Advancements in Brain Science

Gout and Alzheimer's
My genetic predisposition to gout has a silver lining; gout correlates with a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease. In a study covering nearly 300,000 British patients over five years

Those with gout, whether they were being treated for the condition or not, had a 24 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The reason for the connection is unclear. But gout is caused by excessive levels of uric acid in the blood, and previous studies have suggested that uric acid protects against oxidative stress. This may play a role in limiting neuron degeneration.

(WSJ illustration)

Finger-fiddling and Creativity

Certain kinds of hand movements have an impact on cognitive functioning, improving focus or sparking fresh thinking or faster learning, according to several recent studies.

Manipulating a smooth stone or a string of beads that are pleasing or soothing to touch can evoke “the timeless, ancient human practice of meditative ritual” and screen out extraneous stimuli.

The generations that preceded ours didn't have the technological tools, but they were arguably better thinkers. Perhaps it was because they were always fiddling with cigarettes, matches, lighters, and smoking paraphernalia.

Elder Sex and Cognition

Older men and women who were satisfied with their sexual relationships and considered sexuality an essential component of aging performed better on tests of cognitive function than those who felt sexuality and intimacy were unimportant.

The Dutch study covered 1,747 men and women, average age 71.

Yes, dear, my gerontologist prescribes daily treatment.