Tag

Brain Health

All articles tagged with #brain health

cognitive-science2 days ago•29 min saved

Brain health can grow at any age with online training, new study finds

A three-year online BrainHealth Project study of 3,966 adults aged 19–94 found that adults of all ages can measurably improve brain health using accessible online training and coaching. The BrainHealth Index showed gains across cognitive clarity, social connectedness, and emotional balance, with higher engagement yielding larger improvements. Importantly, those starting with lower brain health scores improved the most, and there was no observed ceiling to growth, challenging the idea that cognitive vitality is limited to seniors. Limitations include lack of a control group and a highly educated sample; researchers plan to add objective health metrics and a more diverse population in future work.

via PsyPost|

#aging #brain-health #brainhealth-index

sports3 days ago•2 min saved

Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland posthumously diagnosed with stage 1 CTE

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide in 2025, was posthumously diagnosed with stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the mildest form of the brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. The diagnosis from Boston University’s CTE Center provides context for the struggles his family described; researchers caution that CTE can only be diagnosed after death and that the relationship between CTE and suicide is complex, though risk persists for athletes despite modern safety protocols.

via BBC|

#brain-health #cte #dallas-cowboys

health4 days ago•12 min saved

Small lifestyle tweaks, big questions: can we truly slow dementia?

Ambitious trials like FINGER and POINTER show that intensive diet, exercise, and social/cognitive programs can yield small cognitive benefits and may modestly slow cognitive ageing, but they have not proven a reduction in dementia incidence. The Lancet Commission lists 14 modifiable risk factors and estimates that up to 45% of global dementia cases could be theoretically preventable, yet translating that into personal risk reduction is uncertain and many factors lie outside individual control. While results are consistently modest and questions about scalability remain, researchers and policymakers continue to weigh the potential brain-health gains against practical challenges as WHO guidelines on risk reduction approach release.

via Nature|

#aging #brain-health #clinical-trials

health4 days ago•18 min saved

Brushing With Your Non-Dominant Hand: A Tiny Brain Workout or Just a Novel Habit

Brushing with the opposite hand is discussed as a simple way to nudge neuroplasticity and boost attention by forcing the brain to adapt to a new routine, but research shows no clear, broad cognitive benefits. The piece also notes that while such habits can increase cognitive engagement, proven brain-health strategies still center on regular physical activity, social interaction, and cardiovascular health, with standard oral-hygiene guidelines from the ADA and Mayo Clinic remaining the primary focus. Professionals advise consulting a dentist or doctor before making significant changes, and for now, consistent brushing and flossing stay the evidence-backed priority.

via Dallas Express|

#brain-health #cognitive-engagement #health

health5 days ago•192 min saved

Anti-inflammatory eating linked to lower dementia risk, study finds

A Swedish study of more than 1,800 older adults followed for up to 15 years found that diets with lower inflammatory potential—rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains and lower in ultraprocessed foods and red meat—were associated with a reduced risk of dementia, including a 29% lower risk among participants with high levels of the Alzheimer’s biomarker p-tau217; while overlapping with the Mediterranean pattern and generally promoting brain health, this observational study cannot prove causation and other lifestyle factors such as exercise, blood pressure control, sleep and social engagement also matter.

via CNN|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #dementia

health6 days ago•79 min saved

Arc Protein Emerges as Key Driver in Alzheimer’s Tau Spread

Researchers at the University of Utah report that Arc, a brain protein important for neuron signaling, also helps package and transmit the toxic tau protein between brain cells in Alzheimer’s models. In mice lacking Arc, neuron-to-neuron tau transmission dropped significantly, suggesting Arc could be a new target to slow disease progression. However, Arc is also vital for learning and memory, so therapies would need to block tau transport without disrupting Arc’s normal function. Most findings come from mouse studies, and it remains unclear how well this translates to humans.

via inc.com|

#alzheimers #arc-protein #brain-health

wellbeing8 days ago•18 min saved

A Simple Blood Test, A Storm of Questions About the Future

A writer grapples with whether to take an Alzheimer's blood test after noticing memory lapses; the test itself is easy, but the potential results trigger fears about family, insurance and future planning, prompting experts to advise caution and to prioritize cognitive assessments and informed interpretation of what a positive result might mean.

via The Washington Post|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #dementia

health9 days ago•5 min saved

Swift walkers in their 80s show brain resilience amid aging

A Neurology study identifies a rare group of 80+ adults dubbed “super movers” who walk unusually fast for their age and have better cognitive function and fewer dementia diagnoses over time, even though their brains show Alzheimer’s-related changes. The findings suggest mobility and vascular health are linked to cognitive resilience, though causality isn’t proven and maintaining mobility could be a practical strategy to support brain health in late life.

via New York Post|

#aging #brain-health #cognitive-decline

health9 days ago•6 min saved

Vitamin C Levels Linked to Brain Structure in Aging Adults

A study of 2,044 older adults in Japan found that lower plasma vitamin C levels are associated with reduced gray matter volume and weaker connectivity in the brain's default mode network, suggesting nutrition may support healthy brain aging, though the study is observational and does not prove causation.

via ScienceDaily|

#aging #brain-health #default-mode-network

wellbeing-mind10 days ago•19 min saved

Anti-inflammatory eating linked to lower dementia risk in at‑risk adults, study finds

A Karolinska Institutet study of nearly 1,900 adults followed for 15 years found that those at elevated dementia risk who followed a healthy, low-inflammatory diet were less likely to develop dementia, suggesting diet may influence brain health even after dementia biomarkers appear, though the study does not prove causation.

via The Washington Post|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #dementia

health11 days ago•3 min saved

Fish oil pills don’t protect brain health in Alzheimer’s risk group, USC study finds

A two-year, placebo-controlled USC study of 365 adults at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s found that 2,000 mg of DHA from fish oil did not improve memory, cognition, or brain structure, despite higher DHA levels in brain fluid; results suggest fish oil supplements do not prevent Alzheimer’s, and emphasize Mediterranean-style diets and healthy lifestyle as the best defense.

via USA Today|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #dha

health-and-medicine12 days ago•7 min saved

Omega-3 Fish Oil Boosts Brain DHA But Fails to Improve Memory in Alzheimer's Risk Trial

A two-year, double-blind trial found that high-dose DHA from fish oil reached the brain but did not improve memory or cognitive function nor slow hippocampal shrinkage in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's, suggesting supplements may not protect brain health and highlighting the importance of overall diet and lifestyle.

via ScienceDaily|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #clinical-trial

health12 days ago•11 min saved

Strengthen Your Thighs to Help Extend Your Life

A nutritionist argues that stronger thigh muscles can help with blood sugar control, heart health, and brain function, potentially contributing to longevity. She recommends leg-strengthening exercises such as squats, lunges, calf raises, and deadlifts 2–3 times a week, along with overall healthy habits like protein-rich nutrition, hydration, sleep, and stretching.

via NDTV|

#blood-sugar #brain-health #health

health12 days ago•3 min saved

No magic brain food: moderate coffee helps, dark chocolate is a treat, and heart health wins

Hyderabad neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar debunks the idea of a single 'brain food' and promotes a balanced approach. He says moderate coffee (2–4 cups a day) is associated with lower stroke and Parkinson's risk and improved alertness, but should be enjoyed, not pursued as a miracle cure. Dark chocolate with high cocoa content offers flavonoids that may aid blood vessel function, but evidence for preventing dementia or boosting memory is limited, so it should be a treat. He emphasizes whole grains and legumes for steady brain fuel and warns against coconut oil, ghee marketed as a 'brain tonic,' detox juices, activated charcoal, and many so-called brain boosters or supplements, which lack solid evidence for healthy adults. The key takeaway: brain health largely mirrors heart health—prioritize a plate rich in vegetables/fruits, whole grains, fish or legumes, olive oil, nuts, and water, while limiting ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened drinks, processed meats, refined carbs, and excess salt.

via The Times of India|

#brain-health #cardiovascular-health #coffee

health12 days ago•6 min saved

DASH Diet Tops Diets for Brain Health, Harvard Study Says

A Harvard-led analysis of over 159,000 participants followed for up to 30 years finds the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet shows the strongest association with better brain health and lower subjective cognitive decline, outperforming Mediterranean-like patterns. Those with the highest DASH adherence had notably younger cognitive aging scores and better working memory; midlife adherence appeared especially protective. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, and low-salt, low-fat dairy while limiting added sugars, red meat, and alcohol. The findings, published in JAMA Neurology, are observational and future randomized trials are needed, but support heart-healthy eating as beneficial for the brain.

via ScienceAlert|

#brain-health #cognitive-decline #dash-diet