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.

GLP-1 drugs have benefits beyond weight loss. Could microdoses preserve them?

A narrative review suggests GLP-1-based therapies deliver metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and other systemic benefits, raising interest in whether lower fractional doses could improve tolerability and treatment continuity. However, direct evidence for GLP-1 microdosing remains extremely limited, and researchers say prospective studies are needed to determine whether lower doses preserve long-term benefits.

1 Sep 2026

$15 million trial aims to improve treatment decisions for older AML patients

A newly funded national clinical trial initiative will gather critical evidence to determine the best treatment strategies for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive, fast-moving blood cancer that leaves a substantial proportion of older patients facing uncertainty about whether to proceed to stem cell transplantation or continue non-transplant therapy.

27 Aug 2026

Faulty myelin-making brain cells may help drive cognitive decline with age

Researchers found that greater age-related cognitive decline was associated with more dysfunctional oligodendrocytes, reduced NRF2 expression, smaller myelinated axons, and abnormally thicker myelin in human white matter. Experiments in mice showed that deleting NRF2 specifically from oligodendrocytes reproduced key white matter abnormalities and reduced cognitive improvement over time, implicating this pathway in cognitive aging.

26 Aug 2026

Dysfunctional myelin-producing brain cells contribute to age-related cognitive decline

Brain cells that produce the protective coating around nerve fibers can become dysfunctional with age and may actively contribute to cognitive decline, according to new research.

25 Aug 2026

Study reveals high prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy among former NFL players

At minimum, nearly a quarter of all former National Football League (NFL) players who died from 2016 to 2021 had confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head impacts – at death, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

25 Aug 2026

Estrogen fluctuations reshape brain connections, new study finds

A new study out of the University of Delaware shows that fluctuations in estrogen influence the brain, helping reshape connections between neurons.

18 Aug 2026

Cocoa looks promising for mood, but the brain benefits come with a catch

A review of clinical and preclinical studies suggests cocoa polyphenols may support mood, neuroplasticity, cerebral blood flow, and gut-brain signaling through pathways involving BDNF/CREB, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

17 Aug 2026

New clinical study shows astaxanthin enhances cognitive performance in active women

A new clinical study shows that AstaReal’s natural astaxanthin significantly improves cognitive performance and resilience to mental fatigue in recreationally active young women.

14 Aug 2026

Your sleep and stress may be connected in a more complicated way than expected

A seven-day intensive longitudinal study of 106 university students found little evidence that higher-than-usual daytime stress predicted poorer sleep that night. In contrast, better-than-usual subjective sleep was followed by lower perceived stress the next day, while objective sleep associations were generally weak and uncertain.

13 Aug 2026

Interactive platform maps habitat design effects on astronaut wellbeing

In extreme environments, habitats are built for survival. Submarines, Antarctic bases, and post disaster dwellings are designed to prioritize health and safety.

12 Aug 2026

Modern blood thinners slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients

People with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer's disease who are treated with modern NOAC blood-thinning medicines may experience a slower rate of cognitive decline.

12 Aug 2026

Scientific statement reframes cardiovascular care for older patients with cognitive impairment and frailty

Older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) often have coexisting cognitive impairment and frailty, conditions that can significantly affect treatment decisions, recovery, independence and quality of life and should be considered as part of an aging-informed approach to care, according to a new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement published in JACC, the flagship journal of the ACC.

10 Aug 2026

Simple biological age score flags higher cognitive decline risk in older adults

A study of 4,818 middle-aged and older Chinese adults found that higher light BioAge was associated with greater risks of cognitive impairment, episodic memory decline, and reduced mental intactness. The simple measure, based on age, creatinine, glucose, and CRP, added modest predictive information but requires further validation before clinical use.

10 Aug 2026

Barrow launches clinical study of ibogaine for neurological recovery

Barrow Neurological Institute has received a $5-million grant from the Arizona Department of Health Services to conduct a Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating ibogaine for treating people with neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI).

6 Aug 2026

Study connects late-life psychosis to abnormal tau protein buildup

Hallucinations and delusions that appear for the first time in midlife or later are often treated as psychiatric symptoms whose biological cause is unclear.

4 Aug 2026

New AI model generates detailed maps of aging in brain regions

USC researchers have developed an approach that uses artificial intelligence to generate detailed maps that highlight differences in how distinct parts of the brain age.

3 Aug 2026

Daytime cortisol patterns track cognitive decline but not Alzheimer’s disease risk

In 3,895 older adults, moderate daytime cortisol variability was associated with better cognition and slower decline, while the highest daily cortisol exposure was linked to poorer cognition and faster decline. Cortisol patterns differed between Black and White participants, but their relationships with cognition were similar, and none predicted incident Alzheimer’s disease.

2 Aug 2026

Persistent financial hardship tracks with poorer memory and processing speed by midlife

Researchers linked persistent low income and financial hardship across early and mid-adulthood to poorer processing speed and verbal memory at age 53 in a British birth cohort. Neuroimaging suggested greater vulnerability to later brain atrophy among men, people from disadvantaged childhood backgrounds, and APOE-ε4 carriers, although these subgroup findings require replication.

2 Aug 2026

Soy lysolecithin reduces salt-induced hypertension and cognitive decline

High salt (HS) intake is a major global health concern, closely linked to hypertension and growing evidence of cognitive and emotional decline.

31 Jul 2026

Some caffeinated drinks are linked to poorer memory

A study on caffeine's impact reveals product-specific effects on anxiety, memory, and stress among university students, highlighting mental health implications.

28 Jul 2026