Is Dick Cheney's Heart the Culprit?

From diet to depression, here's what to watch

(NEWSER) - New research suggests our lifestyle choices affect memory loss almost as much as aging. Forbes looks at 10 surprising factors, positive and negative, that determine how sharp you'll stay:

1. Tofu—eating too much can increase dementia in the elderly.

2. Carbs—likewise, too many derail Alzheimer's-fighting enzymes in the brain.

3. Hot flashes—women who suffer have trouble remembering names.

Heart pump allows him to give speeches, even hunt

(NEWSER) - Dick Cheney no longer has a pulse. But he is still alive, thanks to the mechanical heart pump he received in July. The pump, reports the New York Times , both saved his life and allowed him to start living it again. Case in point: Last month, after being out of the political spotlight for months, Cheney headlined a fundraiser for Maria Cino, a candidate to replace Michael Steele as head of the RNC, and attended several Washington holiday parties. More»

It reduces inflammation, asthma, depression: study

(NEWSER) - It goes without saying that yoga can help you calm down—but it turns out it can do much more than that. A new study shows that women who practiced yoga regularly for two years or more had less inflammation in their bodies, LiveScience reports . That could in turn lead to fewer instances of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and depression, since high levels of inflammation play a role in those and other health conditions. More»

'Broken heart syndrome' caused by emotional, physical stress

(NEWSER) - Turns out hearts can actually "break" for those who suffer meltdowns. Doctors have identified a mysterious ailment called broken-heart syndrome that mimics heart attacks but is not connected to coronary artery disease. It's "a heart attack which is triggered by stress rather than by a blocked artery," one cardiologist tells the Wall Street Journal . Stress can include both emotional triggers, such as the death of a loved one, or physical trauma, like migraines or respiratory distress. More»

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»