You are here

Tag: Brain

New brain diet ‘slows mental decline’

Srijita, , , , ,

“Eating food rich in vitamins and minerals keeps the brain younger,” reports the Daily Express. The headline was prompted by a US study of a new diet called MIND, which appeared to slow down ageing of the brain. The MIND diet was developed specifically to help improve brain function and reduce dementia, and is a combination of the Mediterranean diet and the blood pressure-lowering DASH diet. Both of these diets have previously shown positive effects on cognitive decline. The researchers wanted to see if they could narrow down which elements…

Read More

Plant Compounds May Boost Brain Power in Elderly

Srijita, , , , , , ,

The same compounds that give plants and vegetables their vibrant colours might be able to boost brain functioning in older adults, new research suggests. People get these compounds, known as carotenoids, from their diets, and two of them – lutein and zeaxanthin – have been shown in previous research to bolster eye and cognitive health in older adults. What is not known is the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between these compounds and cognition, said first author of the study Cutter Lindbergh from Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University…

Read More

Mother’s Depression May Affect Kid’s Brain Development

Srijita, , , , , ,

Depressive symptoms in women during and after pregnancy are linked to reduced thickness of the cortex — the outer layer of the brain responsible for complex thought and behaviour — in preschool-age kids, says a new study. “Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting mental health in mothers not just in the post-partum period, but also during pregnancy,” said lead researcher Catherine Lebel of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. The findings, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, suggest that a mother’s mood may affect her child’s…

Read More

Aussie Scientists Discover Brain Pathway for Salt Addiction

Srijita, , , , , , ,

Australian scientists have identified the part of the brain responsible for salt addiction, considered one of the main causes of heart disease. Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute are hopeful that the discovery of the pathway could help develop a drug to suppress salt cravings and promote healthy eating, Xinhua news agency reported. The team is even hopeful that the discovery could lead to treatments for other addictions that use the same pathways in the brain such as heroin, morphine and other opiate-based painkillers. Craig Smith, a…

Read More

Healthy Lifestyle Improves Brain Function

Srijita, , , ,

If you exercise before work, or forego fried food for fruits and salads, you can expect brain functions to improve over time, according to a new study. Living a healthier lifestyle could increase executive function, which is the ability to exert self-control, set and meet goals, resist temptation and solve problems, the study said. “People who make a change to their health behaviour, like participating in physical activity, eating less processed food, or consuming more fruits and vegetables, can see an improvement in their brain function over time and increase…

Read More

To treat chronic pain, tune brain to a certain frequency

Srijita, , , , , , , ,

To treat chronic pain, tune brain to a certain frequency ( Tom Merton/Getty Images) Scientists have shown for the first time that “tuning in” the brain to a particular frequency can alleviate chronic pain. Chronic pain is often a mixture of recurrent acute pains and chronic persistent pain. About 20-50% of the general population suffers from chronic pain, which lasts for six months. Nerve cells on the brain surface are coordinated with each other at a particular frequency depending on the state of the brain. Alpha waves tuned at 9-12…

Read More