Is there any good news about aging brains?

 

Everyone knows, and many of us fear, the impact of aging on brain functions. The brains of older people process information slower, leading to lapses in memory and difficulty multitasking. It becomes troublesome to find the right word when speaking or writing, and there may be problems with attention and focus.

 

The physical changes in the aging brain are less well-known, but may be the cause of the functional changes. The volume of the frontal and temporal lobes decreases with age, as does blood flow. The nerve cells that make up the brain begin to deteriorate. Neurotransmitter chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin also decrease. Overall, there is more inflammation and tissue damage in the brain as we get older.

 

There are diseases related to brain changing in older adults. These include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and various forms of dementia, including frontotemporal, vascular, and dementia with Lewy bodies.

 

Research comparing error correction between younger and older adults points out some interesting differences in their brains. When asked general information questions as in a trivia quiz, older adults were more likely to answer correctly. However, when given the correct answer to questions they got wrong, older adults were less likely to get that question correct on a retest.

 

Recent similar testing relating answers to the respondent’s confidence in their correctness showed a mental advantage of older adults. When offered the correct answer to questions they were less confident about and had gotten wrong, older adults were more likely than younger adults to later recall the corrected answers. The researchers attributed this result to older adults not wanting to make mistakes and focusing their attention more strongly on the corrected answers than did younger adults.

 

Apparently, it IS possible to teach older dogs new tricks, so to speak.

 

 

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for October 2025

You can teleport to any of the displays and exhibits in Second Life using the SLURLs in this posting.
In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.



Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

 

Down Syndrome Awareness Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22




October is Pharmacists Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24





Infection Prevention Week
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22




Have You Asked Your Pharmacist?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24




Bruises
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26




Breast Cancer Awareness
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28




Common Health Myths
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30




More Common Health Myths
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

Got PFAS? You’d Better Find Out!

PFAS stands for Pre- and PolyFluoroAlkyl Substances. That’s quite the mouthful, so most non-chemists refer to them as Forever Chemicals.

PFAS are manufactured chemicals that were created to repel heat, grease and water. This makes them nearly indestructible. They are used in a wide variety ofproducts, including waterproof and stain-repelling fabrics, soft contact lenses, cosmetics, paper drinking straws, and firefighting foams.

Unfortunately, PFAS’s characteristics allow them to build up in the environment and in the human body. You acquire PFAS by living near areas where the air, soil or drinking water is contaminated. They can enter through your skin or tear ducts or you may breathe them in. PFAS also get into your body when you eat foods grown or raised near places that made or used these chemicals, or by using the many common products that contain them. They also pass from expectant mothers to their unborn babies.

Inside living things, PFAS increase the risk of some types of cancer and cause other health problems. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says PFAS have numerous health impacts, which include decreasing fertility, increasing cholesterol, reducing the effectiveness of the immune system, causing childhood developmental delays, and disrupting hormones.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been testing public drinking water from systems with at least 3,300 customers for the past three years to measure amounts of PFAS and other forever chemicals. The EPA has established limits to how much of these chemicals is allowed in drinking water.

You can see results from tests throughout the country in a detailed map here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/14/pfas-epa-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-pollution/85639307007/

When a drinking water system exceeds the EPA limits, they have until 2029 to either install an effective filtering system or find a non-contaminated source for their water supply. (However, the EPA may extend this deadline, as well as increasing the allowed amounts of certain chemicals.)

Can you avoid PFAS in your drinking water in contaminated areas? Yes, home water treatment systems including activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems can remove PFAS along with other contaminants. Be sure the filter you purchase is certified by an independent testing organization such as the NationalSanitation Foundation (NSF) or the Water Quality Association (WQA) as able to reduce PFAS.

Not all bottled water is free of PFAS. The International Bottled Water Association has established a safe limit for PFAS in their members’ products. Check that the brand you purchase is certified.

Staying hydrated is important for your overall health. So is avoiding PFAS. Check the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database to see water quality results for your area in your state. Drink adequate water, but be sure it is free of health-impairing chemicals. 

Rice and Wild Rice are the September Grains of the Month

The Whole Grains Council honors rice and wild rice (two different crops) as grains of the month for September.

There are wild varieties of the various types of rice. Domesticated rice is a grass plant, either of Asian or African descent. The Asian grain was first domesticated in China over 9,000 years ago. The African grain was more recently domesticated.

The rice plant produces many grains on each stem. It is often grown in irrigated environments, such as rice paddies in Asia, although it can’t survive continuous submergence. It can also be grown in areas with adequate rainfall.

Rice has always been a labor-intensive crop. Many of us in the western world can picture Chinese persons in conical hats bent over while standing in water as they transplant individual seedlings in paddies or manually harvest and thresh the grains. Now, rice farming has become mechanized.

Rice comes in a variety of colors. White is the most common on the market now. However, white rice is not a whole grain. White rice has been milled, leaving only the endosperm. Most people are also familiar with brown rice. Brown rice is a whole grain, because it still has its bran and germ, with only the husk or chaff removed. 

Other colors of rice exist beside white and brown! Black rice (legendary as Forbidden Rice) has extra anthocyanins, which are the deep purple colors in blueberries. There’s also purple, golden and red rice. What fun!

The size of the rice grains also varies. Short-grain rice, often used for sushi or puddings, is sticky when cooked. Cooked long-grain rice is fluffy, not sticky, and may be aromatic like Jasmine and Basmati types.

What is sold as wild rice is not actually rice at all. It is another type of grass plant that grows in shallow water mainly in North America and Asia. In North America, it was traditionally harvested by NativeAmericans who thresh the grains directly into canoes. Compared to white rice, wild rice is higher in protein and is a good source of several minerals and B vitamins.

Both types of rice are versatile, nutritious, and gluten-free grains. Rice is the staple food for over half the population of the earth, with China, India, and Indonesia being the largest consumers.

September is Whole Grains Month. For more information on how whole grain foods affect your health, stop by Healthinfo Island this month and check out the poster set at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

Displays and Exhibits for Healthinfo Island for September 2025

You can teleport to Second Life to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Are you eating microplastics?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

 

Heat Effects on Susceptible Populations
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

 

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

 

September is Whole Grains Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

 

Go Greener at the Office and at Home
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

 

September is Pain Awareness Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

 

Fungal Disease Awareness Week
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

 

September is Menopause Awareness Month.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32



Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall of the Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Thank you to Mook for assistance with the posters this month.

Tips to Save Money on Laundry

Laundry is a never-ending chore in most households. We don’t typically think about how much it costs to do laundry at home, nor do we worry about the impact of washing our clothes has on the environment. But we should concern ourselves with doing laundry as efficiently as possible.

Here are some tips for a more efficient wash day.

• Clean the lint trap every time you use the washer or dryer. This not only improves the efficiency of laundry machines, but also can help prevent dryer fires.

• Do full loads. Don’t overstuff the washer or dryer, but wait to clean clothes or bedding or towels until you have a full load, to make maximum use of the machines.

• Use cold water. Most modern detergents are formulated to work well in cold water. Cold water is less hard on cloth, so your clothes will last longer. And you won’t use (and pay for) the energy required to heat a laundry tub full of hot water.

• Use high spin speeds. This removes more water from the clean laundry before it goes into the dryer. The time wet clothes spend in the dryer is reduced, saving you additional money on your energy bills.

• If you will be buying a new washer or dryer, look for a certified Energy Star model. These machines use less water and less energy, which will save you money over the worklife of the new machines. 

Tip - Why You Should Clean Your Refrigerator Coils

The coils on the back of the refrigerator release the heat extracted from the food inside into the air in your kitchen. If these coils are coated with dust, lint or pet hair, they are not able to operate efficiently.

You can increase the efficiency of your refrigerator by pulling it (carefully!) from the wall and cleaning off those coils. Do this at least twice a year, and more often if you have a pet that sheds. Leaving the cooling coils dirty not only shortens the life of your fridge, but also increases the energy costs of your refrigerator by up to 35%.

Save your money and help the environment by keeping your refrigerator’s coils clean.

Love Cats? Contribute to Science!

Here’s your chance to advance our understanding of cat behavior, genetics, evolution, and health by providing data about your pet. While domestic cats have lived alongside humans since neolithic times, cats are surprisingly understudied.

 

The nonprofit organization, Darwin’s Ark, is conducting a citizen science project called "Darwin’s Cats."

 

Participants from around the world can add to a massive database of cat information by filling out a quick survey about their feline friends. The survey takes only about 15 minutes to complete.

 

If you choose, you can donate to sequence your cat’s DNA. This is not required in order to participate in this project.

 

To find out more about this fun science project, please visit Darwin’s Ark at https://darwinsark.org/darwins-cats and create an account.

 

P.S There is a parallel "Darwin’s Dogs" project (https://darwinsark.org/darwins-dogs) that has already contributed to knowledge about dog cancers.

The heat and humidity are brutal this summer. Plan ahead to stay comfortable and healthy during the hottest time of the year (in whichever hemisphere you reside). Here are some suggestions to keep you comfortable and healthy.

• Be aware of temperature changes throughout the day. Pay attention to more than just the predictions for highest and lowest points. Avoid going outside during the hottest time(s) of day.

•Keep cool by staying in air-conditioned places. If you don’t have AC at home, try to spend time during the hottest parts of the day in a cooler public place such as a mall, library, or movie theater.

Some states and communities even open public cooling centers in hot weather.

• Your body tries to remove excess internal heat by moving warm blood to the skin, where it can escape into the air. If the air is cooler than your body, a fan blowing on you can move the warmed air away from your skin. Set ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise in hot weather.

• Evaporative cooling is important. When liquids evaporate off your skin, they remove heat from your body. This is why you sweat! But you lose water from your body as the sweat evaporates, so it is important to stay hydrated.

While fluid needs vary among individuals, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends women drink about 11.5 cups of water daily, and men about 15.5 cups. If you sweat a lot, you will need to drink more.

About a fifth ofwater intake comes from foods, so be sure to eat plenty of hydratingfoods such as soup and watermelon in hot weather.

• You can aid evaporative cooling by wiping your arms and the back of your neck with wet wipes or spritzing your skin with a spray bottle of cool water. For extra coolness, keep the wet wipe pack and spray bottle in the refrigerator between applications.

• If you must be outside in very hot weather, take breaks regularly to rest where it is cooler. Always wear sun protection. Sunburned skin can’t release heat.

• Dress to feel cooler. Wear loose, lightweight clothes so that air can circulate near your skin and increase evaporative cooling as you sweat. Some high-tech clothing is made from special fabrics that wick sweat from your body to improve evaporative cooling. Many types of cooling clothing, including cooling vests, bandanas and hardhat liners can make life more comfortable in hot weather.

You can make your own cooling clothing. Wet a kitchen towel in cold water, then wrap it around your head or neck. Soak a cotton T-shirt in cold water before putting it on. Rewet the item as it becomes dry.

• Cool your skin. You can take a cool (not cold) shower or bath in water that is tepid, slightly cooler than your body temperature. Once you get out of the shower or tub, stand in front of a fan to increase evaporative cooling. For quicker cooling, submerge your hands and arms up to the elbows in cool water for up to 5 minutes.

Ice packs or sacks of frozen peas applied where large blood vessels are near the surface of the skin (the back of the neck, armpits, groin) will help cool the body down. A chilled drink bottle works too. Icepacks even work throughsynthetic and plaster casts!

You can make your own frozen gel packs too. Just don’t put them directly onskin; always put a cloth between your skin and the ice pack. Don’t leave it on too long, either, as excessive cold is damaging to skin.

• Cool down internally by drinking cool water, eating a popsicle, or sucking (not biting!) ice chips. Just don’t do this too fast, as that can lead to gastrointestinal upset.

• Be aware of when to seek medical assistance due to heat exposure. If you have tried several of the tips above and still aren’t cooling down, go to the nearest emergency room.

Keep in mind the symptoms of heat exhaustion:

•     cold, clammy skin

•     dizziness or faintness

•     excessive sweating

•     extreme fatigue

•     fast or weak pulse

•     headache

•     muscle cramps.

If you experience these symptoms, seek medical help or call 911.

Infants, children, senior citizens, pregnant women, outdoor crews, individuals who take medications that make them less able to sweat, and people with health conditions such as cardiovascular disease are all more prone to suffering heat exhaustion. If you’re not in one of these high-risk categories, be sure to check on people who are.

For more information, read “How Hot Is Too Hot For The Human Body?” in the link below:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-the-human-body1/ 

August Grains of the Month – Rye and Triticale

There are two grains for the month of August: rye and triticale.  Triticale is a durum wheat-rye hybrid, and has the largest seeds of the three grains. This man-made crop was created in Scotland and Germany in the late 19^th century. 

Rye is a cereal grain grown most commonly in Eastern and Northern Europe and in Russia. Germany is the world’s largest producer. Rye is the grain most tolerant of poor soil which is full of clay, sand or peat. It endures cold weather, making it an ideal crop in those regions. Winter rye is planted and starts to grow in autumn, survives under snow cover, and grows rapidly in the spring, making it an excellent fodder crop for grazing animals.  Edible rye can take many forms. In the Americas, rye is known mainly as a dark bread or an alcoholic beverage. 

Pumpernickel rye bread is especially popular in northern Europe. Scandinavian crispbread is made from rye flour. 

In addition to use as a flour, rye “berries” can be cooked whole and used in casseroles, pilafs, and salads. The rye grains can also be milled into flakes and grits. In the diet, rye is a good source of fiber, B vitamins (niacin and thiamine) and minerals (manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc). Its soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. Like wheat, rye contains gluten, so eating it is not recommended for people with celiac disease. Rye is closely genetically related to wheat.  An iconic red paint is made in Scandinavia by boiling rye flour with red iron oxide from the Falun copper mine in Sweden. This paint protects wooden structures from weathering and gives them the appearance of brick buildings owned by more affluent persons.

Displays and Exhibits for Healthinfo Island for August 2025

You can teleport to Second Life to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Can You Eat a Rainbow?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

Healthcare for the Homeless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

Exercise Your Brain
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

Health in the Heat
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

Psoriasis Awareness
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

Your Hormones As You Age
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

Eating in the Heat
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

What is Neuropathy?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

Thank you to Mook for assistance with the posters this month.

TIP - The Card Pick-Up Scam

This new type of identity theft is becoming more common. Don’t get caught by these scammers!

First, the identity thieves call, email, or text you, posing as your bank or the issuer of your credit card. That’s the first red flag—those institutions will NEVER contact you by phone.

They ask for your PIN number in order to verify details of your account. That’s the second red flag—legitimate financial institutions will NEVER ask you to divulge your PIN.

If you are too trusting and give them your PIN, then they claim you should mail your card (or the chip on it) back to an address they give you so it can be “safely recycled.” That’s the third red flag—your bank will never ask you to return your card. Instead, when it’s time to get a new one, you should destroy your old one.

If you do send in your card, then the thieves have your intact card and your PIN. They will quickly clean out your account.

Don’t let this happen to you! Never respond to phone calls from your bank. Never give out your PIN. And never ever mail back your card.

TIP - Get Cool Before It’s Hot

A properly maintained cooling system can save on energy costs and keep your home comfortable all summer long. Now, before it gets hot, is the best time to have your HVAC cooling system serviced.

You can do some routine maintenance, like changing or cleaning filters, inspecting equipment and checking refrigerant levels. You can also schedule a professional check-up and needed servicing with a qualified HVAC technician before the peak-season rush.

These simple steps will help you avoid expensive emergency repairs and extend the lifespan of your equipment. So get ready for air-conditioning season before the hot weather strikes.

QUIZ- Which is more ecological, hand washing dishes or using a dishwasher?

Of course the answer will depend on the size of your sink, your dishwashing procedure, and the specifications of your dishwasher. But generally, the dishwasher is more energy efficient. Why is that?

It’s all due to hot water.

Filling the average kitchen sink to soak dirty dishes in takes 4-6 gallons of hot water. Some people rinse the washed dishes in a second sink full of water. Others run the water, which uses about 2 gallons of water per minute, depending on the faucet.

On the other hand, a dishwasher uses about 3-4 gallons of hot water for one cycle.

Doing the math, the dishwasher uses less hot water. That means it uses less electricity to run the water heater, meaning you save on two utility bills.

How can you make using the dishwasher even more efficient?

• Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes. Just scrape them before loading them.
• Skip the heated drying cycle. Instead, open the door slightly at the end of the cycle to allow steam to escape.

How can you make hand washing dishes more efficient?

• Be sure to scrap the dishes before putting them in the soapy hot water.
• Fill the sink only half way. That’s enough water to do the job.
• Rinse the cleaned dishes in cold water.