Are you in the market for a computer? Walt Mossberg shares some tips on finding a decent computer during these tough economic times. You might want to bookmark this article for the day when your computer goes adios. Also discusses Apple versus PC. Not surprising, says if its PC stay away from Vista. Some good stuff and cheap like he says.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Using the Internet Promotes Memory and a Healthy Brain
The brain study found that Internet savvy users that use search experienced greater brain activity. While there are no conclusive studies at this time, boomers should be thinking about ways to keep the brain healthy and memory sharp as they age. It appears the use of the Internet helps.
"This suggests that just searching on the Internet may train the brain -- that it may keep it active and healthy," said Small, whose research appears in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Also see: Ten Million Baby Boomers likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s during their lifetime
Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Workout for brain just a few clicks away
By Julie Steenhuysen
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Searching the Internet may help middle-aged and older adults keep their memories sharp, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles studied people doing Web searches while their brain activity was recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging scans.
"What we saw was people who had Internet experience used more of their brain during the search," Dr. Gary Small, a UCLA expert on aging, said in a telephone interview.
"This suggests that just searching on the Internet may train the brain -- that it may keep it active and healthy," said Small, whose research appears in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Many studies have found that challenging mental activities such as puzzles can help preserve brain function, but few have looked at what role the Internet might play.
"This is the first time anyone has simulated an Internet search task while scanning the brain," Small said.
His team studied 24 normal volunteers between the ages of 55 and 76. Half were experienced at searching the Internet and the other half had no Web experience. Otherwise, the groups were similar in age, gender and education.
Both groups were asked to do Internet searches and book reading tasks while their brain activity was monitored.
"We found that in reading the book task, the visual cortex -- the part of the brain that controls reading and language -- was activated," Small said.
"In doing the Internet search task, there was much greater activity, but only in the Internet-savvy group."
He said it appears that people who are familiar with the Internet can engage in a much deeper level of brain activity.
"There is something about Internet searching where we can gauge it to a level that we find challenging," Small said.
In the aging brain, atrophy and reduced cell activity can take a toll on cognitive function. Activities that keep the brain engaged can preserve brain health and thinking ability.
Small thinks learning to do Internet searches may be one of those activities.
"It tells us we probably can teach an old brain new Internet tricks," he said.
(Editing by Will Dunham and John O'Callaghan)
Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Imagine a house on wheels that you can take with you. Or, a tiny house in your backyard that you could rent for current incomeJay Shafer has been living in a house smaller than some people's closets since 1997. In 1999, he created the Tumbleweed Tiny House company, which builds and sells plans for homes that range in size- from 65 to 774 square feet. Yes, that's right, I said 65 square feet! With 20 different floor plans to choose from and a variety of designs, The Tumbleweed Tiny House company has become a small housing phenomenon. According to Mr. Shafer, "As the economy becomes more worse off, the more plans I tend to sell." While the company only builds homes in California right now, anyone can buy the plans for a Tiny home and build it yourself. For those interested in making life simpler, check out the company's website, Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Worried about Alzheimer's? Rule # 1 Exercise
Read the entire article at the Alzheimer's Reading Room
It is getting more and more difficult for me to get my mother to exercise. Recently one of her best friends, now 79, received a scare when her good friend told her she was starting to get forgetful. She asked me what I thought she should be doing to help protect herself against dementia and Alzheimer's. My answer to this is question is always the same--Rule #1 Exercise.
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