All articles tagged with #cognitive aging
Originally Published 7 days ago — by ScienceAlert
A study finds that helping others through volunteering or informal support can slow cognitive decline in adults over 50 by 15-20%, with 2-4 hours of weekly help being most beneficial, highlighting the importance of social engagement for brain health.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by The Conversation
A recent study suggests that a ten-week online brain training program using BrainHQ can make older adults' brains act as if they are a decade younger, by increasing activity in key brain regions, though the findings are preliminary and based on a small sample. The study highlights the potential of mental exercises to support brain health and delay cognitive decline, but emphasizes that longer-term and more inclusive research is needed to confirm these benefits.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by SciTechDaily
A neuroimaging study suggests that long-term musical training helps older adults maintain youthful brain connectivity patterns, which may protect against age-related decline in speech understanding in noisy environments, supporting the idea that engaging in music can build cognitive reserve and promote brain health with age.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by Inc.com
Starting a new hobby as an adult can significantly boost brain health, resilience, and overall happiness, which in turn can contribute to success in personal and professional life. Engaging in challenging, enjoyable activities like learning an instrument or a new language helps keep the brain sharp, slow mental aging, and build psychological resilience, making it a valuable practice for busy adults.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by EL PAÍS English
Cognitive changes are common with age but do not necessarily lead to dementia; many factors, including lifestyle and health management, can influence brain health and potentially prevent or delay cognitive decline. Recognizing the difference between normal aging and pathological deterioration is crucial, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help preserve cognitive function into old age.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by MindBodyGreen
A study shows that everyday physical activity, from walking to household chores, can make your brain function as if it were four years younger by improving cognitive processing speed, emphasizing that small, regular movements can significantly boost brain health.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by ScienceAlert
A recent study highlights that chronic stress significantly increases the risk of dementia, especially among middle-aged and older Americans, and emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes, social connections, and community interventions to manage stress and promote healthy aging. Addressing stress is often overlooked in dementia prevention efforts, but it could have substantial benefits in delaying disease onset and improving quality of life.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Study Finds
The Lothian Birth Cohorts study, conducted by the University of Edinburgh, has tracked the cognitive abilities of individuals from age 11 into their 70s, 80s, and 90s, revealing that about half of our intelligence in old age is determined by childhood cognitive abilities. The study highlights the significant variation in brain aging among individuals and suggests that while genetic factors and childhood intelligence play roles, lifestyle choices like physical activity and education also influence cognitive aging. The research underscores the importance of multiple small lifestyle changes to promote healthier brain aging.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by PsyPost
A study by researchers at Eötvös Loránd University has found that dogs possess a general cognitive factor similar to humans, impacting their overall cognitive performance across various tasks. The study involved 129 dogs of different breeds and ages, and identified a hierarchical structure of canine cognition, with specific abilities contributing to an overarching 'g factor.' This factor was found to decline with age and was linked to personality traits and health issues. The research suggests that dogs could serve as a valuable model for studying cognitive aging and provides insights for future interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive health in dogs.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Neuroscience News
A study from The University of Texas at Dallas challenges existing theories on cognitive aging, revealing that age-related memory decline and neural dedifferentiation operate through diverse mechanisms at the category and item levels. Using functional MRI, researchers found that age diminishes the brain’s precision in processing visual information, impacting memory performance. These insights emphasize the need for a nuanced approach in studying and addressing cognitive health in the aging population, calling for further research to explore these mechanisms using innovative methodologies.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by SciTechDaily
Prior training in rats has been found to enhance memory functions and task performance in old age, suggesting the potential benefits of early cognitive training in reducing cognitive decline later in life. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh explored the impact of prior training on cognitive aging and found that it improved cognition by facilitating task performance, strengthening short-term and intermediate memory, and enabling encoding-boosted long-term memory. The study suggests that there is a selective impairment in encoding for long-term memory formation in early aging and an additional impairment in consolidation in later aging. These findings provide insights into the processes affected by aging and highlight the importance of cognitive training for maintaining cognitive function in old age.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by SciTechDaily
A randomized trial led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Columbia University found that daily multivitamin supplements improve memory and slow cognitive decline in older adults. The study involved over 3,500 participants aged 60 and older who took either multivitamins or a placebo and underwent annual cognitive assessments for three years. The multivitamin group demonstrated significant memory improvement equivalent to a 3.1 year reversal of cognitive aging compared to the placebo group, with the greatest benefits observed in participants with a history of cardiovascular disease.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Healthline
A multinational team of researchers found that consuming flavanols, a naturally occurring chemical found in foods like cocoa, tea, and grapes, may boost memory in some older adults. The study included over 3,500 people and spanned three years. Participants were divided into two groups, one receiving a flavanol dietary supplement and the other a placebo. The biggest improvements were found among those with the lowest diet quality scores, who received a flavanol pill. The study was partially funded by Mars Inc. food company.