Jungle gym therapy for seniors

Researchers in Finland found that people over 65 years of age who played on playground equipment over a 3-month period experienced "significant improvements in balance, speed, and co-ordination."

In fact, a Finnish company has begun selling the idea of "three-generational play"—playground equipment made not only for children but also for their parents and grandparents.

The researchers also make interesting cross-culture comparisons about parents' attitudes toward this type of play:

In tests on groups from different countries, the Germans were found to be fondest of having the generations play together. ... [French] parents frequently cleaned the dirt from the children's' hands and ensured they did not play with toys that had been brought in by other children. The British were the most laissez-faire. But overall, the Scandinavians seemed to be more relaxed about rough and tumble.

—Mellow Monk

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Saw palmetto, green tea, and the prostate

Claims that saw palmetto extract can be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate) are looking less and less credible.

On the other hand, some studies show that green tea can help prevent prostate cancer.

—Mellow Monk

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Good news for parents of 17-year-olds

According to this study, age 18 is when the brain starts to mature anatomically.

If you're a "the cup is half empty" type of person, you can look at it this way: 18 is when the brain only begins to mature:

When do we reach adulthood? It might be much later than we traditionally think.

On the other hand, let's not talk about when the brain starts to atrophy.

—Mellow Monk

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