An interesting study in this week’s American Academy of Neurology chronicled 121 people age 60 and older who underwent treadmill fitness tests and brain scans to measure white matter, gray matter and total brain volume. The site requires membership to view the original report, but the bottom line was: “People with early Alzheimer’s disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage when compared to normal older adults than those who were more physically fit, suggesting less brain shrinkage.” ... continue reading

Breast-feeding does help mothers bond with their babies, according to a new study led by Warwick University researchers. Breast-feeding releases oxytocin (a happy hormone) in the brain, creating stronger links between nerve cells, the study says. Read the laymen’s version in the Daily Mail or the original abstract in the Public Library of Science Computational Biology journal. ... continue reading

Thanks to all of you who have been tuning in for “The Female Brain” podcasts on Mondays at 1pm PST. For scheduling reasons, we will be moving the show to 7pm PST on Monday nights going forward. Remember, you can still listen to the show in my Blog Talk Radio archives at any time, or just click the “play” button on the blue player on the right side of the screen. >>... continue reading

You are as brave as your basal amygdala, according to a new study out of the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Switzerland. The scientists learned that the brain does not unlearn fear, but instead can learn not to fear a threatening thing in particular contexts. Read the study in Nature magazine here.... continue reading

Your mother was right after all: Diet can improve your cognitive abilities and protect the brain from damage. According to a study out this week from the UCLA School of Medicine, diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function. It may even counteract the effects of aging! Read here about how Omega-3 fats improve your brain’s synapses, which connect neurons and provide critical functions, such as learning and memory. ... continue reading