10 Factors That Affect Memory

iPod therapy stimulates cognitive functions lost to disease

(NEWSER) - Therapists and doctors who treat Alzheimer's are now using music not only to soothe and entertain their patients but to restore some cognitive function. For decades it's been recognized that Alzheimer's patients can still remember and sing songs long after they've stopped recognizing names and faces. Now it's thought that those tunes can provide a pathway back to memories otherwise lost. One claims intensive music therapy can lead to an increase of 50% on cognitive-function tests. More»

Drink up, and maybe you won't forget where you set your cup down

(NEWSER) - The world’s most popular stimulant may slow age-related memory loss in older women, Reuters reports. Drinking three or more cups of coffee per day reduced verbal memory loss in French women aged 65 and up by 33% compared to women who drank a cup or less, researchers say. The effects were more pronounced in women over 80. More»

Electromagnetic waves might boost memory

(NEWSER) - Researchers finally have some good news about the health effects of cell phones. The electromagnetic waves the phones emit may improve memory and prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent study of mice exposed to radiation similar to electromagnetic waves from cell phones. The mice showed improved cognitive function and reduction of the protein deposits in the brain believed to cause dementia, the Independent reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Gyms offering to exercise the brain instead of the body are attracting thousands of aging Americans seeking to tone their gray matter, the Wall Street Journal reports. The gyms are generally based around brain-fitness software, but some offer courses in brain nutrition as well as mental-fitness assessments with personal trainers and "neurobics." More»

Cutting calories could help stave off dementia, Alzheimer's

(NEWSER) - Eating less could help you remember more, a study suggests. Among volunteers with an average age of 60, the Telegraph reports, those instructed to eat 30% fewer calories improved their memory test scores by 20% compared to those asked to maintain their diets or eat 20% more. The finding fuels hope for progress combating dementia, of which memory loss is an early sign. More»