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.

Ultra-processed foods linked to measurable drops in human attention span

New research from Monash University, the University of São Paulo and Deakin University shows a diet high in heavily processed foods can negatively impact the brain's ability to focus and increases the risk of developing dementia.

25 Apr 2026

Drinking coffee alters your microbiome, mood, and memory

Coffee consumption influences the microbiota-gut-brain axis, affecting cognitive performance and emotional regulation through complex biological pathways.

24 Apr 2026

Cognitive decline may signal heart trouble years before a cardiovascular event

In a large ASPREE and ASPREE-XT nested case-control study of older adults without prior cardiovascular disease, people who later experienced a CVD event showed faster cognitive decline beginning roughly 3 to 8 years before the event. Processing speed declined earliest, suggesting that subtle cognitive changes may emerge well before overt cardiovascular disease.

21 Apr 2026

Alzheimer’s monoclonal antibodies fail to deliver meaningful results

Despite reducing amyloid plaques, antibody treatments for Alzheimer's fail to improve cognition, highlighting critical gaps in current therapeutic approaches.

21 Apr 2026

Exercise and ibuprofen help reduce cognitive impairment during chemotherapy

Up to 80% of people who receive chemotherapy experience cancer-related cognitive impairment, which most commonly involves mild-to-moderate changes such as difficulty paying attention, memory lapses, and struggles with multitasking.

20 Apr 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A new CDC nominee, again

President Donald Trump this week nominated a former deputy surgeon general who has expressed support for vaccines to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

17 Apr 2026

Feeling lonely impacts memory without accelerating mental decline

Loneliness affects the memory of older adults but does not speed up mental decline over time, suggests data from a major European study tracking more than 10,000 people over seven years.

14 Apr 2026

Supportive neighborhoods linked to slower cognitive decline in older immigrants

Older Chinese immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater access to community amenities, services and supportive infrastructure experienced slower cognitive decline over time, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

13 Apr 2026

Vaping may raise cognitive impairment risk in young adults, study finds

A cross-sectional study of 232 young adults in Bangkok found that e-cigarette users were more likely than non-smokers to screen as at risk for cognitive impairment on the MoCA, while no significant differences were seen for ADHD symptom tendency or emotional intelligence. The authors say the findings raise neurocognitive concerns but do not prove causation, and they call for longitudinal research to clarify whether vaping contributes to later cognitive decline.

13 Apr 2026

Moving more, sitting less, and sleeping well may lower dementia risk

Findings suggest that regular physical activity and adequate sleep may lower dementia risk, emphasizing the need for evidence-based lifestyle guidelines.

13 Apr 2026

Swapping passive screen time with mental activity may cut dementia risk

Research shows that mentally active sedentary behavior can reduce dementia risk, emphasizing the importance of daily cognitive engagement for brain health.

9 Apr 2026

Higher optimism linked to lower dementia risk

Higher optimism is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

8 Apr 2026

Researchers uncover a chain of molecular events behind early brain changes in Alzheimer's

For the millions of people who carry the gene APOE4, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, their brain activity may begin changing long before any memory problems appear.

3 Apr 2026

Gut microbiome changes improve memory in early cognitive decline

Research shows that modifying the gut microbiome can enhance cognitive performance and mitigate dementia risk, highlighting the gut-brain connection.

1 Apr 2026

Study links atrial fibrillation to poorer brain clearance and cognitive decline

Researchers found that people with atrial fibrillation had lower MRI-based glymphatic activity and poorer cognitive performance than healthy controls, with the greatest impairment seen in non-paroxysmal AF. In patients who underwent catheter ablation, glymphatic activity improved after sinus rhythm was restored, suggesting a possible link between heart rhythm, brain waste clearance, and cognition.

30 Mar 2026

APOE4 alters brain immunity and cognition differently in females and males

APOE4 drove sex-specific changes in meningeal immunity, lymphatic drainage, brain lipids, neuroinflammation, and cognition in mouse models, with females showing greater inflammatory and cognitive vulnerability. Suppressing innate immunity improved some cognitive outcomes in female E4/E4 mice but worsened them in male E4/E4 mice, underscoring the need for sex-tailored approaches.

29 Mar 2026

Mediterranean diet may protect health through mitochondrial microproteins

A new study led by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet may be driven, in part, by tiny proteins hidden within our mitochondria, opening a new window into how diet shapes aging and disease risk.

23 Mar 2026

New dual blood test reduces false positives in Alzheimer's screening

Alzheimer's disease is characterised by the accumulation of two proteins in the brain: amyloid-beta and tau.

23 Mar 2026

Early biomarker predicts cognitive impairment after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Routine early measurement of neurofilament light chain could help improve prediction of cognitive impairment after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study presented today at ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2026, the annual congress of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

23 Mar 2026

Higher meat intake may slow cognitive decline in older adults with APOE ε4

In older Swedish adults, higher meat intake was associated with slower cognitive decline and lower dementia risk among people carrying APOE ε3/ε4 or ε4/ε4, but not among other genotype groups. A higher processed-to-total meat ratio was linked to worse dementia outcomes, while unprocessed red meat and poultry showed no substantial difference.

22 Mar 2026