cognitive Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Brain Stimulation Helps Elderly Walk and Talk at Same Time

AHA Publisher — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 07:00:01 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Walking and talking while chewing gum – it sounds like the start to a bad joke, but for older adults with mobility challenges, it’s no laughing matter. “We know that among older people, difficulties performing another task while walking or standing reflect an existing and/or a potential problem concerning both functions, as well as an increased risk of falling,” notes Prof. Jeffrey Hausdorff of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine. Hausdorff and a team from TAU, the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Harvard Medical School have discovered that gentle stimulation of the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (the brain area responsible for dividing attention and executive functions) can reduce the negative impact of standing or walking while at the same time completing an additional cognitive task such as talking on the telephone. The study included 57 subjects over the age of 70. Each treatment included noninvasive transcranial direct stimulation, using a very low-intensity electric current, for 20 minutes. There were four groups: sham (no stimulation), stimulation of the cognitive area of the brain, stimulation of a sensory-motor area of the brain, and simultaneous stimulation of motor and cognitive areas. Immediately upon the conclusion of the treatment, the walking and standing sway of each subject were evaluated, with and without requests to perform a cognitive task at the same time. Stimulation of the cognitive area of the brainreduced the negative effects of the cognitive task on walking and standing stability by about 50%. Stimulation of the sensory-motor areaalone did not improve performance. “Dual tasking that involves walking while simultaneously carrying out a cognitive task, like talking on a cellphone or with a companion, occurs frequently throughout the day,” Hausdorff said. “The concurrent performance of two tasks requires the ability to split attention.” The researchers hope that theirmethodology – which is gentle enough to be done at home – will improve seniors’ ability “to perform both tasks simultaneously in a safer manner.” “We foresee the possibility of combining this type of therapy with exercise and other modes of intervention that can help to improve walking, to enhance thinking, and to reduce the risk of falls. There is evidence that combined therapy could prove to be the most effective solution,” Hausdorff explained. The research was funded by a grant from the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. The results were published in The Annals of Neurology, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Neurological Association. To read the original article click here.

The post Brain Stimulation Helps Elderly Walk and Talk at Same Time appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Study Identifies Neural Connectivity Patterns Associated with Autism in Infants

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:00:36 +0000

Elsevier via News-Medical Net – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely diagnosed until symptoms arise, often well into childhood. Evidence however, is mounting that developmental abnormalities likely emerge in the brain long before then: early identification of babies at risk for ASD could allow for interventions that would improve their developmental outcomes. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found evidence of signature brain activity in infants that predicted ASD symptoms later at 18 months old. The work, led by Shafali Jeste, MD, at UCLA appears in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. “Early identification and intervention is key to getting better outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Cameron Carter, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. “This study suggests that relatively low-cost diagnostic tools such as EEG may, in the not-too-distant future, help us to do a better job by identifying atypical brain development in infancy, when interventions may be even more impactful than when offered to toddlers and young children.” The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique to measure electrical brain activity from outside the head and tracked neural activity in the so-called alpha range. Alpha-range activity is associated with long-range connections in the brain. The group then used an approach that allowed them to integrate data from across the brain. “One crucial aspect of brain development is the change in patterns of brain activity. We wanted to know if measures of neural activity could detect atypical brain development in ASD during early infancy.” (Abigail Dickinson, PhD, Study First Author, University of California) Dr. Dickinson and the team performed EEG measurements in 65 3-month-old infants; 29 with low familial risk of ASD and 36 at high risk, with an affected older sibling. When the children were 18-months-old, they were assessed for ASD by a trained clinician. The researchers used computer modeling to predict symptom outcomes at 18 months based on the babies’ neural activity in infancy. The model’s predictions correlated with the actual symptoms measured in the toddlers. The model was not able to predict verbal or non-verbal cognitive scores in the toddlers–suggesting that the brain connectivity pattern may be a specific marker of ASD. In infants that later showed higher ASD symptoms, researchers saw decreased connectivity between frontal regions. The infants also showed increased connections across temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere, which are associated with social information processing. “These findings improve our understanding of the neural differences that precede autism and show which brain regions reveal the earliest signs of disruption,” Dr. Dickinson said. The findings bolster the idea that disrupted brain connectivity is a root cause of ASD, not a consequence. The authors suggest that the low cost, wide availability and low risk of EEG make it a good screening tool to identify babies at higher risk of developing ASD or those with “borderline” symptoms, so that they get early intervention. “Mapping patterns of activity associated with autism could ultimately help identify infants who show early signs of neural risk,” Dr. Dickinson added. To read the original article click here.

The post Study Identifies Neural Connectivity Patterns Associated with Autism in Infants appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Spearmint Offers Cognitive Benefits to Both Young and Aging Adults, According to New Research

AHA Publisher — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 07:00:12 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – Spearmint, also known as garden mint, is a type of mint that’s very similar to peppermint, although it has its own unique taste. Its pleasantly sweet flavor makes it a popular flavoring for chewing gum, toothpaste, candy, and mouthwash. The potent garden mint is used to create a variety of medicinal products, and spearmint oil is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Along with many health uses, it’s been investigated for its brain benefits, too. In the past, various studies have been done to show that routine supplementation with garden mint extract resulted in improve cognitive performance in aging adults who already experienced age-related memory problems. However, more recent research found that it also offers cognitive benefits to young adults, as well. How Spearmint Helps to Support Healthy Brain Function Since studies previously proved the effectiveness of spearmint for people between 50 and 70 years of age who had age-related memory problems, scientists hypothesized that regular supplementation with garden mint would also provide cognitive performance benefits to active, younger individuals as well. Extensive cognitive tests were done to evaluate the participants in the study before it began. Some of the study participants were given 900 mg of the garden mint extract, and others were given a placebo. Cognitive tests were done again on days 7, 30, and 90 after supplementation began. Those taking the spearmint extract had significant cognition improvements, particularly in sustained attention. This was the first time that improved attention was seen in a group of healthy, young individuals taking spearmint extract, and it shows the potent cognitive benefits spearmint offers to young and old alike. Spearmint has been proven to offer a variety of cognitive benefits in previous studies, too. Some studies show it’s a more effective stimulant than coffee, providing a more reliable energy boost along with improvements in concentration, memory, and overall brain health. In aging adults, it’s been proven to improve attention span, concentration, and overall brain function. Beyond the Brain: How Does This Garden Mint Support Optimal Health? Beyond the new and previously discovered brain health benefits of spearmint, this herb offers a variety of health benefits that make it worth regular consumption. Just a few spearmint health benefits include: Promotes healing of digestive issues: Helps relieve symptoms of nausea, indigestion, gas, and vomiting. Packed with antioxidants: The high concentration of antioxidants in spearmint makes it effective at reducing the risk of chronic health conditions. Lowers the risk of infections: Spearmint does more than freshen breath – it has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, too. This means it can kill bacteria and help you avoid infections. Positive blood sugar effect: Some studies have shown promise in spearmints’ ability to help lower blood glucose. Reduce stress in your life: Spearmint tea is often used to calm anxiety and reduce the risk of insomnia. Ease joint discomfort: Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, studies have found that essential oils made from spearmint help to lower the discomfort associated with arthritis. To enjoy the brain and overall health benefits of spearmint, it’s easy to incorporate this herb into your diet. Garden mint tea is probably the easiest way to enjoy this herb. In addition, garden mint extracts and herbal supplements are available to help you enjoy the benefits, if you don’t care to drink tea. To read the original article click here.

The post Spearmint Offers Cognitive Benefits to Both Young and Aging Adults, According to New Research appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.