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Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Reveal 6 Surprising Reasons You Keep Forgetting Things
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Forgetfulness is a normal, albeit frustrating, part of life. It's natural to misplace your phone, open your fridge and forget why, or fail to remember that name that's right on the tip of your tongue. When these blips occur every now and then, they're usually no big deal. But when they start happening more frequently, it's hard not to wonder what might be causing your memory loss. Could age be the reason you keep forgetting things? As you get older, your brain starts to shrink, explains Elise Caccappolo, Ph.D., neuropsychologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 'This is why it may take a minute longer to come up with a name or a word, or it may take longer to solve a problem,' she says. And your short-term memory may not be as sharp as it once was, adds P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D., psychiatry professor at Duke University School of Medicine. But getting older isn't necessarily to blame for your brain fog. Distractions, infections, and juggling life's many responsibilities can all play a role. 'I have misplaced or lost a fair number of sunglasses throughout my life just because I have been distracted,' says Thomas Holland, M.D., physician scientist at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging. And the causes don't stop there. Here are six reasons experts say your memory might be waning—all of which go beyond the usual suspects, like age. Medications Many common medications can affect your memory. And if you combine medications, they can interact with each other, causing unexpected side effects. 'Tell your provider everything you take, even if it's over-the-counter or a supplement you think is harmless,' says Brenna Renn, Ph.D., assistant psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. If your meds are affecting your memory, your doctor can potentially suggest alternatives or help you weigh their side effects and benefits. Some drugs that may impact your memory include: Benzodiazepines: Prescribed for anxiety and seizures, meds such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium can affect your short-term and long-term memory, per a 2023 review. Statins: Used to control cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, Statins may cause confusion and memory loss, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Anti-seizure medications: Drugs that manage seizures, like gabapentin and pregabalin, may increase your risk of dementia, per a 2023 review. Beta blockers: Beta blockers, which lower your blood pressure, are prescribed for several heart conditions. Some research has linked them to cognitive decline, though more recent research has suggested otherwise. Antidepressants: Some studies suggest that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can increase your risk of dementia. But a 2019 review found mixed results—and pointed out that depression itself is linked to dementia. Opioids: Many risks of taking narcotics, like OxyContin, are well established. Using them long-term can also interfere with memory, per a 2019 study. Sleeping pills: A certain class of sleep aids, including Ambien and Lunesta, may cause memory loss, per the Mayo Clinic and American Addiction Centers. Depression or anxiety Depression and anxiety are two of the biggest causes of forgetfulness for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, says Caccappolo. 'Depression takes up a lot of real estate in your brain,' she explains. 'When you're depressed, your brain is not working at 100%. It's not paying attention to things as well as it usually does, and the memory areas are not doing what they usually do.' This can impact your ability to store and recall information, and Dr. Holland says anxiety can too. 'If you're constantly under stress, your body is always in a state of readiness, dumping hormones into your blood that can keep you on edge,' he says. 'If that's happening in the brain, we're potentially going to see declines in cognitive function.' Diet What you eat can have a big influence on your brain, says Dr. Holland. 'If you're eating foods that provide the appropriate nutrients and bioactives, they can help prevent damage to the neurons,' he says. In a study Dr. Holland and his colleagues published, they found that a diet filled with foods rich in flavonoids (like dark leafy greens, teas, and tomatoes) was associated with slower rates of cognitive decline. The reverse is also true: Research has linked ultraprocessed foods (foods packed with artificial sweeteners, colors, and additives) with cognitive decline, suggesting that people with poorer diets have a harder time remembering things and keeping up in conversations. Other research suggests that eating ultraprocessed foods may increase your risk of dementia. Sleep You could be missing out on sleep for a number of reasons, including everyday stressors, like your job or family life, or pesky symptoms, like menopause-induced night sweats. But sleep is crucial for brain health. And over time, exhaustion can add up—depleting your cognitive resources and making it harder to concentrate, learn new things, and create memories, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For men in particular, untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition where you stop breathing in your sleep—can also contribute to brain issues, says Caccappolo. 'They are having multiple hypoxic events each night when they're not getting oxygen to the brain, which can lead to memory problems,' she explains. A review in Sleep Medicine found that many people with OSA have impaired cognitive function, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Trouble hearing An intriguing new line of research suggests a connection between hearing loss and brain health. The idea is that hearing loss can interfere with your ability to process and remember information, because it requires your brain to use more resources just to understand speech. Evidence also suggests that hearing aids can help by making information clearer as it enters the brain. 'Having properly working hearing aids can go a long way toward boosting and preserving someone's cognition,' says Renn. And research backs this up: That same study linked hearing aids with a 19% decreased risk of long-term cognitive decline. Multitasking As Dr. Holland acknowledged earlier, being distracted can impact your ability to focus and remember things. So it should come as no surprise that multitasking can too. A study in Nature suggests that media multitasking—using several devices at once—may be particularly detrimental. It found that media multitaskers often had trouble focusing and recalling information. And that was in young people. For older people, multitasking may be even more detrimental, says Caccappolo. 'As our processing speed gets slower, we're slower overall when it comes to both thinking and moving,' she explains. 'If you're trying to do two or three things at the same time, you're going to be a little bit slower at each one.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
NZ Herald
12 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Convicted dealer says ‘it's easy' to sell drugs, weapons on Facebook
That technology can detect posts including images of drugs or depictions associated with the potential intent to sell, the company said. A former drug dealer told Michael Morrah there's been a huge increase in illegal products being sold on social media platforms. The Herald's informant, who asked to remain anonymous, said Meta never disabled the closed groups on Facebook Messenger he'd use to advertise and sell drugs. 'I've never seen Meta take down a [drug dealing] group. I've never seen Meta take down any of my posts. I've never seen Meta do anything about any of the hundreds of people that I know that do the exact same thing,' he told the Herald. On Friday, the Herald revealed dealers were blatantly advertising the sale of magic mushrooms on Facebook Marketplace – an open trading site used by millions of New Zealanders. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith called the situation 'outrageous' and said he'd be contacting Meta about the issue. Following the story, the Herald was sent multiple screenshots of other drugs circulating on closed groups on other platforms including Facebook Messenger and Signal. An ad on Messenger for cocaine in Auckland advised customers extra charges for fuel would apply for deliveries outside Mangere. One ad offered cocaine ranging in quantities from half a gram to a kilogram of the drug, with the seller saying 'gas fee applies' for deliveries outside of Māngere. Another listing showed hundreds of pink ecstasy pills next to a drug testing kit which said, 'bulk sales only'. The Herald's informant, who said he's no longer selling drugs, was confident the ads were legitimate. 'You name it, if you want it, you can get it on these [social media] groups,' he said. He said sellers would often emphasise their products had been tested for purity or include anonymous customer reviews in their posts which was 'just another marketing tactic'. An ad posted to a private Facebook Messenger group claiming to sell ecstasy pills. The man first started selling cannabis around a decade ago before switching to the sale of harder drugs. He said part of the reason for speaking out was to raise awareness about the proliferation of illegal online sales, the massive quantities of drugs now on offer, and the risk to young people. 'There's a lot of kids on social media. There are a lot of impressionable people on social media. There are a lot of people who have never used a narcotic in their life and suddenly it's easily accessible,' he said. An ad for MDMA claims the product has been tested for purity. Court documents confirm the man interviewed by the Herald has multiple drug convictions and was most recently sentenced to home detention in 2023 for procuring and possessing stimulants and depressants. 'I've been convicted on procurement of LSD, Valium, possession of Xanax, selling cannabis, MDMA,' he said. When he was selling on Messenger, he said he felt 'bulletproof' because police were unable to get access to such groups. 'How are police gonna get in there? Meta themselves have end to end encryption, so they can't read what's going on in there,' he said. 'I've never had an account banned for dealing drugs, and that's with drugs as my profile picture.' Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards says social media sales of drugs is increasing which reflects a broader shift towards online use. 19 March, 2025. NZME photograph by Mark Mitchell Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards of the national criminal investigations group told the Herald police are seeing a 'steady increase' in illegal sales on social media platforms. 'Offenders are increasingly using encrypted apps and other tools to conceal their identities, making these activities difficult to trace,' he said. However, he said police remain committed to investigating all forms of online offending and encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity. Ghost guns and tasers As well as drugs, closed social media groups offer weapons, including 'ghost guns', some 3D-printed, homemade tasers and mace, according to the former dealer. 'In the last two years, there's a lot more firearms groups kind of popping up [on social media],' he told the Herald. Ghost guns are untraceable firearms privately manufactured often using parts or components printed from computer blueprints. The Herald's informant said 3D-printed guns appear to be 'hugely popular' on social media. 'Some groups have shotguns only; some are rifles only. There are ghost guns [3D printed versions]. You've also got niche things like tasers and mace, homemade mace,' he said. An image of a homemade taser sent to the Herald being marketed for sale on Facebook Messenger. The Herald was unable to verify the claims of 3D guns being sold on social media, but last year the Herald reported on police concerns about a 'ramping up' of 3D printed firearms being used by organised crime groups. In 2023, a 501 deportee was charged by police for illegally manufacturing 3D printed pistols. Meta's online policies allow educational material about weapon safety, training and licensing but say content promoting the sale of weapons, including tasers, ammunition or explosives is forbidden. Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald's video team in July 2024.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The herb linked to reduced inflammation, lower anxiety, and reduced blood sugar
Cilantro is a polarizing herb. People either love it or hate it. For many, a sprig of cilantro can add much-needed flavor to a salad or in homemade guacamole. For others with a certain gene, it just tastes like soap. "It is estimated that four to 14 percent of the U.S. population has this genetic variation, making cilantro taste like soap," Brooke Baevsky, a private chef and CEO of In the Kitchen with Chef Bae, previously told "For everyone else, the leafy green tastes like a fresh herb." But, eating cilantro can provide you with some surprising health benefits. For one, including it in your diet can help to reduce inflammation that may result in autoimmune, neurodegenerative, gastrointestinal, and heart diseases, as well as certain cancers. Together, inflammatory diseases account for more than half of all deaths globally, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Rich in vitamin C, the plant, which produces coriander as well, has compounds that researchers say act as antioxidants. 'Due to the bioactivities of coriander extract, this herb can be considered a valuable functional food against obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes,' Italian researchers said in a 2023 study. It can also fight high blood sugar, which is one of the causes of inflammation. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar can trigger an immune response that damages tissues, nerves, and the heart. 'Type 2 diabetes and inflammation are intricately connected, with each condition exacerbating the other,' the University of Utah explained. Other research has pointed to cilantro as an effective tool for delaying epileptic seizures. 'Specifically, we found one component of cilantro, called dodecenal, binds to a specific part of the potassium channels to open them, reducing cellular excitability. This specific discovery is important as it may lead to more effective use of cilantro as an anticonvulsant, or to modifications of dodecenal to develop safer and more effective anticonvulsant drugs,' explained Dr. Geoff Abbott, a professor at U.C. Irvine, explained. While cilantro is a boon for the brain, it also comes with potential positive mental health effects. One animal study suggests that it may be as effective as Valium at reducing symptoms of anxiety. Although, more research is needed to understand how that may manifest in humans. Cilantro has been consumed for at least 8,000 years, and was found in the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamen. One of the oldest known herbs, its was used in Chinese potions, who believed it to provide immortality, according to the University of Wisconsin. While eating cilantro may not make you immortal, Abbott said it also has reported anti-bacterial effects. 'And, the best part is it tastes good!' he exclaimed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The herb linked to reduced inflammation, lower anxiety, and reduced blood sugar
Cilantro is a polarizing herb. People either love it or hate it. For many, a sprig of cilantro can add much-needed flavor to a salad or in homemade guacamole. For others with a certain gene, it just tastes like soap. "It is estimated that four to 14 percent of the U.S. population has this genetic variation, making cilantro taste like soap," Brooke Baevsky, a private chef and CEO of In the Kitchen with Chef Bae, previously told "For everyone else, the leafy green tastes like a fresh herb." But, eating cilantro can provide you with some surprising health benefits. For one, including it in your diet can help to reduce inflammation that may result in autoimmune, neurodegenerative, gastrointestinal, and heart diseases, as well as certain cancers. Together, inflammatory diseases account for more than half of all deaths globally, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Rich in vitamin C, the plant, which produces coriander as well, has compounds that researchers say act as antioxidants. 'Due to the bioactivities of coriander extract, this herb can be considered a valuable functional food against obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes,' Italian researchers said in a 2023 study. It can also fight high blood sugar, which is one of the causes of inflammation. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar can trigger an immune response that damages tissues, nerves, and the heart. 'Type 2 diabetes and inflammation are intricately connected, with each condition exacerbating the other,' the University of Utah explained. Other research has pointed to cilantro as an effective tool for delaying epileptic seizures. 'Specifically, we found one component of cilantro, called dodecenal, binds to a specific part of the potassium channels to open them, reducing cellular excitability. This specific discovery is important as it may lead to more effective use of cilantro as an anticonvulsant, or to modifications of dodecenal to develop safer and more effective anticonvulsant drugs,' explained Dr. Geoff Abbott, a professor at U.C. Irvine, explained. While cilantro is a boon for the brain, it also comes with potential positive mental health effects. One animal study suggests that it may be as effective as Valium at reducing symptoms of anxiety. Although, more research is needed to understand how that may manifest in humans. Cilantro has been consumed for at least 8,000 years, and was found in the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamen. One of the oldest known herbs, its was used in Chinese potions, who believed it to provide immortality, according to the University of Wisconsin. While eating cilantro may not make you immortal, Abbott said it also has reported anti-bacterial effects. 'And, the best part is it tastes good!' he exclaimed.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
8 medications that should not be mixed with alcohol
We all have heard that alcohol should not be mixed with antibiotics. However, do you know that apart from antibiotics, there are many other medicines that do not mix with alcohol, even if you take them hours apart? Alcohol alters the effectiveness of medications while making their adverse reactions more severe. Here are eight types of medications that must never be consumed with alcohol. 1. Painkillers (Opioids and NSAIDs) You should never combine opioids with NSAIDs when taking pain medication that includes codeine, oxycodone, morphine, ibuprofen and naproxen. When opioids combine with alcohol, the breathing rate of patients decreases to dangerous levels which may result in death. Consuming NSAIDs with alcohol heightens the risk of stomach bleeding, along with ulcers. 2. Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Medicines SSRIs and benzodiazepines together with antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications including Zoloft, Prozac, Valium and Xanax require alcohol-free use. Their deadly combination results in severe sleepiness and dizziness, together with confusion. This further aggravates depressive episodes, and the risk of overdose increases manifold. 3. Antibiotics Metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole along with isoniazid, react negatively when combined with alcohol. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo The combination of these substances leads to nausea, vomiting, headaches, flushing as well as heart-related problems. Avoid drinking alcohol throughout your antibiotic treatment period, (make sure you do not have it at any time during the course), and even several days after finishing the medication. 4. Blood Thinners The effectiveness of warfarin blood thinners becomes less stable or their use becomes riskier, when patients consume alcohol. These medications become less safe when alcohol consumption occurs, because it elevates the danger of bleeding complications while forming blood clots. Before taking blood thinners, you should consult with your doctor regarding alcohol consumption. 5. Antipsychotic Medications The consumption of alcohol remains prohibited for patients who take antipsychotic drugs, used to treat schizophrenia alongside Quetiapine/Seroquel. The combination of alcohol with these medications leads to severe side effects including dizziness and drowsiness, as well as concentration issues and heart-related complications and seizure risks. 6. Diabetes Medications Taking insulin or diabetes pills with alcohol consumption will lead to harmful blood sugar reductions. The inability to detect blood sugar symptoms such as dizziness or confusion due to alcohol, makes it more likely for patients to experience severe complications. 7. Seizure Medications The combination of epilepsy and seizure medications including phenytoin, gabapentin and clonazepam should never occur with alcohol consumption. Using these substances together leads to excessive sleepiness and dizziness, and abnormal behavior and higher seizure risks. 8. ADHD Medications Adderall and Ritalin along with other stimulant medications used for ADHD, interact negatively when consumed with alcohol. The combination of these substances produces heightened side effects which include dizziness and drowsiness together with heart complications and decreased concentration abilities. Why Mixing Alcohol and Medication is Risky Medicines undergo altered absorption or breakdown processes in the body due to alcohol consumption, which leads to reduced effectiveness or increased toxicity. The consumption of alcohol enhances medication side effects including drowsiness and dizziness while simultaneously inflicting severe damage to liver function and stomach health and heart systems and nervous system tissue. Certain dangerous drug interactions can even be fatal. Sources PubMed The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) WebMD Healthdirect Australia
