A growing body of research suggests that being outdoors can benefit mental health and boost memory, improve cardiovascular health and help us live longer. Additional studies find that nature lowers cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.
With that research in hand, doctors in parts of Canada have signed on to provide what are known as “nature prescriptions” for those living with mental illnesses and physical health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
“Don’t put me on the McDonald’s takeout window,” Temple Grandin said over Zoom from her home in Fort Collins, Colo. “Not going to do very well there — can’t multitask, cannot follow long strings of verbal instruction.” It’s a little humbling to hear what Grandin says she can’t do, considering how insubstantial it is compared with what she can do and has done. The author, scientist and Colorado State University professor is as responsible as anyone for broadening our understanding of autism, through her tireless lecturing and the many books she has written on the subject. (“Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism,” published in 1995, is the classic.) Grandin, who is 74, also helped transform the meat industry through her design of more humane handling systems for livestock. Though she has been so influential on how we think and feel about autism and animal welfare, it’s the more tangible things that matter most to her. “I am interested in my practical projects,” Grandin says. “Where I can actually do stuff.”
Many people with or connected to the mental illness approve of updating the name, a new survey shows. But some experts are not convinced it’s the answer.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/a-promising-new-treatment-for-depression/
Despite his Alzheimer’s Tony Bennett prepares to perform with Lady Gaga.
People who still believe the outdated notion that mental health conditions are “all in a person’s head” have yet another reason to stop believing the myth: According to a new study in the journal Current Biology, those with anxiety perceive the world differently — and it stems from a variance in their brains.
The author of the book “On Pluto” is written by Greg O’Brien about his experience living with Alzheimer’s. The 10-minute video illustrates the effects on his whole family.
• Difficulty with everyday tasks.
• Repetition.
• Communication problems.
• Getting lost.
• Personality changes.
• Confusion about time and place.
• Troubling behavior.
Alzheimer’s doesn’t have to be your brain’s destiny, says neuroscientist and author of “Still Alice,” Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science investigating the disease — and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer’s-resistant brain. The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.
Lisa Genova, author of Remember and Still Alice does a TED talk and answers questions in this 23-minute utube video.
