Category Archives: Brain Function

A new study reveals that women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression have a significantly greater risk of early death than those without the conditions. Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health ran the long-term study, which strengthened the understanding that mental and physical health are tightly interconnected. The need for a ...click here to read more

A nightcap can be a relaxing way to finish off the day. But it can also be robbing you of valuable sleep. Alcohol may make you feel a little drowsy—it’s a depressant after all, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for sleep. A new poll from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) suggests that ...click here to read more

According to a new study published in the European Heart Journal, those who have high blood pressure during midlife could be more at risk for brain damage later in life. Not all people with high blood pressure will develop these changes, but the study was able to show that more than 50% of patients over ...click here to read more

There is a relationship between heart disease and depression, and a new study is contributing to researchers understanding the complex connection. Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference, this new study used their Life Simple 7 measures to form their conclusions. Researchers included more than 4,000 people who had taken part in a ...click here to read more

Sleep health and heart health are closely connected. When you’re doing well with sleep, it generally translates to a lower risk for heart failure. But what does healthy sleep look like? According to a new study in Circulation, it means meeting these five criteria: 1) Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night 2) ...click here to read more

A new study published in the American Academy of Neurology suggests that air quality standards may affect the risk of dementia in older women. Those who live in locations with higher levels of air pollution may have more brain shrinkage, the kind seen in those with Alzheimer’s disease. The study, which analyzed fine particle pollution, ...click here to read more

Do “brain games” help improve your memory, or do they just give you something to do? It’s not necessarily a straightforward answer. Challenging your brain with crossword and sudoku puzzles may eventually make you better at them. Still, they are unlikely to translate into better memory or other cognitive functions that will help you in ...click here to read more

Many lifestyle factors, such as screen time, diet, and sleep, can strongly impact depression symptoms. A new study published in BMC Medicine has found a broad range of lifestyle factors and its effect on depression symptoms using the large UK Biobank lifestyle and mood dataset. Studies have previously shown that sleep can play an essential ...click here to read more

Regular physical activity can help prevent those with mild cognitive impairment from advancing into dementia. These findings resulted from a study published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, which found that exercising more than once per week had a direct impact on Alzheimer’s disease. Mild cognitive impairment is a condition that causes small problems ...click here to read more

Sleep loss can affect many aspects of health. It has long been known that a lack of sleep can interfere with learning, and a new study shows how crucial it can be for consolidating memories. The study, which appeared in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, suggests that sleep loss can hijack the brain’s ability ...click here to read more

New research shows that people with low muscular and aerobic fitness are nearly twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety. The study by UCL researchers also found that people with low fitness levels showed a 60% greater chance of anxiety. The study involved 152,978 participants who were admitted to the UK Biobank study. All ...click here to read more

Sleep apnea can be a dangerous condition, but it isn’t always the easiest to recognize. And according to some, men and women experience different symptoms. Aside from being closely associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea can significantly impact how you feel every day. It can make you more irritable, ...click here to read more

If you’re getting older and have a burning desire to avoid assisted living facilities at all costs, you can’t be blamed. These institutions have not looked good recently. But, how do you know if and when your safety is jeopardized inside the walls of your own home? Certain abilities can decline with age. For some, ...click here to read more

The COVID-19 pandemic comes with plenty of peripheral consequences. One may be advanced memory loss. It’s not that the virus infects your brain. Instead, it can make it extremely difficult to maintain what scientists call “positive affect.” It’s pretty tough to stay cheerful and optimistic as the pandemic has upended life in so many ways. ...click here to read more