We're going to start off this post with some common sense tips published in the Johns Hopkins Health Alerts magazine, addressing ways to deal with and prevent memory impairment.
While the list may seem easy for some, others will struggle with the basic directions, including writing things down, and saying things out loud. Still some, such as using visual images as clues for things, or grouping items using mnemonics probably take extended periods of time to get accustomed to doing regularly.
The rest of the list: placing commonly lost items in designated spots, using memory aids, concentrating and relaxing, getting plenty of sleep and ruling out other forms of memory loss, regularly.
The central question is how soon one needs to begin practicing these efforts to stave off memory loss, and to this Johns Hopkins says at any age stay focused, alert and active.
In terms of innovation, exciting, albeit highly technical research was released this week providing evidence for the ability by neuropathologists to model risky levels of amyloid proteins in the brain, as a precursor for the development of Alzheimer's.
The research offered stronger information for scientists to grasp the biological nature of the disease, and thereby strengthen their focus on the right types of amyloid-modifying treatments,” explained Adam S. Fleisher, MD, of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, and co-authors. 
The work is transformational for the field of Alzheimer's research, but will not yield drug benefits for some time, so we will close out this blog post with some tasty news in the form of a reminder to eat your blueberries. The fruit, it turns out, is beneficial in boosting the ability to remember events, people and places.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center conducted a study on older adults with early memory decline, and found that memory function was boosted by drinking the juice of wild blueberries for 12 weeks. The University of Cincinnati researchers noted: "To our knowledge, this is the first human trial assessing the potential benefit of blueberry supplementation on neurocognitive function in older adults with increased risk for dementia."
Our Provision Living chefs may need to step up their dishes from recipes including the small, round, berries.
Next up on our blog, as we enjoy this warm, but beautiful summer, will be posts highlighting events, news and activities from our communities. From Hattiesburg, MS, to Godfrey, IL, we are connecting up with our teams to gather details from the day to day, including stories from our newest communities in Tennessee, Georgia, and Panama City Beach, FL.
(Image Courtesy of La Grande's Farmers Market on Flickr)
