Articles tagged with Cognitive Function
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Researchers discovered that while older rats were as social as younger ones, a subpopulation preferred familiar peers. Altering neural communication reversed this preference, enhancing approach towards new peers. This suggests a distinct neural system underlying aging-related social behavior.
A new treatment combining cognitive and occupational therapy is being tested to improve stroke recovery, especially for rural patients. The 'cognition-first' approach tackles cognitive difficulties before physical rehabilitation, addressing a significant gap in existing treatments.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.
A new study found that slower reaction time and lower response accuracy in cognitive tasks are associated with higher levels of frailty. The association can be detected in late midlife among individuals aged 57 to 70 years.
Researchers have identified Tapt1 as a key gene in maintaining the balance between protein synthesis and degradation, crucial for normal brain development. The study reveals that Tapt1, along with its partner Suco, ensures proper neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Researchers found that people naturally blink less when working harder to understand speech in noisy environments, suggesting a link between blinking and cognitive function. Blink patterns remained stable across different lighting conditions.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism linking early-life environments with memory by activating AP-1, which regulates genes involved in neuronal plasticity and learning. Early-life experiences produce long-lasting modulation of AP-1 activity, boosting gene networks that strengthen neuronal connections.
A virtual clinical trial using computer models of patients' brains found that psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD can increase brain activity complexity in patients with disorders of consciousness. The study suggests that these patients may benefit from a treatment involving simulated increases in brain activity.
A team from Tokyo Metropolitan University has identified a crucial precursor structure in the formation of tau protein fibrils, mirroring the crystallization of polymers. Dissolving these clusters prevents fibril formation, suggesting a new paradigm for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study found that faster biological aging measured by DNA-based epigenetic clocks is associated with greater cognitive decline and higher risk of mild cognitive impairment in Hispanic/Latino adults. The study highlights the potential of epigenetic clocks to track changes in brain health over time.
Researchers found that a rotating brain wave helps the cortex recover its computational path after a distraction, improving performance in visual working memory tasks. Longer time intervals between distractions also aid recovery.
A new study reveals how prenatal alcohol exposure impairs key brain cells and circuits, leading to cognitive inflexibility and increased risk of compulsive alcohol use. Researchers identified a specific brain cell affected by early alcohol exposure, providing a clear target for developing more effective treatments of FASD.
Psychedelic substances profoundly alter our perception of time, inducing temporal distortions that offer unprecedented insights into consciousness. By suppressing the default mode network and modulating multiple brain regions, psychedelics provide unique windows into brain function and mental health treatment.
The researchers are studying how brief, playful social interactions affect brain function and cognitive performance in older adults using advanced brain imaging techniques. They aim to develop simple and inexpensive interventions that can be implemented in clinical settings and in the community.
A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that quitting smoking, even in the 50s or older, significantly reduces cognitive decline. Cognitive scores of quitters declined 20% less for memory and 50% less for verbal fluency over six years after cessation.
In a study published in PLOS Biology, researchers found that young European great tits learn essential life skills from their older siblings and non-parental adults, rather than primarily from their parents. This suggests an alternative pathway to cultural inheritance and highlights the importance of sibling relationships in shaping bi...
A large-scale international study found that creative experiences slow brain aging and promote healthier brain function. Creative activities such as music, dance, and video games were linked to 'younger' brain profiles, particularly in regions vulnerable to neurodegeneration.
Adolescents who frequently prefer solitude show measurable differences in brain structure and function, with weaker connections and greater fragility in social circuits. Clinicians can help families recognize risks by spotting early patterns of persistent withdrawal, opening the door to strategies that may protect mental health.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that music training strengthens the brain's ability to focus under distracting conditions. Musical people were better at using top-down attention while being less sensitive to bottom-up distractions.
Researchers used quantitative susceptibility mapping MRI to detect changes in brain tissue linked to iron levels, predicting mild cognitive impairment and later Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that higher iron levels in specific brain areas could spot early changes years before symptoms appeared.
Researchers at Penn State found that weight fluctuations and changes can lead to faster cognitive decline in older adults. The study analyzed data from 4,304 participants and showed that those with greater variability in weight experienced more rapid cognitive declines.
A study published in Translational Psychiatry found that following a well-formulated ketogenic diet for at least 10 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in depression symptoms, improved global well-being, and enhanced cognitive performance among college students. The pilot trial showed a roughly 70% reduction in depression symptoms.
A new brainwave test developed at the University of Bath has been shown to detect signs of memory impairment linked to Alzheimer's disease years before clinical diagnosis. The Fastball EEG technology, a three-minute passive test, can reliably identify memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris study how mitochondria in vulnerable memory circuits become overloaded with calcium, contributing to early memory breakdowns. Their research aims to find early signs of stress or failure in the entorhinal cortex-hippocampus circuit.
Researchers found that faster biological aging is associated with lower scores on digital cognitive tests, particularly among older adults. DNA methylation patterns were used to estimate biological age acceleration, and protein markers PAI1 and ADM showed strong associations with lower cognitive scores.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
Two brain regions have been identified as a neural compass, allowing people to maintain their sense of direction while navigating naturalistic virtual reality cities. These regions are consistent across different city features and task phases, suggesting they track direction relative to the north-south axis.
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that repeated exposure to an image, whether authentic or AI-generated, boosts its perceived credibility. This 'mere exposure effect' also applies to images created using artificial intelligence algorithms, raising concerns about the spread of false visual information on social media.
A new study by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort suggests that higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy may be associated with better cognitive test scores in children. Children of Black mothers, in particular, showed strongest association between vitamin D and cognitive development.
Researchers used IntelliCage to assess spontaneous behavioral changes in a mouse model of schizophrenia, finding increased hyperactivity and exploratory behavior after treatment with MK-801. However, cognitive flexibility was impaired, suggesting schizophrenia-like behaviors.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that regular opioid use is associated with a 20% increased risk of all-cause dementia and over 70% increased risk of dementia among those taking strong opioids. Regular opioid use was also linked to reduced brain volume, lower fluid intelligence, and higher risk of vascular dementia.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are using a genetically tractable model organism, C. elegans, to dissect the cellular pathways impacted by amphetamines. The study aims to identify novel regulators of dopamine release and genes that mediate amphetamine's effects independently of traditional dopamine mechanisms.
A randomized clinical trial found that SMART training improved cognitive gains in active-duty service members with mTBI, with significant benefits seen after just one-third of the training time compared to traditional SCORE protocols. The study suggests that SMART brain training can contribute to faster return to mission readiness and ...
A new study from the University of Southern California reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control. The study demonstrates that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements, particularly in reaction speed.
Research from Kyoto University found that continuing to play a musical instrument into old age preserves brain function and prevents atrophy in the putamen. Long-term practice showed no decline in verbal working memory performance or gray matter volume, while short-term practice improved memory function for four months.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma investigate the overlap between cognitive decline caused by chemotherapy and aging, discovering decreased blood flow, disrupted blood-brain barriers, and senescent cells. Removing these cells with senolytics can improve cerebral blood flow, cognition, and overall brain health.
Scientists have discovered the structure and shape of key receptors in the cerebellum, a region critical for movement, balance, and cognition. This finding could lead to the development of therapies to repair damaged synapses and improve brain function.
A 16-year study of over 10,000 individuals aged 50+ found that those with higher wellbeing were more likely to have better scores on memory tests. The association was independent of depressive symptoms and suggested that psychological factors affect brain health.
A study of over 1,000 twins found that cognitive tests in infancy can predict adult intelligence and cognition, with environmental influences playing a significant role. Early life environments, including pre-preschool years, matter more than previously thought, suggesting potential interventions to support cognitive aging.
A new study found that remotely supervised exercise programs can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults with MCI. The research highlights the potential of home-based exercise interventions in preventing cognitive decline.
Using an algorithm called the Krakencoder, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine mapped how the brain's anatomical connections and activity patterns relate to behavior. The tool accurately predicted individual's functional connectome about 20 times more than previous approaches, also mapping age, sex, and cognitive performance scores.
A cohort study of 4 countries found that both maternal and paternal higher education levels were linked to reduced cognitive decline, with own education mediating these associations. The study highlights the long-term impact of parental education on offspring cognitive health across diverse cultural contexts.
Researchers from The University of Osaka have demonstrated that vision transformers can spontaneously develop human-like visual attention patterns without specific training. This breakthrough showcases the potential of self-supervised learning for advancing AI applications and modeling biological vision.
A comprehensive analysis reveals how brains generalize learning from previous experiences to new scenarios, mapping neural pathways from hippocampus to cortex. The study's findings highlight the critical role of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in cognitive generalization.
Researchers mapped dynamic cellular mechanisms of memory formation, storage and update, revealing new insights into encoding experiences in the brain. Memories are stored through biophysical changes in neuronal ensembles, which can be manipulated to induce recall.
A new USC-led study found a significant link between type 2 diabetes and cortical thickness in older adults from various populations. The researchers discovered that individuals with T2DM exhibited thinner cortex, particularly in temporal and parietal regions critical for memory and cognitive function.
Preliminary research suggests that long working hours can induce neuroadaptive changes in the brain, particularly in areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function. The study found increased brain volumes in regions such as the middle frontal gyrus, which is involved in attention and problem-solving.
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation discovered a nine-letter microexon in DAAM1 exclusively in neurons that is critical for neuronal development and memory. Deleting this microexon in mice resulted in reduced learning spines and impaired memory function, with animals remembering roughly 40% less in standard memory tasks.
Researchers developed MuSICCA, a music therapy tool that uses musical stimulation to assess levels of consciousness in children with brain injuries. The study found high agreement among participants that the tool is suitable for use with children, providing guidance for caregivers and supporting clinical teams.
A study found that satisfying intimate relationships and general social support can reduce cognitive problems experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The research suggests that couples therapy could be a helpful option for partnered patients, while oxytocin levels decreased significantly during treatment.
A University of Ottawa-led study reveals that serotonin neurons are connected and interact with each other, controlling serotonin release in specific regions of the brain. This complex system has implications for understanding decision-making and developing targeted therapeutics for mood disorders.
The World Sleep Society releases recommendations on wearable sleep trackers, providing clear guidelines for consumers, clinicians, researchers, and manufacturers. Key takeaways include choosing a device suitable for individual use cases and focusing on fundamental sleep measures rather than specific stages of sleep.
A new study from the University of Missouri suggests that exercise can improve brain health and mitigate cognitive decline, even when ketone production in the liver is impaired. The research found that endurance exercise can prevent cognitive impairment caused by compromised hepatic ketogenesis.
Severe permanent impairment in function and cognition are prevalent among long-term care residents nearing the end of life. A minority of residents live in these states for extended periods, suggesting the need for resident-centered medical decision-making.
Research found that adolescents who slept longer performed better at cognitive tests, with those sleeping 7-25 minutes more performing better. The study also found differences in brain volume and structure between the groups.
A recent study by researchers from the University of Tsukuba found that cognitively impaired older drivers are less likely to be involved in car-to-car crashes when accompanied by a passenger. The analysis revealed that second-party drivers were more likely to have been accompanied by a passenger than first-party drivers, regardless of...
Women who enter menopause before age 40 experience worse cognitive decline compared to those entering menopause after 50. This association may help clinicians assess patient risk of developing dementia. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and design potential treatments.
MIT researchers have found that a computational model of the ventral stream, which processes object recognition, also performs well on spatial tasks such as determining an object's location and orientation. This challenges the dominant perspective that the ventral stream is optimized for object recognition.
Researchers found that SIRT2, a previously unknown enzyme, plays a key role in excessive GABA production associated with Alzheimer's disease. This process leads to brain inflammation and memory impairment. By targeting SIRT2, scientists can selectively block its harmful effects on memory without affecting other brain functions.
A new study by researchers at Tufts University suggests that a lack of vitamin K may increase inflammation and hamper proliferation of neural cells in the hippocampus, a key region for learning and memory. Vitamin K deficiency was also associated with increased neuroinflammation and reduced neurogenesis, leading to noticeable cognitive...