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July 2010
Vitamin D, which recent research has linked to everything from preventing fractures to delaying death, may also play a role in keeping your brain sharp as you age. In new research following 858 Italian seniors for six years, those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were at greater risk for declines in thinking, learning and memory abilities. Researchers took blood samples, then administered a battery of standard cognitive tests at the study's start and after three and six years. Participants who were severely deficient in vitamin D were 60% more likely to suffer substantial overall cognitive decline than those with adequate levels and 31% more prone to decline in tests of executive function (the ability to plan, organize and prioritize). No significant difference was seen for tests measuring attention. Researchers suggested that vitamin D may help prevent the degeneration of brain tissue by having a role in formation of nervous tissue, maintaining levels of calcium in the body, or clearing of beta-amyloid (the substance that forms the brain plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease). — Archives of Internal Medicine
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January 2010
New results from the largest-ever clinical trial of ginkgo biloba add to the mounting evidence that Americans who spend $250 million annually on the herbal supplement are wasting their money: Researchers conducting the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study report that twice-daily doses of 120 mg of ginkgo extract did no better than a placebo in slowing older adults' rate of cognitive decline. Earlier GEM findings had debunked ginkgo's purported protective benefit against Alzheimer's and overall dementia, as well as most cardiovascular benefits. The randomized, double-blind trial followed 3,069 participants, ages 72 to 96, over about six years. Researchers found no evidence for an effect of ginkgo on memory, language, attention, visuospatial abilities and executive functions. No benefit was seen, either, when results were analyzed by age, sex, race, education or initial cognitive status. Researchers concluded, "In sum, we find no evidence that ginkgo biloba slows the rate of cognitive decline in older adults," and noted that the findings are consistent with previous smaller studies. — Journal of the American Medical Association
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December 2009
Dehydration has long been known to compromise physical performance. Now, a new Tufts study provides insight into the effects of mild dehydration on young athletes, and possibly into the lives of people too busy to consume enough water daily. About 30 male and female Tufts students were assigned to either a "dehydration group" not given fluids during athletics, or a control group that was given water. Participants weighed in before and after athletics to assess body water loss. After athletic activity, participants underwent cognitive tests, which included short-term memory and mood scales. Researchers found that dehydration was associated with negative mood, including fatigue and confusion, compared to the hydrated group. The level of mild dehydration (losses of between 1% and 2%) experienced among study participants is comparable to the mild dehydration some people experience in their daily lives from drinking insufficient amounts of water. — Perceptual and Motor Skills
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September 2009
Could unhealthy lifestyle habits be as bad for your brain as for your body? French researchers studying 5,123 Londoners over a 17-year span found that those with the most unhealthy behaviors were nearly three times more likely to suffer a decline in thinking skills and twice as likely to develop memory problems than those with the healthiest lifestyles. The worst habit in terms of association with "risk of cognitive deficit" was smoking; current smokers scored lowest on memory, verbal and math-related thinking and reasoning skills at each of three survey points over the 17 years, from ages 44 to 61. Other lifestyle choices linked to greater risk of cognitive deficit were lack of physical activity and eating fewer than two servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Non-drinkers were also at greater risk than moderate drinkers (defined as consuming between 1 and 14 alcoholic beverages weekly). — American Journal of Epidemiology…
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August 2009
The mice at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center may be a little jittery, but at least their brains are sharp. Researchers there report that mice daily given 500 milligrams of caffeine—about the amount in five cups of coffee—experienced a reversal of the effects of simulated Alzheimer's disease. Compared to decaf mice, the test animals had nearly 50% lower levels of beta amyloid, a protein whose buildup is associated with the brain damage from Alzheimer's. After two months, the caffeinated mice with Alzheimer's performed identically on memory and reasoning tests to control mice free of dementia. "These are some of the most promising Alzheimer's mouse experiments ever done," researchers said, adding that they hope to move on to clinical trials in humans. Caffeine benefited only mice genetically programmed to develop memory problems mimicking Alzheimer's, however; it failed to boost the brains of normal mice.—Journal of Alzheimer's Disease…
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June 2009
Worried about getting enough vitamin D to protect your bones? The so-called "sunshine vitamin" may also be important for your brain. British researchers report that low blood levels of vitamin D were associated with slower information-processing speeds in a new study of 3,133 men, ages 40 to 79. Initial results showed a similar association with scores in tests of memory, but after statistical adjustment these findings weren't significant. The apparent effects of vitamin D on boosting brainpower were most pronounced among the men age 60 and over, scientists said. Although "the magnitude of the association between [vitamin D] and processing speed was comparatively small," they added, if mental function "can be improved by a simple intervention such as vitamin D supplementation, this would have potentially important implications for population health."—Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
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April 2009
Could a daily handful of walnuts help keep your brain sharp as you age? That's the suggestion from new Tufts research, although the study involved rats and has yet to be confirmed in humans. Weight-matched, aged rats were randomly assigned to receive special chow mixes containing from zero to 9% walnuts. After eight weeks, the rats on the 2% and 6% walnut diets showed improvements in age-sensitive tests of motor and cognitive skills. In a human, the 6% walnut diet would be about the equivalent of eating an ounce of walnuts, seven to nine nuts, daily. It's thought that the essential fatty acids and polyphenols and other antioxidants in walnuts might benefit neural tissue. But don't go wild on walnuts: The rats on the 9% diet actually did worse on tests of "reference" memory.—ARS…
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February 2009
Americans are expected to spend $225 million on "brain exercise" programs this year—but a new review of 10 trials of such products concludes the evidence that they do any good for people who don't already have memory problems is slim. The programs, ranging from computer software to piano lessons, sometimes boosted performance on tasks related to the training. Evidence of long-term benefits, however, was lacking. "These marketed products don't confer any additional benefit over and above being socially and intellectually active in one's normal daily life," reviewers concluded. "Brain training" may help those already suffering cognitive impairment, but the best bet for the rest of us is being physically active.—Alzheimer's & Dementia
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February 2009
A new German study is the first to find a connection between a restricted-calorie diet and improved memory in humans. The small study involved 50 men and women, ages 50 to 72, who were divided into three groups: one group aimed to reduce calorie intake by 30%, mostly by eating smaller portions; a second group kept calories the same while increasing intake of healthy fats by 20%; and a third control group made no dietary changes. At the end of three months, the calorie-cutting group scored an average of 20% better in tests of memory performance; the other groups showed no change. Researchers theorized that the calorie-cutters, who lost four to seven pounds, might experience brain benefits from decreased insulin and inflammation.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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December 2008
Tufts researchers have found that low-carbohydrate diets, such as the popular Atkins Diet, may reduce cognitive ability by depriving the brain of glucose, its primary fuel. In a three-week study of 19 women comparing a low-carb versus a low-calorie diet, those cutting carbs had slower reaction times on cognitive tests and declined in memory performance. Researchers theorized that low-carb diets may have a negative impact on thinking and cognition because the body doesn't store glucose but produces it from carbohydrates. After upping their carbs, the women's cognitive performance bounced back. — Appetite…
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November 2008
Use of the herb Ginkgo biloba, claimed to have beneficial effects on memory and cognition, didn't reduce the rate of dementia or Alzheimer's disease among more than 1,500 elderly study participants after 6.1 years of use, according to a new study. The randomized clinical trial compared the effects of 120 milligrams of the herb daily against a placebo. It found no difference between participants taking Ginkgo biloba and those on placebo in risk of total dementia, Alzheimer-type dementia or progression to dementia. "Based on the results of this trial, Ginkgo biloba cannot be recommended for the purpose of preventing dementia," the researchers write.--Journal of the American Medical Association
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November 2008
A six-month program of increased physical activity improved memory over a period of 18 months in a randomized controlled trial of 138 patients at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Australian researchers were studying whether exercise could help delay the onset of the disease. The study subjects did not have dementia, but did report memory problems and score lower on cognitive tests. Results among those performing at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly were only modestly better, but researchers said the benefits were potentially important given projected increases in Alzheimer's victims.…
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November 2008
You're not only more likely to snack while watching TV, according to scientists at the University of Birmingham in the UK--television time also increases food intake even after the screen has gone dark. In a small study of 16 undergraduates who ate a 400-calorie lunch either while watching TV or without TV, participants subsequently ate significantly more cookies if they'd tuned in during lunch. Watching TV while eating was also linked to a less-vivid memory of the lunch, leading researchers to speculate that extra snacking may be due to "an effect of television watching on encoding of the memory of the meal." In short, if you remember "Wheel of Fortune" better than your sandwich, you may be more likely to snack later.…
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