Tag

Cognition

All articles tagged with #cognition

health18 days ago•12 min saved

Nicotine Rebranding: Wellness Hype Masks Addiction Risks

A Conversation analysis shows wellness influencers are reframing nicotine as a benign, cognitive‑boosting product—often in noncombustible forms like pouches or combined with caffeine—despite evidence that nicotine is addictive and has real brain and cardiovascular risks; while FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies aid cessation, using nicotine for wellness, productivity or aging claims lacks solid human data and can undermine public health messaging about tobacco.

via The Conversation|

#addiction #cognition #health

health20 days ago•19 min saved

Nicotine Wellness Claims Outpace Science, Warns a Pulmonologist

A pulmonologist warns that wellness influencers’ claims about nicotine boosting cognition and longevity aren’t supported by solid human evidence. While nicotine can temporarily improve attention, it carries addiction and health risks, and suggested benefits for protecting against cognitive decline lack robust data.

via The Washington Post|

#addiction #cognition #health

science23 days ago•11 min saved

Breath as Brain Signature: Real-Time Links Between Breath Shape and Neural Activity

Researchers tracked the exact shape of each breath in epilepsy patients using implanted brain electrodes and found brain activity tracks breath dynamics at the millisecond level, not just inhalation vs exhalation, linking respiration to memory and attention and suggesting potential breath-based predictive signals for epilepsy and deeper cognition research (published in the Journal of Neuroscience).

via Nautilus | Science Connected|

#breath #cognition #data-science

health25 days ago•1 min saved

Pleasure Reading Linked to Better Wellbeing and Cognition, Cambridge Study Finds

Cambridge researchers say reading for pleasure boosts health and wellbeing at any age, improves cognitive performance and may lower dementia risk; benefits arise regardless of the material read and can start in childhood, per a Psychological Medicine review supported by The Queen's Reading Room and the National Year of Reading.

via BBC|

#cognition #dementia #health

history27 days ago•4 min saved

Neanderthals Built 176,000-Year-Old Underground Walls, Rewriting Prehistoric Intelligence

Dating of France’s Bruniquel Cave confirms Neanderthals built two stacked stone rings around 176,000 years ago by breaking and arranging hundreds of stalagmites, requiring coordinated teamwork and multiple fires in near-darkness. The rings—large and small—weigh about 2.2 tons and comprise 368 feet of stalagmite; uranium-series dating of mineral crusts places the construction long before modern humans in Europe, suggesting advanced social planning and cognitive abilities and possibly serving as shelter, defense, or a gathering space.

via Futura, le média qui explore le monde|

#archaeology #bruniquel-cave #cognition

science1 month ago•59 min saved

Tomato Paste May Rewire Brain Networks, Early Small Trial Finds

A small randomized crossover trial in healthy middle-aged adults found that eating 35 grams of tomato paste daily for three months improved selective attention and modestly boosted associative memory; brain scans in a subset showed tentative changes in connectivity across large-scale brain networks, suggesting possible neural reorganization, though results are preliminary due to small sample size and unblinded design.

via Currently.com|

#brain-connectivity #cognition #lycopene

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Gentle 10-Minute Run Sparks Mood, Sharpens the Mind

A small 24-person study found that just 10 minutes of very slow treadmill running (about 2–4 mph) improved participants' mood and reduced Stroop interference, indicating better cognitive control and processing speed. Brain scans showed increased activity in prefrontal regions linked to executive function and mood regulation, and a gentle head movement during running may engage the glymphatic system that clears brain waste. The findings suggest that short, light-intensity exercise can benefit those with low fitness or who struggle with traditional workouts, echoing other research showing a brain boost from brief activity, though extremely strenuous exercise can have adverse effects.

via New York Post|

#brain #cognition #exercise

science1 month ago•32 min saved

Slime Moulds Prompt a Copernican Rethink of Intelligence

A Guardian long read surveys the debate over whether slime moulds, trees, and even single cells display cognition, challenging the idea that intelligence belongs only to brain-bearing life; classic experiments with Physarum tracing maze-like paths and optimizing networks fuel a spectrum view of cognition and memory that can exist without a brain, raising philosophical questions about how we define mind and intelligence across all living systems.

via theguardian.com|

#biology #cognition #intelligence

health-and-wellbeing1 month ago•5 min saved

Move, Munch, Mind-Wander: Outsmart the Brain Cliff in Midlife

Dr. Swan reframes cognitive decline as cognitive change and explains the brain’s scaffolding—the neural networks that preserve thinking—can be strengthened in midlife through regular exercise, an anti-inflammatory diet, stress management, and ongoing learning and social engagement. Mind-wandering and mental time travel may support this scaffolding, while retirement without active engagement can hasten decline; it’s never too late to start protecting your brain.

via The Guardian|

#aging #cognition #diet-and-exercise

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Silent Speech, Quiet Brain: The Rise of Conversational Decline

A Perspectives on Psychological Science study analyzing audio from more than 2,000 people found Americans speak about 300 fewer words per day (a 28% drop from 2005 to 2019), with the decline most pronounced among those under 25, suggesting smartphones and other tech are making everyday conversation increasingly optional. Researchers warn that talking in real time engages working memory and attention in ways texting does not, raising questions about potential cognitive and social health effects as face-to-face interaction declines. Experts like Putnam and Newport note that reduced casual chatter could weaken social bonds, though small exchanges with strangers can still boost happiness and connection; Pfeifer emphasizes the value of preserving some of these everyday conversations to exercise social and cognitive skills.

via The Washington Post|

#cognition #gen-z #science

wellbeing1 month ago•19 min saved

Boost Your Brain Health: 3 Everyday Habits That May Protect Cognitive Function

The Washington Post’s Well+Being piece recommends three simple ways to support long-term brain health: play fast-paced video games to accelerate learning on new cognitive tasks, read fiction to potentially reduce cognitive decline and broaden social understanding, and learn a new language to keep the brain actively monitoring speech and improving efficiency.

via The Washington Post|

#brain-health #cognition #health

science1 month ago•18 min saved

Creatine Goes Mainstream: What the Science Really Shows

Creatine, once a bodybuilding staple, has surged into the mainstream with solid evidence for improving muscle strength and performance when paired with resistance training. Evidence for cognitive or brain-health benefits is emerging but not yet conclusive, and aging-related gains look promising but are not definitive. It is generally safe for healthy adults at common doses, though supplement quality varies and those with kidney disease should consult a clinician. Research also shows no sex-based contraindication, and women may benefit especially with training; more randomized trials are needed to confirm brain-related claims and pregnancy effects.

via Straight Arrow|

#aging #cognition #creatine

health1 month ago•7 min saved

High-dose vitamin D linked to better cognition in older adults with sleep problems and MCI

A small, observational study of 54 older adults with mild cognitive impairment and sleep problems found those taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D daily scored about 13% higher on the MoCA than nonusers, suggesting a potential link between vitamin D and cognitive health in this at-risk group. However, the study can’t prove causation and researchers urge larger clinical trials. The authors note that vitamin D needs vary, and a high dose should be discussed with a clinician; testing for deficiency and aiming to meet appropriate dietary/sun exposure sources are advised. The NIH upper intake level is about 4,000 IU/day for most adults.

via Medical News Today|

#cognition #dementia #health

wellbeing1 month ago•20 min saved

Ten minutes of easy running can sharpen the brain and lift mood

A Washington Post Well+Being report suggests that a brief, easy 10‑minute run can improve thinking skills and mood, indicating that short, low‑effort workouts may still benefit brain health without feeling taxing.

via The Washington Post|

#brain #cognition #fitness

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Early and School-Entry Screen Time Tied to Later Learning Gaps

A longitudinal study of 502 children followed from age 1 to 8 found that greater screen viewing, especially at age 1 and around the start of school (age 6), is linked to poorer academic performance by age 9 and weaker working memory by age 10.5. Timing matters: associations were weaker at ages 2–3 but re-emerged at 6, suggesting infancy and early schooling may be sensitive windows. Reducing screen time during these periods could help cognitive development, though content quality, device type, and parental co-viewing warrant further study.

via Science Daily|

#academic-performance #cognition #early-childhood