Center for Healthy Minds News Archives

Read about past findings from Center researchers by following the links below. For current news items, go here.

		Community day in the spotlight: The News-Gazette previews Dr. Michael Roizen's April 29 appearance at the Center for Healthy Minds Community Day. "You ..." has a pretty compelling message: There are things you can do to make yourself feel and function as if you were years younger than the calendar indicates - and they're not that hard to do. Roizen has written about the concept of "real age" in other books, "The Real Age Makeover" among them, and he's bringing his message to the University of Illinois in a talk set for 2 p.m. Sunday in Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., U." Apr. 29.
		Kramer's anatomy: USA Today cites research by Center Co-Director Art Kramer that aerobic exercise may help improve our memory. "Such aerobic exercise has helped elderly people more easily switch between mental tasks, concentrate better and improve their short-term memory," Kramer said. Mar. 26.
		RealAge: Center affiliate Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko was interviewed by the Free-Lance Star of Fredericksburg, W. V. about how lifestyle choices affect the aging process. "Aging used to be something that just happened to you," said Chodzko-Zajko. "Now we see it as a process that we all partake in. We have more control in the aging process than we used to." Also cited in the article is Dr. Michael Roizen, who will speak at the Center's Community Day on April 29.
		Aging in the clouds: A journal editorial co-authored by Center researcher Dan Morrow, an associate professor at the Institute of Aviation, was cited in this San Francisco Chronicle article on the issue of aging airline pilots. "It is time to reconsider fixed age limits for the workplace and consider transitioning to competency-based evaluations of performance," he wrote.
		Center researchers Fabiani, Kramer comment on the link between exercise and healthy minds in the Daily Illini, Jan. 25.
		Charge your brain: Center Co-Director Art Kramer's findings that aerobic exercise can increase the volume and efficiency of the brain and increase improvements in a number of cognitive functions such as memory and attention in older adults was featured on the CBS Evening News' Jan. 17 edition. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, visited Kramer on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. See the video that aired on national television, as well as additional footage posted online.
		Still on the ball: Center researcher Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko's comments on the trend of older American women playing more and more organized sports appeared in newspapers worldwide in mid-January, after he was quoted by the Associated Press.
		2006
		Pages for all Ages: Medical Adherence and Aging, a book co-edited by Center Co-Director Denise Park, was recently published by the American Psychological Association. Prominent academics as well as medical doctors examine how and why older adults fail to follow the medical instructions or regimens designed to maintain their health.
		Use it or Lose it? Center for Healthy Minds researcher Elizabeth A. L. Stine-Morrow comments on a new study that shows mental exercise can ward off cognitive decline in older adults, Dec. 20.
		Keep your mind in shape. Center Co-Director Denise Park's expertise on the topic of measures we can take to increase cognitive function was sought out by Kiplinger's Retirement Report for its December 2006 article, "Exercise the Mind to Keep the Brain in Shape." "Acquisition of new skills is important," Park told Kiplinger's. "The brain is based on connections. Novelty forges new pathways." Dec. 1.
		Exercise Does a Brain Good: The Wall Street Journal reports that a new study by Center Co-Director Art Kramer and colleagues shows that as little as three hours a week of aerobic exercise increases the brain's volume of gray matter (actual neurons) and white matter (connections between neurons) in adults over 60. "After only three months," says Prof. Kramer, "the people who exercised had the brain volumes of people three years younger." Also featured on "The Early Show" on CBS.
		Maintain your brain: The Los Angeles Times sought out Center Co-Directors Art Kramer and Denise Park to find out how we can keep our minds healthy as we age, Oct 2006.
		Smart Seniors. Center Co-Director Denise Park's expertise in the field of cognitive aging cited in USA TODAY article, Aug. 16.
		The No. 1 thing you can do! Aug. 2006: Reader's Digest quotes "pre-eminent exercise and brain health researcher" Art Kramer on the importance of aerobic fitness in preserving cognitive health.
		Center in the Spotlight. The Center for Healthy Minds is featured in the latest issue of the Beckman Institute's online magazine, Synergy.
		Participate! Read this May 21st News-Gazette article about the people who participate in Center for Healthy Minds research!
		Interventions for the aging mind. Apr. 28: The Wall Street Journal features the work of Center Co-Director Art Kramer on cardiovascular fitness and cognitive function.
		Video games for Aging Minds. Center Co-Director Denise Park comments on new brain-saving video games in the March 28th Washington Post.
		Stimulated Minds are Healthy Minds. A March 3 Wall Street Journal article quoted Center Co-Director Denise Park on the topic of older minds. "The problem with retirement is, there are not a lot of social and intellectual demands," Park said. "Life becomes routinized," a recipe for cognitive decline. Research by Center Co-Director Art Kramer was also cited in the article.
		Viva! Reunion 2006. Read about and see photos from the recent reunion of research participants from Dr. Park's intervention study measuring the cognitive effects of a mentally intensive leisure activity on older adults.
		It helps to stay focused! Center for Healthy Minds Co-Director Denise Park says one way older adults can avoid distraction is to suppress internal musings. Read about it in the Feb. 14th Washington Post.
		Brain changes leave seniors susceptible to scams. A study conducted by Center Co-Director Denise Park has shown that older adults have a greater tendency to remember false information as true, because they remember the gist of a message and forget the details. This work was featured in the Feb. 8th Champaign-Urbana News Gazette.
		Heart smart is head smart. Time Magazine features Center Co-Director Art Kramer and his research on the connection between cardiovascular and cognitive health in this week's edition, for an article entitled, "Can You Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?" Read all about it here, or pick up the Jan. 16 edition of Time. Also, read a similar article in the Jan. 9th Los Angeles Times.
		Center research featured in U of I alumni magazine. Read the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Illinois Alumni to find out about the exciting research on aging and the mind taking place at UIUC.
		Exercise increases well-being for older adults. Research by Center for Healthy Minds investigators Ed McAuley and Ed Diener indicates that not only does exercise improve older adults' physical functions, but also their physiological well-being. The research indicated positive psychosocial and cognitive outcomes - in effect, significant quality-of-life gains - among participants who remained physically active long after they began an initial randomized, six-month exercise trial consisting of walking and stretching/toning exercises. Also read about it in the Jan. 29th Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
		2005
		Center Co-Director Art Kramer discussed new developments in his research on how exercise benefits the aging brain in a radio interview aired Nov. 5 and 6. The show, "Sound Medicine," is broadcast on Indiana public radio stations. Listen to the interview here.
		Driving with cellphones.Work by Center researchers Art Kramer and Gary Dell and colleagues using the Beckman Institute driving simulator was featured in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. Sept. 11th.
		Keeping a healthy mind. Read the transcript from Denise Park's live chat on USATODAY.com. Then read the accompanying story. August 18th.
		"Lifestyle May Be Key to Slowing Brain's Aging." Center research featured in the Washington Post. August 14th.
		Center Director Denise Park testified on July 27th before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. The topic of her testimony was "Consumer Fraud and the Aging Mind." Read it here. Watch it here.
		Senior Odyssey program in the news. April 18th.
		Research by Edward McAuley and colleagues has shown a significant increase in well-being for older adults enrolled in a 6-month exercise program. Participants who started out with the lowest opinion of their own capabilities showed the greatest improvement in well-being. February. [pdf]
		Research by Art Kramer and colleagues featured in Parade magazine.
		Research by Center director Denise Park and Linda Liu shows that older adults are more likely to adhere to a medication regimen simply by planning in advance where and when they need to take their medication and visualizing themselves carrying out that plan. [pdf]