Regular visits to the cinema, theatre or to museums could dramatically reduce the chances of becoming depressed in older age a new study has found. Researchers at University College London found a clear link between the frequency of ‘cultural engagement’ and the chances of someone over 50 developing depression. It is the first such study...
Tag: <span>Mental Health</span>
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Older people can come to believe their own lies
What happens when older adults lie? A new study suggests that in as little as 45 minutes they can come to believe it’s the truth. Associate professor of psychology Angela Gutchess and her colleagues published the research online in the journal Brain and Cognition. Gutchess and her collaborators used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor the brain activity of...
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Playing high school football changes the teenage brain
A single season of high school football may be enough to cause microscopic changes in the structure of the brain, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The researchers used a new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...
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Most children surveyed couldn’t tell real guns from toy guns
A new study found that a majority of parents and caregivers, including firearm owners, said they were confident their children could tell a real gun apart from a toy gun. The children themselves also said they thought they could recognize the difference. But when shown side-by-side photos of actual and fake (toy) firearms, only 41...
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Brainwave activity reveals potential biomarker for autism in children
Kanazawa, Japan – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impair communication ability, socialization, and verbal and motor skills. It generally starts in early childhood and is diagnosed through behavior observation. This means of assessment can be imprecise, which is especially problematic when early identification is vital for developmental follow up. A...
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New study bolsters hypothesis that herpes virus causes Alzheimer’s
A new review article published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience has summarized the most recent evidence supporting the controversial hypothesis that Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) is a major causal factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The article makes particular note of new population data out of Taiwan, finding that people infected with HSV1 are...
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Mouse study supports stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy
Neural stem cells can repair damaged parts of the brain and restore motor impairments in mice that display features of cerebral palsy, according to new research published in eNeuro. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using stem cells to address the underlying brain injuries responsible for this group of common movement disorders. The right common carotid artery of post-natal day 7 mice...
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Computer model simulates how Alzheimer’s disease spreads through the brain
A team of researchers has developed the first computer model that effectively simulates how toxic proteins associated with several neurodegenerative diseases spread through the brain over a 30-year period. As well as suggesting a possible new diagnostic tool to catch these diseases early, the model could help researchers better identify the efficacy of new treatments. Image: The above model shows how toxic tau proteins spread throughout the brains...
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THE HEROES OF SCIENCE WHO ARE UNLOCKING THE BRAIN
AI Gardner and his brother-in-law built the house in Mount Kisco, New York, back in 1984—two stories, three bedrooms, with a sweet little porch overlooking a sunny backyard. At the time, Gardner had worked in construction management for years. He had, in fact, been mechanically inclined ever since he was a kid, when he helped...