Meet the lovely Dr Claire Shepherd, neuroscientist and Manager of the Sydney Brain Bank. I first met Claire when we were postdocs at NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia, then the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute). She’s just taken on a new role as first-time Mum and took time out of her new routine to speak to me about the process of brain donation. The … [Read more...] about Would you donate your brain? Interview with brain bank manager, Dr Claire Shepherd
health-tips
What the Obamas, Tony Abbott and Richard Branson teach us about brain health
Tony Abbott, Australia’s Prime Minister, turned to me on a beach in August last year and said “Are you running hard or soft?” We happened to be crossing the starting line at the same time in a fun run along Sydney’s Northern Beaches. I spent the next 13 km trying to come up with a more witty and erudite response than, “Ummmm, I dunno?”. Mr Abbott, obviously spurred on … [Read more...] about What the Obamas, Tony Abbott and Richard Branson teach us about brain health
Season of your birth affects your mood in later life
I’m a summer baby, and according to new research that means I have a tendency to be excessively positive! I’m sure I can grumble with the best of them, but my husband confirms he wouldn’t have married me if I wasn’t upbeat!! I’ve always boxed any association between personality and season of birth with astrology and other folklore. But, I’m prepared to change my mind on … [Read more...] about Season of your birth affects your mood in later life
How to become a centenarian – 9 lessons from the people who’ve lived the longest.
Late last year in my Meet the Neuroscientists interview series, I spoke to Charlene Levitan who studies centenarians for the Sydney Centenarian Study. Her research has revealed that only about 30% of longevity is determined by our genes. As Dr Levitan pointed out: We can’t choose our parents, but we can choose our lifestyle. In another longevity project, National … [Read more...] about How to become a centenarian – 9 lessons from the people who’ve lived the longest.
30 minutes cycling (equivalent to half a spin class) promotes brain plasticity
Don’t have time to exercise? Remember the blog post I wrote about Tony Abbott, Barak Obama and Richard Branson and how they find time every day to exercise? I believe success goes hand in hand with exercise because the world’s most successful people exercise every day. President Obama, possibly one of the world’s busiest people, works out for an hour – cardio one day, … [Read more...] about 30 minutes cycling (equivalent to half a spin class) promotes brain plasticity
