ReportWire

Tag: Brain

  • The Possible Link Between IBS & Parkinson’s Disease

    The Possible Link Between IBS & Parkinson’s Disease

    Before we dive into these findings, let’s cover the current state of Parkinson’s research, preceding this study.

    The most common suspected cause of Parkinson’s disease is a pathological pattern of Lewy body (LB) protein deposition. These depositions, researchers say, mainly consist of misfolded α-synuclein—a presynaptic neuronal protein that is linked genetically and neuropathologically to Parkinson’s disease1. 

    Interestingly, the misfolded α-synuclein has not only been found in the central nervous system but also in the vagus nerve and the enteric nervous system (ENS)—the latter located within the walls of the GI tract, 2extending from the esophagus to the anal canal, in people with Parkinson’s disease.

    The new study, published in BMJ Journals set out to explore the possibility of Parkinson’s disease originating in the gut, based on the fact that misfolded proteins have been found in the GI tract and esophagus.

    In order to study this, researchers looked for Parkinson’s patients who had digestive symptoms before being diagnosed with the brain disorder.

    The researchers analyzed a combination of case-control studies of 24,624 Parkinson’s patients and a cohort study utilizing a U.S.-based nationwide medical record network. They looked for a broad range of both GI symptoms and GI diagnoses that appeared before Parkinson’s diagnoses.

    Hannah Frye

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  • 12 Signs Of Cognitive Decline That Shouldn’t Be Ignored

    12 Signs Of Cognitive Decline That Shouldn’t Be Ignored

    This intermediate zone between normal brain aging and dementia is called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and it can be a cause for concern—once signs of MCI begin to crop up, they can progress into dementia (typically in the form of Alzheimer’s disease) at an annual rate of 8% to 15%.

    Dementia affects approximately 24 million people1 worldwide, and its global prevalence is expected to quadruple by the year 2050. What’s more, almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are female. Arguably, taking care of our brains is more critical today than ever before (especially for women).

    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • This Simple Habit Can Improve Focus & Concentration, Study Finds

    This Simple Habit Can Improve Focus & Concentration, Study Finds

    A recent study from New York University1 published in Nature Scientific Reports found that doing pleasurable activities (like listening to music and smelling perfume) during mentally engaging tasks can improve cognitive performance.

    Researchers measured cognitive performance using a working memory test called the n-back test. They asked participants to take this test while wearing a MINDWATCH device. MINDWATCH is a noninvasive wearable designed to measure electrodermal activity (EDA), blood pressure, body temperature, brain activity, and other physiological measures of focus.

    Participants took the working memory test while exposed to pleasurable stimulants (music, coffee, and perfume), as well as without them.

    The MINDWATCH algorithm determined the stimulants triggered increased “beta band” brain wave activity—a state associated with peak cognitive performance.

    Researchers found that music had an even greater effect than caffeine, followed by perfume. They tested three types of music—energetic music, relaxing music, and AI-generated tones that fit participants’ preferences—and found that energetic music had the greatest effect.

    This study suggests that simple pleasures such as surrounding yourself with favorable scents or enjoying some upbeat music while completing a task might help you maintain focus. 

    Hannah Frye

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  • Study Says These Brain Games Help Improve Memory & Concentration

    Study Says These Brain Games Help Improve Memory & Concentration

    Following this study, the researchers now say that future studies should look at why different games have different effects, especially as we age. As study co-author Fiona McNab, Ph.D., notes, “It seems to be the strategy elements of the games—planning and problem solving, for example—that stimulates better memory and attention in young people. We don’t see this same effect in older adults, however, and more research is needed to understand why this is.”

    But in the meantime, brain games (namely puzzle games as opposed to strategy or action games) could be an advantageous hobby to pick up for older populations.

    And for further cognitive support as you age, it’s also not a bad idea to look to brain-supporting supplements with research-backed ingredients that are proven to boost your brain power. Here’s a roundup of our favorite memory supplements, to that end.

    You might also want to check out our guide to brain exercises for more brain game inspo!

    Sarah Regan

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  • Alzheimer’s Patients Are Often Missing These Antioxidants

    Alzheimer’s Patients Are Often Missing These Antioxidants

    As professor and study co-author C. Kathleen Dorey Ph.D. explains in a news release, “These results are consistent with large population studies that found risk for Alzheimer’s disease was significantly lower in those who ate diets rich in carotenoids, or had high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their blood, or accumulated in their retina as macular pigment,” adding, “Not only that, but we believe eating carotenoid-rich diets will help keep brains in top condition at all ages.”

    The reason being, the study authors explain, is that the brain is vulnerable to cumulative oxidative damage, but this damage can be prevented by antioxidants found in a healthy diet.

    To ensure you’re getting plenty of carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and more, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality, research-backed multivitamin, to help fill in any gaps in your diet. Here are our favorites (containing plenty of carotenoids) to help you choose!

    And when it comes to dietary choices, think colorful fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. You can check out our full guide to the MIND diet here for more information.

    Sarah Regan

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  • Citicoline May Slow Cognitive (& Even Reverse) Cognitive Decline

    Citicoline May Slow Cognitive (& Even Reverse) Cognitive Decline

    Over the course of a year, 81 people with subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) or MCI and vascular risk factors took one gram of citicoline daily. Researchers used a variety of validated tests to assess a person’s cognition at the beginning and end of the study. 

    At the end of the study, folks with SCC (self-reported feelings of confusion or memory loss) showed significant improvements in language and memory tests. 

    And people with MCI showed significant improvements in total scores for areas like memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills4 (like buttoning a shirt or making a bed).

    What’s even more impressive is that 12 people with MCI—which remember is diagnosable cognitive impairment—reverted to SCC at the end because they no longer met the criteria for MCI. 

    A downside to this study though is that there was no control group (everyone received the supplement). So we don’t know how citicoline compares to no additional cognitive support. 

    Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

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  • How “Sleep Consolidation” Can Boost Your Cognitive Function

    How “Sleep Consolidation” Can Boost Your Cognitive Function

    As the first study in a series called the Sleep and Dementia Consortium, this research looked into what markers of sleep were associated with better cognition. Before conducting the study, researchers suspected that the percentage that people spent in deeper sleep stages like stage 3 and REM would be most important for brain function.

    However, after crunching the numbers, they found that better “sleep consolidation” and an absence of sleep apnea were actually the metrics most associated with better cognition. These were even more important than sleep stage percentages—previously considered gold standard metrics for sleep quality.

    This finding will lay the groundwork for future research untangling the nuances of how sleep impacts the aging brain. Sleep and Dementia Consortium researchers predict that, “Sleep of sufficient quality and duration may be associated with decreased risk of dementia through several mechanisms, including augmenting the glymphatic clearance of Alzheimer’s disease proteins.”

    These initial findings show the importance of monitoring and treating sleep apnea, as well as working on sleep consolidation, in order to stay mentally sharp.

    Emma Loewe

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  • CBD exposure during pregnancy can potentially harm a developing fetus – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    CBD exposure during pregnancy can potentially harm a developing fetus – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that cannabidiol (CBD), often used to treat anxiety and nausea, can potentially harm a developing fetus.

    The paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry today.

    People consume cannabis or a non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD) to help with nausea and anxiety during pregnancy because they think it is safe and healthy. But CBD crosses the placenta and accumulates in the fetal brain.

    Until now, no one knew how fetal exposure to CBD affected brain development, said Emily Bates, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

    “We found oral consumption of a high dose of CBD during pregnancy impaired problem solving in female mice,” said Bates, who worked with Karli Swenson, a graduate student in her lab.

    Along with fellow researchers, Won Chan Oh, PhD, Luis Gomez-Wulschner and Victoria Hoelscher, the team discovered that fetal exposure to CBD reduced the excitability of the pre-frontal cortex, a part of the brain important for learning.

    They also found that increased pain sensitivity occurred only in male mice while cognitive impairments happened only in females. Bates said more research is needed to understand why the effects of CBD are sex-specific.

    The perceived benefits of CBD are widely accepted in the U.S. where many view it as a safe alternative for treating the nausea, anxiety, and pain associated with…

    MMP News Author

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  • Researchers Found A New Metric For Predicting Cognitive Decline

    Researchers Found A New Metric For Predicting Cognitive Decline

    Muscle, bone, and fat all influence cognition.

    Jillian Kubala, M.S., R.D.

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  • Your Heart Health in Midlife Can Predict Dementia Risk Later On

    Your Heart Health in Midlife Can Predict Dementia Risk Later On

    While aspects like your genetics, race, and sex play a big role, a healthy diet and lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing both heart disease and dementia later in life. 

    Researchers of a 2023 study that included data on over 114,000 people found that people who more closely followed healthy diets—including plant-based diets and Mediterranean-style diets—during midlife had a lower risk of developing dementia later in life7. The study also found that these healthy eating patterns were significantly associated with larger brain volumes, which is encouraging because loss of brain volume is associated with cognitive decline8. 

    Both those diets are low in added sugars, which seem to be particularly harmful to brain health. Researchers of a 2021 study that analyzed data from almost 3,000 people found that those who most regularly consumed sugary drinks were nearly 3 times as likely to develop dementia—including Alzheimer’s disease—than people who avoided those beverages. 

    These same recommendations (following a plant-based, Mediterranean diet, low in added sugars) are also tied to improved overall heart health9 and a lower risk of heart disease10.  

    In addition to what you eat, exercising, avoiding and quitting smoking, managing your weight, and taking heart-healthy supplements can help protect your heart and brain, too. 

    Jillian Kubala, M.S., R.D.

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  • I'm A Neuropsychologist & This Is How To Actually Beat Bad Habits

    I'm A Neuropsychologist & This Is How To Actually Beat Bad Habits

    Proving that old habits don’t always have to die hard.

    Kendal Maxwell, Ph.D.

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  • This Vitamin Reduces Dementia Risk (Says Research On 69K People)

    This Vitamin Reduces Dementia Risk (Says Research On 69K People)

    Vitamin D, which can be synthesized in our skin in response to sunlight and is also found in small amounts in certain foods, has receptor proteins located in neurons and certain brain cells. It plays a crucial role in protecting the nervous system, maintaining critical brain functions, and preventing oxidative damage to the brain.

    Yet, an astonishing half of the population is affected by either vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, and rates can vary widely based on race and ethnic origin. Vitamin D deficiency is particularly concerning, as it has been associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Plus, there’s emerging research to suggest adequate vitamin D levels may ward off glucose regulation concerns, including the onset of diabetes.

    A recent review of studies focused on vitamin D insufficiency and cognitive function in adults. The review included nine studies involving 69,643 participants with an average age of 53.6 years. It found that individuals with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency had reduced executive function, processing speed, and visuoperceptual ability. What’s more, five of the studies linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of dementia.

    In two of the studies, the severity of memory and cognitive impairment was found to be directly proportional to the degree of vitamin D insufficiency.

    One study found that vitamin D supplementation can increase cognitive and memory function, pointing to the potential of this vitamin to combat cognitive decline.

    However, it’s important to note the research had some limitations, including the underrepresentation of certain populations, such as people from Africa, Asia, and of Hispanic heritage. The authors also noted that larger randomized controlled trials will be needed to explore the full range of effects of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation, as well as their connection to cognitive health in the aging brain.

    Another new study1 looked into the effects of vitamin D on glucose regulation and diabetes risk. It found that adequate vitamin D levels lowered participants’ risk of developing the condition.

    Jenny Fant

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  • New Study Shows A Daytime Nap Can Increase Your Brain Volume

    New Study Shows A Daytime Nap Can Increase Your Brain Volume

    A new study published in the Sleep Health found a modest causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume1. 

    Researchers pulled data from UK Biobank2—an expansive dataset of over 500,000 adults that range from 40-69 years of age. Using a method called Mendelian randomization, or MR, they analyzed the association between biobank participants’ daytime napping habits and their brain markers such as hippocampal volume, reaction time, visual memory, and total brain volume.

    They found that people who reported taking naps during the day tended to have increased brain volume.

    Brain volume sounds a little abstract, but it’s essential to overall brain health. (According to one 2016 study, a higher total brain volume is associated with a reduced risk of mortality3.)

    Hannah Frye

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  • Why A Full Dopamine Detox Isn’t Possible & What To Do Instead

    Why A Full Dopamine Detox Isn’t Possible & What To Do Instead

    The name dopamine detox implies that these behaviors are the only source of dopamine, and thus cutting them out will somehow rid you of the feel-good neurotransmitter—but that’s not the full picture. 

    It’s important to note that Sepah has clarified in past interviews that this term was not intended to be taken literally but unfortunately has been by many. 

    Experts clarify that the goal of this practice isn’t to rid your life of dopamine but to change your relationship with it. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the way the brain functions. It is impossible to ‘detox’ or rid the brain entirely of dopamine,” says neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez, Ph.D. She notes that it’s more about practicing self-regulation than detoxification. 

    To be fair, high levels of dopamine have been linked to impulse-control issues and a hypercompetitive attitude. However, lower dopamine levels aren’t the answer either; these have been associated with a lack of motivation.

    Regardless, does cutting out your vices for a short period of time really do anything? According to a 2021 study, the dopamine detox method can be helpful in reducing impulsive behaviors, thus contributing to an overall healthier state of mind. 

    I doubt many people would be surprised to learn that spending time away from social media or limiting the use of recreational drugs would benefit your mental health, but nevertheless, the specific perks are quite motivating. Hafeez says that reducing the amount of time you spend on activities that overstimulate the brain leads to many benefits, including: 

    Hannah Frye

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  • The Top 7 Health Benefits Of Almonds & Serving Size Tips

    The Top 7 Health Benefits Of Almonds & Serving Size Tips

    Though they are often referred to as a nut, almonds are technically a type of seed derived from almond trees. These trees are native to western Asia, but are now grown and cultivated around the globe. Compared to some other types of nuts, almonds come with a slightly steeper price tag, which is due to both their popularity and the labor-intensive harvesting processes required.

    In terms of appearance, almonds are light brown and oval-shaped, with a smooth outer shell. They have a rich, nutty flavor that lends itself well to a wide range of recipes, adding an extra crunch to salads or bringing a tender texture to baked goods. They also make a healthy snack as is and can be enjoyed roasted, raw, or salted.

    Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD

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  • Want Better Cognition? Don’t Skip Breakfast, Study Finds

    Want Better Cognition? Don’t Skip Breakfast, Study Finds

    Their analysis pointed to six distinct patterns of eating: evenly-distributed; breakfast-dominant; lunch-dominant; dinner-dominant; snack-rich; breakfast-skipping.

    Then, cognitive function was measured with a few different tests, such as word recall, counting backwards, quick mental math questions, etc.

    Based on the findings, it would appear having an “evenly-distributed” pattern of eating is more advantageous for cognitive function than one that’s not evenly distributed. Namely, long-term cognitive function scores were “significantly lower,” according to the study authors, with unbalanced eating patterns—and especially for those who skipped breakfast.

    “Thus,” they write, “maintaining balanced TPEIs has potentially positive effects on cognitive health, whereas skipping breakfast may significantly increase the risk of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults.”

    Sarah Regan

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  • You Can Spot Dementia 9 Years Before A Diagnosis — Here's How

    You Can Spot Dementia 9 Years Before A Diagnosis — Here's How

    Look out for these early signs of dementia.

    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • This Just In: Multis Deliver Real Brain Longevity Benefits*

    This Just In: Multis Deliver Real Brain Longevity Benefits*

    In the randomized clinical trial (RCT), researchers from Columbia University and Harvard Medical School randomly assigned 3,500 participants over the age of 60 to take either a standard multivitamin (Centrum Silver) or a placebo daily. Their baseline brain function was evaluated prior to the study and annually thereafter for three years.

    Participants that took a daily multivitamin were found to have significantly better immediate recall after one year compared to the control group, as well as better average recall over the three-year study period.* In fact, taking a daily multi demonstrated a clear slowing of cognitive aging by 3.1 years.* 

    Researchers concluded that daily multivitamin use among older adults can help improve memory and enhance overall brain longevity.* Of course, multis should not be used as a replacement for a healthy, well-balanced diet or lifestyle habits (i.e., good sleep, regular physical activity, proper hydration, etc.), but rather a complementary approach to maintaining cognitive health as we age.* 

    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • This Brain Supplement Delivers Daily Power & Lifelong Support

    This Brain Supplement Delivers Daily Power & Lifelong Support

    I could go on for days about how much I love this nootropic supplement, but for me, the most palpable benefits are enhanced mental clarity and mood-balancing effects.*

    Hero neuronutrient citicoline supports healthy levels of important neurotransmitters, namely dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine.* These neurotransmitters are known to support mental processes such as clarity and focus. 

    Citicoline has also been shown via research to support attention, processing speed1, and mental energy by increasing ATP in the brain (i.e., supporting brain energy reserves).*

    Complementing citicoline, antioxidant phytonutrient resveratrol has vasoactive properties and is clinically shown to support blood flow to the brain and cerebrovascular health2.* Enhanced cerebral blood flow means optimized delivery of oxygen and nutrients to my brain, supporting a clear head and overall cognitive function. (Yes, please.) 

    The clarity and mental energy that brain guard+ delivers help me combat pesky mental fogginess that crops up on occasion and stay on top of my productivity and task performance.* 

    Along with the impressive multidimensional cognitive performance support, I’ve noticed that my mood balance has never been better. 

    These positive mood support benefits are thanks to kanna, a fascinating nootropic botanical sourced from South Africa. Kanna delivers synergistic dual action 3on the central nervous system, supporting cognitive function (including cognitive flexibility and executive function4) and emotional processes in the brain.* 

    I find myself noticeably more relaxed and levelheaded throughout the day, yet I still feel mentally sharp. I’ll take some Zen with my mental clarity any day. 

    Emma Engler

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  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

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