for reversible causes like depression or a drug side effect. They can also determine whether you should be evaluated by a neurologist, a brain disease specialist. And if you’re told you have mild cognitive impairment—marked by subtle thinking and memory change—remember that lifestyle steps like exercise and a healthy diet may help keep it from worsening.

Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the June 2022 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Correction: This article has been updated with the correct workplace location for James Leverenz, MD.

Hallie Levine is an award-winning magazine and freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on health and fitness topics. Her work has been published in Health, Prevention, Reader's Digest, and Parents, among others. She's a mom to three kids and a fat but feisty black Labrador retriever named Ivry. In her (nonexistent) spare time, she likes to read, swim, and run marathons.

Sign In

Mass disability event’

Recommended Posts

humble3d

Link to comment

humble3d

Link to comment

google57

Link to comment

humble3d

Link to comment

humble3d

Link to comment

humble3d

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

Browse

Activity