My takeaway from the discussion was that the brain protects itself by holding redundancies. Well, that was one of the points I gleaned from Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk with Daniel Levitan (and Chuck Knight) on music as our first language. Why redundancy? It would be a way for the brain to keep and store informationContinue reading “Redundant”
Tag Archives: #brain-health
Mayhem
Burt asked me if I knew that guy. I listened a little harder, had he said Maynard? The guy, he repeated, «Mayhem«. His question gave me chills. I thought of the character Dean Winters plays in a TV ad, but I also thought of the mayhem LBD causes, the disruption in our lives and inContinue reading “Mayhem”
Rapid
My sense is that Burt started his path in LBD at an advanced stage. From the get-go he went from a period of apathy to being fully confused in what felt like 60 seconds. Capgras was one major symptom; little people enhabited our home; he needed reassurance that he was home. Meds helped a lotContinue reading “Rapid”
Heartbreak
Lewy Body Dementia offers just reams of tales of heartbreak. They appear as unexpectedly as if we all didn’t know where our story was heading. Every decline has been a surprise to me as if there was a plot twist I hadn’t seen coming. I can’t justify this reaction. I know what this journey ofContinue reading “Heartbreak”
The question of sleep
people who wear sleep trackers on a “perfectionistic quest for the ideal sleep” actually have their sleep become worse. If that sounds like you, it might be time to take a step back. “Sleep is a passive process,” one doctor told Kate. “It is to be protected, not forced — or ‘maximized.’” In short, windingContinue reading “The question of sleep”
The impact of dance
Dr. Julia Basso studies the effect dancing and movement have on brain health. She says (and I quote loosely) that even watching dance has a positive impact. Watch this YouTube video interview for more from Dr. Basso on what she has documented about the healing power of movement. Full disclosure Dr. Basso is my dearContinue reading “The impact of dance”
Mental health
Holding onto our mental health is not just taking interventions to keep depression at bay. As we get older, we worry about dementia. Forgetfulness sparks fear. Intervening for cognitive health seems like a good idea. I blog to keep my mind going. I do puzzles, albeit the Easy Sudoku and a mini crossword are myContinue reading “Mental health”
Did I mention?
Anxiety is a huge factor in Lewy Body Dementia. I presume that those who were calm and composed prior to dx experience bouts of this distress once they enter Lewy-land. Burt had more than his share for years before any symptoms. In fact, he was plagued by lifelong panic attacks. His illness has made theContinue reading “Did I mention?”
Brain health
It seems that advice for maintaining a healthy brain is similar to what we do to keep our bodies well. Walking or any kind of moving helps in this goal. Smoking is out, but studying is a boon to our brains. Being overweight is bad for our bodies, our hearts, and our brains. Another essentialContinue reading “Brain health”