Cognition, Neurology & Degeneration

Scientists just did it to mice—and we may be next.

A silent symphony is playing inside your brain right now as neurological pathways synchronize in an electromagnetic chorus that's thought to give rise to consciousness. Yet how various circuits throughout the brain align their firing is an enduring mystery, one some theorists suggest might have a solution that involves quantum entanglement. The proposal is a bold one, not least because quantum effects tend to blur into irrelevance on scales...

Positive psychosocial experiences are linked to healthier brain mitochondria, according to new research, highlighting the significant impact of emotions and social connections on brain health at a cellular level.

A common treatable cause of dementia can be detected with simple blood tests.

"This is really consistent with a larger body of science that tells us that diets that are lower in fat, lower in sugar, higher in vegetables overall, are what's really better for our brain health," said one expert.

The puzzle of memory has intrigued philosophers and intellects for a very long time. Plato and Aristotle believed that memory was found only in the realm of the soul and the mind, but there was nothing corporeal or physical about it. Memory is closely tied to our sense of self and subjective experiences, but there are physical processes that are associated with remembering. Modern analogy likes to compare computer memory to that of the brain,...

Early detection of dementia may be possible by analyzing speech patterns.

"This work demonstrates that gender has an independent influence on the brain, beyond the influence of sex itself," the researchers told Newsweek.

I've always adored cinnamon for its heartwarming aroma and fairy tale flavor, but recent research on its brain health benefits, including potential effects on brain cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and insomnia, has truly amazed me.

Cognitive impairment and dementia have become serious problems for public health systems. In 2020, over 55 million people worldwide had dementia, and most of them were in low-income and middle-income countries.1 This number is expected to reach 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.1,2 The Lancet dementia prevention, intervention, and care Commission3 identified 12 modifiable factors for dementia. However, the cause of nearly 60% of dementia cases is still unknown. For such cases, studies investigating risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia are of utmost importance from a public health perspective so that effective preventive measures can be implemented.

From conveying precise instruction to evoking entire new worlds, words and their meanings are central to our existence as humans. But how the multitude of cells making up a human brain take abstract noises or symbols and convert them into something with meaning has long been a mystery. New techniques that can track brain activity down to a single neuron are now revealing exactly where this sound translation takes place within our minds. "Humans...

Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive impairments. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine the long-term consequences of prolonged work-rela...

In a significant stride towards understanding Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have discovered that higher levels of certain fatty acids in the blood are associated with a lower risk of brain changes typical of the disease. This finding, published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, could pave the way for more effective early detection and ma...

Walk 10,000 steps a day, cut back alcohol, get better sleep at night, stay socially active — we’re told that changes like these can prevent up to 40 per cent of dementia cases worldwide. Given that dementia is still one of the most feared diseases, why aren’t we pushing our doctors and governments to support these lifestyle changes through new programs and policy initiatives? The truth, however, is more complex. We know that making lifestyle...

How Covid-19 fulfils the Bradford Hill criteria for causation and raises your lifetime risk of dementia from 1% to 1.5%.

npj Aging - Investigating nutrient biomarkers of healthy brain aging: a multimodal brain imaging study

Considering 40% of Americans are insufficient, getting enough vitamin D is more important than ever.

This cohort study investigates the association of olive oil intake with risk of dementia-related death among US adults.

This cohort study examines data from Rush Memory and Aging Project, including autopsy results and up to 24 years of follow-up, to determine the association between lifestyle and cognitive function independently of Alzheimer disease pathology burden.

Brief doze may delay brain shrinkage, which occurs faster in people with neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have developed a machine learning model that predicts Alzheimer's onset up to seven years early, identifying high cholesterol and osteoporosis as key predictors, especially in women. Published in Nature Aging, this study marks a significant step toward early diagnosis and understanding of Alzheimer's.

Hye Kyung Baek*, Young Jun Kim, Yeon Sun Lee, Hye Ri Jo, Mi So Park, Dong Guk Shin, Hyun A Shim. Journal of Acupuncture Research 2022;39:275-82. https://doi.org/10.13045/jar.2022.00206

Heading to the bar? Read this first.

"Following this diet is associated with lower risk of cognitive decline.”

But if I told you this two decades ago, you’d think I’m crazy.

The number of older people, including those living with dementia, is rising, as younger age mortality declines. However, the age-specific incidence of dementia has fallen in many countries, probably because of improvements in education, nutrition, health care, and lifestyle changes. Overall, a growing body of evidence supports the nine potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia modelled by the 2017 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care: less education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and low social contact.