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One of the more demoralizing times of Moses Hamilton's life was when he tried to paint in early 2003.

He was participating in an art program at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific in Hawaii. A teacher was trying to show a group of people with disabilities how to paint with their mouths.

Hamilton -- who was 26 years old and recovering from a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down -- was given a mouthpiece attached to a paintbrush. He struggled to stroke it over the canvas.

"I was in recovery, but I was still mentally distraught," he told The Huffington Post. "That first painting actually brought me down. It was so hard to do anything with my mouth [that] I told myself I couldn't do this."

Hamilton gave up. When he left the art program, the teacher gave him some mouthpieces so he could try again later.

"Hey, you never know," he said the teacher told him.

"Maybe, but maybe not," Hamilton replied.

'Freedom On The Canvas'

Today, Hamilton has created more than 200 paintings, which he sells on his website MosesArt.org. Now 39 years old, he tries to paint four to five days a week for at least four hours a day. On average, according to Kauai news site The Garden Island, it takes him 25 hours to finish an 11-by-14 painting.

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He says it took "patience, practice, perseverance and a lot of passion" -- what he calls, "the P's of painting" -- to get to his level of skill. It also took time to convince himself it was worth giving art another try.

It was over a year after his move back to his home island of Kauai before he picked up the mouthpieces to try painting once more.

"It started off as a hobby, then it snowballed," he said. "I was getting better and gaining more confidence."

He learned to hold the paintbrush steady, and he began using colors inspired by the islands. Painting outdoors became one of his favorite things to do. Eventually, people took interest in his work, and he began selling it.

Now, Hamilton says, "painting soothes my soul."

"It sets me free from being in a wheelchair," he told HuffPost. "I might not be moving my body, but I am moving something on the page. I'm creating my own moments, freedom on the canvas."

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Hamilton can often be found painting in the outdoor plaza of the Ching Young Shopping Center near Hanalei Beach. It's his favorite place to paint and talk with curious passersby.

Hamilton uses watercolor and acrylic to paint Kauai's beaches at sunrise, sunset and moonrise. He also paints the beach's perfect curling waves, relying on his memories of riding the surf to bring the swells to life.

He paints portraits of the culture and people of the Hawaiian islands -- Native Hawaiians in traditional garb, Filipino fieldworkers, women in kimonos and hula dancers. He uses intricate patterns and vivid colors. He once called his artistic style, "exaggerated impressionism," according to Honolulu's MidWeek.

Hamilton wants his art to expand. He wants to try new mediums and new textures. But for now, he's content selling his art ("half the fun is being able to share it," he says) and enjoying the beauty of his life on Kauai.

"The islands are more than just a physical experience," he said. "The feeling is all bright; it's golden, it's a tropical feeling. We're living under a rainbow. I live in a place filled with magic and colors."

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Ego-Crushing And Humbling

Before his accident, Hamilton surfed big waves, lived an active lifestyle and worked at various hotels and restaurants. In his own mind, he was a superstar -- a "big, strong man," he says.

Now, he can barely shake his arms. He can use his right arm to push his wheelchair, but he can't move his fingers, feed himself or grab things. He admits his life now is tough; he relies on his parents for basic movements. He said he takes a lot of deep breaths to release the frustration he feels when he thinks of "all the things I don't have anymore -- the opportunity to surf and have a more normal life."

"It's been a very humbling experience; kind of ego-crushing," he said. "I've had to learn to let go of ... that exciting life that I lived before. Now my life is quiet, simple, but it's a good life, too."

Inspiration, he says, isn't hard to come by, but he has to remind himself to live with an "attitude of gratitude."

"Happiness isn't handed to you," he said. "It takes work to be happy. You've got to find it and find your own way in life."

"It's definitely a daily lesson in letting go," he adds, "in being calm and accepting the fate I have."

Below, see Hamilton's vibrant creations bring the Hawaiian islands to life.










If you'd like to purchase prints or originals of Moses Hamilton's work, visit his website at MosesArt.org and follow him on Facebook.

LONDON -- A Japanese robot maker says he's designed a personal robot that could be the "next smartphone."

"You will put him in your pocket and talk to him like your own Jiminy Cricket," Tomotaka Takahashi, CEO of robot design company Robo Garage and research associate professor at the University of Tokyo, told The WorldPost recently at The WorldPost Future of Work Conference. He said he's aiming to have the pocket robot, which is still just a prototype, hit the market in a year. He has not shown the prototype to anyone publicly.

Takahashi says the pocket robot has a head and limbs, is able to walk and dance, and expresses "emotions" through gestures and color-changing eyes. In these ways, the pocket robot is similar to "Robi," a larger robot also created by Takahashi that's been on sale since 2012. (You can see Robi in the video above.)

The biggest difference is that the pocket robot, which doesn't have a name yet, would be connected to the Internet. By collecting data about your online and offline behavior, your pocket robot would "get to know you." In fact, its personality would change based on your personality, Takahashi said.

"Smartphones are hitting a wall," he said. There's only so much a person can do while looking at a screen, he went on, and smartphone voice recognition is not widely used. "We can talk to pets -- even fish or turtles -- but not to square boxes or screens."

Takahashi believes that it won't be enough for our next device to be intelligent -- it will also need to be lifelike. It's why he thinks "wearable tech," like Google Glass or the much-vaunted Apple Watch, won't catch on.

"We can talk to pets -- even fish or turtles -- but not to square boxes or screens."

Before creating Robi, Takahashi built a small robot that climbed a cliff of the Grand Canyon. But he said that because physical tasks are the most difficult for robots to perform, he's now focused on improving human-to-robot communication. In this vein, one of his robots, Kirobo, was sent to the International Space Station in 2013 as a part of an experiment to see if the robot could adequately keep a human astronaut company. Kirobo flew back to Earth in February, and an assessment of its performance will take place later this month.

Takahashi predicts that in 10 years, most people will be carrying around a small robot instead of a smartphone. As evidence, he points to the widespread use of social media. People are social creatures, and we like to share our experiences and thoughts. It's why we tweet and post photos on Facebook. The next step, Takahashi believes, will be socializing directly with your robot.

For example, instead of sharing a stunning photo on Instagram or your thoughts on an interesting movie on Twitter, you could talk about it with your robot in the moment. Not only that, but your robot would remember the shared experience, years later. Your relationship with your robot would be strengthened over time by the memories that you share together, Takahashi said.

"It's similar to men and women," he said. "First you have an interest in each other. Then communication goes well. Then there's reliability, and then you're sharing many experiences in the same time and same place. It's what old couples have together."

Your relationship with your robot would be strengthened over time by the memories that you share together, Takahashi said.

But he doesn't think humans will try to make small robots into their romantic partners -- "just close friends." And like an old friend who's irreplaceable, you won't have to replace your pocket robot when a newer model comes out -- you'll simply have the option of moving his "identity symbol parts" into new hardware, Takahashi said.

In addition to experiences, you could also share thoughts and feelings with your robot. "Right now, we can talk to our phone to ask for our schedule or send an email, but that's more of a direction," said Takahashi. "When we have small robots, we'll say things to it like 'Today's cold' or 'I'm sad' -- things more related to our fundamental emotions. He doesn't have to say something very useful back. Just respond like a human would."

You could use your pocket robot for lots of other things too. If you tell your robot you're hungry, it could remind you when you last ate, or tell you that around the corner, there's a sushi place (which your robot would know is your favorite type of food). Your robot could also help you better connect with humans, Takahashi said. For example, if you're about to meet a new co-worker, your robot could -- after scanning the Internet or that person's robot -- tell you that the new co-worker shares a hobby with you.

And there's great commercial potential. The more information a device collects, the more lucrative it is. Your shopping recommendations on Amazon would be spot on, Takahashi said.

It's unclear whether Takahashi can actually perfect a pocket robot capable of everything he describes. Past robots touted as lifelike and emotionally intelligent haven't quite pulled it off. And while there's a market for personal robots in Japan, it's far from certain whether the demand exists elsewhere. Also, of course, privacy concerns are inevitable. (Takahashi says the security on the pocket robot will be similar to that of a smartphone.)

Julie Ask, principal analyst at the technology research firm Forrester, said she doesn't think Takahashi's pocket robot will replace the smartphone. However, she said, a robot could serve as an appealing extension of someone's phone. That's the thinking behind the Apple Watch, which relays data about its user's behavior to the user's iPhone. Ask told The WorldPost that she thinks there may not be a large demand for pocket robots outside of Asia, but she added that certain niche markets might want one, like people who struggle to connect with others. Most people, she said, will probably continue to focus on communicating with other humans rather than with a robot.

"Much of what most of us do on our phone is communicate with others, often on social media, which is very different than a one-on-one relationship," Ask said. "It's very much about sharing with the world."

Your robot's personality will change based on your personality, Takahashi said.

Still, Takahashi believes that personal robots are going to play an increasing role in people's day-to-day lives. He argues that people are growing tired of virtual communication and are now missing real communication and physicality. That's why, he said, we're now seeing lots of hardware startups, including 3-D printing applications. He said that he's working with a "well-known company" to mass-produce his pocket robot, but he's not saying which one until their joint public announcement. The pocket robot will be the size of an iPhone 6, have a similar battery life and cost about $2,000, he said.

Unsurprisingly, Takahashi is not alone in his race to release a personal robot. Other products that are either currently available or slated for release in 2015 or 2016 include Pepper, Jibo, Robotbase, Furo and Romo. However, none of these are pocket-sized, none appear to be intended for round-the-clock, always-with-you use and none seem likely to replace the smartphone.

And as Takahashi sees it, a large part of a personal robot's value would come from being with you all the time.

"We will rely on our personal robot in the future," Takahashi said, "because he will know you better than anyone."

Takahashi's comments have been edited for clarity.

Stress eating happens for most of us, given the right circumstances. Even people who don't usually struggle with overeating turn to food when they're overwhelmed, overworked, or overtired. It's complicated, because when you're stressed, you don't have a lot of extra bandwidth to problem solve -- and your willpower and discipline are probably in short supply, too.

That's okay. Your plan of attack doesn't need to be complicated or time-consuming to get results.

Do your best to make these eight small adjustments during stressful times to feel more in control, keep hidden hungers from getting the best of you, and be less vulnerable to stress eating.

Eight tiny hacks you can use to beat stress eating.

1. Minimize mindless eating. Set a no multi-tasking rule while you eat. I know you feel time-crunched, but try this. It helps.


2. Pay extra attention to transition times between activities (which tend to disappear or even overlap when you're stressed). People stress eat during transitions from one task or role to another or use food as a way to numb out, revive themselves, or procrastinate. Instead, give yourself even five minutes to pause, breathe, make a cup of tea, or close your eyes and clear your mind before diving in to the next activity.


3. Make a second column in your to-do list. Label it "Who Can Help Me with This." Don't fall into the trap of feeling too busy to take the time to ask for help. You'll end up more overwhelmed and, quite likely, overeating.


4. Don't let yourself get too hungry (when you're more apt to lose control and make choices you regret). Set a reminder if you need to, but eat at regular intervals. Invest the time to make a plan for what you'll eat ahead of time. It will be worth it.


5. Find ways to connect with yourself and to stay aware of your feelings, your hunger, and your needs. Set a reminder on your phone to check in with yourself. You'll be more able to give yourself what you really need instead of letting hidden hungers (like exhaustion or emotions) trigger a binge you'll regret.


6. Leverage the value of five minutes. A quick walk, a change of scenery, some easy stretches, or watching a funny video online can help you recalibrate and avoid stress eating when you're feeling overwhelmed.


7. Strategize to avoid night eating. Create a wind-down ritual that includes some nice things for you without including food.


8. Fire your perfectionist. When things don't go as planned (or go totally off the rails) leverage the opportunity for learning instead of writing things off as a "failure." What's the experience telling you that you can use to tweak and adjust your strategies as you move forward?

The ancient Greeks have much to teach us about life and how to live it in a conscious, joyous and peaceful way. Below are 10 philosophies I learned from the ancient Greeks that have provided me with the courage and strength to live my best authentic life. They've also provided me with the tools to live a joyous and peaceful life.

1. Do everything with "agapi" (unconditional love).
Do in life what you are passionate about and what you truly love. Be authentic and strive to be your true self.

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." -- Aristotle
"Love is the cause of unity of all things." -- Aristotle
"Love that shines from within cannot be darkened by obstacles of the world of consequences!" -- Pythagoras

2. Embrace and learn from your challenges.
Find peace with your challenges; be present and open to new opportunities and ideas. Interpret a NO as a new opportunity to knock on another door or to move you in a new direction. The biggest obstacle in our lives is ourselves.

"Live today, forget the past." -- Ancient Greek Proverb.
"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises." -- Demosthenes

3. Believe in yourself, listen to yourself and not to take too seriously what others say.
No one knows you better than you. You will encounter many people who won't share your ideas, views and vision. There will be many who will provide you with free advice on how you should run your life. Listen without judgment and follow your heart's direction.

"Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly." -- Plutarch
"Learn to be silent, let your quiet mind listen and absorb." -- Pythagoras
"Only when your mind is silent and listens, and your heart is full of love -- only then God talks with you." -- Pythagoras

4. Dream about what you want not what you do not want.
It is important to dream, dream big and to never stop dreaming.

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." -- Epicurus

5. Never give up and never lose faith.
Replace fear with faith. Humility, love and faith attract miracles. All will happen at the right time and the right season.

"No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen." -- Epictetus

6. Always strive to think and feel positive.
"Think good thoughts" the ancient Greeks would preach. When negative thoughts enter your mind, wave them goodbye and replace them with happy thoughts. Focus on the present and things for which you're grateful. Eliminate negative people around you and always surround yourself with positive and happy people.

"Medicine is woven into the stuff of the mind." -- Hippocrates
"Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions." -- Aristotle.
"Happiness depends upon ourselves." -- Aristotle

7. Search within for answers and direction.
It's important in tough times and in times when we need guidance to pray, meditate and to increase self-knowledge.

"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality." -- Plutarch
"You have in yourself something similar to God, and therefore use yourself as the temple of God, on account of that which in you resembles God. Honor God above all things that he may rule over YOU. Before you do anything think of God, that his light may precede your energies. The reason which is in you, is the light of your life. Ask those things of God, which you cannot receive from man." -- Sextus the Pythagorean

8. Find courage from within during challenging times.
Tough times never last, but tough people do.

"You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity." -- Epicurus
"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor." -- Aristotle

9. Follow your flow.
Fate has all to do with it.

"Fate leads him who follows it, and drags him who resists." -- Plutarch
10. Look at your mistakes positively as experiences that will move you in the direction of your dreams.
Forgive yourself and others. You will make many mistakes along the way.

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." -- Plutarch

Would you be able to rattle off a list if someone were to quiz you on the toxic ingredients found in shampoo or nail polish? Even with beauty product labeling apps like Think Dirty, there are still many harmful chemicals lurking in personal care products that are overlooked.

This is where Harvard Business School MBA student Jessica Assaf and Sleigh Bells frontwoman Alexis Krauss come in. To help consumers to pay closer attention to what goes on their bodies, the duo co-founded #Truthbeauty, a game-changing project that aims to offer women and men the "safest, highest-performing and most affordable products on the market."

The team partnered with 10 companies to launch two bags: one with five skincare products, and the other with five makeup essentials. They recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to pre-sell their products.

The Huffington Post interviewed Assaf and Krauss about how their cool collection of non-toxic cosmetics empowers consumers to use safe beauty products. Check out the exchange below.

The Huffington Post: How did you curate which brands to include in #TruthBeauty?

Jessica Assaf: All 10 companies are mission-driven, and they are owned and operated by women. These companies do not have advertising budgets compared to the commercial brands, and as a result, the majority of consumers have never heard of them. They are also significantly more expensive than the drugstore brands, which makes them unaffordable for most people.



HuffPost: Have you always been an avid user of natural skincare and beauty products?

Assaf: When I was 15 years old, I found out that an ingredient in my favorite mascara was used to wax airplane wheels. I was heartbroken. It felt like my first real breakup. But that realization sparked a longtime passion to transform the beauty industry. Ten years later, I am still trying to improve cosmetic safety, and I am still learning. Because there is no pre-market safety testing or labeling requirements, there is so much we don't know. But it is up to us to figure out the truth about the products we are putting on our skin every single day.

HuffPost: When and how did you make the switch to non-toxic beauty products?

Alexis Krauss: For me, it all started a little over a year ago when I learned about microplastics in face wash. I was horrified that those little scrubbers were causing so much damage to the environment. That was the catalyst that caused me to start looking into other synthetic ingredients on product labels. I learned about each harmful ingredient and started eliminating it from my routine. First I banned parabens, then petrochemicals, then synthetic fragrances. But it wasn't just about banning, it was also about embracing numerous natural ingredients and discovering simple, effective and sustainable alternatives. I also started experimenting with DIY recipes.

HuffPost: How has your experience as a music artist open your eyes to misconceptions about what's in our beauty products?

Krauss: The beauty industry often relies on artists to sell its products. The irony is that the very musicians that are championing the environment and human health are also endorsing major cosmetic companies. They are unknowingly supporting everything from the oil and gas industry to the manufacturing of known carcinogens. I don't blame the artists for this. I once modeled for Sephora because I was completely clueless about these connections. I blame the beauty industry for continuing to be motivated by profit and never educating their consumers on what's really in their products. Artists with influence need to change their own routines and support companies that are acting ethically and sustainably.

HuffPost: What products do you use on the road?

Krauss: I mostly do my shopping before I leave for tour. I make sure my makeup bag is stocked with my favorite healthy beauty essentials. I wear lots of eye makeup on stage so I can never have too much olive oil. It's the best natural eye makeup remover!

HuffPost: What advice do you have for women and men who may be on the fence about trying natural skincare and beauty products?

Krauss: Take it slow! Start by educating yourself on the ingredients inside one product you use every single day. Does it contain endocrine disrupting chemicals, allergens or carcinogens? If it does, ask yourself if it's worth it. Do you really want to be exposing your body to hazardous chemicals when there are so many incredible, safe alternatives out there? Also have fun! Start with making a DIY face mask or body scrub out of ingredients in your kitchen and see where the journey takes you.

Assaf: Don't forget our power as consumers to really influence change. If we collectively boycott a certain product and use targeted marketing to let the company know, they will likely agree to reformulate. I saw that happen with Johnson & Johnson after the public learned their U.S. baby shampoo contained two formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. We really can see change happen if we act strategically.

HuffPost: How do you see the #TruthBeauty bag evolving five or 10 years from now?

Assaf: We eventually want to expand #Truthbeauty into a full e-commerce platform to support all of our favorite products and make these products accessible and affordable for everyone. We also hope to work on legislation that improves the beauty industry as a whole, and to continue to develop unique and interesting content on the Beauty, Lies, Truth blog. It is our dream to help make safe, effective and affordable products the expected norm.

Click here to visit the #TruthBeauty Kickstarter campaign.

At some point in our lives we're each going to face disappointment, pain, suffering, sadness and frustration. There are so many down moments in life---bad breakups, getting fired from a job, losing a loved one, facing a health issue, the list goes on. Each of us handles these scenarios extremely differently, and that's part of what makes us so unique. We all react differently and manage our emotions differently.

But, why do we have to go through these situations in order to turn our lives around and create change?

What is holding you back from creating change in your life?

What are you waiting for?

As my wonderful friend and fellow coach Mary Sabo so eloquently recites, "Stop waiting on happy." It's time to take control and design the lives that we want.

It's really easy to get caught up living the life other people envisioned for you.

There was a several year period of time that I was convinced I was destined to own a social media agency. When I say I envisioned that I basically thought, well, I seem to be doing well in this industry, everyone is telling me how good I am at it. Plus, I knew I wanted to do my own thing sometime sooner than later, so I thought maybe this was the place to start.

I never felt like an expert at anything so I allowed other people's views of me to dictate my life. I got so caught up in others' visions that I just went with the flow. I was always someone to make a move when something wasn't working for me but I was falling into the same traps everywhere I went, and none of them were doing it for me. You're so good at [fill in the blank], I was told, so I would start doing that. After all, almost every job I had in the past ten years was a job I created for myself - there was nobody I was replacing.

I had a consulting gig for a few months and it was like pulling teeth to get content out of me. I was uninspired, unmotivated and kept realizing it was really not what I wanted to do, despite being told how great I was at it. It just wasn't working for me.

When I think about my major life shifts I remember them happening when I was at really low points. At times where there was truly no lower bottom than where I was. Whether it was partying too hard in college and pulling myself out of that to recognize I was wrecking my body, mind and relationship with my parents, or going through a life-altering surgery that also reminded me to take care of myself.

These were moments in time when I had to pause and recognize that I had control, and by having control over myself I could determine my next move. Sure, I could stay in my comfort zone despite it being uncomfortable, or I could veer onto another path, one that may appear challenging and scary but was exactly what I needed for myself.

As we plunge into the spring, let's take a moment to think about our lives and truly determine what it is that we want to change and the actions we want to take.

This plan needs to be for you and only you.

This isn't someone else's agenda for your life, this is putting your time in crisis aside and focusing on the present and what it is that you want in your future. You have the power to change things, to take control of your life, and really, to stop waiting on happy.

So what's that happy, fulfilling and inspiring life going to look like and how are you going to get yourself to that point? It's easy to think about Point A and Point B but what steps do you need to take in between to get from A to B?

Remember, life may get tough sometimes and have its down moments but we each have the power to remain in control. We can control what path we take, what decisions we make, how to break our patterns towards our own version of success.

Julianne Moore's Oscar-winning performance in Still Alice, which opened in the UK last week, is a searing portrait of a woman in the grip of dementia. What begins as random lapses of memory metamorphoses into a state of bewildering disorientation until, in one powerful scene, she is asked by her daughter how she feels. "I feel like I can't find myself," she says.

Alice's growing anxiety at her increasingly unfamiliar world is brilliantly evoked. Yet this unfamiliar world is becoming all too familiar -- even if we do not suffer Alice's fate ourselves, most of us will know someone who has. The global prevalence of dementia is doubling every 20 years, fueled by the aging of societies across the globe.

That is why this week is a critical moment in the history of the disease. It marks the first ministerial conference on Global Action Against Dementia organized by the World Health Organization in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday, 16 through 17 March.

It is the first time the world has come together to tackle what David Cameron has described as among "the greatest enemies of humanity." Dementia affects one in five people over 80 and a cure remains a distant dream.

The Prime Minister announced a £15 million contribution in the Autumn statement in December to kick start a new fund and attract private sector investment to drive forward the search for new drugs, with further payments promised in future years. We must now look for similar commitments from other governments.

The drug industry cannot be relied on to do this alone -- the risks are too great. Between 1998 and 2012, there were 104 attempts to develop drugs for dementia of which 101 were unsuccessful. Just three new medicines were approved to treat the symptoms of dementia, the last -- called memantine -- over a decade ago.

This catalogue of failure is causing drug companies to abandon research into neuro-degenerative diseases because it is too difficult. In the last five years (2009-14) large pharmaceutical companies have cut their central nervous system programs by half.

A report by an expert panel on dementia presented to the recent World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar, which I chair, warned of a "global economic crisis," as, without effective treatment, the growth of dementia overwhelms health and caring services. It called on governments to commit one per cent of the cost of care for sufferers in their own countries to research.

In addition to extra funds, we need to lower the barriers to research. The current regulations are too onerous. Exploratory discussions have been had by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency but we need co-ordinated action across regulatory agencies to achieve real progress.

One proposal is for a "staggered release" program designed to get drugs to market faster, by limiting their initial prescription to patients who urgently need them and are prepared to tolerate a higher risk. As evidence on their safety and effectiveness accumulates, the drugs can be progressively released to more patients. The plan is under consideration by the European Medicines Agency.

Whatever the outcome of these initiatives, an effective treatment for dementia is a long way off. But this need not lead us to despair. It is often suggested that there is nothing that can be done to halt, or even slow, the advance of dementia. But this is not true. There are things we can do -- individually and collectively.

Individuals differ -- but at whatever age your own brain starts to slow, it is vital to act early to prevent premature mental decline. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding obesity and getting plenty of exercise are all important to brain health because what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads.

We also need to look after our brains -- sharpen those chess skills, pick up that crossword and solve that puzzle. The WISH report said up to 80,000 cases of dementia a year could be prevented in the UK by measures such as these.

Almost one in 10 of those who consult a doctor with early signs of memory loss turns out to have a problem that is reversible, such as a drug interaction, depression or vitamin deficiency. Better understanding of risk factors would allow diagnostic and preventive measures to be focused on those at the top end of the scale with the highest risk.

The message is that we are not powerless. There are measures that we can take to stem the advance of the degenerative brain condition that strips sufferers of their dignity and humanity. This week's ministerial meeting is an historic opportunity for the world to come together to halt the tide of suffering and ensure that, for as long as humanly possible, Alice can still find herself.

Lord Darzi is a surgeon, director of The Institute of Global Health Innovation, and Executive Chair of the World Innovation Summit for Health, an initiative of Qatar Foundation. He was a Labour health minister from 2007-9

In a hot and crowded school gymnasium, two high school basketball players dive for a loose ball, hitting heads midair. The crowd goes silent; trainers and coaches rush to the players' aid.

For many parents, this is what a concussion looks and sounds like. It is dramatic and obvious, and it's why some young athletes are increasingly guided toward less physical sports. But the truth about concussions is they can be caused by any blow, bump, or jolt to the head -- whether it happens on the playing field or not.

State laws and awareness campaigns have established trainings and protocols for coaches and parents to follow when a young athlete suffers a potential concussion -- an athletic trainer is often on the sidelines to examine injuries and help determine if additional treatment is needed. Unfortunately, that same structured support is not in place for the many non-sports related instances when a child suffers a potential concussion, such as a fall down the stairs or a minor car accident.

There are two critical things parents, teachers and caregivers should do to prepare for potential injuries. The first is to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and the second is to consider every child at risk, regardless of whether they participate in sports. Failing to identify and seek care for injuries that occur in everyday life puts a child in danger of suffering additional injuries, which may lead to more severe symptoms over a longer period of time.

In some cases it is clear that a concussion has occurred, such as when a child loses consciousness after a fall. Other times, parents may have to play detective to identify a possible concussion, especially if the injury was not witnessed. For instance, if a child complains of new headaches or shows a change in sleeping pattern or more irritability, parents should ask their child what other symptoms they are experiencing and whether or not the child may have fallen or hit their head. Sometimes a child who initially appears okay after a fall or car accident will show more symptoms over the following days.

There is a constellation of common post-concussive symptoms that parents should keep in mind as possible red flags, including dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, and difficulty concentrating. Young children may have difficulty expressing these symptoms and they may simply manifest with changes in demeanor, such as a child being less interested in typical play activities.

Very young children fall often as they are learning to walk; while these falls rarely result in significant injury, a parent should be more alert for signs of concussion when a child falls from higher than their standing height.

The important point for parents to keep in mind is that concussions often cause noticeable changes in a child's behavior, and any such change should be taken seriously and investigated. If parents notice issues that are not consistent with a child's normal functioning, then it is best to reach out to a medical professional to get a proper evaluation.

When a child does suffer a concussion, it is essential to moderate their activities with the goal of protecting them from any additional injuries before they fully recover. Removing them from all typical activities isn't necessarily the answer, as that can harm the child's well-being, so it is important to work with a medical provider who can guide the family in managing the child's symptoms and navigating temporary accommodations for school when needed. Every child is different, and a recovery plan should be tailored to each child's individual needs.

When in doubt, remember that recreational activities such as gym class, climbing on playground equipment, and skateboarding can increase the risk for another injury. If there is any chance that a concussion has occurred, a child should be withheld from these kinds of activities until they are cleared by a medical professional.

Early detection of concussion can be a significant step toward shortening recovery time and preventing complications from a subsequent injury. It's important for parents to understand that concussion risk is not limited to the boundaries of a playing field. All parents should be prepared by knowing the symptoms of concussion and the importance of seeking care when a concussion may have occurred.

Dr. Suskauer is director of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is currently working on a traumatic brain injury study, funded by the Sports and Health Research Program, a partnership among the NIH, the National Football League, and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), aimed at developing a tool to better understand the functioning of a child's brain after a concussion.