Category Archives: Brain Function

Your future self might exist between your ears. The brain is a powerful and funny thing. It can play tricks on you, and according to a new study, may be central to the future you will ultimately experience. The study shows that how people think about their future selves is an extremely accurate indicator of ...click here to read more

Your daily hunger hankerings could be holding you back from a good night’s sleep. The food you choose and when you eat it plays a significant role in sleep patterns and, in turn, overall health. Some obvious choices could be setting you back. An evening espresso or mowing down a pizza too close to bedtime ...click here to read more

A newly released scientific statement from the American Heart Association is highlighting the relationship between mental health and heart disease. Published in the journal Circulation, the statement helps physicians summarize ways to improve psychological health for people with, and at risk for, heart disease. Previous research has demonstrated that negative psychological factors, personality traits, and ...click here to read more

Most Americans do not get enough sleep. In fact, a recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has found that 85% of adults in the United States get less than seven hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation has previously been shown to increase the risk of several health conditions, including cardiovascular ...click here to read more

According to a new study, poor mental health earlier in life could lead to poor physical health later in life. Researchers from the University of Auckland, Duke University, and the University of Michigan collaborated to investigate this link in health by analyzing 50 years of births in New Zealand and following the individuals for 30 ...click here to read more

Exercise is good for you, but it might do more than you think. New research suggests that deciding to get fit today may help your brain well into the future. Brain age is a growing concern for people reaching middle age and beyond. You may even be expecting to experience memory loss, dementia, or other ...click here to read more

During sleep, the brain experiences an increase in blood flow, which is linked to brain function. According to a new study from Penn State researchers, these blood flow changes may help clean out metabolic brain waste that can build up during the day. By studying mice’s sleep patterns, the study was able to find the ...click here to read more

Most Americans don’t get enough sleep. Likely, you’re not either. Any number of things could be limiting your ability to get a good night’s shut-eye, which is defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as at least seven hours per night. You need “enough” sleep for several reasons. It truly is a pillar ...click here to read more

Researchers have found that the more exercise middle-aged adults get, the better their brain health. It has long been known that exercise can improve mental health, but this new study has found evidence on the importance of keeping active in midlife. The study published in Neurology analyzed information from 1,604 volunteers taking part in an ...click here to read more

A new study reaffirms that sleep cannot be replaced for the recovery of the brain. For decades, scientists have known that sleep is vital for the brain’s healthy functioning and overall health. However, it has been unclear whether this is due to the absence of novel input during sleep or an active refinement of neural ...click here to read more

Can you be a “super ager” that’s protected from cognitive decline? It’s possible. Regardless of your opinion of the Queen of England, one thing is for sure: she is a highly functioning 94-year-old. Most people experience “normal” aging that brings on cognitive decline, yet she still seems to function decades younger from a mental standpoint. ...click here to read more

A new study from the University of Oxford and University College London shows that a healthy heart throughout life could reduce the risk of dementia in older age. The study found that by targeting arterial stiffening earlier in a person’s lifespan, the onset of dementia could be reduced. Researchers analyzed data from 542 older adults ...click here to read more

Older people with diabetes should have routine eye exams to help identify cognitive decline. Research shows that older adults with diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders than people without diabetes. With regular eye exams, doctors can identify changes in the retina that may be associated with cognitive disorders. Scientists ...click here to read more

According to a new study from the American Academy of Neurology, high blood pressure during pregnancy may lead to memory decline later in life. Researchers have found that women who have pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure tend to have lower scores on memory and thinking skills tests through the years following pregnancy. The study included ...click here to read more