Pediatric health Archive

Scientists are studying two novel approaches to improve memory. One approach centers on molecules in the blood and spinal fluid that appear to help improve memory. So far, experiments have been limited to lab animals. Another approach involves exposing the brain to electrical currents. A study in humans, published online Aug. 22, 2022, by the journal Nature Neuroscience, found that electrical stimulation directed at specific areas of the brain improved both working memory and long-term memory for at least a month.

To protect the heart during the winter, it's important to take certain precautions. Steps include staying up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, avoiding cold remedies that can raise heart rate and blood pressure, figuring out where and how to exercise indoors if it's too cold to exercise outside, developing a regular practice of stress management (such as practicing yoga and getting enough sleep), and avoiding overindulgence when it comes to drinking alcohol or eating holiday foods.

There are many misconceptions about dementia. One is that it's a disease. In fact, dementia is a general term describing thinking and memory skills that have deteriorated to the point of experiencing problems with daily activities. Another myth is that dementia is part of normal aging. It isn't; dementia is simply more common as people get older — just like heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Other common myths about dementia include the notions that it always appears as memory loss, it's always genetic, it causes the loss of all memories, and it's never reversible.

Light therapy can help improve seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But many people don't realize that it can also be effective for major depression, and depression that occurs during or after pregnancy (known as perinatal depression).

Could identifying early warning signs of psychosis and providing appropriate support change the course of the illness? Early-intervention programs aim to do this with at-risk teens and young adults, and those experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation helps some people with treatment-resistant depression, but the process takes multiple weeks and gets results in only about a third of those who try it. A new approach to delivering this therapy showed promise in a small study.

When people are going through difficult times, it's normal to feel a lack of joy. But even while struggling, the ability to find moments of joy can have profound and far-reaching effects on the mind and body.

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia affect all the regions of the brain involved in driving, but whether or not a person should give up driving depends on the severity of the disease and the specific cognitive abilities that are impaired.

Melatonin is a popular over-the-counter sleep aid. But because it is sold as a dietary supplement it is not regulated, and recent warnings include reports of melatonin overdoses in children. If parents need help getting their child to sleep, there are other things they can try first.

Autumn is when infectious respiratory diseases start to spread more readily. That's why October is the ideal time to boost your immunity against the viruses that cause flu and COVID-19.