LIKE BDO On Facebook! Get Your Daily Medicine…For Life!

Researchers love omega-3 because it helps reduce inflammation and clogged arteries. But a new study reveals that it can improve how well your brain works…right now.

The form of Omega-3 you get from fatty fish, docosahexaenoic acid, better known as DHA, is vital for brain health. DHA is one of the main structural components of brain matter, and is known for its ability to slow cognitive decline in older adults, as well as its brain-boosting benefits for infants.

But what about young-to-middle-aged adults?

Like what you’re reading? Then LIKE us on Facebook!

New research is showing that eating fish may help you live longer!

A Harvard School of Public Health study found that older people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood lived about 2.2 years longer than people without the high levels of omega-3s. They also had 35% percent lower rates of heart disease.

Deaths from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia have increased 68% from 2000 to 2010, according to the report being released today by the Alzheimer’s Association, an advocacy group. Meanwhile, deaths from heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke have declined. The numbers are taken from Medicare and Medicaid reports.

“Urgent, meaningful action is needed, particularly as more and more people age into greater risk for developing the disease,” says Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The report says dementia is the second-largest contributor to death, after heart failure. Other findings:

Payments for health care, long-term care, and hospice care are expected to increase from $203 billion to $1.2 trillion by 2050 for patients ages 65 and older.

Medicare costs for an older person with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are nearly three times higher than for seniors without dementia. Medicaid payments are 19 times higher.

The stress on caregivers is estimated to result in the more than $9 billion in increased health care costs.

READ: What Diabetes Does To Your Body

Who is most likely to be affected by Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy affects about 40,000 people in the United States every year – about 1 in every 65 people. Bell’s palsy is three times more likely to strike pregnant women than non-pregnant women. It is also considered to be four times more likely to occur in diabetics.

READ: A Real Life ‘Doc McStuffins’

What causes Bell’s palsy?

The cause of Bell’s palsy is not clear. Most cases are thought to be caused by the herpes simplex I virus, the same virus that causes cold sores.

In most cases of Bell’s palsy, the nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face is damaged by inflammation.

Many health problems can cause weakness or paralysis of the face. If a specific reason cannot be found for the weakness, the condition is called Bell’s palsy.

Read: What NOT To Do If You’re Diabetic

Is Bell’s palsy the result of a stroke?

Bell’s palsy is not the result of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

While stroke and TIA can cause facial paralysis, there is no link between Bell’s palsy and either of these conditions. But any sudden weakness on one side of your face should be checked by a doctor right away, so they can rule out these more serious causes.

READ: The 6 Best Foods For Mental Health

What are the symptoms of Bell’s palsy?

Symptoms can include:

According to studies, African Americans have a greater risk of Alzheimer’s than whites if another family member has suffered from it.

What Causes Dementia?

The most common causes are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. However, there are many causes of dementia. Some forms are due to degeneration of neurons, while others are due to disturbances in other body systems that result in neuronal dysfunction.

READ: Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s: What’s The Difference?

“The doctor said, ‘You have signs of Alzheimer’s,’” Womack, 68, told Britain’s BBC Radio 6 music station. “He said it’s not bad yet but it’s going to get worse.”

He added: “How can I not remember songs that I wrote? That’s frustrating.”

The 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, whose hits include “Woman’s Gotta Have It” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” suffered a number of health problems in the past year.

In March it was disclosed that he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which was later successfully treated, and he also underwent what was termed a “minor heart procedure.”

Other recent health issues included prostate cancer, pneumonia and collapsed lungs.

The most widespread condition affecting those 65 and older is coronary heart disease, followed by stroke, cancer, pneumonia and the flu. Accidents, especially falls that result in hip fractures, are also unfortunately common in the elderly.

Like what you’re reading? Then LIKE us on Facebook!

Tiredness and an inability to concentrate can be a common problem, often remedied through improved lifestyle habits such as additional sleep, stress reduction and dietary changes. Certain foods and nutrients can be significant determinants of a person’s energy and cognitive (brain) function.

The good news is that you can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain — if you add “smart” foods and beverages to your diet.

Like what you’re reading? Then LIKE us on Facebook!

Discover these four things you can eat for better concentration.

Blueberries

Research in animals shows that blueberries may help protect the brain from the damage caused by free radicals and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Studies also show that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning and muscle function of aging rats, making them mentally equivalent to much younger rats.

Nuts & Chocolate

Researchers tested 102 couches and found that 85 percent of them were treated with chemical flame retardants that are known to be toxic or lack adequate information about their health effects.

Forty-one percent of the couches contained chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a cancer-causing flame retardant removed from baby pajamas in the 1970s, and 17 percent contained the worldwide-banned chemical pentaBDE, the Duke University and University of California, Berkeley, researchers said.

READ: Twins Fighting In Womb: MRI Reveals Early Double Trouble

They noted that many of the flame retardants found in the sofas are associated with hormone disruption, neurological and reproductive damage, and cancer in hundreds of animal studies and a number of human studies.

The chemicals continuously move out of furniture foam into house dust, which can then be consumed by pets and people, especially small children who are near floors and put their hands in their mouths, the researchers explained.

The study was published Nov. 28 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

READ: Top 10 Things You May Not Know About AIDS

The authors gathered and analyzed data on a population-based cohort of 96,736 children, all of them were born in Denmark from 1997 to 2003.

Their mothers were asked what illnesses, especially infections and fevers they had during their pregnancies and the early days after giving birth. They were also asked about any antibiotic use during those periods.

Like what you’re reading? Then LIKE us on Facebook!