MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'improving'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:05:38 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902420&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-professional-associations-are-not-ivory-tower-elites%2F2011.06.06 “We can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusionment, just as effectively as by bombs.” This observation, from the late, great British historian Kenneth Clark, could be a warning sign to the medical profession. Some of the more incendiary commentary in blogs, editorials, and medical publications today display the classic characteristics of cynicism, which is a profound pessimism accompanied by a deep distrust and even the disparagement of the motivations of others. Physician cynics not only direct their anger at the usual suspects – members of Congress, insurance companies, and government “bureaucrats”—but even at their own colleagues, including the leadership of their own professional societies. Now, to be clear, I am not talking about principled disagreement and deba... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902420 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:00:00 +0100 4902420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813479&cid=t_212116_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FugfBQbWpR8I%2F Music can soothe and trigger memories. It is as such that music is most often used with Alzheimer’s patients. A new study suggests that music may also be used as a booster for learning new things, an ability very impaired in those with Alzheimer’s. Individuals with Alzheimer’s and matched controls were presented with unfamiliar songs lyrics: half of the lyrics were sung and half were merely spoken. Participants were then presented with the lyrics they had heard as well as with new ones, and asked whether they recognized any lyrics. Alzheimer’s patients’ memory was much better for sung lyrics than for spoken ones. There was no difference between the two types of lyrics for the healthy older adults. Why do people with Alzheimer’s seem to benefit from musical stimuli? The authors ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813479 Tue, 10 May 2011 20:53:14 +0100 4813479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570587&cid=t_212116_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F10%2Ffind-psych-central-psychologists-at-sxsw-this-weekend%2F The annual trek to Austin Texas by geeks from around the country begins tomorrow. I started attending SXSW Interactive (read: South by Southwest) in 1999 and did my first presentation there a year later (yes, 11 years ago!). Despite the Interactive portion being mainly about web development and technology, SXSW has always recognized the importance that technology plays in our health and mental health. And it’s this recognition and interesting discussions that keep people like me coming back year after year. Sure, SXSW is about the many parties, the great keynotes, and wandering the vast air-conditioned desert expanses that are the Austin Convention Center. But it’s mostly about the great, creative people you meet at SXSW, and connecting with them to think of new ways you can de... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570587 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:46:24 +0100 4570587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507427&cid=t_212116_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F3ESQXRW2Tms%2F Cognitive performance can be improved but people vary in their ability to do so. It is not clear yet how to assess who will benefit the most from training and the cognitive tests used in the past were not very good at predicting this.   Dr. Kramer and his colleagues recently showed that the brain activity in a specific part of the brain (the dorsal striatum) at the start of training in a complex video-game could accurately predict how well people will benefit from the training.  Thirty-four young adults with little experience in playing video games were trained to play a complex video game called Space Fortress. After initial instruction, they played the game while their brains were being scanned using fMRI. For the next three to eight weeks (38 days on average) they completed ten two-... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507427 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:33:25 +0100 4507427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450534&cid=t_212116_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FOo0HBa8R_h0%2F Do you ever have days where it feels as though the whole world’s against you? Is it getting to the point where it seems you’ll never have an ultimate relationship or career, much less an amazing life? Does it seem as if you have a “type” regarding relationships and you continue meeting people who don’t get, love or respect you? You are not alone. Everyone has a bad day, or has experienced more than one crappy relationship.  But if you find yourself in Ground Hog Day deja vu, with the same feeling surfacing no matter what situation you’re in, you must look at the common denominator—you. If you want to gain control of your life and build the confidence you need, have the life you deserve by getting YOU out of YOUR way. Your Perception Is Your Reality When drama flares up and p... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450534 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:00:09 +0100 4450534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300727&cid=t_212116_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FPP1B3BcQnwY%2F Confidence is a characteristic that allows us to take risks in our lives. It is often through risk, we achieve great success in many aspects of our lives. It makes sense, therefore, to try to develop our own self-confidence as best we can in order to be successful and happy. Here are 7 best ways to do just that: Create a Life Philosophy The basis of your self-confidence will come from your having developed and followed a life philosophy.  This life philosophy can grow out of a great thinker whom you admire, a convergence of ideas you’ve picked up in your education, or something unique to yourself that you’ve developed. The point is that you should have a philosophy that will guide your every action. If you have a solid philosophy on life, and it’s one that you’ve d... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300727 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0100 4300727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230329&cid=t_212116_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FOo0HBa8R_h0%2F Do you ever have days where it feels as though the whole world’s against you? Is it getting to the point where it seems you’ll never have an ultimate relationship or career, much less an amazing life? Does it seem as if you have a “type” regarding relationships and you continue meeting people who don’t get, love or respect you? You are not alone. Everyone has a bad day, or has experienced more than one crappy relationship.  But if you find yourself in Ground Hog Day deja vu, with the same feeling surfacing no matter what situation you’re in, you must look at the common denominator—you. If you want to gain control of your life and build the confidence you need, have the life you deserve by getting YOU out of YOUR way. Your Perception Is Your Reality When drama flares up and p... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230329 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:09 +0100 4230329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172190&cid=t_212116_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FQ-06a2iBcN0%2F You have probably noticed the increasing amount of research and media coverage focused on “working memory”. What is working memory? Why do we care? How can we best enhance it? Working memory is the ability to keep information current in mind for a short period, while using this information for the task at hand. Working memory is supported by regions of the frontal lobes (in blue here) and parietal lobes (in yellow). Let’s take a few concrete examples to understand in which situations working memory is used. Situation 1: You are just back from your coffee break and your colleague, who is running in the hallway to catch up with the boss, tells you that Mr. Brown just called and can see you either on the 18th at 2:30pm or on the 20th at 9am. Your brain holds on to that information long... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172190 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:11:45 +0100 4172190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159240&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-two-biscotti-physician%2F2010.11.12 [Recently] I ate at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I had eaten there many times before, but the experience this time was different. After ordering, I received a vacuous bread basket with precisely two pieces of bread. At the end of my meal I was offered two biscotti — and no more. Only the manager could offer an explanation: As a means of containing costs, the decision had been made to capitate bread and biscotti distribution. I was disappointed. I had been eating here for years. When Colic Solved was released, my publication party was held here. After all those anniversaries, New Year’s celebrations, and birthdays, I’m shortchanged on cookies? It’s remarkable how a great experience can be shadowed by something so small. Then I got to thinking: Perhaps I’m a tw... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159240 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:00:23 +0100 4159240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152013&cid=t_212116_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxT8_KCqYxVw%2F An interesting and very well-documented article in the Los Angeles Times reviews studies looking at Vitamin B and its role in improving memory. The vitamins — including folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 — are often touted as a way to improve memory and stave off cognitive decline. The claims are based on the finding that levels of the vitamin are low in people with various forms of cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. But experts say it’s still unclear whether taking high doses of the vitamins will keep such conditions at bay. […] Haan says the existing body of studies may be inconclusive because the causes of cognitive decline — which are incompletely understood — are probably too complex to be halted with a single vitamin supplement. Comments: ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152013 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:04:05 +0100 4152013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036650&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshould-doctors-work-weekends%2F2010.10.05 Peter Orszag wants doctors to work weekends. The former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget wrote as much in this past weekend’s New York Times: Doctors, like most people, don’t love to work weekends, and they probably don’t enjoy being evaluated against their peers. But their industry can no longer afford to protect them from the inevitable. Imagine a drugstore open only five days a week, or a television network that didn’t measure its ratings. Improving the quality of health care and reducing its cost will require that doctors make many changes — but working weekends and consenting to quality management are two clear ones. And he’s right, to a point. I’ve pointed to studies showing that mortality rises on the weekends, in part due to skeleton staffs ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036650 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:02 +0100 4036650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001688&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdiabetes-criminals-and-diabetes-police%2F2010.09.25 At TCOYD [Taking Control Of Your Diabetes], one of the sessions I attended was about Diabetes Police (Healthcare Providers) and Diabetes Criminals (People With Diabetes). And I was a little taken aback by the title of the session, but we used it to our advantage when we walked into the session a few minutes after it had already started. “Okay, we see a few late stragglers in here. It’s not like they had to be on time or anything,” Dr. Edelman quipped from the front of the room, giving us a smirk.   “I’m sorry we’re late. But what do you expect? We’re the criminals, man!” I shot back at him. And the crew of us “criminals” took up the last few rows, our smartphones at the ready to Tweet out the best of the session. (We were... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001688 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:00:18 +0100 4001688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890528&cid=t_212116_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FN-Vcs19a_sM%2F Do you ever have days when you wake up and everything seems wrong with the world? Hopefully for most of these types of days are not the norm but the exception. However, there are some people who see everything as ‘half-empty’ instead of ‘half-full. Using cutting-edge psychological research, I am interested in finding out if it really matters–Does it matter if we see the glass as half-empty? We are on the cusp of a new revolution in intelligence that affects every aspect of our lives from work and relationships, to our childhood, education, and old age. Working Memory, the ability to remember and mentally process information, is so important that without it we could not function as a society or as individuals. One way to visualise working memory is as the brain’s “Post-it Note�... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890528 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:09:57 +0100 3890528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3812979&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmayo-clinic-center-for-social-media-%25e2%2580%2593-what-it-represents%2F2010.08.02 In a move that may represent a new level of social health organization within large institutions, the Mayo Clinic announced that it has launched The Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media. Mayo intends to “accelerate effective application of social media tools throughout Mayo Clinic and to spur broader and deeper engagement in social media by hospitals, medical professionals and patients to improve health globally.” Look for more information in Mayo’s press release which is diplomatically vague while at the same time lofty and enticing. So what does this really mean? The Mayo Clinic recognizes opportunity. The opportunity to formally offer comprehensive social media training to hospitals and medical schools is huge. The Mayo Clinic can and should leverage what they’ve done both to the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3812979 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:50 +0100 3812979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648785&cid=t_212116_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2Ffree-webinar-web-portals%2F “Web portals: How a one-stop information hub can improve patient care & staff satisfaction” June 22nd, 2pm To gain this competitive edge, healthcare organizations must have a top-notch team of smart, dedicated professionals. Too bad so many organizations slow their teams down with inefficient processes that hinder their access to critical information. In fact, it’s one of the top complaints among staff! Tune into this one-hour event and you’ll learn how to: Share information with employees in real time, in a searchable, web-based content management format. Tie together multiple clinical, billing and patient management systems for patients, clinicians and administrators, with a single login ID for each user. Arm physicians with a one-stop repository where they can acc... Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648785 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:19:26 +0100 3648785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383096&cid=t_212116_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FqnjEx9geuMk%2F To thine own self be true, Shakespeare For better romantic and sexual relationships, be true to yourself People in recovery from alcoholism, addiction or codependency will know the state of being separated from their ‘real’ selves. Its as if there are two people acting for you – your true self and a stranger. A feeling that probably extended the dysfunctional behaviour. Be true to yourself, and better romantic relationships will follow, research suggests, thus improving sexuality. A new study examined how dating relationships were affected by the ability of people to see themselves clearly and objectively, act in ways consistent with their beliefs, and interact honestly and truthfully with others. In other words, the ability to follow the words of William Shakespeare: “to thine... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383096 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:35:14 +0100 3383096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420513&cid=t_212116_105_f&fid=39124&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeffreymlevinemd.com%2Fretooling-for-an-aging-america%2F This study was commissioned by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and put together by the Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans chaired by John W. Rowe.  The document presents an analysis of America’s [...] (Source: Jeffrey M. Levine MD | Geriatric Specialist | Wound Care | Pressure Ulcers) Jeffrey M. Levine MD | Geriatric Specialist | Wound Care | Pressure Ulcers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420513 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:17 +0100 3420513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912160&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHOoufWaiZ4k%2F I cannot disagree with Uwe Reinhardt’s response to my previous post at National Journal’s Health Care Experts blog. But his response bears clarification and emphasis. Improving “population health” generally means “helping people live longer.” To paraphrase, Reinhardt then writes: If helping people live longer were our objective in health reform, we could do better than universal coverage. But health reform is not (solely or primarily) about helping people live longer. It is (also or primarily) about other things, like relieving the anxiety of the uninsured. I applaud Reinhardt for acknowledging a reality that most advocates of universal coverage avoid: that universal coverage is not solely or primarily about improving health. Will Reinhardt go further an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912160 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:24:51 +0100 2912160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2846422&cid=t_212116_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F30%2Frobert-wood-johnson-rethinking-mental-health%2F This is an interesting contest I thought I’d pass along… For far too long, mental illness has been stigmatized and those stigmas have served as a barrier to innovation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has joined forces with Ashoka’s Changemakers to launch “Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing”, a competition for new ideas and practices that challenge the status quo in terms of how we think about and address mental health care needs. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Rethinking Mental Health” competition offers an opportunity for new ideas outside the traditional structures to emerge. To participate, please go to http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/mentalhealth to: Comment on entries from others like you who are deeply con... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2846422 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:30:18 +0100 2846422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473569&cid=t_212116_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F13%2Ftexas-punishes-268-abusive-employees%2F In April, we noted how 11 Texas employees were let go for their behavior in supervising mentally and developmentally disabled people in a state school. Well, the other shoe has dropped, and it’s a doozy: Nearly 270 employees were fired or suspended for abusing or neglecting residents of large, state-run institutions for the mentally disabled in Texas during the last fiscal year, according to records obtained by The Associated Press. The revelations Friday come a day after Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation aimed at improving security and oversight at the 13 institutions, known as state schools. They are home to about 4,600 residents and more than 12,000 full-time employees. Documents obtained by the AP through an open records request show that 11 of the 268 firings or suspensions we... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473569 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:00:58 +0100 2473569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405098&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fstraighten-up-for-national-posture-month%2F With May being National Correct Posture Month, it seems only right to think about ways to improve the posture. Sitting at the computer for hours on end has, I’m sure, increased my habit of slumping so a few reminders and tips on how to straighten up won’t go amiss. Here’s what Dr Greg Thielman, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Philadelphia, suggests in the way of tips and exercises… Evaluate your workstation: A workstation is anywhere that an individual spends a notable amount of time daily and for many of us, our primary workstation is standing or sitting at a desk. “If you’re sitting, don’t drop a ton of money on an ergonomic chair. Instead, position the chair to provide lumbar, shoulder, and if needed, head support.”  Perfor... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405098 Mon, 11 May 2009 06:51:39 +0100 2405098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960612&cid=t_212116_132_f&fid=35024&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBlindscientist%2F%7E3%2FEAgpUap-L84%2F In my spare time I like to tackle simple problems, like how to improve science. Here I present a straightforward proposition on how to at least multiply by a large fold productivity in labs, institutes, universities and academia in general. Productivity in this case is not only on number papers published, but also on resources consumption, time management, research achievements, etc. As you can see a small, trivial problem (I will use bullet point format, so it’s even clearer). create an efficient informatics support for the institution - yes, that’s true. At McMaster we had in the lab a informatics guy, that not only was able to administrate our small cluster but to advise on a number of things we needed. Problem: they were understaffed. So, let’s create an IT departmen... Blind.Scientist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960612 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:16:00 +0100 1960612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954497&cid=t_212116_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fwhy-do-some-brains-compensate-as-they.html Physical exercise and a lifestyle with "brain exercise" have been shown in studies to make a difference in avoiding memory decline as people age. There is an article titled "Doctors Discuss Theories on Aging Brains" by Lauren Neergaard in U.S. News and World Report, dated Oct. 15. It says "some senior's brains forge new pathways" as they age. This means that as aging causes memory decline, some people's brains compensate. When old pathways disintegrate. the brain creates new pathways in some people.The article describes how in a healthy brain the "branch like tentacles" that extend from brain cells are like a thick bush. In a less healthy brain the branches are like twigs on a sparser bush. Fewer "twigs" means it is more difficult to connect and send messages.Learning causes more of the te... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954497 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:41:00 +0100 954497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=937260&cid=t_212116_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Flandmark-self-help-book-living-with.html A new type of book about dementia is the self-help book "A Personal Guide to Living With Progressive Memory Loss" written by two gerontological nurses, Sandy Burgener and Prudence Twigg. Because this book is a self-help book, it's different from other books about memory loss. There is information to help people with memory loss regarding communication, self-esteem, and overcoming the stigma of memory loss.The book is recommended by top experts including Linda L. Buettner, Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Alzheimer's Association Early Stage Task Force. Linda says this book is "a landmark self-help book that focuses on the needs of the person with the diagnosis."It was also recommended by John Keady, Ph.D., RMN, Professor of Older People's Mental Health Nursing at... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=937260 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 02:21:00 +0100 937260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=934138&cid=t_212116_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fmediterranean-diet-reduces-dementia.html You can have a lower risk of dementia from Alzheimer's if you like the following foods: fruit, vegetables, cereal, nuts, olive oil, pasta, rice and moderate amounts of red wine. These foods are part of the Mediterranean Diet, which includes very little meat. An article at BBC News titled "Med Diet Reduces Dementia Risk" explains that researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center studied the health of 2,200 people over a period of 4 years.People who ate foods more often from the Mediterranean Diet had the lowest risk of developing Alzheimer's. The scientists concluded that a healthy diet can reduce risk by as much as 40%.The researchers said that when lifestyle includes getting cholesterol and blood pressure checked, exercising, and controlling weight then risk of dementia later in ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=934138 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:08:00 +0100 934138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=933041&cid=t_212116_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fstudy-shows-senors-often-remember.html I just started a new blog called "Life Story Telling" about writing life histories. With this in mind, an article at PsychArticles Direct about Autobiographical Memory that I read today about seniors was especially interesting because it says seniors can "travel back in time to relive personal events in the most distant past better than those in the recent past." As a caregiver who assists many different people, I often see people in their 80's and 90's who might remember the time they moved to a new home as a teen-ager, but not remember events from last week.The authors studied the effects of aging on autobiographical memory on 180 people. The nature of memories over five lifetime periods were studied. The study was originally published in "Psychology and Aging."Family members and caregiv... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=933041 Sun, 07 Oct 2007 02:15:00 +0100 933041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=870749&cid=t_212116_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fmemory-improvement-steps-at.html Did you know that in a 2003 study kids who ate a junk food breakfast performed on tests with reduced memory and attention? Lifestyle habits, studies of memory, and techniques to improve memory that caregivers and seniors might find interesting can be found at newscientist.com under 11 Steps to a Better Brain. The way memory works, what triggers memories, and the steps to improvement are topics covered by the writers.The article discusses the Mozart and memory connection, and how listening to background music makes people feel relaxed and stimulated so they may perform better in memory activities.A good night's sleep was also found to improve memory, and exercise improves mental functioning, such as learning, concentration and reasoning. Being able to pay attention and cut out distractions ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=870749 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:25:00 +0100 870749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=696854&cid=t_212116_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F26%2FDiabetes-control-has-improved-dramatically-in-U.S.%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Research, ExerciseMy dad keeps track of his daily blood sugars and corresponding insulin usage on a spreadsheet. When he visits his doctor, he brings it along -- a self-generated report card of his blood glucose control. He has always been organized, down to the tools in the garage. In 2001, only one-third of Americans with diabetes had their disease well-controlled. This was based on lab tests of 4 million type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Poor control silently damages blood vessels, which results in a host of problems such as limb loss, blindness and heart disease. But diabetes management is improving. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated analyzed 22.7 million hemoglobin A1C lab tests of diabetics between 2001 and 2006. The A1C reveals whether a... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=696854 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 696854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186441&cid=t_212116_165_f&fid=36777&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therapytimes.com%2Fblog%2FRickSteinberg%2Findex.cfm%2F2007%2F3%2F12%2FImproving-HandWriting-Skills Development of writing skills is the bread and butter of therapists in the school based setting. Teachers, families and staff look to the O.T. to "help with her/his writing skills." One activity I use in the clinic is a clear quart sized deli container. A student and I pushed an awl through the containers top about 30 times. The awl is thin - about 3/16" in diameter. This space allows coffee stirrers to be pushed through the holes to the bottom of the container with some resistance and still stick out just about 1/2". In any activity we use with children we want to get enough repetitions to impact upon the issue we're addressing. In this case 30 repetitions is pretty good for improving the skills associated with this activity. Two skills I look at closely during this activity are the trip... Rick Steinberg's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186441 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:46:00 +0100 1186441