Health for a Lifetime

Studies In Memory, Sleep, And Retirement

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Don Mackintosh (Host), Dr. Neil Nedley

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Series Code: HFAL

Program Code: HFAL00239A


00:50 Hello! Welcome to "Health for a Lifetime"
00:52 We're glad you're with us today,
00:53 and we're glad Dr. Neil Nedley is with us...
00:56 And we're going to be talking about some interesting things...
00:59 Welcome! Thank you, good to be here.
01:01 Now you're a physician, you deal with,
01:04 not only physical, but also mental health...
01:06 You are an internal medicine specialist but you've also
01:08 done work in the area of mental health,
01:11 depression recovery, peak mental performance. Correct
01:14 We're going to talk about some studies that deal with that,
01:17 some studies that deal with melatonin,
01:19 and, you know, REST and these different kinds of things
01:21 So we're going to be updated
01:22 ...Kind of the latest from the, well, the current greatest,
01:26 if you will... Yeah ... look at that
01:28 Actually, these will all be studies that have been published
01:31 in 2008, or reported on.
01:34 Okay, the first one, you know, is fascinating...
01:38 BAD GRADES... as they're related to what's called
01:42 faulty memory or working memory
01:44 YES, in fact, we now know that a person's IQ
01:50 And that is their ability to
01:53 learn, retain and apply knowledge...
01:56 That's really what IQ is...
01:58 ...is directly related to an individual's working memory
02:03 Working memory... So what's that?
02:04 Working memory is being able to remember items or lists
02:12 and remember when you get to the last part of the page
02:17 what you read at the first part of the page.
02:19 And it is something... you know, most people can
02:23 remember 3 to 5 items, but really, it's their ability to
02:27 remember key points, and then not only retain that,
02:31 but to be able to apply those key points in what you learned
02:34 So, like a phone number, or like, you know,
02:37 going to the grocery store with 5 or 6 things?
02:41 That's right... if it's more than that,
02:43 most people are going to forget 1 or 2 items.
02:45 And so, of course, that's when they actually copy down
02:48 a list, and they have that list there.
02:51 So, let's say you have a son or a daughter, or a relative
02:55 that you think has poor working memory...
02:58 they are not doing so well...
03:02 Is it because they're lazy?
03:03 Is it because they're dumb?
03:06 No, not necessarily...
03:07 In fact, that's what was thought of in yesteryear
03:09 ...is that Johnny was just lazy and thus, wasn't learning
03:13 Can't you remember anything I tell you... that kind of stuff
03:15 ...Wasn't reading his history book, etc.
03:17 And he wasn't reading it because by the time he got to the
03:20 end of the page, he couldn't remember what was in the
03:22 first part of the page.
03:23 And each sentence he read, replaced and erased
03:26 the sentence that he had before.
03:28 And so what he needs, is to work on his working memory
03:33 And that can actually significantly improve his IQ
03:36 and significantly improve his success in life.
03:39 So how do you work on your working memory?
03:40 Well, we have a graphic that kind of illustrates this.
03:44 Working memory is actually more important than IQ
03:49 as far as success...
03:50 And if you see that gentleman there on the screen
03:53 there's a clue that he has problems with his working memory
03:57 Those are like 64 clues there!
04:01 And this is an individual that, at least he's working on it
04:06 You know, he's writing it down, and he recognizes
04:09 he needs to have it there handy.
04:11 And that actually is one of the keys of SUCCESS!
04:16 You know, you asked... how do you work on it?
04:17 And one of the ways is actually writing things down,
04:21 and then referring back to those things
04:24 on a more frequent basis.
04:26 And that's item #1 as far as how to work on it.
04:31 So, in other words, don't say "I have a bad memory"
04:37 because, for some reason,
04:38 you can remember that you can't remember well...
04:40 That's right... Right.
04:42 We're much more worried when
04:43 you can't remember and you don't know that you can't remember.
04:48 That's right... so if you're out there saying...
04:49 "Well, I know I can't remember well"
04:51 Well how can you remember that? Right? Exactly
04:54 So improving that...
04:55 Now, you know, one way of saying that people can work on this
04:58 is through memorizing like texts of Scripture...
05:01 I've noticed that you can take these cards and you write
05:04 the date and the verse on one thing,
05:07 and then you write on the back
05:08 In fact, there are whole programs that have been
05:11 developed where you then repeat that for like 3 months
05:16 every day and it goes into your long-term memory
05:19 and, you know, an evangelist or a pastor,
05:22 or someone that's studying the Word of God
05:25 with people, they want to recall all those texts
05:27 they're really working on their working memory, aren't they?
05:29 Absolutely! In fact, Scripture memorization is a great way to
05:31 In fact, Scripture memorization is a great way to
05:33 improve your working memory.
05:35 Now, there's something about Scripture memorization
05:38 that you need to be aware of...
05:39 and that is that when you first try it,
05:42 if your working memory is poor,
05:44 you're going to think that you're not going to be
05:46 successful at it.
05:48 It takes some time to be successful...
05:50 And, you know, Don, you mentioned 3 months...
05:52 But in reality, that's about how long it takes before you can
05:56 REALLY start to progress.
05:58 Now, you'll be able to memorize texts within those 3 months
06:01 But after the 3 months, if you're working on those
06:04 programs of Scripture memorization,
06:06 you'll be able to memorize NEW texts
06:08 MUCH quicker, MUCH faster... Why?
06:10 You're working memory has expanded.
06:12 Some say another way to memorize is to put something to music!
06:16 Yes, when we associate things with something else
06:22 we actually remember it.
06:24 It's actually easier to remember two things, than it is one
06:27 For instance, if you are introduced to a
06:29 person named "Gary"
06:31 and you think he's a little goofy,
06:33 to put "Goofy Gary" together,
06:37 you'll end up remembering Gary's name more,
06:39 and you'll also remember that he was goofy more
06:41 than if you just were told one of those two things.
06:44 Or... "Notorious Neil," or "Dangerous Don," or...
06:48 whatever it is... so you put the two together
06:50 You put two together, and that
06:51 actually helps your working memory...
06:53 And music helps...
06:54 You know, that's why Scripture was actually put to song
06:57 ...You know David's Psalms were actually written SONGS
07:02 Many of them were anthems that were sung by choirs
07:05 to REMEMBER these important words.
07:07 Yeah, you know, of course, you don't want to maybe do that
07:10 when you're going to the store...
07:11 You know, have a song and you're singing...
07:12 "I need the tomatoes, potatoes and the broccoli and lettuce"
07:15 But working memory...
07:17 Okay so, it's not just the
07:19 death knell... you can work on it.
07:20 Of course, you know, the other thing...
07:22 when you mentioned Scripture memory,
07:24 if you do THAT, then the Bible says...
07:27 that the Holy Spirit will help BRING things to remembrance!
07:30 Yes! So that helps with that...
07:33 You know, one of the people in my life that I know quite well
07:38 had lost all their short-term memory basically through
07:41 what they were doing in life,
07:42 and now they memorize thousands of texts from Scripture.
07:45 They rebuilt the hard drive. Yes
07:47 OR the RAM drive... the short-term drive, I guess
07:51 Yeah, and you know, some people in school...
07:54 for instance, those that are having struggles, C, D's
07:57 By the way, there's a link between working memory problems
08:00 and ADHD problems... that's the primary problem with
08:02 many people with ADHD. Is that right?
08:04 ...Is their inability to be able to have their working memory
08:09 up to par.
08:11 And so, if you take someone with a working memory problem,
08:16 they're getting C's, D's, F's in school
08:19 One of the key things that they do that actually works
08:23 is to, you know, outline in yellow, key points on a page
08:27 after you've read that page,
08:28 and then actually SPEAK that into a tape recorder
08:32 And then, when you're going around, listen to it back
08:35 and that can actually help improve the working memory.
08:39 And instead of the child just thinking that
08:41 they're dumb or stupid, what they really ought to say is
08:45 I'm working on expanding my working memory.
08:48 Ha, ha, ha... I see!
08:49 Yeah, so you know, some people they see it... that's not enough
08:52 they need to LISTEN to it. Ummm, you know...
08:55 That's right. I don't know how you are, but
08:58 some people are just BETTER
08:59 I mean... anytime I hear perhaps a sermon or something
09:04 I'll remember it MUCH BETTER than if I just read it... Yeah
09:08 This was a study that was done by Dr. Levine...
09:13 And by the way, you know, we're having a lot of
09:16 Health for Lifetime on recent health reports
09:18 I should mention, Don, that they can login to the
09:21 "Nedley Health Report" and they can get all this information
09:26 ...So I know some people are going to want to know
09:28 where each study is from... "The Nedley Health Report"
09:32 and you can actually logon and get that via email
09:35 ...We keep you up-to-date every month on new health information
09:40 So all these things we're covering, you get a monthly
09:42 thing to help you remember the most recent research.
09:45 Yeah... just Google the "Nedley Health Report"
09:47 or logon to our website drnedley. com or
09:50 doctornedley. com Okay...
09:52 And thank you for that resource, by the way,
09:53 I get the "E-pistle" if you will the e-mail every month
10:00 and, you know, fascinating, but very useful FACTS to use
10:06 Facts that you can apply in your daily life.
10:08 Well, we want to look at another study...
10:09 Melatonin and light may aid people with Alzheimer's
10:14 YES! And this highlights that our health report actually
10:18 deals with young and old...
10:19 Working memory often tends to be a problem with the young
10:22 and those who are not going to be successful
10:25 that could be successful...
10:26 But this is now the other side of life...
10:29 and that is those who are elderly.
10:31 It turns out, individuals with Alzheimer's,
10:33 or when they start to lose their memory due to age-related
10:37 causes, tend to run into sleep problems... Um hm
10:40 And they run into sleep problems because they're not making
10:43 enough melatonin...
10:44 Some of the brain changes have prevented them from
10:46 from making enough melatonin.
10:48 And they also run into sleep problems because they tend
10:51 to be indoor people at this point...
10:53 and not exposed to bright light.
10:56 And so, this research actually was published
10:58 in the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society"
11:02 and was conducted by Glenna Dowling of
11:04 of the University of California in San Francisco
11:07 and was published in March, 2008 ... So what do you do?
11:12 What do you do to get this back?
11:15 Well, what they did is, they did a nice controlled study
11:18 and they took these Alzheimer's, or people who had
11:21 lost their memory...
11:22 Actually, they were all diagnosed with Alzheimer's...
11:25 ...And they exposed them to bright light.
11:29 They either got them outdoors, out of their nursing home,
11:32 or out of their home TO be exposed to the
11:36 natural bright light...
11:37 Or they had actually artificial light
11:39 come in that simulates it...
11:40 There are light boxes that simulate the same wavelength
11:43 It's not like a camera flash or something...
11:45 Not a camera flash... SUSTAINED LIGHT!
11:47 Sustained light for 1 hour in the morning.
11:50 OH, 1 hour... Yes, preferably within 10 minutes of awakening.
11:54 RIGHT AFTER YOU GET OUT OF BED when you're saying
11:56 "Oww, don't turn the lights on ... TURN THE LIGHTS ON!
11:58 That's right... and you can do other things, you know
12:00 ...you can read, you can talk to people
12:02 Your eyes are being exposed to that light...
12:05 And THEN, in the EVENING, because their brain makes
12:09 less melatonin, they were given a melatonin supplement.
12:12 And the best way to take that melatonin supplement is
12:15 actually to put it under your tongue...
12:17 you absorb it better, and it's better than swallowing melatonin
12:21 And when they did those 2 things
12:23 they found out that they significantly
12:26 stayed awake better...
12:27 They were more alert in the daytime...
12:29 and they slept better at night.
12:30 Instead of having the sundowner syndrome,
12:33 that many Alzheimer patients have...
12:35 where they get up in the middle of the night,
12:36 and they think it's daytime...
12:38 Or they get confused in the middle of the night...
12:40 sometimes even get combative, and confused...
12:45 THAT went away!
12:46 And, their daytime alertness improved.
12:49 So, it doesn't reverse their Alzheimer's,
12:51 but it does normalize their
12:53 wake/sleep cycle... is that what you're saying?
12:56 It does, and it also, actually by doing that,
12:58 improves their mental performance.
13:00 So, it doesn't get rid of the tangles in the brain,
13:04 but the area of the brain that doesn't have tangles,
13:08 works better.
13:09 And so, in essence, it's like taking a powerful
13:13 medicine for Alzheimer disease,
13:15 ...actually better than medicine for Alzheimer's
13:18 We're talking with Dr. Neil Nedley
13:20 We're talking about the research here that can really help you.
13:24 We've talked about short-term memory...
13:25 We've talked about light sleep cycles and
13:28 getting your melatonin.
13:30 When we come back, we're going to talk about
13:31 how dangerous it is to take an early retirement...
13:34 and other fascinating studies
13:36 So join us when we come back.


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Revised 2014-12-17