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382 Results for search "Brain".

Health News Results - 382

Many Cases of Dementia Go Undiagnosed in Poorer Communities

Dementia strikes all races, but new research suggests thinking declines in poor seniors are often overlooked.

Among a group of more than 200 low-income patients who were treated at community health centers, 3 of 4 had undiagnosed cognitive issues, researchers reported recen...

Daytime Drowsiness Linked to a 'Pre-Dementia' Syndrome

Seniors who are drowsy during the day and find it hard to muster enthusiasm for activities could be at higher risk of a brain condition that precedes dementia, a new study warns.

These sleep-related problems are associated with "motoric cognitive risk syndrome," a pre-demen...

Little More Learning Might Not Save Your Aging Brain

In 1972, Britain bumped up the total school years mandated for its children from 15 to 16 years.

That created a "natural experiment": Would Britons who got that extra year of education fare any better, neurologically, as they aged?

Unfortunately, the answer is "no."

"This surprised us," said study co-author and brain researcher Nicholas Judd

Mindfulness Meditation Could Have Direct Effect in Reducing Pain

Many people turn to mindfulness meditation to help them manage their chronic pain, a practice that’s been used for centuries.

However, it’s been an open question whether meditation is simply functioning as a placebo, rather than actually quelling pain.

Now, a new study involving brain scans has revealed that's not the case.

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 4, 2024
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    • New Approach to Fight Huntington's Disease Shows Early Promise

    Huntington's disease is a devastating, fatal neurological illness with little means of treatment, but a new study in mice offers a glimmer of hope.

    Huntington's occurs when inherited genes cause key proteins to fold and clump together within brain cells. Over time, this severely hampers brain function and patients lose the ability to talk, walk, swallow and focus. There's no cure, a...

    Even 'Weekend Warrior' Exercise Can Keep Your Brain Healthy

    Find it hard to take time to exercise during your busy workweek?

    No problem, a new study says -- one or two “weekend warrior” workouts are just as likely to help you maintain your brain health.

    People who regularly exercise, whether solely on the weekend or thro...

    Can Cannabis Change Your Brain? Maybe, Maybe Not

    People who regularly use marijuana experience changes in their brain structure and function, but it’s not clear that cannabis is the cause, a new study finds.

    Researchers found specific differences in the brains of people who’d ever used weed, particularly in areas densely packed with cannabinoid receptors. However, genetic analysis couldn’t pin down any specific associa...

    Childhood Attention Issues Show Links to Later Risk for Psychosis, Schizophrenia

    Most kids with attention issues won't go on to develop serious psychiatric conditions like psychosis or schizophrenia.

    However, a new study finds poor attention spans in childhood, plus certain genes, could play a role in raising the risk for these conditions.

    Of course, much more research is needed to pinpoint precursors to psychotic symptoms in a person's teens or 20s, said a t...

    Weed Use During Pregnancy May Harm Kids' Behavior, Thinking Skills

    Smoking marijuana during pregnancy may quell your morning sickness, but it could also harm your child’s development, a new study warns.

    Cannabis exposure in the womb is associated in early childhood with poorer thinking skills, researchers reported Oct. 28 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

    These kids also have behavioral problems like impulse control, poor attention an...

    People's Brains Now Process Texts Almost as Quickly as Pictures

    Texts deliver rapid-fire messages, but a new study indicates human brains can keep up with the barrage.

    The brain can detect the basic linguistic structure of a brief sentence in roughly 150 milliseconds -- about the speed of a blink of an eye, researchers report.

    “Our experiments reveal that the brain’s language comprehension system may be able to perceive language simi...

    What Works Best to Ease MS-Linked Fatigue? New Study Finds Out

    Medication and behavioral therapy are both effective in combatting fatigue caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), either separately or together, a new study finds.

    MS patients felt significantly less fatigue after they were prescribed modafinil (Provigil), a drug that promotes wakefulness and is used to treat sleepiness, researchers repor...

    Will Injury Pain Become Chronic? Brain Scans Might Tell

    Brain scans can provide early warning of who will develop chronic pain following a whiplash injury, a new study finds.

    Higher levels of “cross talk” between two specific brain regions within one to three days of the injury increases the risk that pain will...

    Bad Sleep in Middle Age Unhealthy for Aging Brains

    If you're in your 40s or 50s and have trouble getting and staying asleep, that's not a good sign for brain health as you age, new research suggests.

    “Our study, which used brain scans to determine participants’ brain age, suggests that poor sleep is linked to nearly three years of additional brain aging as early as middle age," said study lead author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 24, 2024
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    • Common Post-Injury Action by Players Signals Concussion, Study Shows

    Maybe you've seen a cartoon character shake their head back and forth following a sharp blow -- clearing away whatever stars or birds are circling their noggins.

    Turns out, that same move might help coaches and physical trainers identify a concussi...

    Aerobic Exercise May Ease 'Brain Fog' of Breast Cancer Chemo

    Women fighting breast cancer can relieve some of their chemotherapy “brain fog” through aerobic exercise, a new clinical trial in Canada suggests.

    Breast cancer patients on chemo who participated in a regular aerobics class reported that they felt sharper and had better quali...

    Silent Damage First: Alzheimer's Disease Could Have Two Phases

    Alzheimer’s disease might damage the brain in two distinct phases, a new study suggests.

    An early phase that occurs slowly and silently appears to lay the groundwork for a second, more widely destructive phase of Alzheimer’s, according to s...

    Your Sense of Smell May Be Quicker Than You Think

    People sense millisecond shifts in odor as quickly as they might spot a change in color, new research shows.

    The study discounts the notion that smell is a "slower" sense than sight or hearing, scientists say.

    "A sniff of odors is not a long exposure shot of the chemical environment that averages out" over time, explained study lead author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 15, 2024
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    • Learn Another Language to Boost Your Brain's 'Efficiency'

    Bilingual people have more active and flexible brains, a new study has discovered.

    Brain scans revealed that folks who speak two languages have increased connectivity between their brain regions, researchers reported Oct. 10 in the journal Communications Biology.

    This connectivity is strongest in people who le...

    Injected 'Nanodiscs' Could Bring Brain Stimulation Therapy Without Implants

    Microscopic magnetic nanodiscs could provide a much less invasive means of providing deep brain stimulation, a new study says.

    The tiny discs – about 250 nanometers across, or 1/500 the width of a human hair – would be injected directly into specific regions of a person’s brain, researchers say.

    From there, researchers said, the discs could be activated by applying...

    Boys Treated With Gene Therapy for Rare Brain Disease Doing Well 6 Years Later

    Most boys treated with breakthrough gene therapy for a rare but deadly brain illness are faring well six years later, two new reports find.

    The 77 boys were treated for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), a formerly incurable and progressive genetic brain disease that typically led to a loss of neurological function and early death.

    However, most patients treated with "eli-cel" g...

    Scientists Discover the Brain's Waste-Disposal System, With Clues to Alzheimer's Disease

    The brain has a waste-disposal system that clears away junk proteins that contribute to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds.

    Advanced imaging scans have revealed a network of fluid-filled structures along arteri...

    • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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    • October 8, 2024
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    Damage to Brainstem Could Be Driving Long COVID

    Damage to the brainstem could be behind the physical and psychological effects of Long COVID, a new study suggests.

    Brain scans of 30 Long COVID patients found they had damage to the region of the brainstem associated with breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the journa...

    Could Music Lessons Help Clear the 'Brain Fog' of Chemotherapy?

    In a small, preliminary study, piano lessons provided to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy appeared to help them maintain brain health.

    "There were a lot of outside stressors contributing to my mood, but piano practice and going to lessons were always something good and positive that I would look forward to, no matter what else was happening,” said Robin Hesselink, an enrolle...

    Hearing Loss Can Raise Risks for Cognitive Decline

    A new, large study from France underscores the link between adult hearing loss and dementia.

    "Given the major burden of cognitive decline and the absence of curative treatment, identifying modifiable risk factors is of importance," a team led by Dr. Baptiste Grenier, of the Université Paris Cité, wrote Oct. 1 in the journal...

    Air Pollution Could Be Changing Children's Brains

    Even air pollution levels considered safe by U.S. standards appear to cause differences in the brains of growing children, a new review suggests.

    "We're seeing differences in brain outcomes between children with higher levels of pollution exposure versus lower levels of pollution exposure," said corresponding author Camelia ...

    So Fly: Scientists Complete Map of Adult Fruit Fly Brain

    The head of a Princeton team that mapped the brain of an adult fruit fly -- a watershed step in understanding the human brain -- explains the feat in a way that belies its complexity.

    "Just like you wouldn't want to drive to a new place without Google Maps, you don't want to explore the brain without a map," explained lead author

  • Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 2, 2024
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    • Brain Zap Treatment Could Get Arms, Hands Moving After Head Injury

    Patients who lose the use of their hands and arms after a stroke or traumatic brain injury could regain some function through deep brain stimulation (DBS), new research demonstrates.

    DBS involves surgical placement of electrodes to deliver electrical impulses to areas of the brain regulating specific activity. It is often used to treat control movement problems associated with Parkinson's...

    Many Former NFL Players Believe They Have CTE, Raising Suicide Risk

    One in three former NFL players believe they have football-related brain damage that’s doing untold harm to their lives, a new study finds.

    Unfortunately, their fears might be harming their mental health on top of whatever risks they face from

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 23, 2024
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    • Could Antidepressants Give Memory a Boost?

    Antidepressants have the potential to improve memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests.

    Some patients experienced a boost on brain tests after taking the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro), researchers report.

    <...

    Do You Know the MIND Diet? It Might Keep You Sharp With Age

    It's called the MIND diet and its primary aim is to help guard against thinking and memory declines as you age. But does it work?

    Yes, claims new research that found following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, memory and concentration problems.

    “With the number of people with dementia increasing with the ag...

    Could 'Brain Training' Exercises Help Slow Alzheimer's Symptoms?

    Brain training aimed at improving memory can ward off symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for years, a new study claims.

    Seniors experienced a slower decline in their memory and thinking abilities after undergoing brain tra...

    Breathing Could Bring Microplastics Into the Human Brain, Study Shows

    For the first time, scientists have detected microscopic microplastics lodged in the human brain.

    Researchers in Germany and Brazil say that 8 out of 15 autopsied adults had microplastics detected within their brain's smell centers, the olfactory bulb.

    The particles were likely breathed in over a lifetime, since tiny floating microplastics are ubiquitous in the air.

    Although ...

    Vaping Is Harming College Students' Brains, Study Shows

    Vaping may look cool when you're young, but it appears to be dulling the brains of college students, a new study warns.

    College students who vape have lower cognitive function scores than those who don't, researchers reported Sunday at the American Neurological Association&r...

    Alzheimer's Drugs May Work in Whole New Way, Study Finds

    Two monoclonal antibody treatments to slow Alzheimer's disease, lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla), have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the past two years.

    It's thought the drugs curb Alzheimer's by reducing leve...

    Pandemic Isolation May Have Caused Rapid Brain Aging in Teen Girls

    New research uncovers a possible reason why teenaged girls struggled so mightily with their mental health during the pandemic: Scans showed their brains aged far faster than expected during that stressful time, even faster than the brains of their male peers.

    In the study, published Monday in the

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 10, 2024
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    • Falling for Financial Scams Could Be Early Alzheimer's Sign

    Brain changes that signal Alzheimer's disease even before symptoms appear are linked to an increased vulnerability to financial scams, new research shows.

    “Assessing financial vulnerability in older adults could help identify those who are in the...

    Study Debunks Theory Linking Autism to Changes in Brain's Amygdala

    A new brain imaging study has concluded that autism likely isn’t caused by faulty connections to the amygdala.

    A prevailing hypothesis of autism spectrum disorder has held that people with the condition have poorer neural connections in certain brain regions, including the amygdala.

    However, researchers found no evidence that people with autism had amygdala connections that di...

    Diabetes Can Age Your Brain, But Lifestyle Change Can Reverse That

    Diabetes can age the brain by up to four years, a new study based on MRI scans shows.

    There was one silver lining: Healthy lifestyle changes could help prevent that neurological aging, the Swedish researchers said.

    “Having an older-appearing brain for one’s chronological age can indicate deviation from the normal aging process and may constitute an early warning sign for...

    Could Having MS Help Shield Against Alzheimer's Disease?

    People with multiple sclerosis appear to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests.

    MS patients are far less likely to have elevated blood levels of toxic proteins that form amyloid plaques in the brains of people with Alzhe...

    Government Report Links Excessive Fluoride in Water to Lowered IQs in Kids

    High levels of fluoride in drinking water may dim the intelligence of children, a new U.S. government report shows.

    Based on an analysis of published research, the potentially controversial report marks the first time a federal agency has determined there is a link between drinking twice the reco...

    Your Brain Cells 'Reset' During Sleep, Readying for Tomorrow's Memories

    A good night’s sleep is crucial for helping people make new memories, a new study says.

    Neurons that capture new memories during the day reset while you sleep, researchers reported Aug. 15 in the journal Sci...

    Brain-Computer Combo Lets Mute Man With ALS 'Talk' Again

    Casey Harrell was losing his ability to speak due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

    “Not being able to communicate is so frustrating and demoralizing. It is like you are trapped,” said Harrell, 45.

    But a new brain-computer interface is allowing Harrell to speak to others once more, with his brain providing the words and a ...

    1 in 4 Brain Injured Patients Who Seem Unresponsive Have 'Covert' Consciousness

    Some comatose patients with severe brain injury might be paying closer attention to their surroundings than previously thought, a new study says.

    About 1 in 4 patients respond to instructions covertly, with their brains showing activity even though their bodies aren’t moving, researchers found.

    When asked to imagine opening and closing their hand, those comatose patients disp...

    High Blood Pressure Raises Odds for Alzheimer's Disease

    Untreated high blood pressure in your 60s could raise your risk for Alzheimer's disease later, new research shows.

    The good news: Simple steps can ease hypertension, researchers said.

    The global study found that "taking blood pressure medications was associated...

    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Could Lower Your Odds for Dementia

    Eating a healthy diet that dampens inflammation in the body could lower your odds for dementia, especially if you already have heart risk factors, a new Swedish study shows.

    So-called anti-inflammatory diets focus on foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and beans and include heart-healthy regimens such as the Mediterranean diet.

    In a study involving more than 84,000 old...

    Even Moderate Drinking Ups Risk for Brain Bleeds After a Fall

    Drinking can increase a senior’s risk of a brain bleed following a fall, even if they only occasionally imbibe, a new study finds.

    In fact, the risk of a brain bleed increases with a senior’s level of drinking, researchers found.

    Occasional or weekly drinking doubled a pers...

    Dementia May Not Be as Common Among Parkinson's Patients as Thought

    Many people with Parkinson's disease may fear dementia as a common consequence of the disease.

    But new research suggests dementia is not inevitable with Parkinson's, and in fact is less common than presumed.

    If dementia does occur, it typically does so much later in life than was previously assumed, the study also found.

    “These results provide more hopeful estimates of ...

    How Wildfire Smoke Could Be Harming Surgical Patients

    Wildfire smoke could interfere with the safety of surgeries, a new study warns.

    Inhaling the smoke could complicate the effects of anesthesia on surgical patients, and it also might hamper their recovery, researchers reported Aug. 6 in the journal Anesthesiology.

    “Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, particularly in people with preexisting heart and lung dis...

    Thinking Hard Really Can Make Your 'Brain Hurt'

    Folks who rub their forehead and complain that a complex problem is making their brain hurt aren’t overstating things, a new review suggests.

    Mental exertion appears to be associated with unpleasant feelings in many situations, researchers reported Aug. 5 in the journal Psychological Bulletin.

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    Eating Less Processed Red Meat Could Cut Your Odds for Dementia

    Skip the bacon and those holiday hot dogs: A new study finds eating processed red meats raises your odds for dementia.

    Overall, just two servings per week of processed red meat was linked to a 14% rise in dementia risk, compared to folks who ate less than three servings per month.

    The finding made sense to Heathe...