A Baycrest study has found that high blood sugar may impair brain health even in people without diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from 146 healthy adults and found a correlation between high blood sugar levels and lower brain activity.
A Baycrest study reveals that degeneration of the thalamus, a brain area distinct from stroke lesions, contributes to post-stroke symptoms. Innovative non-invasive treatments targeting this area may improve or reverse these life-altering consequences.
A new study by Baycrest and the University of Toronto suggests that talking speed is a more important indicator of brain health than difficulty finding words. Changes in general talking speed may reflect changes in the brain, indicating its importance in detecting cognitive decline faster.
Dr. Jean Chen receives grant to investigate cognitive behaviour therapy's effect on caregiver brain health, reducing dementia risk and improving overall wellbeing. The research aims to optimize CBT use for Canadians living with depression.
A new, free online language course is available to learn the Ojibwe language, spoken in Indigenous communities around the Great Lakes. The course uses spaced repetition software to help learners memorize vocabulary and grammar.
A recent Baycrest study found that older adults are less able to distinguish between computer-generated and human speech compared to younger counterparts. This diminished ability could be related to older adults' reduced capacity to recognize emotions in speech, highlighting the need for AI-related training programs.
A new Baycrest study found that using adaptive language-learning software is extremely beneficial in helping stroke survivors regain their language skills. The researchers used an online program to practice identifying images, and participants showed significant improvement after just two weeks.
A Baycrest study found that the gut microbiome plays a role in how diet and exercise affect brain health and dementia risk. Lifestyle interventions like Mediterranean-style diets can improve cognition and promote healthier microbiomes.
A new Baycrest study found that individuals with no dementia risk factors have similar brain health as people who are 10 to 20 years younger. Lifestyle factors such as managing diabetes, addressing hearing loss, and quitting smoking can reduce cognitive decline by up to three years of aging.
A Baycrest study found that expert knowledge helps memorize new information by providing a mental organizational structure. Experts grouped birds based on specific features, while non-experts relied on superficial characteristics like color. This structure supports memory and may mitigate age-related decline.
The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging launches Brain Health PRO, a digital educational program offering interactive modules to improve physical and mental health. The program aims to reduce dementia risk by focusing on modifiable domains such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep.
A new study by Baycrest and Western University suggests that older adults may benefit more from natural speech than previously thought. They found that for engaging stories, older adults performed similarly to younger adults in noisy settings, but struggled with disconnected sentences.
A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that the Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) program successfully reduced the proportion of patients who needed admission to a specialized inpatient unit by 60%. This suggests that VBM is highly effective for managing severe neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia without p...
A study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences found that older adults tend to store irrelevant information, making it harder to remember specific details. This can lead to a 'flood' of information, but also benefits like improved prior knowledge utilization and decision-making.
A new study by Baycrest and York University found that studying Spanish improves working memory and executive function in older adults, similar to brain training. The participants reported greater enjoyment of the language learning experience.
The Baycrest-developed Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment is as accurate as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in identifying problems with memory and attention, but outperforms MoCA in detecting subtle cognitive decline. The self-administered online assessment can provide important information for clinical assessment of memory an...
A recent Baycrest-Sunnybrook pilot study found that low-dose radiation therapy showed remarkable improvements in behavior and cognition within days in individuals living with severe Alzheimer's. The treatment used a CT scanner to deliver low doses of radiation, stimulating the body's natural protection systems to work harder.
A team of scientists at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute is investigating the effects of prior knowledge on learning and memory in bird experts. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electrical currents, they aim to determine whether a similar process takes place in the human brain.
A recent Baycrest study found that engaging in household chores is associated with greater brain volume and improved cognitive health in older adults. Household activities such as tidying, meal preparation, and yard work may contribute to these benefits by promoting neural connections and reducing sedentary behavior.
A recent study found that individualized brain stimulation therapy improves language performance in stroke survivors with aphasia, targeting abnormal activity outside the damaged tissue. The therapy also shows promise for individuals with dementia, highlighting a personalized approach to treating this debilitating disorder.
Baycrest researchers are studying the effects of COVID-19 and social isolation on cognitive health, finding a potential link between respiratory symptoms and decreased oxygen to the brain. The study aims to identify factors predicting dementia development in older adults.
A Baycrest-CAMH study aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 and physical distancing on the mental health of older adults. The researchers will monitor changes in mental health and identify factors that affect seniors' emotional well-being, informing public health decisions and potential interventions.
Researchers at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute found that participants' eye movement patterns could predict mistakes in memory. They used an innovative eye tracking technique to map the participants' eye movements and observe pattern completion.
Researchers found that two identical triplets who shared the same DNA developed Alzheimer's at different ages, suggesting other factors contribute to its development. The study also discovered that environmental and lifestyle factors can affect an individual's biological age and potentially delay or accelerate dementia onset.
A study found that adults carrying a gene associated with higher Alzheimer's risk had difficulty accessing recently acquired knowledge, despite normal cognitive scores. The research used a listening test to assess attention and memory, revealing greater challenges for individuals with the APOE4 gene.
The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) will continue to support the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia through its second phase. The new study, CAN-THUMBS UP, aims to identify individuals at risk of dementia and provide combination interventions to prevent progression.
Researchers found that electroconvulsive therapy corrects brain networks associated with learning and thinking impairments in individuals with depression. ECT reconfigures brain networks that promote flexibility in how people remember events, helping them cope better with daily challenges.
A Baycrest study reveals that adults experiencing frequent forgetfulness or distraction may be displaying earlier symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease, a 'silent stroke'. Individuals with brain damage from these strokes reported poor attentiveness and being sidetracked more frequently on day-to-day tasks.
A recent Baycrest study found that many older adults being evaluated for memory concerns had mild to severe hearing loss. Addressing hearing issues may mitigate or fix what appears to be a memory problem. Hearing loss is a common chronic condition affecting 50% of those over 65 and 90% of those over 80.
A recent study by Baycrest researchers found that individuals with mild cognitive impairment and primary progressive aphasia exhibited sluggish brainwaves and subtle signs of damage in memory and planning regions. These slowing brainwaves predicted the severity of their condition, such as degree of memory loss.
Researchers at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute found that older adults exhibit greater eye movements but weaker brain activity when forming memories from visual information. This breaks the usual linkage between what we see and how we remember, leading to unfamiliar objects despite repeated viewing.
The Virtual Brain platform will be integrated into the Human Brain Project, enabling researchers to better understand the brain and develop personalized diagnostic and treatment options. This collaboration aims to accelerate adoption of TVB among European researchers and advance brain health throughout lifetimes.
Researchers are exploring the benefits of brain training and lifestyle interventions to prevent dementia. Studies show that mentally stimulating careers and hobbies can lower cognitive decline risk. A combined diet and exercise intervention may also improve memory and thinking skills, while protecting against brain damage.
Research by Baycrest researchers found that 'near miss' mistakes during learning can help remember correct information better than no errors at all. Mistakes that are far from the correct answer hinder learning.,
A recent Baycrest study suggests that learning music or speaking another language trains the brain to be more efficient. Researchers found that musicians and bilinguals utilized fewer brain resources when completing a working memory task, with less brain activity compared to monolingual individuals.
Researchers discovered that patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia use different brain regions to process language, compensating for damaged areas. This finding holds hope for targeted treatments and earlier disease assessments.
A recent Baycrest study found that memory training programs are only effective when tailored to an individual's specific memory difficulty, such as remembering faces or voices. Training focused on recollection improved older adults' abilities to mentally time travel and re-experience past events.
A Baycrest-Rambam study found that patients who survive a brief cardiac arrest and appear neurologically intact may still experience significant memory problems. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing can provide better support for these challenges upon discharge.
Baycrest researchers discovered a new method to improve older adults' name recall by tapping into their brain's natural ability to process distractions. This approach harnesses the idea that older adults can use distraction to aid learning and could lead to an accessible memory training tool.
Researchers discovered that older adults naturally tap into this strategy to bolster memory when remembering becomes difficult. They unknowingly move their eyes in the same pattern over and over again, even when looking at a blank screen.
Researchers at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care have found that eye movements play a crucial role in storing memories, enabling the development of new diagnostic tools. Brain imaging studies identified patterns of eye movement and brain activity, revealing how our eyes help reconstruct past experiences.
Researchers found that breast cancer tumors impair learning and memory in mice before chemotherapy, suggesting cancer progression causes 'chemo brain' symptoms. After chemotherapy, cancer and drug therapy contribute to cognitive impairment.
The Canadian Foundation for Innovation provides a $1.8 million grant to Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute (RRI) to upgrade its MRI and MEG machines, enabling researchers to pursue unique ways to protect brain health during aging and prevent dementia.
Researchers will combine personalized music choices with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to improve memory among patients with MCI. The study aims to strengthen the brain pathway used by music to activate memories and slow down memory decline.
A recent study found that female adolescents from low-income households with wide salary gaps show changes to their brain maturation, indicating a higher risk of developing mental illness. The research suggests that social environment and income inequality can influence brain development.
A recent study found that imagining an action between two objects and its potential consequence can improve memory performance. Older adults who learned to use this strategy showed significant improvements, suggesting a promising approach for personalized memory rehabilitation.
A Baycrest study found significant communication improvement gains for patients with post-stroke disorders through telerehabilitation, comparable to those of in-person treatment. However, telerehabilitation patients showed lower confidence in their abilities compared to in-person therapy.
A multilingual group program for older adult caregivers in Ontario uses talk therapy principles to improve their mental well-being. The program has helped over 275 caregivers since its launch in 2015 and aims to provide a cost-effective treatment option for those in need.
Researchers at Baycrest Health Sciences found that focusing on the meaning of words rather than repeating them creates better short-term memories. The study used brain scans to identify brain activity related to memorizing through sound and meaning.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested over $1.8 million in brain health research at Baycrest, led by Dr. Tomáš Paus and Dr. Bradley Buchsbaum. The studies aim to understand how cannabis use affects brain development and memory in young adults, as well as develop targeted treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.