Nature Knows Nootropics

Neurons in the neocortex. Slow-wave sleep strengthens the connections between them and supports the formation of memory. It’s no hidden health secret that sleep is really good for us . It helps our immune systems and supports almost every organ system in the body. We’ve also known for almost two decades that the slow, synchronous electrical waves in the brain during deep sleep supports memory formation . However, we did not know exactly how the brain does this until now. These slow waves make the neocortex–where long-term memory is stored in the brain–particularly receptive to new information. The findings are detailed in a study published December 12 in the journal Nature Communications . Get the Popular Science newsletter

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Scientists believe that our brains replay the events of the day when we sleep . The brain moves information from the hippocampus –where short-term memories are stored into the neocortex. In the neocortex, they become long-term memories. Slow waves are key to this process. These waves are steady and simultaneous oscillations of electrical voltage in the cortex that happen during deep sleep. Slow waves can be measured using a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) . The waves also begin when the electrical voltage in many neurons rises and falls simultaneously once per second.

“We’ve known for many years that these voltage fluctuations contribute to the formation of memory,” Jörg Geiger, a study co-author and director of the Institute of Neurophysiology at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, said in a statement . “When slow-wave sleep is artificially augmented from outside, memory improves. But what we didn’t know until now was what exactly is happening inside the brain when this occurs, because it is extremely difficult to study the flows of information inside the human brain.”

[ Related: How to fix your sleep schedule without pulling an all-nighter. ] Studying intact brain tissue

In the new study , the team used extremely rare intact human brain tissue. They studied intact neocortical tissue samples that were taken from 45 patients who had undergone surgery to treat either a brain tumor or epilepsy at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany. They simulated the voltage fluctuations typical of slow brain waves during deep sleep in the tissue. Then, they measured the nerve cells’ response by using glass micropipettes positioned down to the nanometer. To eavesdrop on the communications among multiple nerve cells connected through the tissue, they used up to ten “pipette feelers” at once. This is a particularly large number for this nerve listening method called the multipatch technique . Ten “feelers” to track deep sleep: This friendly-looking microscope was instrumental in decoding the effects of the slow waves typical of sleep. Equipped with ten glass pipettes that can be controlled precisely down to the nanometer using robot arms, it can stimulate and read the electrical activity of just as many nerve cells in the connected tissue. CREDIT: © Charité | Franz Xaver Mittermaier. The team found that the connections between neurons in the neocortex are very enhanced at one specific point in time during the voltage fluctuations.

“The synapses work most efficiently immediately after the voltage rises from low to high,” study co-author and neurophysiologist Franz Xaver Mittermaier, said in a statement . “During that brief time window, the cortex can be thought of as having been placed in a state of elevated readiness. If the brain plays back a memory at exactly this time, it is transferred to long-term memory especially effectively.”

This slow-wave sleep likely supports memory formation by making the long-term memory storing neocortex especially receptive for short bursts of time. Finding the perfect timing

According to the team , this knowledge could be used to create better therapeutic methods for improving memory. Several research groups all over the world are working on methods of using subtle electrical impulses–called transcranial electrostimulation–or acoustic signals as a way to influence slow waves during sleep.

“Right now, though, these stimulation approaches are being optimized through trial and error, which is a laborious and time-consuming process,” said Geiger. “Our findings about the perfect timing could help with this. Now, for the first time, they allow for targeted development of methods of stimulation to boost memory formation.” Win the Holidays with PopSci’s Gift Guides

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What’s good for your heart is good for your brain. Just as physical activity helps keep our bodies fit and strong as we age, it also helps maintain our cognitive function – and is even linked with lower dementia risk .

Yet beyond the longer term cognitive benefits of physical activity, exercise also seems to give a short-term boost to cognitive performance lasting from minutes to hours. According to our latest study, this cognitive boost may last up to 24-hours after exercising. Because some cognitive abilities start to decline as we get older, even small boosts to cognitive function can help keep us active and independent for longer.

Studies conducted both in the lab and real-world settings have shown that people who are more physically active – whether that’s in the form of structured workouts or they just do more activity in their day-to-day lives – perform better on cognitive tests in the hours after exercising.

But one question researchers are still trying to answer is how long these cognitive benefits last – particularly in older adults, where maintaining cognitive function is very important. This is what our research aimed to do.

In our study of middle-aged and older adults, we found that people who did more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (such as jogging or cycling) performed better on memory tests the following day. This suggests that the memory benefits of physical activity might last longer than the couple of hours found in previous, lab-based studies .

Our study involved 76 participants aged 50-83. Each participant wore a wrist-worn activity tracker for eight days and nights. They were instructed to go about their daily lives as usual. From these activity trackers, we were able to see how much time participants spent being sedentary or physically active each day – and how intense this physical activity was.

Because physical activity also affects sleep quality – particularly the amount of time spent in the deepest and most restorative sleep phase, referred to as slow-wave sleep – we were also interested in exploring the role of sleep in cognitive performance. We extracted sleep quality characteristics from the activity trackers – including total sleep duration and time spent in slow-wave sleep. Slow-wave sleep was also important for memory performance. On each day the participants wore the activity trackers, they also took a set of cognitive tests. Some of these cognitive tests assessed episodic memory (being able to recollect previous experiences) and working memory (the ability to temporarily store information in the mind). The type of cognitive tests the participants were given alternated each day to reduce the chances of participants learning and remembering the answers.

We wanted to be sure we had isolated the effect of physical activity and sleep on next-day cognitive performance. So, we took into account a number of demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics that could have distorted the results. Each day, we also accounted for a participant’s previous cognitive score to be sure we were focusing on day-to-day improvements in cognitive performance. Memory boost

We found that the more time a participant spent doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, the better their episodic and working memory scores were the following day. Getting more sleep, particularly slow-wave sleep, was also associated with improvement in memory scores – independently of physical activity. But people who were more sedentary had worse working memory scores the following day.

While the improvement in memory performance was relatively modest, none of our participants had cognitive impairment or dementia. So they realistically did not have much room to improve on these tests to begin with.

But these results could serve as a jumping-off point for future studies examining next-day cognitive performance in people with neurodegenerative diseases – such as dementia, where we might see larger improvements in test scores. These findings also need replicating in a larger study before we can be sure of them.

The short-term cognitive benefits of exercise are thought to occur because exercise stimulates blood flow and the release of specific brain chemicals that contribute to cognitive function . Generally, these neurochemical benefits are thought to last a couple hours following exercise. However, other changes induced by exercise — including some implicated in memory function — might last for 24-48 hours following exercise. This might underlie the results we found in our study.

Our findings point to the importance of maintaining active lifestyles as we age – and supporting this active lifestyle with good sleep.

Read more at theconversation.com

Brain boost from exercise and deep sleep lasts through the next day, recent research shows. Image credit: BONNINSTUDIO/Stocksy. Regular exercise is good for brain health.

Past studies show the ‘boost’ the brain receives from physical activity normally peaks within the first 10 to 20 minutes.

Researchers from University College London have now found that the exercise-caused improvement to cognitive performance may actually last for 24 hours.

Scientists also linked sitting less and getting 6 or more hours of sleep to better memory test scores the next day.

Evidence points to the fact that regular exercise is good for overall health, including brain health .

Past studies show that physical activity can possibly help lower a person’s risk for dementia — including Alzheimer’s disease — and cognitive decline , more broadly.

Previous research shows that the “boost” the brain receives from exercise typically peaks within the first 10 to 20 minutes .

Now, researchers from University College London, in the United Kingdom, have found that the exercise-related improvement to cognitive performance may actually last for 24 hours.

Scientists also linked sitting less and getting 6 or more hours of sleep — especially additional REM sleep and deep sleep — to better memory test scores the next day.

The study was recently published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity . Tracking how long exercise-related cognitive boosts last

For this study, researchers recruited 76 adults between the ages of 50 and 83 that had no diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment.

Each participant wore a wrist accelerometer for 8 days to track their physical and sedentary behavior, as well as their sleep patterns.

“Because our cognitive function declines as we age, and having good cognitive function is important for quality of life and independence, we want to continue to understand optimal ways to modify our lifestyle to maintain good cognitive function for as long as possible,” Mikaela Bloomberg, PhD, senior research fellow in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, and lead author of this study told Medical News Today .

“We know from laboratory-based studies that we get a cognitive boost in the minutes to hours following a bout of exercise,” Bloomberg continued. “We wanted to see whether this benefit might last longer than a couple hours, particularly in a group of older adults where maintenance of cognitive function is particularly important, and outside a laboratory setting.” Moderate, vigorous exercise linked to improved memory the next day

Upon analysis, Bloomberg and her team found that more moderate or vigorous exercise — compared to a person’s average — was correlated to an improved working memory (the ability to retain information while doing something else) and episodic memory (recalling everyday events) the next day.

Conversely, researchers discovered that being more sedentary led to decreased working memory the next day.

“Exercise stimulates blood flow and neurotransmitters that contribute to cognitive function,” Bloomberg explained. “[These findings mean] that the memory benefits of physical activity might last longer than previously established from laboratory-based studies.” More than 6 hours of sleep linked to better memory, attention

The researchers also found that study participants receiving 6 or more hours of sleep had better episodic memory and psychomotor speed compared to those who slept less.

They further found that every 30 additional minutes of REM sleep the previous night was associated with an increase in participants’ attention scores.

Moreover, each 30-minute increase in slow-wave sleep — also called deep sleep — was correlated to improved episodic memory score.

“Sleep and physical activity are intrinsically linked behaviors; we can’t consider physical activity without taking sleep into account which is why we also considered sleep,” Bloomberg said. “This finding reiterates what is already known about sleep and next-day memory function.”

“It will be interesting as a next step to undertake similar research in a group of adults that is less cognitively healthy than the group we studied, to see whether we see different results,” she added.

“Among older adults, maintaining cognitive function is important for good quality of life, well-being, and independence,” Andrew Steptoe, PhD , professor of psychology and epidemiology and head of the Research Department of Behavioral Science and Health at University College London and co-author of this study said in a press release . “It’s therefore helpful to identify factors that can affect cognitive health on a day-to-day basis.”

“This study provides evidence that the immediate cognitive benefits of exercise may last longer than we thought,” Steptoe continued.

“It also suggests good sleep quality separately contributes to cognitive performance. However, we can’t establish from this study whether these short-term boosts to cognitive performance contribute to longer term cognitive health and though there is plenty of evidence to suggest physical activity might slow cognitive decline and reduce dementia risk, it’s still a matter of some debate,” he cautioned. Exercise, sleep, cognitive benefit connection needs further study

MNT also spoke with Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWC , senior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this study.“While intriguing, the study is small and limited in its generalizability,” Glatt, who was not involved in the research, told us. “The connection between physical activity, sleep, and next-day cognitive benefits warrants further exploration with a larger and more diverse sample.” “Exercise and sleep are both modifiable lifestyle factors, which means their optimization could have significant implications for cognitive aging and public health interventions. However, more robust evidence is needed to establish these effects over longer periods. Future research should include larger sample sizes, diverse populations — including those with cognitive impairments — and longer follow-up periods to determine if short-term cognitive benefits translate into sustained improvements or reduced cognitive decline.” – Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWC Finally, MNT spoke with Vernon Williams, MD , a sports neurologist, and the founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, about this study.Williams, who […]

Read more at www.medicalnewstoday.com

New research suggests the short-term memory benefits of physical activity may last longer than previously thought, possibly to the next day instead of just the few hours after exercise. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Want to give your brain a boost for tomorrow?

Get in a little pulse-pounding exercise today, a new study shows.

In a finding that suggests the benefits of exercise may linger longer than believed, researchers discovered that middle-aged adults and seniors perform better on memory tests even a full day after they’ve had some moderate to vigorous physical activity.

“Moderate or vigorous activity means anything that gets your heart rate up — this could be brisk walking, dancing or walking up a few flights of stairs. It doesn’t have to be structured exercise,” said lead researcher Mikaela Bloomberg , a senior research fellow in social epidemiology with the University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care. Related

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“Our findings suggest that the short-term memory benefits of physical activity may last longer than previously thought, possibly to the next day instead of just the few hours after exercise,” Bloomberg said in a UCL news release.

People ages 50 to 84 also did better on memory tests if they spent less time sitting the day before or got six or more hours of sleep.

Exercise is known to provide a short-term brain boost by increasing blood flow to the brain, and by stimulating the release of neurochemicals that support many different cognitive functions, researchers explained in background notes.

These brain chemical changes are known to last at least a few hours after exercise, but researchers suspected the boost might last even longer because other brain states linked to exercise are more long-lasting.

For example, evidence suggests that exercise can enhance a person’s mood for up to 24 hours, researchers noted.

And a previous study found increased activity in the hippocampus — a memory center of the brain — for 48 hours after high-intensity interval training on an exercise bike.

For the new study, 76 participants wore wristband activity trackers for eight days to monitor how much time they spent either being sedentary or performing physical activity. The trackers also monitored the people’s sleep.

Researchers also had the participants take cognitive tests each day, to track how their activities the day before might have affected their brain power.

More moderate or vigorous physical activity appeared to improve both their short-term working memory the next day, as well as their longer-term episodic memory of events.

More sleep also was linked to better working and episodic memory, as well as their psychomotor speed — a measure of how quickly a person detects and responds to their environment.

On the other hand, more couch-potato time meant worse working memory the next day.

The findings were published Tuesday in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity .

“This study provides evidence that the immediate cognitive benefits of exercise may last longer than we thought. It also suggests good sleep quality separately contributes to cognitive performance,” said researcher Andrew Steptoe , head of behavioral science and health research with the University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care.

“However, we can’t establish from this study whether these short-term boosts to cognitive performance contribute to longer term cognitive health and though there is plenty of evidence to suggest physical activity might slow cognitive decline and reduce dementia risk, it’s still a matter of some debate,” he added.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more on exercise and brain health .

Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Looking to eat more foods that promote cognitive health? You’re in luck. In an insightful TikTok video, a brain health expert revealed nine foods and drinks that can help boost a healthier brain and “grow new brain cells.” Neuroscientist and popular TikTok personality Robert Love dedicates his expertise to Alzheimer’s prevention through a blend of scientific inquiry and practical dietary guidance.

He broke down why blueberries, chia seeds, dark chocolate and other foods are surprisngly greata for your brain health this winter. At the start of the video, Love explained that he intended to share “nine foods and the nutrients that help produce BDNF,” or the protein, brain-derived neutrotrophic factor. These foods, he noted, were also approved by “Dr. Shintani from Harvard.” 9 Foods To ‘Grow New Brain Cells,’ According To A Cognitive Health Expert

1. Blueberries

Blueberries were the first food that Love suggested. He claimed that these fruits “provide anthocyanins,” which are water-soluble pigments that contribute to the red, purple, or blue hues of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

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Love pointed out that because blueberries contain nutrients like antioxidants that can help protect brain cells and enhance cognitive function, they are excellent for enhancing brain health. 2. Red Grapes

According to Love, red grapes have antioxidants that improve memory and lower oxidative stress, which can aggravate neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Grape polyphenols may aid in brain function and have antioxidant qualities.

Additionally, grape seed extract might help stop the buildup of amyloid beta in cells, which could stop plaques from forming. 3. Green Tea

Love said that green tea “provides epigallocatechin, gallate or EG CG. No. 4,” a potent antioxidant compound that is thought to be the most prevalent catechin in green tea and is frequently researched for its possible health advantages, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer qualities. 4. Coffee

Love said that coffee “provides chlorogenic acid,” a polyphenol compound present in coffee and black tea as well as other plants, fruits, and vegetables.

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He hinted that it has numerous potential health advantages, such as being an antioxidant and helping with neuropathological conditions by lowering the production of ROS, preventing oxidation, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. 5. Turmeric

Turmeric “provides curcumin,” Love explains. According to Love, curcumin, a substance present in turmeric, has a number of potential advantages for the brain, such as lowering inflammation, raising docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is crucial for brain growth and function, enhancing memory, possessing antioxidant qualities, and more. 6. Chia Seeds

As Love noted, these seeds and flax seeds are thought to be brain-healthy due to their omega-3s, fiber, and antioxidants, which can support mental health, inflammation reduction, and cognitive function. Additionally, they are a good source of amino acids and plant protein. 7. Dark Chocolate

This treat can provide “polyphenols and procyanidins.” As Love has stated on his channel, flavonols in dark chocolate improve brain function, including memory, visual-spatial awareness, and reaction time. One explanation for this could be that flavonols improve blood flow to the brain, though studies are still being conducted. 8. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

“Lion’s mane mushroom has hericenones,” Love said, regarding the mushrooms often used in coffee. These substances have an impact on the release of nerve growth factor (NGF), which controls brain cell growth and survival.

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Additionally, there is some evidence from earlier epidemiological studies that eating mushrooms may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia as people age. 9. Bakopa Monieri

Love also suggested that the perennial creeping herb Bacopa monnieri is great for the brain. It is indigenous to the wetlands of North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and southern and eastern India.

Common names for it include herb of grace, brahmi, thyme-leafed gratiola, Indian pennywort, and water hyssop. Bacopa has been shown in numerous clinical studies to improve verbal learning, delayed word recall, memory acquisition, and anxiety reduction. Some have characterized it as a soothing cognitive enhancer. The majority of the herb’s pharmacological effects are thought to be caused by the triterpenoid saponins. The Bottom Line

Love concluded his video by noting that “all of these nutrients stimulate the production of BDNF.”

Overall, making your cognitive health a priority and revamping your diet will allow you to improve your memory, focus, creativity, mood, sleep, and more–not to mention lower your risk of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Advertisement About Our Ads

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Brighteon Broadcast News, Dec 10, 2024 New study proves that jabbed humans are WALKING BIOWEAPONS that shed toxins to others nearby 12/10/2024 // Laura Harris // 360 Views

Tags: autism , Autism spectrum disorder , badhealth , badpollution , badscience , brain damaged , brain health , breakthrough , children’s health , discoveries , Ecology , environment , health science , Mind , mind body science , neurological , real investigations , research , toxic chemicals , toxins Parents with high chemical intolerance are significantly more likely to have children diagnosed with autism (nearly six times) and ADHD (more than twice).

The study found higher odds ratios compared to a 2015 study, with mothers with chemical intolerance having 5.29 and 3.18 times the odds of having a child with autism and ADHD, respectively.

Environmental toxicants, including fossil fuel derivatives, pesticides and biogenic toxicants, can trigger chemical intolerance, leading to immune system dysregulation and potential genetic effects across generations.

Experts emphasize the importance of epigenetics in understanding diseases like autism, highlighting the impact of environmental factors on gene expression.

The study challenges the view that autism is purely genetic, instead pointing to environmental toxins, immune system dysregulation and epigenetic factors as key contributors to the disorder.

A new study published in the Journal of Xenobiotics has revealed that parents with high chemical intolerance are nearly six times more likely to have children diagnosed with autism and more than twice as likely to have children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study, which replicates findings from a similar study in 2015, shows higher odds ratios than before. Mothers with chemical intolerance now have 5.29 and 3.18 times the odds of having a child with autism (up from 3.01) and ADHD (up from 2.3), respectively. The increase likely stems from heightened environmental toxin exposure, expanding diagnostic criteria and cumulative chemical burdens. The study also revealed a high autism prevalence of 12.3 percent among participants, much higher than the reported 1 in 36 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

According to research scientist and author James Lyons-Weiler, Ph.D., this rise is attributed to factors such as immune system dysregulation caused by chemical exposures and adjuvants like aluminum in vaccines.

“A combination of increased environmental toxicant exposures, expanding diagnostic criteria and increased exposure to myriad corporate toxins that induce cell death via ER stress [endoplasmic reticulum stress] and the unfolded protein response. The contribution of an expanded vaccination schedule, particularly involving adjuvants like aluminum, is known to be an environmental cause of ER stress and cell death and thus has neurotoxic, neurodevelopmental and immunomodulatory effects,” Lyons-Weiler said.

The study also identified mast cells — immune cells in connective tissue — as a potential agent for chemical intolerance. This intolerance could be triggered by fossil fuel derivatives, pesticides, antibiotics and biogenic toxicants like toxic mold and algae.

Mast cells can undergo gene activation or deactivation, with effects transmitted across generations. This process, called Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance, involves initial exposure to toxicants followed by triggering symptoms after subsequent exposures.

“The study’s authors appropriately highlight environmental toxicants as key contributors but avoid injected toxicants like mercury and aluminum in their discussion, despite the past studies in which these compounds are also shown to cause ER stress and cell death. They could have further emphasized the role of cumulative and synergistic effects among the various classes of factors: the more toxicants kids are exposed to, the fewer vaccines they can handle and vice versa,” Lyons-Weiler said.

Moreover, the study links the increase in autism cases to “toxic exposure theory.” Dr. Karl Jablonowski, a senior research scientist at Children’s Health Defense , described the “dramatically increased exposure to toxins” such as pesticides, plastics, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and off-gassing materials as key contributors. Jablonowski also stressed epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors influence gene expression, as a major paradigm shift in understanding diseases like autism.

Lyons-Weiler warned that as toxicants in the environment increase , genetic predisposition may become less relevant, with all individuals potentially vulnerable. “Though we have our instructions for life in our DNA, how those instructions are used depends on epigenetics. Given the toxic soup we live in, the idea that a toxic exposure event in one generation can affect the genetic expression of future generations is scary.” Experts: Autism is not a purely genetic disorder

Autism experts claim that the study has challenged the long-standing view that autism is purely a genetic disorder.

Biologist Dr. Christina Parks pointed to the focus of the study on immune system dysregulation. She described it as a critical factor in disorders previously considered purely psychological or neurological. “Every day, our bodies have to decide whether to ignore particles we come into contact with or to attack these particles. Repeated chemical exposure can throw the immune system into a frenzy, such that it starts attacking things that it previously tolerated,” she said. (Related: NEW STUDY: Autism is not just a neurological condition but a whole system disorder driven by environmental toxins .)

John Gilmore, executive director of the Autism Action Network, echoed this perspective. He stated that autism occurs in genetically vulnerable individuals who are exposed to environmental factors. “We know there is no such thing as a genetic epidemic, which has been the overwhelmingly dominant area of autism causation research. We also know that people with autism are much more likely to come from families with histories of auto-immune disorders.”

In line with this, Lyons-Weiler noted that both genetics and environmental toxicants contribute to autism risk, with evidence stressing chemical intolerance’s role in neurodevelopmental issues.

Read more stories about autism at AutismTruthNews.com .

Watch the video below to learn more about the 2nd Brighteon Autism Conference Spring 2023: End The Autism Epidemic .

This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com . More related stories:

These SEVEN studies point to the inescapable conclusion: VACCINES DO CAUSE AUTISM and other chronic health conditions .

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Working out can help improve your memory for up to 24 hours, a new study says. (Getty Images) Decades of research has found that exercise is helpful for overall health and fitness, doing everything from lowering your risk of heart disease to helping you sleep better. According to a new study, working out could also help boost your memory — and the results may stick around for up to a day after your sweat session.

The small study , published today in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, analyzed data from 76 people aged 50 to 83 who wore activity trackers for eight days and took cognitive tests daily. The researchers discovered that people who did more moderate to vigorous physical activity than usual on any given day ended up performing better in memory tests the next day.

Being active in general also seemed to help. People who spent less time than usual sitting and logged six hours more of sleep also had better scores on memory tests.

The findings could have big implications for everyone, including older adults “where it’s very important to understand factors that could maintain daily cognitive function,” Mikaela Bloomberg , lead study author and senior research fellow at University College London, tells Yahoo Life.

But what’s behind this link, and how much exercise do you need to do to get the benefits? Doctors explain. Why might exercise boost your brain?

It’s important to point out that this isn’t the first study to link exercise with better memory. Previous research has found that people performed better on memory tests in the hours after they exercised, but many studies haven’t pinned down how long those perks last.

Doctors say there are a few different things that could be behind the memory boost from exercise. “Exercise leads to increased blood flow and stimulation of neurotransmitters thought to contribute to improvements in cognitive function,” Bloomberg says. ( Neurotransmitters help to move messages from one nerve cell to the next and help with memory and thinking.)

Exercise can also prompt the birth of new neurons in the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain that’s essential for memory and learning, Dr. Vernon Williams , sports neurologist and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, tells Yahoo Life. “Exercise also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections and reorganize itself,” he says.

Exercise can even help lower inflammation in the brain, which is linked to cognitive decline, Williams says. How much exercise do you need to do?

The researchers didn’t find a hard number for how much exercise is needed to get the brain benefits. “We just looked at when people did more physical activity than their usual,” Bloomberg says. “Regardless of their current level of physical activity, doing more was better.” So if you regularly work out for 30 minutes, tacking on an additional five minutes of exercise may help you feel mentally sharp over the next 24 hours.

In the study, doing more moderate or vigorous physical activity than usual was linked to better working memory and memory of events the next day. Also worth noting: Spending time being more sedentary than usual was linked to worse working memory the next day. Why it matters

Bloomberg stresses that her study was small, which makes it difficult to take too much away from the findings without more research. But she also says that there could be real-world ways to use the results to your advantage.

For older adults, having a workout routine may help to boost memory and keep people sharp as they age. And if you have an upcoming test or big presentation, making sure to exercise at some point the day before “couldn’t hurt” when it comes to enhancing your memory, Bloomberg says.

While this particular study found that working out more than usual had an impact, Williams says it’s important to have a consistent exercise routine for brain health and memory too. “There is also likely some cognitive stimulation associated with regular physical activity that may also play a beneficial role,” he says. What’s the best form of exercise for memory?

This study found that you don’t need to do anything extreme to get a memory boost from exercise. Bloomberg says that exercises that fall into the “moderate intensity” or higher category, such as brisk walking, cycling or jogging, helped to boost memory.

However, other research has found more intense exercises can also help. A study recently published in the journal Communications Psychology , for example, determined that cycling and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) were most likely to help boost memory, attention, executive function, information processing and other cognitive functions.

Overall, Bloomberg says research makes a case for staying active as you get older. “There are many health reasons why older adults should integrate physical activity into their daily lives, and there is certainly evidence to suggest that doing so might contribute to maintenance of cognitive function as we age,” she says.

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Tags: alternative medicine , Alzheimer’s disease , brain function , brain health , cognitive function , cognitive health , dementia , goodhealth , goodmedicine , goodscience , health science , herbal medicine , Herbs , Huntington’s disease , natural cures , natural health , natural medicine , Parkinson’s Disease , phytonutrients , rue In the search for solutions to tackle neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, scientists are exploring the natural world for inspiration. One plant making waves in this field is Ruta graveolens or rue – a hardy, shrubby herb native to the Mediterranean. Long celebrated in traditional medicine for its diverse medicinal properties, rue is now being investigated for its potential to promote and restore brain health and function.

Rue has a rich history in traditional and folk medicine where it has been used to treat ailments ranging from aching pain and skin conditions to neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis.

Researchers are focusing on rue’s impact on the central nervous system (CNS), aiming to uncover how its chemical compounds could support brain health and combat the mechanisms behind debilitating diseases.

Rue owes much of its potential to a powerful metabolite called “rutin.” Discovered in 1936 and sometimes referred to as vitamin P, rutin is a flavonoid known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These attributes make rutin a promising candidate for addressing the oxidative stress and inflammation linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, rutin has been found to inhibit harmful enzymes, protect neurons from toxins and promote cell survival. Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline, caused in part by the death of cholinergic neurons and the buildup of harmful beta-amyloid plaques. Rue and rutin show promise in counteracting these effects. (Related: Coconut oil improves brain function in Alzheimer’s patients .)

Boosts acetylcholine levels. Rue acts as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, helping maintain levels of acetylcholine – a neurotransmitter vital for learning and memory. This mechanism is similar to that of drugs like donepezil, but without the gastrointestinal side effects often seen with these medications.

Fights plaques and inflammation. Studies show that rutin reduces beta-amyloid plaques in animal models, while decreasing inflammation markers like pro-inflammatory cytokines. This dual action could slow disease progression and improve neuronal survival.

Improves memory. Animal studies suggest that rutin enhances learning and memory – likely through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It may also activate microglial cells (immune cells in the brain) to clear harmful proteins. Parkinson’s disease

In Parkinson’s disease, the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons leads to motor symptoms, such as tremors and rigidity. Rue and its metabolite rutin have demonstrated promising effects in preclinical studies.

Inhibits harmful enzymes. One major contributor to Parkinson’s is monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) – an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. Rue’s ability to inhibit MAO-B helps preserve dopamine levels – similar to existing Parkinson’s treatments like selegiline. But rue’s benefits do not stop there – rutin also reduces oxidative stress and prevents the formation of harmful byproducts that damage neurons.

Protects dopaminergic neurons. In animal studies, oral rutin administration protected brain cells from toxins that mimic Parkinson’s symptoms. Notably, treated animals showed improved movement and brain health – suggesting rutin might slow disease progression.

Enhances neural plasticity. Rue extracts promote neurite outgrowth – a process crucial for repairing and forming connections between neurons. This suggests a role in enhancing the brain’s adaptability and resilience . Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that causes movement problems and cognitive decline. Research into rue’s impact in Huntington’s, while less extensive, has yielded intriguing findings.

Counteracts toxins. In animal models, rutin protected neurons from toxic substances that mimic Huntington’s disease symptoms – improving cell survival and reducing damage.

Supports cellular health. A study using the model organism C. elegans found that rutin delayed aging, reduced neuronal cell death and activated pathways involved in cellular repair. These findings point to rutin’s potential for promoting brain health. Neural plasticity and cell survival

One of the most exciting aspects of rue is its ability to influence signaling pathways that govern neural plasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. Rue extracts have been shown to:

Activates growth pathways. By stimulating signaling molecules like Akt and ERK, rue promotes cell survival and differentiation. These pathways are essential for repairing damage in conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

Promotes differentiation of neural cells. Rue extract encourages undifferentiated neural cells to develop into specialized neurons – a critical step in brain repair.

As researchers uncover more about its role in promoting neural health, rue may one day become a valued ally in the fight against brain diseases .

Watch this video about the herbal medicine benefits, uses and side effects of rue . This video is from the Holistic Herbalist channel on Brighteon.com . More related stories:

Studies show these three herbal medicines can reverse DEMENTIA .

Studies suggest these nutrients can help lower your dementia risk .

Here’s how fermented foods can support brain health .

Sources include:

PMC.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

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Regenerating neurons may be one way to improve cognition. Your brain can still make new neurons when you’re an adult. But how does the rare birth of these new neurons contribute to cognitive function?

Neurons are the cells that govern brain function , and you are born with most of the neurons you will ever have during your lifetime. While the brain undergoes most of its development during early life, specific regions of the brain continue to generate new neurons throughout adulthood, although at a much lower rate . Whether this process of neurogenesis actually happens in adults and what function it serves in the brain is still a subject of debate among scientists.

Past research has shown that people with epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias develop fewer neurons as adults than people without these conditions. However, whether the absence of new neurons contributes to the cognitive challenges patients with these neurological disorders face is unknown.

We are part of a team of stem cell researchers , neuroscientists , neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists. Our newly published research reveals that the new neurons that form in adults’ brains are linked to how you learn from listening to other people .

Related: Trigger for deadly neurodegenerative disorder identified New neurons and learning

Researchers know that new neurons contribute to memory and learning in mice . But in humans, the technical challenges of identifying and analyzing new neurons in adult brains, combined with their rarity, had led scientists to doubt their significance to brain function.

To uncover the relationship between neurogenesis in adults and cognitive function, we studied patients with drug-resistant epilepsy . These patients underwent cognitive assessments prior to and donated brain tissue during surgical procedures to treat their seizures. To see whether how many new neurons a patient had was associated with specific cognitive functions, we looked under the microscope for markers of neurogenesis. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Newborn neurons (green and purple) in brain tissue from human epilepsy patients. We found that new neurons in the adult brain are linked to reduced cognitive decline — particularly in verbal learning , or learning by listening to others.

This was very surprising to us. In mice, new neurons are known for their role in helping them learn and navigate new spaces through visual exploration . However, we did not observe a similar connection between new neurons and spatial learning in people. Improving cognition

Talking with others and remembering those conversations is an integral part of day-to-day life for many people. However, this crucial cognitive function declines with age , and the effects are more severe with neurological disorders . As aging populations grow , the burden of cognitive decline on health care systems worldwide will increase.

Our research suggests that the link between newborn neurons and verbal learning may be foundational to developing treatments to restore cognition in people. Enhancing new neuron generation could be a potential strategy to improve brain health and restore cognition in aging and in people with epilepsy or dementia. But for now, these ideas are just goals and any future treatments are a long way off.

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Importantly, our finding that new neurons function differently in mice and in humans emphasizes the critical need to study biological functions like neurogenesis in people whenever possible. This will ensure that research conducted in animal models, such as mice, is relevant to people and can translate to the clinic.

Current drugs for epilepsy primarily aim to reduce seizures, with limited focus on addressing the cognitive decline patients experience. To enhance cognitive outcomes for patients, we started a clinical trial focusing on boosting new neuron production and cognition in epilepsy patients through aerobic exercise. We are currently in the early Phase 1 of the clinical trial, which seeks to establish the safety of the study. Thus far, two patients have successfully and safely finished the study. We plan to recruit eight more patients to exercise and complete this phase.

By bringing together basic science in the lab and clinical research in people, a better understanding of brain regeneration could help support brain health throughout the lifespan.

This edited article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California

Aswathy Ammothumkandy is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Southern California’s Stem Cell department with 15 years of experience in neuroscience, epilepsy, cancer biology and stem cell research. She collaborates with neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists to study neuronal hyperactivity and cognitive decline in epilepsy patients using surgically resected brain tissue. Her goal is to bridge basic and clinical sciences to uncover new biomarkers and therapies for neurological diseases.

Read more at www.livescience.com

New research indicates that generating new brain cells in adults supports verbal learning and memory, linking reduced neurogenesis with cognitive decline and highlighting potential therapeutic approaches to enhance cognitive health. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Researchers at USC have discovered that the formation of new brain cells in adults, known as neurogenesis, is essential for verbal learning and memory.

This study, utilizing brain tissues from epilepsy patients, shows a direct correlation between decreased neurogenesis and cognitive decline, opening the door to therapies that could enhance cognitive function by promoting neurogenesis. Adult Neurogenesis and Cognitive Function

Why do adults grow new brain cells? A groundbreaking study published today (December 5) in Cell Stem Cell offers the first direct evidence that the generation of new brain cells in adulthood supports verbal learning and memory. This ability helps people engage in conversations and retain what they hear. The findings may pave the way for innovative treatments to restore cognitive function.

The research, conducted by scientists at USC Stem Cell and the USC Neurorestoration Center at the Keck School of Medicine, examined brain tissue from patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). This condition is characterized by seizures and accelerated cognitive decline. Newborn neuron (green and purple cell) in brain tissue from patients with epilepsy. Credit: Aswathy Ammothumkandy/Bonaguidi Lab/USC Stem Cell Exploring the Link Between Neurogenesis and Verbal Learning

“Treating patients with epilepsy allows us to investigate the purpose of generating new neurons in our brains. We observe that one of reasons is to learn from the conversations we have” said co-corresponding author Michael Bonaguidi, an associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, gerontology, biochemistry and molecular medicine, biomedical engineering, and neurological surgery, and assistant director of the USC Neurorestoration Center.

“These findings are clearly important for all people who suffer from learning and cognitive decline, but they are also specifically relevant to the epilepsy patients who participated in the research,” added co-corresponding author Charles Liu, a professor of neurological surgery, neurology, and biomedical engineering, director of the USC Neurorestoration Center, and director of the USC Epilepsy Care Consortium. Research Methodology and Findings in Epilepsy Patients

In the study, first authors Aswathy Ammothumkandy and Luis Corona from USC and their collaborators investigated how the process of making new brain cells—called neurogenesis—affects different types of cognitive decline during the progression of MTLE.

The researchers found that MTLE patients experience cognitive decline in many areas including verbal learning and memory, intelligence, and visuospatial skills. For verbal learning and memory, as well as for intelligence, patients undergo a dramatic decline during the first 20 years of seizures. During those same two decades, neurogenesis slows to the point where immature brain cells became nearly undetectable. Implications of Neurogenesis on Cognitive Health

Based on these observations, the scientists searched for links between the number of immature brain cells and the major areas of MTLE-related cognitive decline. They found the strongest association occurs between the declining number of immature brain cells and verbal learning and memory.

This is a surprising finding because neurogenesis levels in rodents and other lab animals contribute to a different type of learning and memory using visuospatial skills. The role of neurogenesis in verbal learning and memory highlights the value of studying human brain tissue. These highly valuable surgical specimens were generously donated by patients of the Rancho Los Amigos Epilepsy Center- a unique resource in the public safety-net health system advancing health care and research equity for the underinsured population in the region. During the complex operations, the neurosurgeons carefully removed the affected hippocampus in one piece, curing the majority of the patients of their seizures.

“Our study provides the first cellular evidence of how neurogenesis contributes to human cognition—in this case, verbal learning and memory,” said Bonaguidi. “This work opens a gateway for future studies exploring ways to improve verbal learning and memory by boosting neurogenesis, possibly through exercise or therapeutic drugs. Those approaches could help not only patients with MTLE, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but also all of us with aging brains.”

Reference: “Human adult neurogenesis loss corresponds with cognitive decline during epilepsy progression” 5 December 2024, Cell Stem Cell .
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.11.002

Neuropsychologist Jason Smith from the Medical University of South Carolina is also a co-corresponding author. Additional authors are: Kristine Ravina, Victoria Wolseley, Jeremy Nelson, Nadiya Atai, Aidin Abedi, Lina D’Orazio, Alisha Cayce, Carol McClearly, George Nune, Laura Kalayjian, Darrin Lee, Brian Lee, Christianne Heck, Robert Chow, and Jonathan Russin from USC; Nora Jimenez from Los Angeles General Medical Center; Michelle Armacost from USC and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center; and Virginia Zuverza-Chavarria from Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

Thirty percent of this work was supported by federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (grants R56AG064077, R01AG076956, and U01MH098937). Additional support came from the Donald E. and Delia B.Baxter Foundation, L.K. Whittier Foundation, Simon-Strauss Foundation, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, USC Neurorestoration Center, Rudi Schulte Research Institute, American Epilepsy Society, and California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Read more at scitechdaily.com

Regenerating neurons may be one way to improve cognition. stanislavgusev/RooM via Getty Images Your brain can still make new neurons when you’re an adult. But how does the rare birth of these new neurons contribute to cognitive function?

Neurons are the cells that govern brain function , and you are born with most of the neurons you will ever have during your lifetime. While the brain undergoes most of its development during early life, specific regions of the brain continue to generate new neurons throughout adulthood, although at a much lower rate . Whether this process of neurogenesis actually happens in adults and what function it serves in the brain is still a subject of debate among scientists.

Past research has shown that people with epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias develop fewer neurons as adults than people without these conditions. However, whether the absence of new neurons contributes to the cognitive challenges patients with these neurological disorders face is unknown.

We are part of a team of stem cell researchers , neuroscientists , neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists. Our newly published research reveals that the new neurons that form in adults’ brains are linked to how you learn from listening to other people . New neurons and learning

Researchers know that new neurons contribute to memory and learning in mice . But in humans, the technical challenges of identifying and analyzing new neurons in adult brains, combined with their rarity, had led scientists to doubt their significance to brain function.

To uncover the relationship between neurogenesis in adults and cognitive function, we studied patients with drug-resistant epilepsy . These patients underwent cognitive assessments prior to and donated brain tissue during surgical procedures to treat their seizures. To see whether how many new neurons a patient had was associated with specific cognitive functions, we looked under the microscope for markers of neurogenesis. Newborn neuron (green and purple) in brain tissue from human epilepsy patients. We found that new neurons in the adult brain are linked to reduced cognitive decline – particularly in verbal learning , or learning by listening to others.

This was very surprising to us. In mice, new neurons are known for their role in helping them learn and navigate new spaces through visual exploration . However, we did not observe a similar connection between new neurons and spatial learning in people. Improving cognition

Talking with others and remembering those conversations is an integral part of day-to-day life for many people. However, this crucial cognitive function declines with age , and the effects are more severe with neurological disorders . As aging populations grow , the burden of cognitive decline on health care systems worldwide will increase.

Our research suggests that the link between newborn neurons and verbal learning may be foundational to developing treatments to restore cognition in people. Enhancing new neuron generation could be a potential strategy to improve brain health and restore cognition in aging and in people with epilepsy or dementia. But for now, these ideas are just goals and any future treatments are a long way off.

Importantly, our finding that new neurons function differently in mice and in humans emphasizes the critical need to study biological functions like neurogenesis in people whenever possible. This will ensure that research conducted in animal models, such as mice, is relevant to people and can translate to the clinic.

Current drugs for epilepsy primarily aim to reduce seizures, with limited focus on addressing the cognitive decline patients experience. To enhance cognitive outcomes for patients, we started a clinical trial focusing on boosting new neuron production and cognition in epilepsy patients through aerobic exercise. We are currently in the early Phase 1 of the clinical trial, which seeks to establish the safety of the study. Thus far, two patients have successfully and safely finished the study. We plan to recruit eight more patients to exercise and complete this phase.

By bringing together basic science in the lab and clinical research in people, a better understanding of brain regeneration could help support brain health throughout the lifespan.

Read more at theconversation.com