The fear that opportunity has passed us by, perhaps forever, is among the most painful feelings we can ever experience.

Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to affect 35 million people world-wide and the financial and emotional costs are enormous. Interesting new research in the fields of genetics and neuroscience brings some hope that treatments may be found for cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory-related dysfunction.

The Twilight Saga’s emphasis on youth misses the point that aging has benefits and mortality makes life sweet.

The perspectives that come to dominate our thinking about the aging of our population will probably say more about us as a people and about our collective character than any issue we’ve had to confront in modern times.

Most senior moments are no cause for concern. But with the continuum of cognitive impairment ranging from normal age-related cognitive decline to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to a variety of more severe dementias, including Alzheimer’s, how is one to know?

The recent death of actor Leslie Nielsen touched me with sadness; he was a good actor and a funny man, and his films made me laugh till my cheeks ached. It made me reflect on how — if at all — any of us can expect to be remembered after our death and whether our existence will be marked in any meaningful way.

Smiling can actually add years to your life, counteracting the effects of stress, alleviating pain, lowering blood pressure, and boosting the immune system.