From: hounddog23x@gmail.com   
      
   The Facial Expression That Fights Memory Loss   
      
      
   May 4, 2014   
      
      
      
   It fights the stress hormone which damages the brain’s ability to learn and   
   remember.   
      
      
       
   It’s a smile.   
      
   New research from researchers at Loma Linda University has found that older   
   people with diabetes who were shown a funny video scored better on a memory   
   test. (Bains et al., 2014).   
      
   The reason seems to be that cortisol — the ‘stress hormone’ — damages   
   the brain’s ability to learn and remember.   
      
   It does this by affective certain neurons in the brain.   
      
      
       
   Humour and laughter, though, are well-known relievers of stress.   
      
   One of the study’s authors, Dr. Lee Berk said:   
      
   “It’s simple, the less stress you have the better your memory.   
      
   Humor reduces detrimental stress hormones like cortisol that decrease memory   
   hippocampal neurons, lowers your blood pressure, and increases blood flow and   
   your mood state.   
      
   The act of laughter — or simply enjoying some humor — increases the   
   release of endorphins and dopamine in the brain, which provides a sense of   
   pleasure and reward.   
      
   These positive and beneficial neurochemical changes, in turn, make the immune   
   system function better.   
      
   There are even changes in brain wave activity towards what’s called the   
   “gamma wave band frequency,” which also amp up memory and recall.   
      
   So, indeed, laughter is turning out to be not only a good medicine, but also a   
   memory enhancer adding to our quality of life.”   
      
   The study’s lead author, Dr. Gurinder Singh Bains added:   
      
   “Our research findings offer potential clinical and rehabilitative benefits   
   that can be applied to wellness programs for the elderly.   
      
   The cognitive components — learning ability and delayed recall — become   
   more challenging as we age and are essential to older adults for an improved   
   quality of life: mind, body, and spirit.   
      
   Although older adults have age-related memory deficits, complimentary,   
   enjoyable, and beneficial humor therapies need to be implemented for these   
   individuals.”   
      
   → Continue reading: Memory and Recall: 10 Amazing Facts You Should Know   
      
      
      
   Related Articles:   
      
   Alcohol’s Surprising Influence on Memory Loss in Later Years   
   This Facial Expression Appears More Trustworthy To Others   
   How Long-Term Stress Affects Short-Term Memory   
   This Beverage Reversed Normal Age-Related Memory Loss in Three Months   
   Nasal Spray Effective Treatment For Memory Loss and Alzheimer’s, Study Finds   
       
      
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