A recent New York Times article, available in their website's Research section, discusses findings that suggest the brains of older people may in some cases only appear to be working subpar, when in fact these seemingly forgetful brains are actually acting wiser:
Some brains do deteriorate with age. Alzheimer’s disease, for example, strikes 13 percent of Americans 65 and older. But for most aging adults, the authors say, much of what occurs is a gradually widening focus of attention that makes it more difficult to latch onto just one fact, like a name or a telephone number. Although that can be frustrating, it is often useful. “It may be that distractibility is not, in fact, a bad thing,” said Shelley H. Carson, a psychology researcher at Harvard whose work was cited in the book. “It may increase the amount of information available to the conscious mind.”
So what does this mean for those with older minds?
Jacqui Smith, a professor of psychology and research professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan ... said there was a word for what results when the mind is able to assimilate data and put it in its proper place — wisdom. “These findings are all very consistent with the context we’re building for what wisdom is" ... “If older people are taking in more information from a situation, and they’re then able to combine it with their comparatively greater store of general knowledge, they’re going to have a nice advantage.”
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
FREE ASTHMA SCREENINGS DURING MAY 2008 AT 250 LOCATIONS IN THE U.S.
A press release from HealthDay News states that May is the month to get a handle on asthma, a common breathing disease. If you have asthma, or think you might, free asthma screenings are scheduled to be held at 250 locations across the United States as part of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology sponsors the annual event; for 2008 the emphasis is on helping those already diagnosed with asthma to get it under control as best they can.
In recent months, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) put out new guidelines highlighting the importance of asthma control, including daily monitoring and proper medication use to treat symptoms and prevent severe attacks from occurring. This came in light of research showing that many people with asthma are suffering more than they need to from the disease. Allergist John Winder, chairman of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, said "government guidelines emphasize that undiagnosed or inadequately treated asthma worsens the severity of the disease" while "the screening program gives patients who are still having breathing problems a chance to meet with an allergist, discuss their symptoms and learn how to feel better."
More than 22 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, have asthma -- a chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Asthma attacks, which claim nearly 4,000 lives a year, are often triggered by allergens -- these include pollen, dust, animal dander, certain drugs and food additives -- lung infections, or even physical exertion. While the disease's exact cause remains unknown, many treatments are available to keep it in check.
"An asthma 'attack' isn't the only sign of trouble. A cough that bothers you at night, shortness of breath, colds that go to your chest -- these can all be symptoms of asthma. But few people recognize them or that they are a sign of under-treated disease," Winder said. "No one with asthma should have to suffer. Anyone who is experiencing breathing problems or making compromises to live with their condition should attend a free screening and find out how to take control."
The screenings will be overseen by allergists (who are asthma specialists), in coordination with local doctors and allied health professionals. During a screening, participants will answer several questions about their breathing issues, take a lung function test that involves blowing into a tube, and meet with an allergist to determine whether a more thorough exam and diagnosis is needed. The program has screened more than 108,000 people over the years, and more than half of those were referred for further diagnosis.
A list of free asthma screening locations and dates, online versions of the breathing questionnaires, and more information on treating and controlling asthma are on the ACAAI Web site at www.acaai.org. Also, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more information about controlling and treating asthma.
Attribution: -- Kevin McKeever.
SOURCE: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, news release, May 1, 2008.
In recent months, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) put out new guidelines highlighting the importance of asthma control, including daily monitoring and proper medication use to treat symptoms and prevent severe attacks from occurring. This came in light of research showing that many people with asthma are suffering more than they need to from the disease. Allergist John Winder, chairman of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, said "government guidelines emphasize that undiagnosed or inadequately treated asthma worsens the severity of the disease" while "the screening program gives patients who are still having breathing problems a chance to meet with an allergist, discuss their symptoms and learn how to feel better."
More than 22 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, have asthma -- a chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Asthma attacks, which claim nearly 4,000 lives a year, are often triggered by allergens -- these include pollen, dust, animal dander, certain drugs and food additives -- lung infections, or even physical exertion. While the disease's exact cause remains unknown, many treatments are available to keep it in check.
"An asthma 'attack' isn't the only sign of trouble. A cough that bothers you at night, shortness of breath, colds that go to your chest -- these can all be symptoms of asthma. But few people recognize them or that they are a sign of under-treated disease," Winder said. "No one with asthma should have to suffer. Anyone who is experiencing breathing problems or making compromises to live with their condition should attend a free screening and find out how to take control."
The screenings will be overseen by allergists (who are asthma specialists), in coordination with local doctors and allied health professionals. During a screening, participants will answer several questions about their breathing issues, take a lung function test that involves blowing into a tube, and meet with an allergist to determine whether a more thorough exam and diagnosis is needed. The program has screened more than 108,000 people over the years, and more than half of those were referred for further diagnosis.
A list of free asthma screening locations and dates, online versions of the breathing questionnaires, and more information on treating and controlling asthma are on the ACAAI Web site at www.acaai.org. Also, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more information about controlling and treating asthma.
Attribution: -- Kevin McKeever.
SOURCE: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, news release, May 1, 2008.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)