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 examines a pathway responsible for the formation of tau tangles in the brain

Since the discovery of Alzheimer's disease over a century ago, two hallmarks of the devastating illness have taken center stage.

12 May 2021

Spiritual fitness and meditative practice may reduce multiple risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

It is projected that up to 152 million people worldwide will be living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by 2050. To date there are no drugs that have a substantial positive impact on either the prevention or reversal of cognitive decline.

11 May 2021

Cognitive problems caused by repetitive and mild blows to the head could be treated, study suggests

A neurologic pathway by which non-damaging but high frequency brain impact blunts normal brain function and causes long-term problems with learning and memory has been identified.

10 May 2021

Cardiovascular risk factors accumulated from childhood linked to poorer brain function at midlife

Managing weight, blood pressure and cholesterol in children may help protect brain function in later life, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

10 May 2021

Damage to the white matter is more predictive of cognitive impairment after brain injury

A new University of Iowa study challenges the idea that gray matter (the neurons that form the cerebral cortex) is more important than white matter (the myelin covered axons that physically connect neuronal regions) when it comes to cognitive health and function.

7 May 2021

Individuals from long-lived families show slower cognitive decline

If you come from a family where people routinely live well into old age, you will likely have better cognitive function (the ability to clearly think, learn and remember) than peers from families where people die younger.

4 May 2021

NSAIDs could help mitigate the short-term impacts of air pollution on cognition

Exposure to air pollution, even over the course of just a few weeks, can impede mental performance, according to a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

3 May 2021

High-powered MRI detects subtle differences in the hippocampus of people with Down syndrome

Using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map the brains of people with Down syndrome (DS), researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and other institutions detected subtle differences in the structure and function of the hippocampus--a region of the brain tied to memory and learning.

29 Apr 2021

Researchers survey patients to find out which Parkinson's symptoms troubled the most

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) face a wide range of symptoms and challenges. A team from Parkinson's UK, including several Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors, surveyed patients to find out which PD symptoms troubled them most and how priorities may change with condition duration.

27 Apr 2021

Traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease share common trajectories

Brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease and in those with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have significant similarities, a new USC study shows, suggesting new ways to identify patients at high risk for Alzheimer's.

26 Apr 2021

Experts develop quality indicators for management and outcomes of adults with atrial fibrillation

Management and outcomes of adults with atrial fibrillation are presented today at EHRA 2021, an online scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology. The document is published in EP Europace, a journal of the ESC.

26 Apr 2021

Tablet-based video games could improve brain function in older people with mild cognitive impairment

A University of Massachusetts Amherst biomedical informatician will use a $436,836 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the use of "serious games" played independently on computer tablets to improve brain function in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

23 Apr 2021

NCCS starts clinical trial to examine the use of TCM in countering cancer-related symptoms

The National Cancer Centre Singapore has started a clinical trial to examine the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in countering cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer treatment to improve cancer survivors' quality of life.

22 Apr 2021

Physical and mental health decline associated with more pronounced cognitive disengagement

A recent study suggests that preserving physical and mental health helps older adults experiencing cognitive impairment stave off declines in cognitive engagement.

20 Apr 2021

Study shows how alcohol may affect the brain, offers potential treatments for alcohol misuse

The slurred speech, poor coordination, and sedative effects of drinking too much alcohol may actually be caused by the breakdown of alcohol products produced in the brain, not in the liver as scientists currently think

15 Apr 2021

Study identifies a 'window of impairment' caused by cannabis intoxication

A comprehensive analysis of 80 scientific studies has identified a 'window of impairment' of between three and 10 hours caused by moderate to high doses of the intoxicating component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

12 Apr 2021

Sleep apnea treatment linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's and other dementias

A new study finds older adults who received positive airway pressure therapy prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia.

9 Apr 2021

Study: Age-related changes in brain stem cells are more pronounced in male animals

Ageing and age-related brain disease do not affect women and men in the same way. The adult brain constantly generates new brain cells called neurons from stem cells, a process called neurogenesis. This process is important for learning and cognitive function which declines as the brain ages.

9 Apr 2021

Phase 3 clinical trial tests new treatment for brain metastases from small-cell lung cancer

A new phase 3 randomized clinical trial overseen by CU Cancer Center member Chad Rusthoven, MD, and Vinai Gondi, MD, from Northwestern University, is testing whether a new treatment approach could result in improved outcomes for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that has spread to the brain.

8 Apr 2021

Study reveals sex-differences in aging of the brain stem cell niche

Ageing and age-related brain disease do not affect women and men in the same way. The adult brain constantly generates new brain cells called neurons from stem cells, a process called neurogenesis.

7 Apr 2021