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.

Can Alzheimer's genes predict who becomes a SuperAger?

A study on SuperAgers shows exceptional memory isn't solely due to lower Alzheimer's genetic risk, highlighting the role of biological and lifestyle factors.

28 Jul 2026

Signals traveling from the gut through the vagus nerve help form memories

When French writer Marcel Proust famously recalled his childhood from the taste of a Madeline cookie, his stomach may have done some of the work.

27 Jul 2026

Artificial stomach helps design nutrient-rich protein powders for seniors

New nutrient-rich protein powders to boost the health of active older people are being developed with the help of an artificial stomach at Aberystwyth University.

27 Jul 2026

Bee venom boosts the effects of standard Parkinson's therapy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, leading to motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowed movement, and impaired balance, as well as cognitive decline.

22 Jul 2026

Gut microbial metabolites may shape vulnerability to stress-related mental disorders

Gut microbiome-derived metabolites may influence stress-related mental disorders through neural, immune, endocrine, and epigenetic pathways. Evidence is strongest for depression and preclinical models, while larger longitudinal human studies are needed to establish causality and clinical value.

20 Jul 2026

Tau buildup in progressive supranuclear palsy alters brain networks linked to thinking and behavior

Researchers at Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) have found that tau buildup in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) may affect brain networks involved in thinking and behavior.

17 Jul 2026

Scientists develop ultrathin skin sensors for seamless health tracking

While wearable health sensors are becoming increasingly common, current iterations are awkward to wear.

15 Jul 2026

Study sheds light on the prognostic value of blood test for predicting cognitive impairment risk

A blood test for the biomarker phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) recently received federal clearance, but questions have emerged around the extent to which such tests can accurately predict whether a cognitively healthy individual will go on to develop cognitive impairment-a key symptom of Alzheimer's disease.

15 Jul 2026

New York pedestrian fatalities often involve alcohol and drugs

In New York State, 44% of pedestrian deaths involved alcohol or drug use by the pedestrian, suggests a retrospective analysis published online in the journal Injury Prevention.

13 Jul 2026

New trial helps reshape the future of recovery research for critically ill patients

A new national clinical trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is helping reshape the future of recovery research for critically ill patients, providing important new evidence about how rehabilitation and nutrition interventions should be delivered during severe illness and informing the next generation of research to improve ICU survivors' outcomes.

13 Jul 2026

Scientists trace severe irritability to the brain’s response to frustration

This review identifies maladaptive responses to frustrative non-reward as a potential mechanism underlying clinically significant irritability, particularly in youth. Animal studies reveal conserved behavioral responses, while human research links frustration to altered neural activity and highlights opportunities for cross-species treatment research.

10 Jul 2026

UCSF and Samsung launch remote study on aging brain health

An innovative new study from the Neuroscape research center at UCSF, and consumer electronics giant Samsung seeks to understand decade-by-decade changes in brain health.

9 Jul 2026

Inhaler misuse linked to cognitive impairment and poor manual dexterity

Cognitive function, hand dexterity, and breathing ability play an important role in helping people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use their inhalers correctly, according to a new study.

9 Jul 2026

Updated ABCs framework gives clinicians a clearer path to prevent heart disease

A 2026 State-of-the-Art review updates the ABCs of cardiovascular disease prevention to help clinicians apply contemporary risk assessment, lifestyle, pharmacologic, and cardiometabolic strategies in routine care. The framework emphasizes PREVENT™ risk equations, Life’s Essential 8, CKM syndrome, obesity care, lipid lowering, blood pressure control, healthy aging, heart failure prevention, and atrial fibrillation management.

7 Jul 2026

Study explores the relationship between heart issues and cognitive function

New in JNeurosci, Xia Zhang, from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, led a study exploring the relationship between heart issues and cognitive function.

6 Jul 2026

Scent-enhanced virtual reality eased negative emotions after use

Integrating scents into virtual reality may reduce negative emotions in isolated environments, but more research is needed for sustained psychological benefits.

3 Jul 2026

Wearable devices reveal changing sleep patterns throughout college years

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human health that plays a crucial role in cognitive function, academic performance, and social interactions.

1 Jul 2026

Smart prodrug targets Alzheimer's disease using hydrogen peroxide signals

A substance that worsens dementia has become a "switch" that initiates treatment. KAIST researchers have developed a new therapeutic approach that uses hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a reactive oxygen species that damages cells and increases in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, to activate a drug selectively in diseased brain tissue.

1 Jul 2026

Cannabidiol shows preclinical promise for anxiety, depression and cognition

A new meta-analysis suggests that CBD may improve emotional behavior and cognition in animal models, but researchers caution that its clinical benefits still need to be proven in humans.

1 Jul 2026