Cognitive Function News and Research

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Cognition is a concept used in different ways by different disciplines, but is generally accepted to mean the process of thought. For example, in psychology and cognitive science it refers to an information processing view of an individual's psychological functions.

Study suggests mental illness doesn't preclude enjoying life

Schizophrenia is among the most severe forms of mental illness, yet some people with the disease are as happy as those in good physical and mental health according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

19 Aug 2014

Patients who rely on pacemakers and defibrillators run risk of serious health complications

Patients who rely on pacemakers and defibrillators to maintain a normal heart rhythm run the risk of serious health complications if they don't fully understand how the devices work and what to do when they experience an irregular heartbeat.

18 Aug 2014

New therapeutic strategy to combat common genetic risk factor for ALS, FTD

A team of researchers at Mayo Clinic and The Scripps Research Institute in Florida have developed a new therapeutic strategy to combat the most common genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

15 Aug 2014

People who develop depression, MCI after age 65 are more vulnerable for accelerated brain aging

People who develop depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) after age 65 are more likely to have biological and brain imaging markers that reflect a greater vulnerability for accelerated brain aging, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings were published online in Molecular Psychiatry.

8 Aug 2014

Study shows noticeable differences in brain function across the day for older adults

Older adults who are tested at their optimal time of day (the morning), not only perform better on demanding cognitive tasks but also activate the same brain networks responsible for paying attention and suppressing distraction as younger adults, according to Canadian researchers.

7 Aug 2014

Anti-cholinergic drugs could be responsible for decline in cognitive, physical function in elderly patients

Drugs widely prescribed to the elderly could be responsible for a decline in cognitive and physical function according to research from the University of East Anglia and the Regenstrief Institute.

31 Jul 2014

Little-known supportive cells in brain may play major role in cognitive function

When you're expecting something-like the meal you've ordered at a restaurant-or when something captures your interest, unique electrical rhythms sweep through your brain.

29 Jul 2014

Despite public programs, food insecurity remains an intractable problem in the US

Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, and low-income households are disproportionately affected by food security, despite the extensive private and public food safety net in the United States, according to a new report by RTI International.

27 Jul 2014

Early life experiences influence risk of cognitive impairment in later life

Early life experiences, such as childhood socioeconomic status and literacy, may have greater influence on the risk of cognitive impairment late in life than such demographic characteristics as race and ethnicity, a large study by researchers with the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center and the University of Victoria, Canada, has found.

26 Jul 2014

Stimulating specific brain pathway may induce active emergence from anesthesia

Researchers may be one step closer to better understanding how anesthesia works. A study in the August issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists- (ASA-), found stimulating a major dopamine-producing region in the brain, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), caused rats to wake from general anesthesia, suggesting that this region plays a key role in restoring consciousness after general anesthesia.

23 Jul 2014

Study confirms link between antipsychotic medication and slight decrease in brain volume

A study published today has confirmed a link between antipsychotic medication and a slight, but measureable, decrease in brain volume in patients with schizophrenia.

19 Jul 2014

Openness predicts cognitive function in bipolar disorder

The degree of Openness to Experiences reported by patients with bipolar disorder could be used to identify potential candidates requiring more comprehensive cognitive assessments, US researchers report.

15 Jul 2014

B vitamins do not prevent Alzheimer's disease

Taking B vitamins doesn't slow mental decline as we age, nor is it likely to prevent Alzheimer's disease, conclude Oxford University researchers who have assembled all the best clinical trial data involving 22,000 people to offer a final answer on this debate.

15 Jul 2014

Study to understand impairments of working memory among patients with schizophrenia

The inability to ignore irrelevant stimuli underlies the impaired working memory and cognition often experienced by individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, reports a new study in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry.

15 Jul 2014

New data on possible protective behaviors and dementia risk factors emerges at AAIC- 2014

Participation in activities that promote mental activity, and moderate physical activity in middle age, may help protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in later life, according to new research reported today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference- 2014 (AAIC- 2014) in Copenhagen.

15 Jul 2014

Short sleep linked to cognitive decline in older adults

Researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS) have found evidence that the less older adults sleep, the faster their brains age.

1 Jul 2014

Key historical misconceptions hinder research and treatment for brain metastases

"Key historical misconceptions" are hindering progress in research and treatment for patients with cancer metastases to the brain, suggests a special article in the July issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

25 Jun 2014

Cocoa-extract may reduce damage to nerve pathways in Alzheimer's patients' brains

A specific preparation of cocoa-extract called Lavado may reduce damage to nerve pathways seen in Alzheimer's disease patients' brains long before they develop symptoms, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published June 20 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD).

24 Jun 2014

Women who develop gestational diabetes perform worse on cognitive function tests

Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, perform worse on cognitive function tests than do women with a normal pregnancy, according to a new study from Turkey.

23 Jun 2014

Leading experts to discuss mild traumatic brain injury at AACN annual meeting

It has been widely reported in the media that mild traumatic brain injury/concussion can cause prolonged physical and cognitive symptoms, and potentially permanent brain damage in some individuals.

19 Jun 2014

Cognitive Function News and Research

Further Reading

Study suggests mental illness doesn't preclude enjoying life

Patients who rely on pacemakers and defibrillators run risk of serious health complications

New therapeutic strategy to combat common genetic risk factor for ALS, FTD

People who develop depression, MCI after age 65 are more vulnerable for accelerated brain aging

Study shows noticeable differences in brain function across the day for older adults

Anti-cholinergic drugs could be responsible for decline in cognitive, physical function in elderly patients

Little-known supportive cells in brain may play major role in cognitive function

Despite public programs, food insecurity remains an intractable problem in the US

Early life experiences influence risk of cognitive impairment in later life

Stimulating specific brain pathway may induce active emergence from anesthesia

Study confirms link between antipsychotic medication and slight decrease in brain volume

Openness predicts cognitive function in bipolar disorder

B vitamins do not prevent Alzheimer's disease

Study to understand impairments of working memory among patients with schizophrenia

New data on possible protective behaviors and dementia risk factors emerges at AAIC- 2014

Short sleep linked to cognitive decline in older adults

Key historical misconceptions hinder research and treatment for brain metastases

Cocoa-extract may reduce damage to nerve pathways in Alzheimer's patients' brains

Women who develop gestational diabetes perform worse on cognitive function tests

Leading experts to discuss mild traumatic brain injury at AACN annual meeting

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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