US neurologist Dr. Baibing Chen, known as Dr. Bing, has shared five simple tests that can help detect early signs of dementia. These tests include standing on one leg, identifying odors, drawing a clock, performing a dual task gait test, and a verbal fluency test. These activities assess various cognitive functions such as balance, smell, executive function, and memory, which can indicate early dementia. Early diagnosis allows for treatments that can slow the progression of dementia, a condition affecting millions worldwide.
Researchers from Tufts and Vanderbilt universities have identified distinct neural patterns in people with schizophrenia when faced with conflicting information, potentially offering a new diagnostic tool for the disorder. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlights how poor communication between the cerebral cortex and thalamus affects decision-making in schizophrenia. By measuring brain activity during ambiguous tasks, the research provides a biological test to assess inflexible thinking and monitor treatment efficacy. The findings could lead to more accurate diagnostics and improved understanding of schizophrenia's neural circuitry.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a condition often overlooked but can be a precursor to dementia or Alzheimer's disease, affecting a significant portion of the aging population. Early intervention is crucial, as MCI can be reversible in some cases. Subtle signs such as increased forgetfulness and difficulty absorbing new information may indicate MCI, and testing for it involves cognitive assessments and bloodwork. After diagnosis, experts recommend lifestyle changes and planning for the future.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley believes that America's retirement age is too low and needs to be increased, particularly for younger generations entering the system. However, her proposal is widely unpopular, with nearly 80% of respondents opposing an increase in the retirement age. Haley has also called for cognitive competency tests for politicians over the age of 75, citing the need for mental fitness in political leadership.
Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) display less impairment after consuming a standard intoxicating dose, but they exhibit significantly more impairment when the consumption aligns with their usual heavier drinking habits. Interestingly, this higher impairment does not return to baseline even three hours post-drinking. While heavy drinkers can tolerate a certain amount of alcohol better than light or moderate drinkers, the concept of “holding your liquor” is more nuanced than commonly believed.
A study by researchers at the Berlin Institute of Health and Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin found that participants with higher intelligence scores were only quicker when tackling simple tasks, while they took longer to solve difficult problems than subjects with lower IQ scores. In personalized brain simulations of the 650 participants, the researchers could determine that brains with reduced synchrony between brain areas literally "jump to conclusions" when making decisions, rather than waiting until upstream brain regions could complete the processing steps needed to solve the problem. The study sheds light on how the brain's decision-making processes work and why different people make different decisions.
GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley predicts that President Biden would likely die within five years if re-elected, leaving Kamala Harris as president. Haley has previously called for cognitive tests on all candidates over the age of 75. Biden, who is currently the oldest president to serve office, assured Americans that his age was not an issue. Critics have pointed to gaffes during his presidency as a sign of declining mental health. Haley continues to trail in the polls behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Scientists are calling for a consensus on which cognitive tests to use when assessing the impact of nutrition on brain function. They recommend reducing the number of tests and standardizing reporting guidelines, which could enable researchers to pool data and make more confident decisions about how diet affects cognition over the life course. Optimizing nutrition can maintain and possibly even enhance cognitive functions known to be affected by aging, such as memory and processing speed. Evidence has shown that nutrition is associated with changes in cognition from before we are born into our old age.
Chinese scientists have inserted human brain development genes into the genomes of monkeys and tested their cognitive abilities. The monkeys with the human gene MCPH1 inserted into their brains performed better on memory tests. The study has been criticized for its ethical implications and the use of animals in research. The authors of the study claim that transgenic nonhuman primates have the potential to provide important insights into what makes humans unique and into disorders that are difficult to study by other means.
