Alzheimers Possible Link to Inactive Lifestyle

Research suggests that elders who lived mostly in doors had a higher chance of developing dementia.

~1,300 senior citizens, none exhibiting signs of dementia, tested their cognitive function for 8 eight - and described their living quarters (e.g. they mostly watched tv, or went outdoors, or had friends over).

In the end, 180 had Alzheimers - those with a constricted living space being almost twice as likely to develop the condition as those who went outdoors.

Noise = Stroke for Elderly?

For people over 65, research finds a 27% increase for risk of stroke for every 10-decibel increase in street noise.

Researchers studied 51,000+ Danish city dwellers for ~10 years. The study, however, doesn't categorically prove road noise causes strokes. But studies have linked noise to heart attacks and higher blood pressure — possibly because of increased stress and less sleep.

Internet Makes Elderly Smart

Neuroscientists scanned brains of 24 55-74 year-old volunteers as they read and searched on the internet. Both activities sent blood rushing to brain areas controlling memory and language. However, when using the Internet, brain regions dealing with complex reasoning also became activated and those with more more Internet experience got twice the brain benefit of inexperienced users.