Category Archives: Brain Function

A new study out of Australia is showing how a bout of exercise in the morning can improve cognitive performance like decision-making across the day compared to prolonged sitting without exercise. “Sedentary behavior is associated with impaired cognition, whereas exercise can acutely improve cognition,” say the authors of the study. The study titled, ‘Brain Breaks’ ...click here to read more

Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise, and although there is no cure, researchers are constantly looking at ways to help reduce the risk of this memory-robbing disease or at least slow it down. One of those methods is through diet, as much of our health relies on diet. One diet that has been getting much ...click here to read more

Sleeping allows the brain to perform some “house cleaning” and eliminate waste. If the brain is unable to perform these tasks, there is a higher risk of memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. There are many nighttime habits you could be performing that are putting your brain at risk of Alzheimer’s disease unknowingly, but recognizing and ...click here to read more

Electric bikes may boost mental health in older adults. This is one of the first studies of its kind to study older adults in an outdoor study as opposed to a gym setting, which is typically where most of this type of research takes place. For the study, adults over the age of 50 were ...click here to read more

Eating garlic may reduce age-related memory problems. The latest study suggests that compounds found in garlic can help combat age-related changes in the gut, which are linked with memory problems. Research lead Jyotirmaya Behera explained, “Our findings suggest that dietary administration of garlic containing allyl sulfide could help maintain healthy gut microorganisms and improve cognitive ...click here to read more

It has long been known that heart failure patients tend to have higher rates of depression and thinking problems, but it hasn’t been clear as to why this link exists. The latest research findings now shed some light on this association. The latest study looked at how the body’s clock regulates cognition in mice and ...click here to read more

A new line of robotic pets may offer hope for dementia treatment. A California-based company developed robotic pets to help comfort dementia patients. These pets are designed to help fit the needs of seniors and those on fixed incomes. Loneliness is a significant problem for older adults, with survey results showing one-third of adults over ...click here to read more

For many of us, the weekends are a time to catch up on some lost sleep from the week. This may not be as good of an idea as you think it is. Research suggests that every hour of sleep lost requires four days of adequate rest to make up for it. Generally, the majority ...click here to read more

Spending 20 minutes sitting or walking in nature helps lower stress. Lead author of the study Dr. MaryCarol Hunter explained, “We know that spending time in nature reduces stress, but until now it was unclear how much is enough, how often to do it, or even what kind of nature experience will benefit us. Our ...click here to read more

Recurrent episodes of depression in adulthood are associated with a risk of memory problems. It is well known that depression and mental health issues can affect short term memory. One study published in Cognition and Emotion found that individuals with persistent unhappiness and depression had poorer working memory compared to people without mental health problems. ...click here to read more

We’ve known that there was a link between heart disease and depression, but the exact mechanisms that linked the two conditions are unknown. The latest research findings suggest that stress-induced inflammation may be the missing link. Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and depression is the leading cause of disability. Numerous studies ...click here to read more

There is growing hype around cannabis, and more studies are being conducted on the regular to better understand the possible benefits of cannabis on different health problems. The latest study sheds light on the potential use of cannabis for dementia treatment. Researcher’s from King’s College London are carrying out a clinical trial on cannabis-based treatment ...click here to read more

Research suggests that a good night’s sleep helps to keep your arteries healthy. The latest evidence suggests that sleep can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries. When arteries become stiff, it increases the risk of a cardiovascular event. The researchers studied the development of atherosclerosis in mice. They found that sleep-deprived ...click here to read more

Untreated diabetes is associated with a high chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, patients who are taking medications to treat and manage their diabetes are warding off Alzheimer’s disease. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease was 1.6 times greater among those with untreated diabetes. Psychologist Daniel A. Nation explained, “Our findings emphasize the importance of ...click here to read more