Grey Matter News and Research

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Grey matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and both unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons), glial cells (astroglia and oligodendrocytes) and capillaries.

Social isolation linked to brain volume loss in older adults

Older people who have little social contact with others may be more likely to have loss of overall brain volume, and in areas of the brain affected by dementia, than people with more frequent social contact, according to a study published in the July 12, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Jul 2023

Unlocking the fountain of youth: Diet and exercise have a remarkable impact on cognition in older adults

The aim of non-pharmacologic interventions for brain health is to preserve cognitive function and safeguard brain structure. This review explores various diets (MeDi, DASH, MIND, ketogenic), exercise approaches (endurance, resistance, yoga, HIIT), and highlights the need for further research to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

13 Jun 2023

Spaceflight experience alters human brain structure, posing challenges for long-term missions

Spaceflight impacts brain structure. Longer missions lead to greater ventricle expansion, especially within the first 6 months. Shorter inter-mission intervals limit ventricle recovery. Findings reveal limits and recovery capacity of the brain during spaceflight.

12 Jun 2023

Nuts for the brain: Study shows nut consumption boosts memory and brain health in seniors

Long-term consumption of mixed nuts in older adults improves brain vascular function and may enhance cognitive performance. The study highlights the potential benefits of nut consumption for brain health in aging populations.

6 Jun 2023

Fibromyalgia causes structural brain changes

Pain-processing regions are particularly affected by changes in brain volume. The good news is that these changes may be reversible.

26 May 2023

Gout unveiled as surprising culprit in neurodegenerative diseases

Research highlights the association between gout and neurodegenerative diseases, revealing that gout patients exhibit smaller brain volumes, increased brain iron markers, and a higher incidence of conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and essential tremor, particularly within the first three years after diagnosis.

22 May 2023

Practicing and listening to music could prevent working memory decline

Normal aging is associated with progressive cognitive decline. But can we train our brain to delay this process? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), HES-SO Geneva and EPFL has discovered that practicing and listening to music can alter cognitive decline in healthy seniors by stimulating the production of grey matter.

17 Apr 2023

Spectroscopy probe could make deep brain stimulation safer and improve success rates

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become an increasingly common treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, but the procedure still carries significant risks.

23 Mar 2023

Preterm infants do not get used to repeated pain, study finds

Preterm infants do not get used to repeated pain in the way that full-term infants, children and adults do habituate to pain, finds a study led by UCL (University College London) researchers.

16 Mar 2023

Associations between structural brain alterations and post-COVID fatigue

In a recent study published in eClinicalMedicine, researchers examined the structural brain changes in patients with post-COVID fatigue.

3 Mar 2023

U of A researcher one step closer to demonstrating the potential of brain molecule to halt MS

A University of Alberta researcher is one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

1 Feb 2023

Study finds link between neurodegeneration in obese people and Alzheimer's disease

A new study led by scientists at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of McGill University finds a correlation between neurodegeneration in obese people and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, suggesting that losing excess weight could slow cognitive decline in aging and lower risk for AD.

31 Jan 2023

Brain structures could predict an person's predisposition to accidental awareness under anesthesia

Brain structures which could predict an individual's predisposition to accidental awareness under anesthetic have been identified for the first time by neuroscientists in Trinity College Dublin.

12 Jan 2023

Breached dolphin's brains show neuropathology similar to Alzheimer's

In a new European Journal of Neuroscience study, scientists studied the brains of Odontocetes (Toothed whales) to document the presence or absence of neuropathological hallmarks of AD.

25 Dec 2022

What is the effect of pregnancy on resting state brain activity?

According to a recent study, pregnant women undergo changes in the grey matter structure of the human brain.

25 Nov 2022

Obesity management likely to improve the clinical outcome of MS

Carrying far too much weight when diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) is linked to higher current and subsequent levels of disability within a relatively short period of time, finds research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

2 Nov 2022

Researchers find link between metabolism and dementia-related brain measures

Every three seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. And while there is no known cure, changes in the brain can occur years before a dementia diagnosis.

30 Sep 2022

Keys to maintaining good brain health

Your brain is pretty fabulous. Around 100 billion nerve cells work together to keep you nimble and quick in your thinking.

22 Sep 2022

Inhaled glucocorticoids linked to changes in brain matter

A recent BMJ Open study conducted a cross-sectional analysis to test the hypothesis that the usage of systemic and inhaled glucocorticoids was associated with alterations in grey matter volume (GMV) and white matter microstructure.

5 Sep 2022

Insufficient sleep could have long-lasting impact on the neurocognitive development of pre-teens

Elementary school-age children who get less than nine hours of sleep per night have significant differences in certain brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence and well-being compared to those who get the recommended nine to 12 hours of sleep per night, according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers.

29 Jul 2022