The ability to both focus for long periods of time and perform cognitive and memory-related tasks is important in everyday life and for many careers. Due to our busy lifestyles and high work demands, aspects like the standard North American diet, stress, physical inactivity, and endocrine imbalances can lower mental performance and cognition.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to as seasonal depression, is a mood disorder recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMV).
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. The condition is commonly treated with stimulant therapy (methylphenidates or amphetamines in various forms). Stimulants tend to increase dopamine activity in the brain, and it is speculated that this may help with ADHD symptoms.
For centuries, mushrooms have been foraged and added to soups and stews for their robust nutritional profile. Fungi are much smarter than we think for what simple organisms they are.
Medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, have been popularized in the context of Bulletproof™ coffee or the ketogenic diet. MCTs and the keto diet have been investigated in the management of obesity, insulin resistance, , epilepsy, neurodegenerative conditions, and others.
Seeing others in distress can make us feel sad; however, telling someone to be happy when they are not does not seem to work very well. In fact, trying to be happy is often a recipe for unhappiness! Psychology researchers have even put it to the test: People who were instructed to feel as happy as they can when listening to pleasant music felt lower mood than those who were exposed to the same pleasant music with no instruction.
As the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to shut down the world, grocery stores, or at least what was left on the shelves at grocery stores, became an indicator of where people were at in their experience of the stressful event.
Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) and postconcussion syndrome are becoming more of a public health concern. Although termed “mild,” the effects can certainly be debilitating and severe in some cases. The symptoms of postconcussion syndrome include headaches, memory and concentration difficulties, irritability, fatigue, nausea, visual disturbances, light and noise sensitivity, judgement problems, depression, and anxiety.
Forgetfulness is often considered a normal part of aging. As we get older, we might all expect to notice changes in our memory, ability to focus, multitask and problem solve. Dementia is when these changes in cognition begin to impact daily functioning. With an aging population, dementia is expected to become the leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020 (4). Current treatments for dementia are limited and do not have great success rates. Finding ways to prevent, or at the very least slow the process of, age-related cognitive decline is tremendously important.
Magnesium is the fourth most-abundant mineral in the human body, and is essential for the hundreds of metabolic and hormonal reactions occurring daily. It is generally known to be a component of bone formation (partnered with calcium), and is gaining more interest as a sleep aid due to its natural muscle relaxant properties.
