Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D.: GET PSYCHED! 4 Reasons Why You Should Be Intellectually Pumped RIGHT NOW

Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D.: GET PSYCHED! 4 Reasons Why You Should Be Intellectually Pumped RIGHT NOW

What's your latest passion?

One of the most powerful messages coming out of the brain fitness science these days is that having intellectual passions is a major factor in any good brain fitness plan. Things we do to "stretch" our minds force us to think differently or look at the world through a constantly evolving lens. While on the surface such activities seem like the most obvious way to keep our minds sharp, the science behind intellectual engagement is truly more complex than simply a "use it or lose it" equation.

So why do I and other brain health experts spend so much time getting people to stretch their brains? Why does what we do with our minds matter so much? Here are some of the reasons why I'm a big fan of being intellectually passionate at every age:

• A passionate mind leads to a healthy brain. One measure of brain fitness is the physiological health of our brain itself. Intellectual enrichment has been associated with enhanced neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to make new connections and grow new neurons in both animal and human studies. For example, a German study found that adults who became proficient jugglers showed increased brain volume on imaging studies.
• A passionate mind gives us a buffer against serious memory loss. We have known for a while that staying intellectually engaged is associated with a lower risk for dementia in later life. This finding has been replicated across a number of large, epidemiological studies both here and in Europe. Such evidence has given rise to the "cognitive reserve" theory, which states that the neuroplasticity supported by such activities build a buffer zone of neural connections and new neurons that delay the onset of dementia symptoms. Most recently, a study out of Rush University Medical Center offers further support to this theory, with reported findings showing that folks who report high levels of lifelong intellectual engagement who develop memory impairment do so later in life and have a sharper and shorter period of impairment.
• A passionate mind gives us a chance to boost daily brain skills. "Stretch activities" often help us better maintain everyday intellectual skills that are challenged by the aging process. These skills, primarily our ability to keep focused, think quickly and think nimbly, are best addressed by specific exercises played against the clock. However, engaging intellectually across the board -- be it by taking a language class or even working -- gives us more chances to "work out" those skills than we would have otherwise. Volunteering at a local youth center, for example, not only engages your mind, but also forces you to pay closer attention, hold conversations with folks you might not otherwise encounter, and think nimbly to keep up, all of which keep those daily brain skills better trained.
• A passionate mind keeps us purposed and relevant. One of the most overlooked aspects of growing older is that we are still actually growing. Intellectual passions allow us the ways and means by which we can continue to think about and expand on who we are. Such pursuits give us the chance to constantly question ourselves, to ask the "what if" question that keeps us engaged (not to mention engaging). It is through such intellectual passions that we can learn more about our purpose and determine the legacy we wish to leave behind. While these aspects of well-being may seem more spiritual in nature, there is much to suggest that they matter greatly to brain health, in that they impact our ability to think wisely and to continue to engage richly and meaningfully in the world.

It was Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, who centuries ago counseled us that "It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well." While our understanding of the science behind having a good mind may have advanced, the advice remains the same. Take up a new language, master a new computer game, enroll for that drawing class you've always meant to take. Whatever your latest passion, pursue and enjoy! Consider such passionate pursuits part of your "Total Brain Health" prescription for staying vital and independent -- they are good for your mind, good for your brain, and, perhaps best of all, good for your spirit.

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Billie Jean King To Young Women, On Title IX: 'Now It's Your Turn'

Billie Jean King To Young Women, On Title IX: 'Now It's Your Turn'

It has been 40 years since the passage of Title IX -- a law best known for opening opportunities for females to play sports throughout their academic careers. When it passed in 1972, fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports in the U.S. Last year, more than 3 million did.

Billie Jean King, 68, tennis star and women's advocate, has long supported the legislation. A year after it passed, she trounced Bobby Riggs in a tennis match on national television, aware that millions of eyes were on her.

"I just had to play," King told Newsweek not long after the match. She said she "wanted to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation."

We caught up with King on the 40th birthday of Title IX, getting her thoughts on female athletes, women's history and how she stays active as she ages. Here's what she had to say:

On women needing to understand where they came from:
I think the more you know about history, the more you know about yourself.

It's important to understand the fight that so many people had to [go through] for all of us. And young women need to understand that we're still not there. Even in the U.S., we're still only making 77 cents on the dollar … and it's absolutely ridiculous.

On the lack of opportunities in women's sports:
We don't have the professional leagues. We don't have anything compared to the guys. We don't get the support from women -- they don't buy season tickets. Guys buy tickets and worry about who is going to the game later; they understand it's about writing checks and supporting the community. Women's sports are a microcosm of society, and women need to support women.

On the women she'll be watching this Olympics:
I like [Allyson Felix] the track star. I'm fascinated by her. But personally, I'm always more concerned about how many professional opportunities they have once the Olympics are over.

On keeping active after years of knee pain (King recently had knee replacement surgery that she believes will be her last):
Two years ago, I'd had it. My whole world had really closed in on me. It got to the point where I couldn't walk a block -- I took a taxi to the gym, which is two-and-a-half blocks away.

Now I go to the gym. I play tennis again. I always say I expect this thing to outlive me

On working out at 68:
"I do at least 30 minutes on the bike, and I do sprints on the bike, too. I lift weights. But it's whatever works for you and gets it done. It's what works for you in your daily life."

On her life's true passion:
I can't tell you how much I love tennis. I love to hit a tennis ball. Some people can run all day, but that's not who I am … I love to hit the ball. I just love it. It's the best way for me to exercise. Every time I walk on the court, I know it's a blessing.

On women's equity in sports:
We're celebrating 40 years of Title IX, and I do think it's important that young women know [what it did].

Every generation passes the baton down. Now, it's your turn.

This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Heart Attack Survivors May Also Face PTSD Risk: Study

Heart Attack Survivors May Also Face PTSD Risk: Study

People who have gone through experiences like rape, assault, abuse and even war are at a higher risk of developing post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) -- and now, a new review of studies shows that one in eight people who've survived a heart attack experience symptoms of the anxiety disorder as well.

In fact, about 4 percent of all heart attack survivors meet the criteria necessary for a PTSD diagnosis, Columbia University Medical Center researchers found.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder affect everyday life, and include flashbacks to the traumatic event, nightmares, trouble concentrating or feeling hyper-aware, sleeping problems, detachment and extreme avoidance of anything that's a reminder of the traumatic event.

Researchers also found that people who've had heart attacks who have PTSD are also at a doubled risk of dying in the next one to three years, or having another cardiac event.

The PLoS ONE study included data from 2,383 people who have acute coronary syndrome, which is when blood flow is reduced to the heart.

"Given that some 1.4 million ACS [acute-coronary syndrome] patients are discharged from U.S. hospitals each year, our results suggest that 168,000 patients will develop clinically significant PTSD symptoms. That is quite substantial," study researcher Donald Edmondson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia, said in a statement.

"However, there is abundant evidence that psychological disorders in heart patients are underrecognized and undertreated. In fact, underdiagnosis may be even more pronounced in cardiac practices than in other types of medical practices," he added.

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