Researchers are using innovative methods such as neuroimaging and lucid dream reporting to study the impact of dreams on sleep quality and cognitive functioning. They have found that dreams not only shape sleep experiences but also have the potential to affect long-term mental health. Studies are exploring the therapeutic potential of dream manipulation to improve sleep quality and treat conditions like insomnia and nightmares, opening new possibilities for using dreams as a therapeutic tool.
Daylight Saving Time returns overnight Sunday, prompting clocks to move forward an hour, potentially causing sleep disruptions and health risks, including increased hospital admissions for atrial fibrillation and cognitive functioning issues. Sleep experts emphasize the importance of adequate sleep and recommend adjusting bedtime incrementally before the time change to mitigate its effects.
A four-year longitudinal study in Spain found that individuals with a higher degree of openness to experience exhibited a more substantial cognitive reserve, which was correlated with improved cognitive functioning in elderly individuals. The study suggests that cognitive reserve may mediate the relationship between openness to experience and cognitive functioning, highlighting the importance of engaging in mentally stimulating activities to mitigate cognitive decline in old age. However, the study's findings may not be generalizable to the broader population as the participants were self-selected older adults enrolled in a university.
Older adults who regularly use the internet have approximately half the risk of developing dementia compared to non-regular users, according to a longitudinal study. The study analyzed data from over 18,000 participants aged 50 and over and found that the risk of dementia was significantly lower for those who used the internet between 6 minutes and 2 hours per day. The findings suggest that internet use can help extend the cognitively healthy lifespan and reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. However, the study has limitations, including the exclusion of individuals with early-onset dementia and the use of a dementia assessment that may not align with clinical diagnoses.
A study published in Physiology & Behavior found that individuals who consume diets high in fat and sugar perform worse on memory tasks that heavily engage the hippocampus region of the brain. These participants also had longer reaction times. The study suggests that overconsumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods may negatively affect the hippocampus, which in turn can impact memory functions. However, the study design does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, and the assessment of dietary habits was based solely on self-reports.
A new study published in NeuroImage: Clinical explored the relationship between exercise, brain functioning, and major depressive disorder. The findings indicate that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who also exercise tend to have better brain functioning than those with MDD who do not exercise. The study suggests that physical fitness may enhance cognitive functioning in individuals with MDD by increasing neural plasticity in the brain. This has important implications for the treatment of depression, as it suggests that exercise may be an effective adjunct therapy for individuals with depression.
A recent study challenges the importance of exercise for brain health and cognition, but a genetics-based study involving nearly 350,000 people supports the cognitive benefits of moderate and vigorous physical activity. The study shows that the effect of moderate physical activity is 1.5 times greater than that of vigorous physical activity, and that achieving at least moderate intensities is important to reap the cognitive benefits of physical activity. The study also highlights the importance of waiting for additional studies before suggesting changes to physical activity guidelines.
A unique subset of microglia cells, the ARG1+microglia, has been identified as crucial for proper cognitive functioning in mice, with evidence suggesting a similar subset exists in humans. Microglia lacking the protein ARG1 led to less exploratory behavior in mice, indicating cognitive deficits. Female animals exhibited more pronounced behavioral and hippocampal impairments caused by ARG1 microglial deficiency, hinting at possible connections to gender biases in diseases like Alzheimer’s. These discoveries open exciting new possibilities for understanding brain diseases and developing novel therapies.
A study in the Netherlands found that older adults with poorer cognitive functioning tend to display symptoms of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. The association was stronger for relatively younger study participants and those with type 2 diabetes. The study sheds light on the links between anxiety and cognitive functioning, but the study design does not allow for any cause-and-effect conclusions.
