Loss of energy. Inability to concentrate. Sleeping all day. If you only experience these feelings during the winter, you may not think they're a problem. But they could actually signal a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Other SAD symptoms include the following: Carbohydrate craving Weight gain Excessive sleeping Increased premenstrual [...]
The holidays can be a challenge for families of children with autism because sensory overload can trigger major meltdowns, an expert says. "Holidays with family can be dicey under the best of circumstances, but when you have children with special needs, some care must be taken," Varleisha Gibbs, an occupational therapy professor at University of [...]
We don’t need scientists to tell us that laughing is fun and makes us feel better. Research is verifying that humor has many of the positive effects that funny people have long suspected. Researchers have found that you can even “act as if” you are feeling an emotion—say, happiness or irritation—by arranging your face in [...]
If you have to explain it… it probably isn’t funny. Some scientists have taken on the unfunny task of researching and explaining humor and are learning the reasons behind what we already knew: laughing makes us feel better. Humor is a whole mind-body and social experience; it’s a cognitive ability that gets our emotions and [...]
Humor and laughter may help combat memory loss in the elderly, a new study suggests. Previous research has found that the stress hormone cortisol can harm memory and learning ability in older adults. This new study examined whether mirth might reduce the damage caused by cortisol. Researchers showed a 20-minute humorous video to a group [...]
Laughter triggers brain waves similar to those associated with meditation, according to a small new study. It also found that other forms of stimulation produce different types of brain waves. The study included 31 people whose brain waves were monitored while they watched humorous, spiritual or distressing video clips. While watching the humorous videos, the [...]
Most Americans no longer view retirement as a total departure from the work force, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey of 1,024 adults ages 50 and over. The researchers found that… View the rest of the article on the American Psychological Association website.
Many Americans mistakenly believe Medicare or Medicaid will pay for their long-term care. However, Medicare only pays for care for short periods—and it doesn’t cover those who need help with activities of daily living. That accounts for most of the services Americans need. Likewise, Medicaid only pays for care if you need a lot of [...]
As many as one in 20 older adults in the United States may be financially exploited, a new study suggests. In fact, most older adults have had their money or property stolen or used improperly at some point, the researchers found. What's worse is that this abuse often occurs at the hands of their relatives. [...]
Years of research have produced conflicting findings on aging's effects on brainpower. Now, a recent study says that people aged 65 to 90 are significantly less likely than their younger counterparts to make what researchers define as rational decisions regarding money. Not surprisingly, they're also more averse to financial risk than middle-aged people, but not [...]