Articles tagged with Cognitive Function
A randomized clinical trial found daily strawberry consumption improves cognitive processing speed, lowers blood pressure, and increases antioxidant capacity. The study also associated strawberry intake with reduced waist circumference and improved cardiovascular risk factors.
Researchers found that taking probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG improved cognitive scores in participants with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting a potential strategy to support cognitive health. Gut microbiome composition could serve as an early indicator for mild cognitive impairment.
Researchers found that people with prolonged COVID-19 symptoms experienced reduced performance in mental tasks up to two years post-infection. Those who didn't feel fully recovered after infection showed lower task accuracy scores.
A new study from UC Davis Health found that volunteering in late life is associated with better executive function and episodic memory. Those who volunteered several times per week had the highest levels of executive function, potentially serving as a simple intervention against Alzheimer's disease and associated dementias.
A study of 2,226 US participants found significant racial differences in post-retirement cognitive decline. White men experienced the most pronounced decline, whereas Black women showed minimal loss. College attendance was linked to greater cognitive decline after retirement.
A new study published in Aging (Albany NY) suggests that prior training can rescue cognitive decline in aging by improving task performance and strengthening memory processes. The research, conducted on rats, found that prior training enhanced short-term and intermediate memory, while also enabling encoding-boosted long-term memory.
This study found that better sleep architecture and the absence of obstructive sleep apnea were associated with improved global cognition over a five-year follow-up. The findings suggest that interventions to improve sleep may be crucial for maintaining cognitive function in adults.
Researchers found that fruit flies prefer larger quantities, but struggle to distinguish between 3 and 4 objects, highlighting the importance of ratio perception. LC11 neurons are essential for comparing quantities in fruit flies.
A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal found that superagers, individuals with razor-sharp memory function, have faster movement speed and better mental health compared to typical older adults. They also tend to have lower rates of anxiety and depression.
This survey study found that all types of visually impairing eye conditions are associated with increased dementia risk. Prioritizing vision health may be crucial for maintaining cognitive function in older adults.
A new study found that inhaling 100% oxygen while learning a motor task improved learning efficiency in healthy people. The treatment also helped patients with neurological trauma recover old skills, suggesting potential benefits for neurorehabilitation.
UK schoolchildren aged 7-11 drew mammals and birds most commonly, with reptiles and amphibians appearing less frequently. The study suggests children's perceptions of local wildlife are skewed towards mammals and birds, hinting at a wider problem of nature disconnect.
A recent study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that people who were more physically active had better cognitive function, but this benefit was reduced for those with short sleeps. The research suggests that getting sufficient sleep is essential to reap the full cognitive benefits of physical activity.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found a significant association between food insecurity and accelerated memory decline in middle to older-age individuals. The researchers suggest that exposure to food insecurity in older age may have long-term negative effects on cognitive function.
Researchers at TUM developed a new approach to measure human brain activity using microelectrodes and awake brain surgery. They found individual neurons specialize in handling specific numbers, providing insights into cognitive functions and developing solutions for brain function disorders.
Chronic knee osteoarthritis pain does not impair memory and behavioral flexibility, according to new research. Factors like age, pain medication, and socio-economic status are likely to play a role in cognitive decline.
Researchers discovered that a diet rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri can maintain associative learning ability in older nematodes. This finding suggests potential ways to use diet to reduce age-related cognitive decline in other animals, including humans.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that slower gait speeds in older dogs are linked to increased cognitive decline and dementia. The study measured gait speed on and off leash in senior dogs and found a significant correlation between walking speed and cognitive performance.
MIT engineers have developed a new technology to probe the connections between the brain and gut, using fibers embedded with sensors and light sources. The researchers demonstrated that they can control neural circuits connecting the gut and brain in mice, inducing feelings of fullness or reward-seeking behavior.
Researchers establish a direct link between Covid-19 and Alzheimer's disease, attributing the connection to RAS overactivation caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. This dysfunction leads to increased b-amyloid protein accumulation, impairing brain cell synaptic connections and cognitive functions.
Research from Keck School of Medicine of USC found that everyday air pollution can alter brain development patterns in adolescents, linked to changes in brain connectivity over time. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide was associated with increased or decreased functional connectivity between brain regions.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that habitual daytime napping is associated with a larger total brain volume, a marker of good brain health linked to lower risk of dementia and other diseases. The research team used Mendelian randomisation to establish a causal link between napping and brain health.
A neuroscientific team mapped the brain's response to changing conditions, revealing a critical role for sensory regions in decision-making. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that cognitive flexibility evolved early in the development of the brain, with similarities observed between humans and mice.
A new study found that the serotonin booster prucalopride increased functional brain connectivity in healthy adults, particularly between cognitive networks. The results suggest that prucalopride may improve cognitive function and have therapeutic potential for depression patients.
Researchers found that reduced brain wave strength is linked to cognitive dysfunction in PD patients, suggesting EEG as a diagnostic tool. The study aims to improve diagnosis and develop targeted therapies for cognitive symptoms.
A study found cross-sectional associations between various domains of next-day cognitive function and sleep spindle metrics in middle-aged men with obstructive sleep apnoea. The presence and severity of OSA were significant factors in this relationship.
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that a 5-year increase in muscle fat stored in the thigh muscle is associated with faster cognitive decline. The research suggests that muscle adiposity plays a unique role in cognitive decline, distinct from other types of fat or muscle characteristics.
The study used transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) to stimulate the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in cognitive function. The results showed that tPBM modulated hemodynamic and metabolic activities in a wavelength- and site-specific manner.
Researchers found that women with higher-quality cardiovascular fat during midlife had stronger long-term memory and lower inflammation, while those with lower-quality fat had worsening working memory. The study suggests that taking care of heart health during menopause may protect brain health and reduce dementia risk.
A new study found that declines in sexual satisfaction and erectile function are correlated with future memory loss in middle-aged men. The research tracked associations between sex life, cognition, and physical changes in hundreds of men aged 56-68.
A large-scale study found that a low-flavanol diet drives age-related memory loss. Replenishing flavanols in mildly deficient adults over 60 improves cognitive function and supports the idea that aging brains require specific nutrients for optimal health.
A study by Florida Atlantic University and CINVESTAV found that long-term running maintains the connectivity of adult-born hippocampal neurons, which contribute to memory function during aging. Exercise may prevent or delay age-related memory decline by increasing the survival and modifying the network of these neurons.
A University of Maryland study found that walking strengthened brain connectivity and improved memory in older adults with normal brain function and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The research adds to the growing evidence that exercise slows cognitive decline and may delay Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study published in Diabetologia found an association between prediabetes and developing dementia in later life. The risk of dementia increases the earlier a person develops type 2 diabetes. Preventing progression from prediabetic state to diabetes diagnosis will lead to a substantial reduction in future dementia cases.
A laboratory study found that exposure to background traffic noise, even at 40 dB, significantly impairs concentration and perceived workload. Researchers also highlight the difficulties in avoiding high-frequency noise indoors due to reduced vehicle speeds.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that higher cumulative blood sugar levels after a stroke contribute to faster cognitive decline. Researchers adjusted data for various factors and discovered no association between high blood pressure or cholesterol and accelerated cognitive loss.
A new study found that cognitive training, specifically speed of processing training, reduced the risk of falling among older adults at high risk of falls by 31% over 10 years. However, it had no effect on those at low risk of falling. Cognitive training may enhance physical-based interventions to reduce falls for some individuals.
Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism underlying the change from gist-like to episodic memory in mice, suggesting that as interneurons mature, they enable memory specificity. This finding has implications for understanding child development research and conditions affecting the brain, such as autism spectrum disorder.
A recent study found that a unique subset of microglia, ARG1+, plays a crucial role in cognitive functions and development. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Female animals exhibited more pronounced behavioral impairments caused by ARG1 microglial deficiency.
A study by University of California, Riverside found that older adults are less likely to ignore distractors in their surroundings while engaging in a cognitive task and an effortful physical task. This decline is greater when simultaneously performing a physical task, such as driving or carrying grocery bags.
Researchers found that people who perceived cognitive difficulties during COVID were more likely to experience physical symptoms of long COVID. The study suggests a psychological component for lingering SARS-CoV-2 symptoms in some patients.
Researchers found that regular internet users had approximately half the risk of dementia compared to non-users, regardless of factors such as education and age. The study suggests that online engagement may help develop cognitive reserve, which can compensate for brain aging.
More than half of stroke survivors develop cognitive impairment within a year, with 1 in 3 at risk for dementia. Early screening and comprehensive care are advised to support stroke survivors with cognitive impairment.
Research from Edith Cowan University found that lower grip strength and slower timed-up-and-go tests were significant risk factors for presenting with dementia. The study suggests that incorporating muscle function tests into dementia screening could help identify high-risk individuals who may benefit from primary prevention programs.
Researchers at Temple University Health System found that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce inflammation, restore cell function and prevent cognitive impairment in mice with amyloid buildup. CAIs also improved cerebrovascular health and enhanced amyloid-clearing capacity.
A study of 436 cognitively normal older adults found that unawareness, rather than awareness, of memory decline was strongly associated with future clinical progression. The research suggests that discordant self- and informant-reported cognitive decline may provide important information to practitioners.
The new NIH Toolbox V3 iPad App allows doctors to quickly screen patients for cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, and vision. The app covers a wide range of tests spanning four domains, enabling clinicians to assess patients in under 30 minutes.
Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.
A recent study published in eClinicalMedicine found that eating walnuts on a regular basis can improve attention functions, fluid intelligence, and behavior in adolescents with ADHD. The research, led by the IISPV, suggests that following a healthy diet is crucial for cognitive development during adolescence.
A study of 20,311 US adults aged 51–100 years found that higher educational attainment protected against cognitive decline differently for Black and Latinx adults compared to White adults. Higher-educated White adults received the greatest protection, while Latinx adults experienced a later onset of cognitive decline.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that prescription opioid use is associated with declines in cognitive performance, particularly in memory and attention. Older adults who received at least one opioid prescription over 7.5 years had a 20% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover that dysfunctional mitochondria at synapses fail to meet energetic demand, supplying either too much or too little power and potentially causing working memory impairment with age. Adherence to the ultrastructural size principle is essential for avoiding cognitive decline in aging brains.
Researchers found Tai Chi Chuan improved global cognition and physical markers in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment. After 36 weeks, the Tai Chi Chuan group showed a significant average improvement of 3.29 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score compared to the baseline.
Burn-injured patients who use alcohol experience more severe complications, delayed recovery, and increased morbidity and mortality. Researchers found a correlation between inflammation markers and delirium during hospitalization, suggesting impaired cognitive function as a potential issue.
Research using mice models of Alzheimer's disease found that deep brain stimulation activated only a small population of new neurons, restoring cognitive and non-cognitive functions. The study also identified protein pathways involved in improved memory performance and plaque clearance.
Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause premature cognitive decline in middle-aged men, including poorer executive functioning and social cognition. The study suggests that OSA itself is sufficient to cause these deficits, rather than being solely attributed to co-morbidities.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that phototherapy improved cognitive function in patients with dementia. The analysis of 12 randomized clinical trials revealed no significant impact on symptoms of depression or sleep quality.
Researchers found that COVID-19 infection leads to rapidly progressive dementia, blurring the lines between different types of dementia. Cortical atrophy and inflammation were key indicators, suggesting previously compromised brains have limited defense against new insults.
A recent study found that heavy alcohol use changes signaling pathways in the brain, affecting cognitive functions like decision-making and impulse control. The mechanism involves the brain's immune system and the molecule interleukin 1β, which regulates inflammation and neurotransmitter release.
A global study found that dogs' functions are a good predictor of how they are treated by their owners, with more functions leading to closer relationships. The research also found that not all dog jobs influence treatment equally, with herding increasing positive care and hunting increasing personhood.