www.telegraph.co.uk Keeping mentally active by reading books helps to protect the brain in old age, a study suggests. The brain we have in old age depends in part on what we ask it to do in life.
More books are available nowadays, due to an increasing number of people self-publishing their brainchild. E-books are often given away to boost the sales ranking. Add that to the books available at the library and there is no reason why anyone should miss out on reading.
US researchers suggest a lifetime of mental challenges stops the healthy brain declining. The study, published in Neurology, adds weight to the idea that dementia onset can be delayed by lifestyle factors. According to an Alzheimer's charity, the best way to lower dementia risk is to eat a balanced diet, exercise and stay slim.
More books are available nowadays, due to an increasing number of people self-publishing their brainchild. E-books are often given away to boost the sales ranking. Add that to the books available at the library and there is no reason why anyone should miss out on reading.
US researchers suggest a lifetime of mental challenges stops the healthy brain declining. The study, published in Neurology, adds weight to the idea that dementia onset can be delayed by lifestyle factors. According to an Alzheimer's charity, the best way to lower dementia risk is to eat a balanced diet, exercise and stay slim.
www.anchor.org.uk In the US study, 294 people over the age of 55 were given tests to measure memory and thinking every year for about six years until their deaths. They also answered a questionnaire about whether they read books, wrote letters and took part in other activities linked to mental stimulation during childhood, adolescence, middle age, and in later life.
After death, their brains were examined for evidence of the physical signs of dementia, such as brain lesions and plaques. The study found that after factoring out the impact of those signs, those who had a record of keeping the brain busy had a rate of cognitive decline estimated at 15% slower than those who did not.
So, exercising the brain across a lifetime is important for brain health in old age.
After death, their brains were examined for evidence of the physical signs of dementia, such as brain lesions and plaques. The study found that after factoring out the impact of those signs, those who had a record of keeping the brain busy had a rate of cognitive decline estimated at 15% slower than those who did not.
So, exercising the brain across a lifetime is important for brain health in old age.
www.telegraph.co.uk Top ten philosophers in history.
Source: http://listverse.com/2011/02/19/top-10-greatest-philosophers-in-history/ (well worth reading)
This list examines the influence, depth of insight and wide-reaching interest across many subjects of various “lovers of wisdom,” and ranks them accordingly. It should be noted, first and foremost, that philosophy in its traditional sense was science – philosophers (like Aristotle) used rationality to come to scientific knowledge of the world around us. It was not until relatively modern times that philosophy was considered to be separate from the physical sciences.
· Aristotle
· Plato
· Paul of Tarsus
· Rene Descartes
· Confucius
· Thomas Aquinas
· Avicenna
· Zeno of Citium
· Epicurus
· John Locke
All these men lived a long life.
Epicurus advocated a version of the Golden Rule, "It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly ..."
Wisely would be avoidance of pain, danger, disease, etc.
Well would be proper diet and exercise.
Justly, in the Golden Rule’s sense of not harming others because you do not want to be harmed.
Read books, my friends. Read as if your life depended on it ... for it does. What is life without a brain?
Source: http://listverse.com/2011/02/19/top-10-greatest-philosophers-in-history/ (well worth reading)
This list examines the influence, depth of insight and wide-reaching interest across many subjects of various “lovers of wisdom,” and ranks them accordingly. It should be noted, first and foremost, that philosophy in its traditional sense was science – philosophers (like Aristotle) used rationality to come to scientific knowledge of the world around us. It was not until relatively modern times that philosophy was considered to be separate from the physical sciences.
· Aristotle
· Plato
· Paul of Tarsus
· Rene Descartes
· Confucius
· Thomas Aquinas
· Avicenna
· Zeno of Citium
· Epicurus
· John Locke
All these men lived a long life.
Epicurus advocated a version of the Golden Rule, "It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly ..."
Wisely would be avoidance of pain, danger, disease, etc.
Well would be proper diet and exercise.
Justly, in the Golden Rule’s sense of not harming others because you do not want to be harmed.
Read books, my friends. Read as if your life depended on it ... for it does. What is life without a brain?
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