The month of June brings the beginning of summer, the end of the school year and perhaps even the chance to think about a staycation or vacation. June is also Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the perfect time to discover how to maintain and improve the health of our remarkable brains.

Your brain is truly the most amazing part of your body. It comes up with creative ways to express your thoughts and emotions, coordinates movements from chopping onions to running an obstacle course, stores your most precious childhood memories, and solves the Sunday crossword. But it’s easy to take those powers for granted.

Your cognitive health is determined by how well your brain can perform mental processes. These include remembering things, learning things, and using language. A healthy brain is just as important as a healthy body. Many of the things you do to keep your body healthy can also keep your brain healthy. It is also important to stay socially and mentally active.

If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music. There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does. If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.

Researchers with the VA Bedford and VA Boston health care systems have developed a non-invasive optical technique to help detect Alzheimer’s disease. The new technique uses spectroscopy—measuring how light is scattered and absorbed when passing through matter—to identify structural changes in the brain.

The myMarpai.com member portal gives your brain a rest by making it easy to see your health benefits, claims and spending in one place. With just a click, you can track deductibles and spending, see what’s covered by your plan, view eligibility, search for an in-network provider, see the status of claims, print the Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and your health ID card, download forms and member materials, and more.

While we focus on our physical wellbeing, the food we eat, exercise, and getting regular check-ups, we often forget to take stock of our emotional and mental health needs. With one in five adults experiencing mental illness each year and one in six youth experiencing a mental health disorder each year, it is more important than ever to pay attention to this issue during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Published by familydoctor.org https://familydoctor.org/mental-health-myths-stop-stigma/ Mental health is widely misunderstood. There is a stigma that surrounds mental health issues. This stigma prevents people from getting the help they need. The only way to stop the stigma is to learn as much as you can about it. The best way to do that is to dispel some of the common myths about mental illness. Path to improved well being Here are some common myths about mental illness, and the facts that refute them. Myth: Mental health problems are not that common. Fact: Mental health problems are very common. About 1 of every [...]

Published by OASHhttps://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/good-mental-health-every-ageEach stage of your life can create different challenges to good mental health. The events that worry you as a 20-year-old probably won't be the same as what causes you stress when you're 50. Eating right, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and having healthy relationships will help support good physical and mental health throughout life. If you're worried about your mental health, talk to someone right away.What do I need to know about mental health in my teens and 20s?Researchers think that most mental health conditions begin early in life, usually by 25 years old.2 Mental health conditions are [...]

Published by WebMD https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-gardening-affects-mental-healthGardening has been around for as long as humans have been growing food. Through the centuries, gardens have served not only as places to grow plants but as spaces for people to relax, to focus, and to connect with nature and each other. Today, gardening can provide many mental health benefits for your daily life. Benefits of Gardening for Mental Health ‌Gardening can improve many aspects of mental health, focus, and concentration. Improves mood. Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts [...]

Published by National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment Technology has opened a new frontier in mental health support and data collection. Mobile devices like cell phones, smartphones, and tablets are giving the public, doctors, and researchers new ways to access help, monitor progress, and increase understanding of mental wellbeing. Mobile mental health support can be very simple but effective. For example, anyone with the ability to send a text message can contact a crisis center. New technology can also be packaged into an extremely sophisticated app for smartphones or tablets. Such apps might use the device’s built-in sensors to collect information [...]

Marpai, your employer’s health plan services provider, recognizes that knowledge is a powerful way to help you feel positive. Understanding deductibles, out-of-pocket costs and when you’re covered can help you feel better about managing your healthcare and keep your pocketbook healthier too. 

Published by Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/ibs-and-exercise Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine. It’s a chronic condition, which means it requires long-term management. Common symptoms include: abdominal pain cramping bloating excess gas constipation or diarrhea or both mucus in the stool fecal incontinence These symptoms often come and go. They may last for days, weeks, or months. When you experience symptoms, it’s called an IBS flare-up. IBS can interfere with daily life. There also isn’t a cure. However, for some people, certain lifestyle habits can help manage symptoms. This includes regular physical activity. Exercise is thought to [...]

Adapted from IFFGD Publication #191 by Debbie Zeichner, LCSW, BCD, Los Angeles, CA. https://aboutibs.org/treatment/psychological-treatments/relaxation-techniques-for-ibs/ You’ve been to a healthcare provider and you’ve had all of the tests. The diagnosis you’ve been given is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS… now what? Your health care provider may have suggested that your IBS is “stress-related.” In no way does this mean that your symptoms are “all in your head.” Rather, your healthcare provider is referring to the ways in which the brain and digestive system communicate and interact with each other, commonly referred to as the “brain-gut connection.” In response to either a [...]

Published by Very Welll Health https://www.verywellhealth.com/phone-apps-for-managing-ibs-5090428 The months after receiving a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a confusing and overwhelming time. Some people with IBS have dealt with symptoms for years without knowing the cause or how to manage it. They may have tried many different lifestyle changes, diets, and even medications without hitting on the right combination for their symptoms. People with IBS are not a monolith; the symptoms and how they lead to lowering quality of life are different for each person. That’s why using health apps that are meant for people who don’t live [...]

Medically Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD https://www.webmd.com/ibs/diet-solution-ibs If you have IBS-C, you may be concerned about what to eat. You need to keep a balanced diet while you avoid foods that trigger symptoms for you. Try a few simple tips to make your diet work better for you. Keep a Symptom Journal An IBS symptom journal can help you and your doctor figure out which foods may trigger your symptoms. Make a habit of writing down any symptoms you might have, along with what and how much you ate beforehand. If you see a pattern with certain foods, see if [...]

March is National Nutrition Month and National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! This issue of our newsletter has tips on those topics, plus stress relief for better sleep and the latest on telemedicine. Marpai (Mar-pay), your employer health plan services provider, delivers SMART Health Insights every month to help you feel great and live well through better health. With tips for better physical and mental wellness, highlights of exciting new health technology products, and news from Marpai, it’s designed to help improve your health journey.

Telemedicine, which enables video or phone appointments between a patient and their health care practitioner, benefits both health and convenience. More health care providers are offering to “see” patients by computer and smartphone.