Category Archives: Brain Function

Midlife diabetes diagnosis is linked to faster memory and cognitive decline and dementia progression during the next 20 years, according to research findings. The researchers found that diabetes ages the mind up to five years faster, compared to normal effects of aging. Study lead Elizabeth Selvin said, “The lesson is that to have a healthy ...click here to read more

Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood (affective) disorder symptoms. Schizoaffective disorder isn’t well understood and is broadly defined. Because the symptoms and components of different psychiatric conditions may be present, there isn’t a univocal diagnostic route and experts disagree over classification of the disorder. Although there is no cure for schizoaffective ...click here to read more

Poor sleep can negatively impact a woman’s heart, especially during menopause. Menopausal women often have trouble sleeping, and researchers suggest this can add to their heart problems, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The researchers found that sleep loss was correlated with greater plaque buildup and thicker artery walls. Lead researcher Rebecca Thurston ...click here to read more

Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss risk may be lowered by eating baked and broiled fish. Study author Nikolaos Scarmeas said, “While it’s not easy to measure the level of beta-amyloid deposits in the brain in this type of study, it is relatively easy to measure the levels of beta-amyloid in the blood, which, to a certain ...click here to read more

Every part of our body requires blood, which flows out from the heart and then back into the heart. When there is an interruption in blood flow, it can lead to some negative health consequences. One major organ to point out which requires much blood flow is the brain. Our brains are so advanced that ...click here to read more

Bipolar disorder patients may develop anxiety or depression following an episode of mania. The findings come from a national survey that collected data from 34,000 adults. An estimated 5.7 million Americans have bipolar disorder which is a mental illness characterized by bouts of mania and depression. Lead author and psychiatrist Mark Olfson explained, “Although it has ...click here to read more

Dementia not only affects one’s memory, but it can lead to behavioral changes as well. Anxiety can arise in dementia patients along with unpredictable changes in behavior, which may seem inappropriate, child-like, or stressful. As dementia progresses, patients’ ability to express themselves becomes more challenging. This can get further complicated if their ability to understand ...click here to read more

Mild cognitive impairment risk in seniors may increase with eating foods high in carbohydrates and sugar. The findings uncovered that the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increased fourfold in those who consume a diet high in carbohydrates. The intake of sugar further increases the risk, too. On the other hand, those who consume more ...click here to read more

In Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss and cognitive function may be improved with regular moderate exercise. Exercise is effective in Alzheimer’s disease because it improves the efficiency of memory-related brain activity. The researchers uncovered the beneficial effects of exercise in seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Not only does exercise improve memory recall but it improves brain ...click here to read more

Although dementia can affect a person’s memory, it can also increase their risk of experiencing falls. As dementia progresses, a person’s ability to walk or move diminishes, which eventually turns sturdy steps into more of a shuffle movement. The risk of falling increases if there are obstacles (such as rugs or objects) in a patient’s ...click here to read more

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that occurs in stages. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremors, lack of coordination, and difficulty speaking. Symptoms can worsen depending on progression dynamics. To diagnose Parkinson’s disease, doctors use the Hoehn and Yahr scale which classifies the symptoms. This scale is broken down into five stages based on ...click here to read more

Heart failure and heart attack risk increases in people with insomnia. The study followed 54,279 people aged 20 to 89 years for over 11 years. The researchers found that insomnia sufferers had a three times higher risk of heart failure and heart attack risk compared to those without the symptoms of sleep disorder. Researcher Dr. ...click here to read more

In Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment patients, driving ability is hard to assess. The study found that there isn’t a single assessment tool able to determine the driving abilities of drivers with Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, patients with very mild and mild Alzheimer’s disease took a road test. Failure rate was 13.6 and ...click here to read more

Eating strawberries and blueberries may help prevent age-related memory loss and heart attacks, according to research studies. Enjoying a serving or two of recognized brain foods on a daily basis could help to maintain brain health and mental performance. Aging is commonly associated with the deterioration of various parts of our body, including the capacity ...click here to read more