Ditch TV and read a book: UniSA research delivers best moves to reduce dementia risk

It’s that time of the year when most of us get the chance to sit back and enjoy some well-deserved down time. But whether you reach for the TV controller, or a favourite book, your choice could have implications for your long-term brain health, say researchers at the University of South Australia.

Fluctuating Blood Pressure Tied to Problems with Thinking Skills

Older adults whose blood pressure fluctuates over time may be more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills, according to a study published in the December 11, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The association was found in Black participants but not in white participants in the study.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society awards $1M to Case Western Reserve University researchers to study new approach to treat the disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the brain and spinal cord that impacts millions worldwide. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath—a protective layer surrounding nerve cells in the nervous system. The loss of myelin, combined with ongoing inflammation, causes dysfunction and death of nerve cells, making the disability worse, such as difficulties with movement, coordination, and sensation. Treatments now focus on reducing attacks on myelin, but don’t address nerve-cell damage and death. But with $1 million from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), a research team co-led by Paul Tesar, the Dr. Donald and Ruth Weber Goodman Professor of Innovative Therapeutics and director of the Institute for Glial Sciences, and Ben Clayton, assistant professor and founding member of the Institute for Glial Sciences, both in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, will take a different

American Society of Anesthesiologists Marks a Decade of Collaboration with Medtronic as an Industry Supporter

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is pleased to announce that Medtronic, a global leader in health care technology, is an ASA Industry Supporter for the 10th year, supporting the work of the Society and anesthesiologists to improve patient safety and outcomes.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Preserve Cognitive Function in Down Syndrome

Researchers working with the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple (ACT) recently investigated the effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on brain health and memory to determine if consumption of extra virgin olive oil, the main component of the Mediterranean diet, can delay cognitive decline in people with Down Syndrome (DS).

Study Finds Certain MS Therapies May Not Slow Disability Progression

In people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study has found no difference in the amount of time before disability worsened between people taking certain medications and those not receiving treatment. The study is published in the September 25, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Penny for Your Thoughts? Master Copper Regulator Discovery May Offer Alzheimer’s Clues

A groundbreaking study using a tiny roundworm could pave the way for new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers have linked the worm gene swip-10 to copper regulation – a vital element for brain health found in everyday items like wiring and cookware. Understanding the roles of swip-10 and MBLAC1, a protein involved in processing cellular materials, could lead to the development of effective medications and opens new avenues for advancing brain disease treatments.

Two Researchers to Receive First-Ever Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health

The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association have awarded the first-ever Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health to two researchers, Patrick Devlin, Ph.D., of Houston, Texas, and Cyprien Rivier, M.D., M.Sc., of New Haven, Connecticut. Each will receive a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support continuing scientific research in brain health. Devlin and Rivier also receive the honor of being named the inaugural “Sacco Scholars.”

Pilot Study Provides ‘Blueprint’ for Evaluating Diet’s Effect on Brain Health

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging say their study of 40 older adults with obesity and insulin resistance who were randomly assigned to either an intermittent fasting diet or a standard healthy diet approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers important clues about the potential benefits of both eating plans on brain health.

Study Reveals How Obesity Could Accelerate Aging in the Brain

A new study conducted in mice traces how obesity and a high-fat diet may accelerate aging in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The work is being presented this week at the American Physiology Summit, the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society.

Medical experts available for March: Colorectal Cancer Awareness, safe sleep & SIDS, returning to sports after injury, sleep aids, and habits to avoid for your brain health

As you plan healthcare coverage for March, Ochsner Health has experts on standby to cover several topics. Are younger people getting colorectal cancer?: Colorectal cancer has always been a cause for concern among middle-aged and older men and women. However,…

UNLV Experts Available: Super Bowl 2024

The Super Bowl: It’s annually one of the nation’s most-watched television broadcasts. And this year it’s happening in what’s perhaps the most fitting destination yet — Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World. From tourism and gaming to history and health, UNLV has experts who are uniquely poised to share perspectives on the sport, as well as the city where the Big Game is being held.

Psychologist Calls Attention to Social Media as a Public Health Hazard

In New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City speech, he discussed protecting kids’ mental health in the face of excessive social media usage.  Dr. Anthony Anzalone, a clinical psychologist at Stony Brook Medicine, also agrees that social media…

Overcoming the stigma: study recommends steps to move past barriers of brain health conversation

Approximately four of five primary care clinicians consider themselves on the front lines of brain health. In the U.S., clinicians are the first point of contact for patients worried about memory loss and are most likely the first to detect and evaluate patients experiencing mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

FAU Receives $750,000 Philanthropic Grant for Alzheimer’s Disease

A $750,000 philanthropic grant from the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation will help FAU develop partnerships and programs that will establish best practice for coordinated care and research for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Taking Good Care of Your Teeth May Be Good for Your Brain

Taking good care of your teeth may be linked to better brain health, according to a study published in the July 5, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study found that gum disease and tooth loss were linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory and Alzheimer’s disease. The study does not prove that gum disease or tooth loss causes Alzheimer’s disease; it only shows an association.

Alzheimer’s Drug Development Pipeline: Promising Therapies, Pharma Investment Drive Momentum in Clinical Trials

According to the newly released “Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Development Pipeline: 2023,” there are currently 187 clinical trials in the Alzheimer’s drug development pipeline – the most ever on record. This momentum is driven in part by greater investment from the pharma industry and a bump in biologic therapies – particularly monoclonal antibodies – that were central to the success of both recent FDA-approved drugs.

The annual report spots trends in clinical trial design and outcome measures, and also investigate the types of agents and biological targets that are being pursued.

Sleep Apnea, Lack of Deep Sleep Linked to Worse Brain Health

People who have sleep apnea and spend less time in deep sleep may be more likely to have brain biomarkers that have been linked to an increased risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, according to new research published in the May 10, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that these sleep disturbances cause the changes in the brain, or vice versa. It only shows an association.

Women Have Less Age-related Decrease of Gray Matter in Brain than Men

Article title: Differential reduction of gray matter volume with age in 35 cortical areas in men (more) and women (less) Authors: Peka Christova and Apostolos P. Georgopoulos From the authors: “This study showed an overall decrease of cortical gray matter…

Can Mediterranean Diet Help People with MS Preserve Thinking Skills?

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who follow a Mediterranean diet may have a lower risk for problems with memory and thinking skills than those who do not follow the diet, according to a preliminary study released today, March 1, 2023, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting being held in person in Boston and live online from April 22-27, 2023.

NIH Grant Will Fund Next Steps of Research on Dance and Brain Health

Wake Forest University and Wake Forest University School of Medicine will receive $3 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help researchers take the next steps in nearly a decade of research that indicates dance can promote cognitive health. The grant funds a new study called IGROOVE that will help researchers determine what kinds of dance, the frequency of the dance classes and what aspects of the dance class – music, social interaction, cognitive challenge – affect fitness, memory and brain health.

Addressing Health Inequities Could Help Avert a Neurologic Health Crisis

The closing plenary session at ANA2022 spotlighted neurologic health inequities and presented new research finding that neighborhood disadvantage strongly predicted likelihood of death from neurologic conditions independent of individual wealth and demographics.

Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences Funds Five Cancer Research Grants to Advance Cancer Medicine, Combat Health Disparities

Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences today announced its funding of five cancer research grants of up to $100,000 each. These five grants follow an initial wave of funding from the partnership, in which 18 pilot grants of up to $25,000 each were funded in May 2022.

Quality of Life with Multiple Sclerosis May Depend on Several Factors

Quality of life is a measure of a person’s level of comfort, health and happiness. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study has found there are specific factors that may affect a person’s physical and mental quality of life. The study is published in the August 10, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Ochsner Health Receives $700K Dementia Care Grant from the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Ochsner Health a $700,000 grant to study the effectiveness of its collaborative dementia care through the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Health and Cognitive Disorders Program.

Scientists See Signs of Traumatic Brain Injury in Headbutting Muskox

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai saw for the first time hallmarks of concussions and other head trauma in the brains of deceased headbutting animals—muskoxen and bighorn sheep. The results published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica may contradict the commonly-held belief that ramming animals do not suffer brain injuries and support the notion that studies on animals with brains evolutionarily similar to those of humans may help researchers understand and reduce traumatic brain injuries.

Henry Ford Stroke Centers Earn Advanced Stroke Certifications from The Joint Commission

Henry Ford Medical Center – Brownstown has earned an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital advanced stroke certification from The Joint Commission, making it the first freestanding Emergency Room in the State of Michigan to do so, and Henry Ford Macomb Hospital has earned recertification as a Primary Stroke Center.

Einstein Aging Study Receives $32 Million Grant to Study Alzheimer’s Disease

To help address the rising tide of Alzheimer’s disease nationwide, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in collaboration with faculty at Pennsylvania State University and other institutions, have received a five-year, $32 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the ongoing Einstein Aging Study (EAS), which focuses on both normal aging and the special challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. EAS was established at Einstein in 1980 and has been continuously funded by the NIH.

Study: Two or More Servings of Fish Per Week May Protect Healthy Brains

A new study suggests that healthy older people who eat two or more servings of fish a week, including salmon, tuna and sardines, may have a lower risk later in life of developing vascular brain disease, a group of conditions that affect blood flow and blood vessels in the brain. The research is published in the November 3, 2021, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study found that eating a diet rich in fish had the greatest protective effect on people younger than 75 years old.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Welcomes Medtronic as Industry Supporter for Seventh Year

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in medical technology, as an ASA Industry Supporter for the seventh year, supporting the work of the Society and physician anesthesiologists to improve patient safety and brain health during and following surgical procedures.