Over the past few months there have been conversations centered around brainspan (the length of time neural networks maintain the capacity for clear thinking, emotional regulation, sound judgment, and adaptive behavior)—> healthspan (the years someone remains physically healthy and free from major disease)—> lifespan (the total number of years a person lives). Healthspan and lifespan have generated a lot of discussion. Unfortunately, brainspan hasn’t gotten enough attention

There are two broad categories of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: non-modifiable and modifiable. Non-modifiable risk factors include those we cannot change, such as age, genetics, and biological sex. Modifiable risk factors, on the other hand, are largely related to our lifestyle and overall health—and they represent an opportunity to protect brain function throughout life. Research increasingly suggests that many dementia cases may be delayed or even prevented by addre

Over the past century, we have added nearly thirty years to human life expectancy. Advance in cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, infectious disease control, and metabolic medicine have dramatically reduced early mortality. But these medical victories have revealed a new challenge. Many people are living longer while experiencing prolonged periods of cognitive decline, emotional instability, sleep disruption, and loss of independence. Longevity has increased, yet the cap

Boomers and the Alzheimer’s Crisis Part One: The Alzheimer’s Crisis In 2015, I started the My Boomer Brain blog. One of my very first blogs was about the Elephant in the Room – Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s and other dementias were my focus of study while I was getting my master’s degree in gerontology. For the ten years prior to me going back to school, I had worked with physical and occupational therapists who were addressing the physical disabilities of later stage

Boomers and the Alzheimer’s Crisis Part Two: The Alzheimer’s Crisis Is the Boomer’s Crisis Brain aging and brain health were gaining attention in the mid-2000s. I was starting to experience some brain glitches during that time, and it scared me! At a conference on aging in 2006 I visited a booth by Posit Science. They had research to support that you could stop brain aging losses by living a brain healthy lifestyle. The conference started me on a multiyear quest to learn

Our brains age, just like our bodies. It happens to everyone whether you are a nuclear physicist, or you have never worked. Our brain...

There is a right-of-passage as we enter our older years that can be very disconcerting. Suddenly we realize that no one is speaking to...

What does living to extended ages mean to the aging brain? Longevity is part of the vernacular now with advances in medical treatment...

In 2015, I started the My Boomer Brain blog. One of my very first blogs was about the Elephant in the Room – Alzheimer’s disease. ...

Brain aging and brain health were gaining attention in the mid-2000s. I was starting to experience some brain glitches during that time,...

Over the past few months, I have been seriously looking at the issues of aging. I became a gerontologist almost twenty years ago. The...

Over the past few years I have mentioned a number of chronic diseases that raise your risk of developing dementia. Then I go on to...