The following brain health post was written by the founder of the Smartkit website- a fellowship trained, board certified neurologist who is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Are you a heavy thinker? If so, here’s an interesting little tidbit: According to recent data presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease-those men who ruminate most heavily on work and family difficulties had a

Lately, I’ve been dismayed by the many young patients (35-45) I’ve come across who’ve had heart attacks and strokes. Some have been physician colleagues of mine who eat well and do not drink or smoke.

Since heart attacks and strokes are basically the same thing (tissue dying due to clogged arteries), figured many would find this information helpful:

A smile combined with a direct gaze can boost your attractiveness to the opposite sex up to eightfold. [Research published in the Royal Society's Proceedings B journal,

MK-ULTRA

Here’s a great article on intelligence that, despite being written more than 25 years ago, is still a fascinating read. The author is Professor Bruce Fleury, an Evolutionary Biologist at Tulane University. [Thanks to Dr. Fleury for permission to repost the article here on smartkit].

Some highlights from a new study out of Cornell University regarding lead toxicity and the brain:

New research adds further support to the idea that the higher your education level, the less likely you are to get Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

The study found this to be the case even after adjusting for socioeconomic status and other medical diseases. [

Your brain is extremely fragile, and easily damaged by concussions and other forms of acceleration/deceleration injury. Back in January, I posted the story about Andre Waters

Ecstasy damages your brain

A new study, to be published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental [Authors Keith Laws and Joy Kokkalis from the University of Hertfordshire] shows that the drug ecstasy [MDMA] moderate to markedly damages both

Note: The Mindfit software is currently available for purchase in the Smartkit Store here

Last year I posted about the powerfully negative effects chronic stress has on your memory and brain. Now, a new study

This important strategy should help improve your learning efficiency and memory. It’s presented in college student context, but of course applies to anyone looking for a good study tip.

Researchers in Ireland have found that brain exercises in the form of rote memorization of poems, articles, and short stories leads to memory improvement.

[click on image above to jump to journal article detailing brain-heart interactions]

From a recent update posted on the Medscape Neurology section:

Researchers at the American Academy of Neurology 59th Annual Meeting presented preliminary results from a study showing that long term exposure to secondhand smoke

Feel honored tonight to see the smartkit site was included in a Kiwiwriter’s "

Thanks to the internet, many are starting to learn the true status of mass produced food.

Read a good article today that discusses how up to 15% of US poultry weight consists of

Try saying this several times as rapidly and distinctly as possible…

‘John sawed six slick, sleek, slim, slender saplings’.

Back in 1997, over 700 school children were rushed to emergency rooms across Japan with seizures after watching an episode of Pokemon (even more children were affected when the inciting clip was replayed on the evening news).

In all, supposedly over 12,000 children became ill (many with milder symptoms).

It is commonly said that "elephants never forget". From the website Elephant Voices:

Stimulants are being used with increasing frequency by students across college campuses (see ‘Harvard Students: Reaching for drugs to boost brain power). Many of them, however, probably aren’t well aware of the various side effects. In addition to chronic

If you are overweight, here’s some additional incentive to lose the pounds from a recent study in the journal Neurology that suggests there is a connection between obesity and brain power amongst the middle aged.

Here’s some new research that will come as a surprise to most neurologists: Moderate iron deficiency- without overt anemia- can impair learning and memory.

Importantly, the study found that iron supplementation can reverse the cognitive dysfunction.

The study was published in the March 2007 issue American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Most Star Wars fans know that the dark side of the force has a negative effect on the user’s body (ok, I’ll admit right now that I’m probably in the camp of those who believe "all I really need to know I learned from Star Wars")

"Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they." Yoda

Marijuana

This bit really caught me by surprise: Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found that the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) appears to be quite effective in preventing the brain buildup of amyloid plaque. Amyloid is one of the main pathologic markers for Alzheimer’s disease.