Build A Better Brain: 4 Apps For Improved Brain Health

At a time of rapid medical processes, basic research is developing innovative treatments. The 21st Century Cures Act was recently signed into law, creating new pathways for drug approval, and tech devices are revolutionizing weight loss, diabetes management, and even aiding in the treatment of conditions like Parkinson’s through the use of deep brain stimulation. Still, in many cases, brain-based issues remain among the most intractable and difficult to treat.

From headaches to memory and mental health, app developers aim to improve our current approaches to brain health. We can feel better and function better with the help of technological advances.

A Headache Helper

Some days, you get a headache that no amount of Tylenol will get rid of – you need something more. But what? Targeted sound waves may be the answer.

Low-frequency sound waves can help relax the mind and relieve headaches, and the Brain Wave Headache Relief app puts these specifically engineered sound waves at your fingertips. The app offers daytime and evening specific programs as well as additional background sound for your enjoyment. While your conscious mind enjoys the soundtrack, the underlying sound waves can relieve headaches by altering alpha, theta, and delta waves in your brain.

Memory Masters

One of the most devastating neurological conditions today is Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia – conditions that rob people of themselves, of the memories and personalities that make us who we are. It comes as no surprise, then, that many of us spend our younger years seeking out memory preservation strategies, including taking fish oil and choline supplements, doing puzzles, and remaining active. Still, this is rarely enough.

In response to our cultural concern with memory and mental agility, many app makers have stepped up with potential solutions, including widely publicized (and controversial) programs like Lumosity. Lumosity hardly has a hold on the market, however. Other popular memory training apps include Elevate and Peak, with Peak featuring mini-games meant to boost attention span, potentially helping users beat out multitasking and distraction in daily life.

Memory Monitoring

Though brain training activities have the potential to keep users stimulated and build neural connections, they can’t beat disease alone, which is why it’s important to be aware of signs of memory loss. Unfortunately, when your memory starts to slip, it can be hard to notice the signs and take them seriously – we all want to discount forgetfulness as normal aging or distraction. Sometimes we need to be pushed to address the issue. That’s what makes the Neurotrack app so useful.

Neurotrack uses eye-tracking technology to spot signs of Alzheimer’s in users. It’s a simple 5-minute process that can be done at home via smartphone and the science behind it is much stronger than anything supporting brain training apps. This program can be a real lifeline for concerned family members hoping to keep tabs on potential problems among older relatives.

Anxiety Awareness

Though we’ve become more aware of mental health as a nation in recent years, appropriate treatment for conditions like depression and anxiety can still be hard to access, particularly for low-income individuals and those living in rural areas. Apps, however, are a low-cost way to help circumvent some of the most challenging symptoms.

If you struggle with anxiety, which is an adaptive and necessary trait, but one that can get out of control, an app like Headspace can help. For a monthly fee of $8, you can access daily guidance packs that help you check your mood and connect with your emotions. You can also choose the life issues you wish to address, helping you to cope with specific concerns, such as job stress or social anxiety. While not the same as seeing a mental health professional, apps make a great stopgap between sessions and can help those without access to treatment make steps towards psychological health.

Apps are never a replacement for medical professionals, but they can be a great way to manage day-to-day and subclinical issues and monitor ongoing problems. And if you can knock out that horrid headache by plugging in your headphones or playing a brain stimulating game instead of Pokemon Go, why not give it a shot?

The Current State of Weight Loss Technology

The weight loss niche is one of the fastest growing areas in all of fitness and healthcare. Thousands of companies are looking for the ultimate weight loss solution and many will tell you that they’ve finally honed in on the answer. But which weight loss technologies are actually worth your time?

3 Technologies to Keep an Eye On

There are dozens of ways to lose weight, but only a few of them are considered healthy and sustainable. If you want to shed those extra pounds – and keep them off – without compromising your health, then you should do your due diligence and carefully consider the potential consequences of using any sort of “new” technology. In this article, we’ll take a look at some specific technologies that are worth thinking about.

1. hCG Injections

hCG injections, also referred to as hCG shots, involve a medically administered form of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. hCG injections are frequently given for fertility issues, but can also play a role in weight loss.

“It may seem strange that hCG, a hormone produced by pregnant women to nourish their growing baby, can actually assist weight loss,” Fitness Edge acknowledges. “The fact is, that the secret to the effectiveness of hCG for weight loss is actually due to the very role that it plays during pregnancy.”

If a pregnant mother doesn’t consume enough food to nourish both the baby and her own body during pregnancy, the hCG hormone stimulates the body and tells it to use any excess fat stores as an alternative form of nutrition.

The idea here is that by injecting yourself with hCG hormones during a period of low caloric intakes, the body mimics this scenario and burns fat. The key to being successful with hCG injections is consuming the right amount of calories. You need to eat enough to remain healthy, while not eating so much that the hCG fails to do its part.

2. CoolSculpting

By now you’ve probably heard of CoolSculpting. It’s a huge trend in Hollywood and is beginning to catch on elsewhere. “The CoolSculpting fat-freezing procedure is the only FDA-cleared, non-surgical fat-reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat that resists all efforts through diet and exercise. The results are proven, noticeable, and lasting – so you’ll look great from every angle,” the company says.

While that’s obviously marketing-speak, there’s ample evidence to suggest that CoolSculpting does indeed eliminate stubborn fat with very few negative side effects. It’s primarily used to eliminate fat in the neck, stomach, sides, and legs.

3. Ultrasound Melting

While it may sound less appealing than CoolSculpting, ultrasound melting has been rather successful. It received FDA approval in 2014 and has been used for years in Canada.

Ultrasound melting takes place in three separate sessions, each of which occurs roughly two weeks apart. In this process, the doctor “pinches” abdominal fat and forms it into a rectangular shape that’s then taped off. A gooey gel is then applied to the surface and the ultrasound wand is waved over the fat for roughly 10 minutes. Many have reported seeing as much as an inch waistline decrease after treatments.

Do Your Homework

Just because something tells you that you can lose weight doesn’t mean it’s safe. There are plenty of unsafe weight loss technologies on the market and you have to make sure you avoid them at all costs. There’s no sense in losing a couple pounds of flab at the expense of permanently harming your body.

With that being said, the technologies listed in this article seem to provide all of the right answers. Do your own research and find out if one of them can help you finally achieve the weight you’ve been dreaming of.