Tag: brain

Keep Moving to Keep Brain Sharp in Old Age

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2019 — Staying active in old age may help preserve your memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. In fact, older people who were physically active kept their minds sharp, even if their brains showed signs of lesions or other markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, researchers found. “Physical

The human brain works backwards to retrieve memories

When we remember a past event, the human brain reconstructs that experience in reverse order, according to a new study at the University of Birmingham. Understanding more precisely how the brain retrieves information could help us better assess the reliability of eye witness accounts, for example of crime scenes, where people often are able to

Being Bullied May Alter the Teen Brain

THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 — Teens who are often bullied may be left with shrinkage in key parts of their brain, increasing their risk for mental illness, European researchers report. They said such shrinkage eventually appears to create a growing sense of anxiety, even after taking into account the possible onset of other mental health

Implanting stem cells into the brain could stop epileptic seizures

Hope for epileptics as scientists discover implanting stem cells into the brain could stop seizures The treatment, tested on rats, would modify the patient’s own skin cells Stem cell treatment led to 70% fewer seizures in the months following It inhibits excitement in the hippocampus, where epileptic seizures can start  Currently, surgery to remove the hippocampus

Addressing sleep disorders after traumatic brain injury

Disorders of sleep are some of the most common problems experienced by patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is important to recognize and treat these problems early to allow for optimal cognitive recovery, but because they are so common, the importance of treating them is often underestimated. In this special issue of NeuroRehabilitation scientists

Prolonged Brain Connections Seen in Adults With Autism

THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 — Connections between different areas of the brain are sustained longer than usual in people with autism, perhaps explaining some of their symptoms, a new study suggests. It’s possible these prolonged connections make it difficult for the brain to switch from one activity to another, the researchers said. “People with autism

Effective new target for mood-boosting brain stimulation found

Researchers have found an effective target in the brain for electrical stimulation to improve mood in people suffering from depression. As reported in the journal Current Biology on November 29, stimulation of a brain region called the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) reliably produced acute improvement in mood in patients who suffered from depression at the

Do cancer treatments accelerate brain aging?

Previously on Medical News Today, we covered a study explaining that an experience called chemo brain affects many people undergoing cancer — particularly breast cancer — treatment. Chemo brain occurs during cancer treatment, and it may last for a long time after the treatment is over. People experiencing it report a loss of quality in

New brain region ‘could be what makes humans unique’

Due to technological advancements in recent years, medical science has made huge leaps — many with vast implications for medical and neuroscientific research. For instance, scientists devised an innovative method that allowed them to record a million neurons at once, as well as to decode neural activity in real time. The techniques gave researchers access

Low-protein high-carb diet shows promise for healthy brain aging

Low-protein high-carbohydrate diets may be the key to longevity, and healthy brain ageing in particular, according to a new mice study from the University of Sydney. Published today in Cell Reports, the research from the University’s Charles Perkins Centre shows improvements in overall health and brain health, as well as learning and memory in mice

Brain signature of depressed mood unveiled in new study

Most of us have had moments when we’re feeling down—maybe we can’t stop thinking about our worst mistakes, or our most embarrassing memories—but for some, these poor mood states can be relentless and even debilitating. Now, new research from UC San Francisco has identified a common pattern of brain activity that may be behind those

Stressed out? Study reveals it may affect your memory

Stress in middle age can make your brain shrink and make your memory worse, Harvard study finds The brain-reducing effects of stress were found to be triggered by cortisol The Harvard Medical School study was published in the journal Neurology Scientists have said ‘it’s important for people to find ways to reduce stress’  Stress in