Summary: Constraining hand movements affects the processing of object-meaning, a finding which supports the theory of embodied cognition. Source: Osaka Metropolitan University How do we understand words? Scientists don’t fully understand what happens when a word pops into your brain. A research group led by Professor Shogo Makioka at the Graduate School of Sustainable System … Read more
Summary: Specific intensities of exercise over a long period of time are associated with different aspects of memory and mental health. Source: Dartmouth College Exercise can improve your cognitive and mental health — but not all forms and intensities of exercise affect the brain equally. The effects of exercise are much more nuanced, as specific intensities … Read more
Summary: Early-to-midlife infections that require hospital care are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease later in life, a new study reports. Source: PLOS Infections treated with specialty hospital care in early- and mid-life are associated with an increased subsequent risk of Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s diseases (PD), but not amyotrophic … Read more
Summary: Study reports warm-blooded animals with higher body temperatures have lower amounts of REM sleep, while those with lower body temperatures have more REM sleep. Researchers say REM sleep acts like a “thermostatically controlled brain heater.” Source: UCLA Warm-blooded animal groups with higher body temperatures have lower amounts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, while … Read more
Summary: Researchers found significant cognitive benefits for older adults who took daily multivitamin-mineral supplements. Source: Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has published “Effects of cocoa extract and a multivitamin on cognitive function: a randomized clinical trial.” The three-year study of more than 2,200 older adults found that daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation resulted … Read more
Summary: Women who have experienced physical, sexual, or financial abuse face worse menopause symptoms and poorer well-being two decades later. Source: NAMS Adversity occurring early in a woman’s life will likely continue taking its toll physically and mentally years after those stressors have been removed. A new study suggests that a history of psychosocial stressors … Read more
Summary: Neurons in the midbrain receive strong, specific synaptic input from retinal ganglion cells, but only from a small number of the sensory neurons. Source: Charite For the first time, neuroscientists from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (currently in the process of being established) have revealed the precise … Read more
Summary: The time of day at which you eat your meals may have a significant impact on symptoms of anxiety and depression, a new study reports. Source: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Beating the blues with food? A new study adds evidence that meal timing may affect mental health, including levels of depression- and anxiety-related mood. … Read more
Summary: Even low doses of alcohol can spark transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in brain areas associated with addiction. Source: University of Illinois A new rodent study shows that even small quantities of alcohol can trigger epigenomic and transciptomic changes in brain circuitry in an area that is crucial in the development of addiction. What’s more, … Read more
Summary: Irisin, a hormone secreted into the blood during high endurance and aerobic exercise, reduces levels of alpha-synuclein and restores movement in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease. Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have shown that a hormone secreted into the blood during endurance, … Read more
Summary: Receiving an annual flu vaccine reduces the risk of stroke, a new study reports. Source: AAN Getting an annual flu shot may be associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology. “Studies have shown that getting the flu increases your risk of having a stroke, … Read more
The secret to weight loss could be in the brain. Researchers have uncovered newly identified sensory neurons that ferry messages from fat tissue to the brain, according to Science Daily. “The discovery of these neurons suggests for the first time that your brain is actively surveying your fat, rather than just passively receiving messages about … Read more
Women are diagnosing themselves with neurodivergent conditions like ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) after watching trending TikTok videos. Doctors explained to Women’s Health that women are statistically more likely to ignore symptoms and go undiagnosed, but cautioned that diagnoses should be given to licensed professionals — not armchair “experts” on social media. TikTok videos explaining various ADHD … Read more