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The Connection Between Brain Health and Self-Esteem in Women Over 40

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  The Connection Between Brain Health and Self-Esteem in Women Over 40 By Marilyn Abrahamson,MA,CCC-SLP As women cross the threshold of 40 and step into a new chapter of life, it becomes increasingly crucial to prioritize brain health. The brain, often referred to as the body's command center, plays a pivotal role in every aspect of life, from cognition and memory to emotions and self-esteem. Let’s explore why brain health is so important for women over 40 and how it profoundly impacts their self-esteem and overall quality of life. The Aging Brain The aging process affects everyone, and as we grow older, our brain undergoes changes too. One of the most notable changes is the natural decline in cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and processing speed. Women over 40 may notice these changes more acutely, and it can be disconcerting. However, it's important to remember that while some cognitive decline is normal, there are many ways to mitigate its impact and promote b...

Why Everyone Needs to Learn About Brain Health

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  Why Everyone Needs to Learn About Brain Health By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA, CCC-SLP NEUROPLASTICITY  is defined as the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after injuries. -  NIH.GOV Believe it or not... the word  Neuroplasticity  ignites a feeling of hope. For clinicians and therapists working with patients with all types of brain injuries, understanding neuroplasticity is crucial. Because neuroplasticity is  the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new learning and new experiences,  it can change both a clinician's choice of therapeutic techniques as well as the duration of the patient’s therapeutic program. We now know that, even in the absence of brain injury or illness, teaching people how to help their brain to more easily adapt, change, and grow as we age is the key to maintaining cognitive health. That’s how we re...

Brain Fog After COVID-19: Its Effect on Work Performance

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Brain Fog After COVID-19; Its Effect on Work Performance By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA,CCC-SLP For some, brain fog after COVID-19 can cause everyday cognitive tasks to be more difficult, causing the thought of returning to work to become daunting.  Among the many symptoms of Long COVID, one study suggests that up to 80% of COVID-19 survivors suffer from neuropsychological symptoms such as memory impairment, attention deficit, executive dysfunction, difficulty with word finding, multitasking, and impaired visual/spatial skills. These are skills employees need to properly perform their jobs. When these skills become impaired, people can become overwhelmed by the smallest tasks. Another study showed that quality of life at work was reduced for over 75% of study participants continuing to experience brain fog symptoms. In this study, memory problems and difficulty with multitasking had the most significant impact on the quality of life at work after  COVID-19 . With this in mind, many...

The Doorway Effect – Why We Forget Why We’ve Walked Into a Room - Written by Marilyn Abrahamson

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The Doorway Effect – Why We Forget Why We’ve Walked Into a Room By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA,CCC-SLP Have You Ever Walked Into a Room and Forgotten Why? Research done at the University of Notre Dame, published in 2011 in the   Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology  showed that memory is often affected when we pass through a doorway. This is known as the  Doorway Effect . The author of this original research, Dr. Gabriel Radvansky suggests that our brain manages the continuous flow of information by breaking up experiences into small, more meaningful blocks of information called  mental event models . When we move from one situation to another – or even from one room to another – our brain updates to a new network of information, or a new  mental event model  that does not include information from the previous one. So, as we switch gears, we may forget things from the previous event. This can occur whether we leave or enter a room, switch computer tabs, ...