Europeans tallest, North Americans smallest brains?

Recently, according to a study Europeans, The Dutch in particular, are now the tallest people in the World.

North Americans were always the tallest, but haven't grown since the last 25 years and are 2 inches shorter than their Dutch counterparts.

We're used to the notion of the United States as the world's dominant power, a land of untold resources, wealth and consumption.

And one reflection of this abundance is the fact that for most of the past 2 1/2 centuries, Americans have been literally the tallest people on the planet.
Feeding off the abundant wild game and rich agriculture of their vast new land, colonial Americans measured a full three inches taller than Europeans.

Not so any more.
Compared to Europeans, Americans have effectively shrunk.
Indeed, among all advanced industrial nations, Americans are now at the bottom end of the height scale.

And, no, it's not the influx of short Hispanics. The height pattern is the same for Americans even when the sample is limited to non-Hispanic, native-born Americans.

It seems to be a reflection of something more basic.
According to an influential paper in Social Science Quarterly last June by economic historians John Komlos and Benjamin Lauderdale, "height is indicative of how well the human organism thrives in its socioeconomic environment."

The relative shrinking of Americans on the world scene is perhaps then an indicator of something Americans are doing badly, not in Iraq, but right at home.

And that something should be of more than passing interest to Canadians as we continue, consciously and unconsciously, to shape our economic and social systems with the U.S. in mind.

Actually, Canada has traditionally been a blend of the U.S. and European approaches.
But in the last couple of decades, as we have focused increasingly on cutting taxes and have adopted the attitude that individuals must make it on their own in society, we've veered more closely to the U.S. model.

We tend to view the low-tax, low-spending U.S. model as simply the norm in the era of globalization. But in fact it is only the U.S. norm.

Europeans, particularly northern Europeans, have traditionally done things differently.
They have been imposing much higher taxes and delivering much more generous social programs that provide a striking array of benefits to every member of society.

Contrary to our impressions here in the West that globalization has fundamentally redesigned the world, the Europeans have stuck with their high-tax, high-spending model in the globalized era.

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Alzheimer Society kicks-off Brain Health awareness campaign

This January, the Alzheimer Society is challenging all Canadians, young and old, to make brain health a personal commitment as it kicks off its nationwide awareness campaign, 'Heads Up for Healthier Brains!'

"In 2007 we helped people make the connection between healthy living and a healthy brain," says Scott Dudgeon, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
"Now we are asking Canadians to make the commitment to do the things that will help keep their brains healthy, things that can also help to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."

Making the commitment is easy.
It can involve the entire family, and include activities such as challenging your brain, being socially active, choosing a healthy lifestyle, and protecting your head from injury.
It is never too soon, or too late, to make changes that will maintain or improve your brain health.

For people already living with Alzheimer's disease, these kinds of activities go a long way in improving quality of life, as well as delaying the progression of the disease.
"Across the globe, top scientists are continuing to focus their efforts on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and much of this research is happening right here in Canada," says Dr. Jack Diamond, scientific director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

"In just the last year we have learned so much more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and the need to keep your brain active."

The Alzheimer Society is making its own commitment to helping Canadians improve their brain health with the launch of BrainBooster, an online gym of challenging games and puzzles designed to increase mental performance.
The gym also features brain boosting recipes and simple exercises to get people moving.

Canadians can access the gym by visiting www.alzheimer.ca.
Once there, they can also sign up with their personal 'brain' pledge and enter the 'Puzzled about Alzheimer's Contest,' showcased in the Feb/Mar issue of Homemakers and Madame magazines, as well as their online sites.

Source: CNW Group