Recent Research Shows Dancing May Reverse Signs of Aging

As we start to get older, the signs of aging become increasingly apparent, but there are many ways to combat them, and dancing might just be the best one ! While some of these signs may only be aesthetic like the wrinkling of one's skin or the greying of one's hair, others can be far more disruptive. Old age may rear its weary head in the form of true physical discomfort, like weakened bones, loss of balance, memory and other forms of physical and mental impairment. 
These can be made worse by pre-existing or developing conditions like arthritis or Alzheimer's Disease. This study, conducted by a team of researchers in a University in Germany, has determined that you may be able to reduce the effects of aging through the art of dance. 
The Role of the Hippocampus...

One major observation that had been established prior to the study was the effects of aging on the hippocampus, the portion of the human brain that regulates emotions, memory, motor functions, and the central nervous system. However, it was also noted that despite the continuous damage that occurs to the hippocampus over time, it remains one of the few portions of the brain that continues to generate new neurons throughout the entirety of one’s lifespan. This ability of the hippocampus to continually form synaptic connections is termed as neuroplasticity.  

Numerous previous studies looked into the possibility of physiological activities acting as mediators for neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. While studies on animals showed that any physical activity can be a mediator for the creation of neurons, the studies dealing with the human physiology focused specifically on the effects of aerobic fitness and training. Various studies delved into the connection between cardio-respiratory fitness and the volume of the hippocampus. While some studies noted a positive correlation between the two, others failed to find any correlation at all.
Moving Forward...
Keeping in mind the uncertainty surrounding this correlation between cardio-respiratory exercise and the improved condition of the hippocampus, this study took a step further. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that performs many functions for the body, which were divided into 5 specified sub-fields for the purpose of the study. These sub-fields included working memory and spatial relations, i.e., coordination and learning.
This team of researchers followed the lead of a previous study that noted the positive effects of dynamic balance training on the volume of gray matter in the hippocampus in healthy seniors. Dancing was, therefore, determined to be a possible viable form of exercise to reduce impairment caused to the hippocampus caused by aging, as it would stimulate the use of numerous sensory organs.
The Focus of the Study...

The study, conducted by experts from a variety of departments in the Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany, was a comparative analysis of the effects of two major types of motor fitness: dancing and endurance training. A group of volunteers was selected, having an average age of 68 years. They were divided into two groups, one of which was assigned endurance fitness and the other to be instructed in dancing.
Weekly classes were held over 18 months. The endurance exercises included cycling and Nordic walking among others. The other group was instructed in a variety of dance forms like jazz, square, line, and Latin American dancing. Different routines were taught every few weeks, making an important part of the exercise the challenge to recall the steps. 

The Final Result...
Both forms of exercise were found to have positive effects on the hippocampus. The volunteers that participated in the dance showed a significant increase in memory and balance. When measuring hippocampus volumes, it was observed that there was an increase in 4 out 5 subfields, 1 in particular that the endurance fitness routine did not affect. While improvement in memory could be attributed to an increase in hippocampus volumes, no physical correlation could be found between the improvement in the hippocampus and the improved balance of the members of the dance group. 
While balance may not be directly related to the hippocampus, it is nonetheless a positive side effect of the practice of dancing. Dancing has the same benefits as cardio-respiratory and endurance exercises, as well as a few others in slowing down age-related impairments in elderly persons. The combination of music, movement, coordination, and memory has been seen to be extremely beneficial to the body and mind for anyone looking to live a healthy life.   

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement                

Frailty is a medical condition in itself

People do associate frailty with ageing but according to a new study, it is a medical condition and is not merely related to turning old. The study revealed that, in adults over 60s, chances of developing frailty were just 4.3 per cent.

And, the findings also added that women were more likely than men to develop frailty. According to the researchers, frailty deals with three out of these five following conditions: low physical activity, weak grip strength, low energy, slow walking speed, non-deliberate weight loss.

Frailty is associated with a lower quality of life and a higher risk of death, hospitalization and institutionalization. The condition tends to occur more among older adults but even young people can be frail if they have one or more disabling chronic diseases.

The study added that more than 20% of the world's population is estimated to get aged over 60 years by 2050, and so the number of people diagnosed with frailty is projected to increase.

Our results suggest that the risk of developing frailty in older people is high. This is a worldwide problem and highlights a major challenge facing countries with ageing populations, said the study's lead author.

However, this medical condition can be prevented if interventions such as muscle strength training and protein supplementation are adopted.

Thus, the study authors advocate for " regular screening to assess older people's vulnerability to develop frailty so that appropriate interventions can be implemented in a timely manner."

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                    

                                https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Novel body awareness training to combat drug addiction

Mindful body awareness training may help women recover from drug addiction, say researchers as they find improvements in the study participants.

The findings suggests that the training helps people better understand the physical and emotional signals in their body and how they can respond to these to help them better regulate and engage in self-care.

We could teach this intervention successfully in 8 weeks to a very distressed population, and participants not only really learned these skills, they maintained increases in body awareness and regulation over the year long study period, said the lead author.

For the study, the team studied 187 women at 3 locations. The cohort, all women in treatment for substance use disorder(SUD), was split into 3 relatively equal groups.

Every group continued with their regular SUD trreatment. One group received SUD treatment only, another group was taught mindfulness technique in addition to treatment, and the 3rd group received a women's education curriculum in addition to treatment.

The training included one-on-one coaching in an outpatient setting, in addition to the substance use disorder treatment the women were already receiving. The intervention is called MIndful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) and combines manual, mindfulness and psycho-educational approached to teach interoceptive awareness and related self-care skills. Women were tested at the beginning, and at 3, 6 and 12 months on a number of factors including substance use, distress craving, emotion regulation ( self-report and psychophysiology), mindfulness skills and interoceptive awareness.

The team found that there were lasting improvements in these areas for those who received the MABT intervention, but not for the other 2 study groups.

Those who received MABT relapsed less, the researcher said.

By learning to attend to their bodies, they learned important skills for better self-care, she noted.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com  

Mindful body awareness training may help women recover from drug addiction, say researchers as they find improvements in the study participants. The findings suggests that the training helps people better understand the physical and emotional signals in their body and how they can respond to these to help them better regulate and engage in self-care. "We could teach this intervention successfully in eight weeks to a very distressed population, and participants not only really learned these skills, they maintained increases in body awareness and regulation over the year-long study period," said lead author Cynthia J. Price from the University of Washington.

https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/novel-body-awareness-training-to-combat-drug-addiction-521908

Training to coaches offers a means for helping children with autism

Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd, researchers have shown that training provided to the coaches offers a means for helping children with autism. A study to this effect has been published by researchers.

The reserchers ran a school-based multi-sports programme titled " Supporting Success" designed to help children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. It helps children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. Yet it does so by focusing on the child's environment instead of directing the intervention to the child itself.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition that can affect how a person communicates and interacts with the world around them. " Coaches play a paramount role in providing the ' right' environment for students with autism to enjoy and participate in sport. Yet the challenge is that they often feel unprepared to work in special settings, said one of the researchers.
Our research shows that there are specific tactics that coaches can use to encourage students with autism to more effectively participate in sports and physical activities, said a researcher. It can be done  by using visual cards to communicate, demonstrating activities before students have a go; using distinct coaching aids to familiarize students with sports  equipment, and various approaches for overcoming individual sensory challenges. 

We're very pleased to hear that both parents and teachers are reporting great improvements in physical and interpersonal skills, concentration, and general calmness, as well as increased interests in new experiences, new friendships, and a general feeling of being more connected with the environment and community, she said. According to co-researcher, the findings show important it is to consider the world from the perspective of a child with ASD.

Many kids  struggle to process auditory commands which can make verbal instructions tricky, but add a visual cue card as a prompt or actively show them what they need to do, and it's a completely different story, " he said. " Similarly, we've found it effective to use plain words to describe activities. Instead of sports-specific lingo, like " Throw the cricket ball at the stumps", we're suggesting coaches use literal words, like ' throw the ball at the 3 sticks'. This was far more effective for kids with autism, especially when they're just learning about the sport, he added.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                         FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, researchers have shown that training provided to the coaches offers a means for helping children with autism. A study to this effect has been published by researchers in the journal of 'Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators.' The researchers ran a school-based multi-sports programme titled 'Supporting Success' designed to help children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. It helps children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. Yet it does so by focusing on the child's environment instead of directing the intervention to the child itself.

https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/young-hans/training-to-coaches-offers-a-means-for-helping-children-with-autism--516968

Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, researchers have shown that training provided to the coaches offers a means for helping children with autism. A study to this effect has been published by researchers in the journal of 'Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators.' The researchers ran a school-based multi-sports programme titled 'Supporting Success' designed to help children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. It helps children with autism develop important life skills via regular organised sports. Yet it does so by focusing on the child's environment instead of directing the intervention to the child itself.

https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/young-hans/training-to-coaches-offers-a-means-for-helping-children-with-autism--516968

Tips and tricks to train your brain

October 13th was "National Train Your Brain Day."This is shared by an expert, in some ways to train your brain with our seniors. Keeping your brain in good shape is important for everyone, so I am sharing some ways you can keep your brain healthy. Have you ever heard someone say, "use it or lose it"? When someone says that, they usually are talking about your muscles, but the saying could also refer to your brain.

Most of us don't think of our brain as an organ that needs care and attention, like we do our heart, lungs and skin. We may think our brain is beyond our control or influence. In fact, we probably don't think about it at all until something goes wrong, like an injury or disease such as dementia. But in reality, your brain needs just as much, if not more, exercise and attention than the rest of your body to keep it sharp, healthy, and functioning at its very best. Brain exercises can even delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's. When you keep your mind active, your thinking skills are less likely to decline. Your brain is definitely the most vital organ in your body, controlling every bodily function.

Many people don't understand why your brain needs exercise. And even fewer understand how to do it. If you are over the age of 18, some of your cognitive skills have already headed south, according to a study. The following are some of the cognitive abilities that change as you age:

Processing Speed. This is how fast you take in new information and respond to it. It's basically thinking on your feet. This ability peaks in your late teens according to experts.

Working Memory. This is your ability to hold multiple pieces of information in your brain. This is also called short-term memory. This peaks in your late 20's and 30's.

Social Cognition. This is your ability to perceive and interpret social information, like body language or facial expressions and respond accordingly. This peaks in your 40's.

Vocabulary. Learning the meaning of new words peaks in the 60's. Broader vocabulary helps you communicate more effectively and better understand the world around you.

Now that you know what happens to your brain as you age, we will learn what to do about it. There are numerous brain exercises that will help. The following will give you some suggestions of what you can do to stimulate your brain:

Work your memory. The simplest way to remember things is by repetition. When you meet someone new, repeat their name back to them. When you hear a song you like, try to memorize the lyrics. Memorize hymns, your grocery list, or a poem.

Learn something new. Learn to play an instrument, game, language or sport.

Work your body. Physical exercise is great for your brain.

Eat the right foods. Foods like fish, fruits, and vegetables help your brain perform optimally. Even dark chocolate gives your brain a boost.

Do maths in your head. Figure out simple math problems in your head.

Take a cooking class or cook at home. Cooking uses a number of senses: smell, touch, sight and taste. These all can improve certain areas in your brain.

Draw a map from memory. When you visit a certain place, when you go home, try to draw a map of where you were at. Repeat this every time you visit a new location.

Challenge your taste buds. When eating, try to identify individual ingredients in your meal. Try to pick out certain herbs and spices. Eat new foods.

Take up a hobby that involves hand/eye coordination. Do an activity that involves fine motor skills such as knitting, drawing, painting, working puzzles, and playing Bingo.

Get enough sleep. Sleep is critical to rejuvenate your brain.

Take a different route on your way to work or home. This forces your brain to pay attention to details rather than what it has been programmed to do.

Take a good look at things. One of the most dominate jobs of your brain is your visual sense. Being able to visually analyze your environment gives you cognitive clues about how to behave in it. 

Developing this part of your brain can be done by picking out three items and their location. When you leave the setting, close your eyes and see if you can accurately remember each item and its location. If you do this when you park somewhere you will remember where you park. Just this weekend at Walmart, when I came out of the store I could not remember where I parked or even which door I went in. Doing this exercise will help with that. You can also notice things in your surroundings and then write it all down from recall.

Do simple tasks with your non-dominant hand. Try eating, brushing your teeth and writing with the other hand.

Start the morning off with your newspaper. You will find word puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku. Some have comics where you have to find the mistakes.

If you always sit in a certain chair at your table, switch seats. Even change the place where you usually reach for the salt and pepper.

Have more social interaction. Pay a real person for your gas. Buy a drink from a person other than a machine.

Read. Almost anything you read helps your brain. For an even better effect, change up the way your read. Read out loud for a change. Read to someone else.

Pick out an object and think of 10 different ways to use it. For instance, a fly swatter could be used as a tennis racket, golf club, fan, baton, drumstick, violin, shovel, microphone baseball bat, or a canoe paddle.

Holding off the aging process of your brain is kind of like buying a gym membership and never using it. To have a sharp functioning brain means incorporating these activities into your everyday routine. Doing brain exercises will give you a good head start to good brain health.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                          

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM