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.

New drug preserves cognitive function in mice after brain irradiation

A study by researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has identified a possible new drug that could help prevent cognitive decline in people who undergo radiation therapy for brain tumors.

15 Apr 2020

Childhood secondhand smoking exposure associated with poorer midlife cognitive function

A Finnish study coordinated by the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku, Finland, shows that exposure to parental smoking in childhood and adolescence is associated with poorer learning ability and memory in midlife.

15 Apr 2020

Mediterranean diet correlates with higher cognitive function

According to a recent analysis of data from two major eye disease studies, adherence to the Mediterranean diet - high in vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil - correlates with higher cognitive function.

14 Apr 2020

New form of magnetic brain stimulation relieves symptoms of severe depression

A new form of magnetic brain stimulation rapidly relieved symptoms of severe depression in 90% of participants in a small study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

7 Apr 2020

Alzheimer's disease: high amyloid levels linked to early disease

A new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology in April 2020 seems to indicate that higher brain amyloid levels represent early Alzheimer's disease (AD).

6 Apr 2020

Unraveling gut-to-brain communication paves way for targeted treatments

Scientists at Flinders University have, for the first time, identified a specific type of sensory nerve ending in the gut and how these may 'talk' to the spinal cord, communicating pain or discomfort to the brain.

30 Mar 2020

NUI Galway study provides insights on neural basis of intelligence

An international collaborative study led by researchers from the NUI Galway provides findings on the neural basis of intelligence, otherwise known as general cognitive ability.

26 Mar 2020

Mapping the cannabis genome to improve agriculture and human health

Unlocking the full potential of cannabis for agriculture and human health will require a co-ordinated scientific effort to assemble and map the cannabis genome, says a just-published international study led by University of Saskatchewan researchers.

25 Mar 2020

How Ritalin works: focus on benefits rather than costs of work

A new study published in the journal Science shows that brain stimulant drugs like Ritalin, often used to treat concentration problems in conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), work in a different way than commonly thought.

19 Mar 2020

Woman's risk for negative mood, executive dysfunction after ovary removal linked to childhood adversity

Nearly one-third of women who choose to have their ovaries removed before the natural age of menopause are susceptible to negative mood and executive dysfunction.

18 Mar 2020

Disengagement in retirement may increase risk of cognitive decline

Certain middle-aged and older adults, especially women who tend to disengage from difficult tasks and goals after they retire, may be at greater risk of cognitive decline as they age, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

16 Mar 2020

Study explores cognitive benefits of avocado consumption for overweight or obese adults

A diet including daily avocado consumption improves the ability to focus attention in adults whose measurements of height and weight are categorized as overweight or obese, a new randomized control trial found.

10 Mar 2020

Norwegian national center receives NOK 22.5 million for the fight against Alzheimer's disease

The Foundation Stiftelsen Kristian Gerhard Jebsen has donated NOK 22.5 million to a Norwegian national center for the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The grant was made public on 26 February.

5 Mar 2020

High blood pressure in young adulthood linked to declines in cognitive function and gait in midlife

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects everything from your arteries to your kidneys, from eyesight to sexual function.

4 Mar 2020

Study provides new insight into the brain's remarkable ability to make decisions

When crossing the street, which way do you first turn your head to check for oncoming traffic? This decision depends on the context of where you are. A pedestrian in the United States looks to the left for cars, but one in the United Kingdom looks right.

28 Feb 2020

Use of hearing aids may delay cognitive decline in older adults

Wearing hearing aids may delay cognitive decline in older adults and improve brain function, according to promising new research.

26 Feb 2020

Naturally occurring molecule could improve brain metabolism in patients with MS

N-acetylcysteine is a naturally occurring molecule that replenishes antioxidants and shows improved brain metabolism and self-reported improvements in cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis, according to a study published in the journal, Frontiers in Neurology.

26 Feb 2020

Targeting overactive immune cells with experimental drug could improve TBI symptoms

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that targeting overactive immune cells in the brain with an experimental drug could limit brain cell loss and reverse cognitive and motor difficulties caused by traumatic brain injury.

25 Feb 2020

Autoantibodies can also act as the body's own antidepressants

If the immune system attacks its own body, it can often have devastating consequences: autoantibodies bind to the body's structures, triggering functional disorders.

24 Feb 2020

Researchers decode the science behind good lighting

Researchers at UW Medicine have decoded what makes good lighting - lighting capable of stimulating the cone photoreceptor inputs to specific neurons in the eye that regulate circadian rhythms.

20 Feb 2020