Category Archives: Brain Function

Obstructive sleep apnea patients with type 2 diabetes see improved glycemic control using CPAP device. Senior study author Dr. Francisco Garcia-Rio said, “[Obstructive sleep apnea] is a public health problem of the first order, due to its high prevalence and marked morbidity and mortality, having been linked to traffic accidents, cardiovascular complications and, more recently, ...click here to read more

Anhedonia is one of the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). A person with anhedonia experiences a loss of interest in the activities that they would normally find enjoyable. It is as if pleasure circuits in the brain shut down and life itself becomes dissatisfying. There is no cure for anhedonia, but neurologists are always ...click here to read more

A new study has shown a link between depression and dementia. But is depression the result of dementia, or is it the other way around? Or do both problems develop from the same underlying issues in the brain? Inquiring minds wanted to know and these questions were recently answered in a study by Chicago’s Rush ...click here to read more

Parkinson’s disease 2016 update: risk of Parkinson’s disease is higher with iron overload, and a new treatment target has been identified. Excess iron is commonly found in the brains of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, but it is not fully understood how excess iron damages neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Researchers from the Andersen lab at ...click here to read more

Multiple sclerosis patients can improve brain connections using video game therapy. The researchers suggest video game therapy can help strengthen neural connections. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system. Patients may experience brain fog, muscle weakness, and difficulty thinking. When the thalamus – a structure that works as the brain’s ...click here to read more

Parkinson’s disease risk in men has been found to be lower with high uric acid (urate) levels in blood. Urate is formed when purines – found in many of the foods and beverages we consume – are broken down in the body. Study author Xiang Gao said, “These results suggest that urate could protect against ...click here to read more

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk are lower in seniors who exercise as physical activity has been shown to protect brain’s gray matter. A new study found that seniors who exercise regularly have larger amounts of gray matter associated with better memory and cognition. Numerous studies have pointed to the benefits of exercise on the brain. ...click here to read more

Depression symptoms have been associated with an increased risk of arthritis and arthrosis. When it comes to depression, there are many different kinds. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, occurs mainly through the winter months. Postpartum depression affects new mothers, and major depressive disorder is depression lasting more than two weeks, where a person feels hopeless, ...click here to read more

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans may lead to accelerated aging and raises the risk of early death. PTSD is a psychological disorder associated with severe trauma, which contributes to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma, but it is often particularly associated with veterans coming back ...click here to read more

Obstructive sleep apnea risk may be linked to the size of tongue and tonsillitis. The findings of the study found that dentists may be able to provide valuable information on how someone sleeps, as they are constantly looking into their patients’ mouths and can observe an enlarged tongue or tonsillitis. The study found that an ...click here to read more

Adults affected by the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to have an anxiety disorder problem, compared to those without the lung and breathing problem. The researchers found that COPD adults have triple the risk of developing a generalized anxiety disorder, compared to those without COPD. The investigators pointed out that sleep problems, ...click here to read more

Migraine may change the brain’s structure permanently and the risk is stronger in migraine with aura. Study author Messoud Ashina said, “Traditionally, migraine has been considered a benign disorder without long-term consequences for the brain. Our review and meta-analysis study suggests that the disorder may permanently alter brain structure in multiple ways.” Migraines were found ...click here to read more

A good night’s sleep may improve memory due to brain activity in hippocampus. Researchers from Bristol’s Center for Synaptic Plasticity uncovered additional benefits of a good night’s sleep. The findings are important because poor sleep is a pressing issue in our society and has been linked to health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. ...click here to read more

Sleep apnea risk in women may increase with gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is far more common in men, but women are not immune to this sleep disorder that causes the stoppage of breathing throughout the night. A Thailand study found that obese Asian women with gestational diabetes are at highest risk ...click here to read more