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Can a mushroom protein bar improve memory? Study suggests cognitive benefits of Termitomyces fuliginosus
New research reveals how this unique mushroom snack could boost brain function and memory accuracy in just six weeks.
Study: Effects of a Functional Cone Mushroom (Termitomyces fuliginosus) Protein Snack Bar on Cognitive Function in Middle Age: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial . Image Credit: Ketmanee/Shutterstock.com
In a recent study published in Nutrients , a group of researchers formulated a functional cone mushroom ( Termitomyces fuliginosus ) (FCM) protein snack bar. The study assessed its effects on cognitive function, phytochemical content, amino acid profile, and biological activity in middle-aged adults. Background
Impaired cognitive function, characterized by learning challenges, memory loss, and reduced attention, significantly diminishes quality of life and increases dementia (a cognitive decline affecting memory and thinking, disrupting daily life) and mortality risks.
Epidemiological data show a rising prevalence of cognitive and memory impairment globally, particularly among middle-aged and elderly populations.
Preventive measures for at-risk groups are essential to sustain cognitive health and overall well-being. Regular consumption of nutritious foods, including innovative functional products like snack bars, can enhance brain health.
While FCM shows neuroprotective properties and bioactive compounds that are beneficial for cognition, further research is needed to understand their full impact on cognitive function. About the study
In the present study, an FCM protein snack bar was prepared in detail. Initially, a cone-mushroom-derived protein concentrate was created by extracting functional protein under alkaline conditions using 2 Normal Sodium Hydroxide (2 N NaOH), followed by centrifugation.
The resulting supernatant was adjusted to pH 4.5 to precipitate the protein, which was then collected and mixed with distilled water, creating a concentrated protein solution. This was later combined with maltodextrin to ensure homogeneity.
The snack bar formulation involved several steps. Whole grains like almonds and pumpkin seeds were roasted, while sticky ingredients such as dried dates were blended. Dry powders, including roasted coconut husks, were mixed and combined with the blended ingredients to create a uniform mixture. This was pressed into molds, baked, cooled, and packaged.
The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the snack bar was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and a colorimetric technique, respectively. The amino acid profile was analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activities were measured using (1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl Radical) (DPPH) and (2,2′-Azino-Bis-(3-Ethylbenzthiazoline-6-Sulphonic Acid Radical (ABTS) radical scavenging assays.
Additionally, anti-inflammatory and neurotransmitter inhibition activities were evaluated through cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II), Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme (AChE), and Monoamine Oxididase Enzyme (MAO) inhibition assays. To assess the snack bar’s cognitive effects, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 26 healthy participants aged 45-60. Study results
The amino acid profiles of cone mushrooms and their derived protein concentrate were compared, revealing that the cone mushroom contained a greater total volume of essential amino acids (EAAs) and non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) than the protein concentrate.
An FCM snack bar was formulated using cone mushrooms, almonds, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, and various fruits. The analysis indicated that the FCM snack bar was particularly rich in EAAs, with the highest levels recorded for arginine, leucine, and valine at 1345.53, 823.07, and 646.21 g/100 g samples, respectively.
Nutritional content was resilient, providing 448.09 kcal per 100 g, including 22.17 g of fat, 13.97 g of protein, 48.17 g of carbohydrates, and 16.63 g of dietary fiber.
The phytochemical content was also evaluated, showing that total phenolic compounds were significantly higher in the FCM compared to the placebo. Specifically, the FCM contained 2.29 ± 0.15 mg of gallic acid/g of the sample, while the placebo had 1.94 ± 0.14 mg.
Similarly, flavonoid levels were higher in the FCM, at 0.13 ± 0.01 mg of quercetin/g, compared to 0.08 ± 0.01 mg in the placebo, indicating a substantial enhancement in the functional snack bar.
Biological activity was assessed through antioxidant tests using DPPH and ABTS, revealing inhibition percentages of 16.84 ± 0.26 and 19.40 ± 0.06, respectively.
In addition, the anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated through COX-II inhibition, which showed a percentage of 12.78 ± 0.10. The neuroprotective effects were further examined, with AChE and MAO suppression observed at 20.37 ± 0.02 and 18.97 ± 0.05, respectively.
Demographic data and physiological parameters of the participants were recorded, indicating no significant differences throughout the study period. Similarly, body composition metrics remained unchanged after the 6-week consumption of the FCM snack bar.
Cognitive processing was evaluated through non-invasive event-related potential assessments, which showed significant increases in N100 and P300 amplitudes in participants consuming the FCM snack bar, particularly at doses of 1 g and 2 g.
Memory was also assessed via a computerized battery test, revealing improved accuracy in numeric working memory among those consuming the higher dose of the FCM snack bar. Conclusions
To summarize, the FCM protein snack bar exhibited high levels of EAAs, dietary fiber, and flavonoids. Daily consumption for six weeks significantly increased N100 and P300 amplitudes, as well as numeric working memory accuracy, indicating improved cognitive function.
This formulation, which combined cone mushrooms with various nuts and fruits, showed enhanced protein and amino acid content compared to the original mushroom concentrate. Its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties were confirmed through the inhibition of AChE and MAO.
Journal reference: Muchimapura S, Thukham-mee W, Tong-un T, et al. (2024) Effects of a Functional Cone Mushroom (Termitomyces fuliginosus) Protein Snack Bar on Cognitive Function in Middle Age: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients . doi : https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213616 . https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/21/3616
Sleep problems in 30s and 40s may add extra years to your brain age
What’s the link between sleep and brain health? The latest research provides new insights. Maria Korneeva/Getty Images Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between sleep and brain health.
A new study found that sleep quality issues in early middle-age are associated with accelerated brain aging and cognitive problems later in life.
Another study suggests that people who experience disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s are more likely to have memory and cognitive problems later in life.
Are you getting enough sleep? How good is your sleep quality? Increasing evidence from scientific research has linked “poor sleep” to accelerated brain aging and suggests that addressing sleep problems early in life may help preserve our cognitive functions.
Previous research found that proper sleep can help maintain and improve the brain’s glymphatic system and its ability to clear waste. Researchers also found that sleep disorders and disruptions, such as waking up and returning to sleep at night, may contribute to memory and cognitive problems, which could lead to a higher risk of developing dementia .
In this article, we highlight key findings from two recent studies published in 2024 that offer insights into the link between sleep and brain health and how to better protect our cognitive functions. ‘Poor sleep’ linked to faster brain aging
In a nutshell:
According to a new study published in Neurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, people who experience issues with sleep quality in their early middle age, such as having trouble falling or staying asleep, show more signs of cognitive health problems in late middle age.
While the study shows a correlation between sleep quality and signs of brain aging, the findings do not prove that sleep issues accelerate brain aging. Key takeaways:
The study included 589 people, with an average age of 40 at the start. Participants completed sleep questionnaires at the beginning of the study and then again five years later. Researchers divided the participants into three groups based on the number of self-reported “poor sleep” characteristics: low (0-1), middle (2-3), and high (more than 3).
The participants also had brain scans 15 years after the study began. Researchers analyzed the scans, where the level of brain shrinkage corresponds to a specific age, and used machine learning to determine each participant’s brain age.
The study found that several sleep characteristics, including sleep quality, early morning awakening, and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, were linked to accelerated brain aging, especially when people consistently had these sleep problems over five years. In addition, researchers found that people in the middle group had an average brain age that was 1.6 years older than those in the low group, and those in the high group had an average brain age of 2.6 years older.
“Our findings highlight the importance of addressing sleep problems earlier in life to preserve brain health, including maintaining a consistent sleep schedule , exercising , avoiding caffeine and alcohol before going to bed and using relaxation techniques ,” said study author Kristine Yaffe, MD , Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Epidemiology at the University of California San Francisco. “Future research should focus on finding new ways to improve sleep quality and investigating the long-term impact of sleep on brain health in younger people.”
Study limitation: The participants reported their own sleep problems, and it is possible they did not report them accurately.
Sleep quality in early middle age may have long-term impact
In a nutshell:
According to a previous study published in January in Neurology , people who experience disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s are more likely to have memory and cognitive problems later in life.
“Even in early adulthood, sleep quality results in measurable changes in cognitive performance by mid-life. The study findings support the importance of sleep quality, uninterrupted, or unfragmented sleep in relation to cognitive performance,” said David Merrill, MD, PhD , a geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Pacific Brain Health Center in California who was not involved in the study. Key takeaways:
Researchers examined the sleep patterns and durations of 526 people, with an average age of 40 at baseline, who were followed for 11 years. Participants wore a wrist monitor for three consecutive days, one year apart. They also reported bedtimes and wake times in a sleep diary, completed a sleep quality survey, and received a sleep quality “score” ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more sleep quality issues. In addition, the participants completed a series of memory and thinking tests.
After adjusting for age, gender, race, and education, researchers reported that the people with the most disruptive sleep were more than twice as likely to have cognitive performance issues later in life as those with the least disruptive sleep. They also found that sleep duration and self-reported sleep quality were not associated with cognition in middle age.
“We all know that sleep is good for you and the results of this study are undoubtedly true,” said Steven Feinsilver, MD , the director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York who was not involved in the study. “But the question is, what came first: Did poor sleep quality cause cognitive dysfunction or did cognitive dysfunction cause poor sleep quality?”
How to sleep better: Expert tips
“Things like lowering stress levels as we head towards bedtime, taking a warm shower or bath, sleeping in a colder room at a lower temperature — all these have been tied to possibly improving the quality of sleep during the night. We also know about things like avoiding screen time later in the afternoon and into the evening (and) filtering out blue light ,” Merrill told Medical News Today .
“It is important to prioritize sleep health,” said Scott Kaiser, MD , a geriatrician and the director of geriatric health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California. “ Sleep hygiene – preparing your environment, […]
Cannabis use in adolescence: Visible effects on brain structure
Cannabis use may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents according to a recent study led by Graciela Piñeyro and Tomáš Paus, researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and professors at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine. A collaborative effort between two research laboratories with complementary approaches, the study demonstrates that THC — or tetrahydrocannabinol, an active substance in cannabis — causes shrinkage of the dendritic arborization, neurons’ “network of antennae” whose role is critical for communication between neurons. This results in the atrophy of certain regions of the cerebral cortex — bad news at an age when the brain is maturing.
“If we take the analogy of the brain as a computer, the neurons would be the central processor, receiving all information via the synapses through the dendritic network,” explains Tomáš Paus, who is also a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Université de Montréal. “So a decrease in the data input to the central processor by dendrites makes it harder for the brain to learn new things, interact with people, cope with new situations, etc. In other words, it makes the brain more vulnerable to everything that can happen in a young person’s life.”
A multi-level approach to better understand the effect on humans
This project is notable for the complementary, multi-level nature of the methods used. “By analyzing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brains of a cohort of teenagers, we had already shown that young people who used cannabis before the age of 16 had a thinner cerebral cortex,” explains Tomáš Paus. “However, this research method doesn’t allow us to draw any conclusions about causality, or to really understand THC’s effect on the brain cells.”
Given the limitations of MRI, the introduction of the mouse model by Graciela Piñeyro’s team was key. “The model made it possible to demonstrate that THC modifies the expression of certain genes affecting the structure and function of synapses and dendrites,” explains Graciela Piñeyro, who is also a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Université de Montréal. “The result is atrophy of the dendritic arborescence that could contribute to the thinning observed in certain regions of the cortex.”
Interestingly, these genes were also found in humans, particularly in the thinner cortical regions of the cohort adolescents who experimented with cannabis. By combining their distinct research methods, the two teams were thus able to determine with a high degree of certainty that the genes targeted by THC in the mouse model were also associated to the cortical thinning observed in adolescents.
With cannabis use on the rise among North American youth, and commercial cannabis products containing increasing concentrations of THC, it’s imperative that we improve our understanding of how this substance affects brain maturation and cognition. This successful collaborative study, involving cutting-edge techniques in cellular and molecular biology, imaging and bioinformatics analysis, is a step in the right direction for the development of effective public health measures.
About the study
The article “Cells and Molecules Underpinning Cannabis-Related Variations in Cortical Thickness during Adolescence” was published by Xavier Navarri, Graciela Piñeyro and Tomáš Paus in the Journal of Neuroscience on October 6, 2024.
Poor sleep quality linked to accelerated brain aging, study finds. Sleep experts weigh in.
We know quality sleep is good for our overall health , but new research is pointing to its importance for brain health too.
In the study, published Wednesday in online journal Neurology, researchers found people with poor sleep quality have more signs of poor brain health in late middle age.
Of the 589 participants, those who reported two to three poor sleep characteristics had an average brain age that was 1.6 years older than those with no more than one poor sleep characteristic. And those with more than three poor sleep characteristics had an average brain age 2.6 years older.
Participants, who had an average age of 40 at the start of the study, completed sleep questionnaires about six sleep characteristics: short sleep duration, bad sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening and daytime sleepiness.
Five years later, they completed the same survey. Then, 15 years after the study began, researchers examined participants’ brain scans where the level of brain shrinkage corresponded to a specific age.
“Of the sleep characteristics, bad sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and early morning awakening were linked to greater brain age, especially when people consistently had these poor sleep characteristics over five years,” a news release for the study noted.
A limitation of the study was that participants reported their own sleep problems, which could include inaccuracies.
While the study does not prove causation, it shows an association between poor sleep quality and signs of brain aging — and experts say that’s important in furthering our understanding of the importance of sleep.
“These findings show how important sleep is for our brains, especially as we get older. Getting enough good sleep can help keep our minds sharp and our overall health strong,” said Dr. Shelby Harris , a clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine and director of sleep health at Sleepopolis. What are risks of accelerated brain aging?
Harris, who was not part of the study, says accelerated brain aging is associated with cognitive decline, memory issues and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia .
“When the brain ages prematurely, it can lead to a host of difficulties in daily functioning and mental clarity, significantly impacting quality of life,” she said. “Understanding these risks emphasizes the importance of prioritizing sleep as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, medical director of the sleep center at Sentara RMH Medical Center, who was not part of the study, said the risk of accelerated brain aging also includes effects on mood such as irritability, anger and outbursts as well as problems with attention, focus and concentration.
“Improving sleep would improve these symptoms as well,” she said. Tips to improve sleep quality
“The ideal way of improving your sleep is prioritizing your sleep,” Siddiqui said, which includes giving yourself enough hours of sleep, having an optimal sleep environment and avoiding disruptive pre-sleep activities like watching television in bed or using phones and other electronic devices.
“You may want to develop activities which help and are conducive to good sleep such as breathing techniques, meditation, prayers, and relaxation,” she advised.
Harris recommends creating a regular sleep schedule and relaxing bedtime routine .
“Cut back on caffeine and alcohol before bed, try relaxation techniques, and make sure you get enough exercise,” she said. “Even small, consistent changes can make a big difference in your sleep quality, which can lead to better overall health.”
If you’ve tried making changes consistently for two weeks and are still struggling, she advised talking to a doctor, who can help with proper evaluations and treatments. More from CBS News
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Research science reveals FIVE most common genetic diseases among Ashkenazi Jews
The National Gaucher Foundation (NGF) published a fact sheet highlighting the five most common genetic diseases among Ashkenazi Jews, a highly insulated group of people with a common ancestry (i.e. “inbreeding).
With so much focus on Israel these days, including Israeli Prime Minister and Ashkenazi Jew Benjamin Netanyahu, it is worth highlighting that many from this particular ancestry are more prone than others to a variety of serious illnesses, some of which are mental disorders.
While it is certainly true that anyone is prone to getting sick, Ashkenazi Jews are said to be more prone because of “specific gene mutations,” according to the National Gaucher Foundation.
“Scientists call this propensity to developing disease the Founder Effect,” the group says. “Hundreds of years ago, mutations occurred in the genes of certain Ashkenazi Jews. The carriers of these newly mutated genes were unaffected by them, but their descendants were at greater risk for developing genetic diseases as a result of inheriting mutated genes.”
“Over the course of Jewish history, many mutated genes, including the gene responsible for Gaucher disease, GBA1, were passed on from generation to generation” (due to inbreeding). Are you at risk?
In order for someone who is Ashkenazi Jewish to develop one of the following five most common genetic diseases within this particular people group, two mutations from the same disease must be inherited. If a child is born to two parents who carry a mutation in the same gene, there are multiple potential outcomes, including no disease at all.
1) Gaucher Disease :
One out of every 10 Ashkenazi Jews carries the mutated gene responsible for Gaucher disease, which comes in three different types, type 1 being the only treatable one. Gaucher disease results from a deficiency in glucocerebrosidase (GCase).
2) Cystic Fibrosis :
Affecting one out of every 24 Ashkenazi Jews, cystic fibrosis is when the normally thin, slippery mucus that forms in the lungs and digestive tract as part of normal physiological processes becomes thicker and stickier, resulting in damage to the lungs and other internal organs. While there are ways to manage the disease, cystic fibrosis usually takes a person’s life in the mid- to late-30s.
3) Tay-Sachs Disease :
This neurological disease results from mutations of the HEXA gene and is characterized by progressive deterioration of neurons, or nerve cells, in both the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by the shortage of an enzyme necessary to break down fatty substances throughout the body and has no known cure.
4) Familial Dysautonomia :
Affecting one in 31 Ashkenazi Jews, familiar dysautonomia usually starts showing symptoms right when a baby is born. It causes changes to nerves within the autonomic nervous system that control all sorts of involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate and digestion. While it is treatable, familial dysautonomia usually results in shortened lifespan.
5) Spinal Muscular Atrophy :
Sufferers of spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that afflicts one out of every 41 Ashkenazi Jews, suffer the loss of muscle control and movement due to low numbers of specialized nerve cells called motor neurons that live inside the brainstem and spinal cord. While there is no cure for the disease, spinal muscular atrophy can be managed with certain treatments.
The NGF and another community-based public health initiative called JScreen is raising awareness about Gaucher disease and other genetic illnesses common among Ashkenazi Jews.
“We want people to understand that most conditions we’re screening for are inherited in an autosomal recessive way,” commented Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, executive director of JScreen.
“In order for a child to be affected, both parents need to be carriers for the same disease. Each time they have a pregnancy, there’s a 25 percent risk. In almost 80 percent of cases where a baby is born with one of these genetic conditions, they’re born to a couple with no family history of this condition.”
Sources for this article include:
GaucherDisease.org
NaturalNews.com
Can Smell Training Improve Memory?
Key points
The olfactory nerve is the shortest cranial nerve.
Research suggests smell training may help improve both cognitive and neuronal functions.
Olfactory training could be an effective way to preserve memory and other cognitive functions in the elderly.
Source: Iffany/Pixabay Searching for new ways to help my senior patients improve and maintain cognitive functions, I came across an interesting research study from the University of California Irvine (Woo, C. et al. 2023) that I want to share with my readers. The study explored the use of olfactory enrichment (smell training) at night to retain and improve cognitive abilities in healthy seniors.
What is smell training? It is a practice of exposing yourself to different scents on a regular basis to improve or restore your sense of smell. Olfactory training/retraining is mainly used nowadays to help COVID-19 patients. It is estimated that about 60% of COVID-19 patients lost some ability to taste or smell. But can smell training help with cognitive functions?
It sounded kind of crazy at first, but then I paused. Our nose has a direct connection to the brain through the olfactory nerve and olfactory bulb. The olfactory nerve is the shortest cranial nerve. It is the shortest distance from the outside world to our brain. It is only a few centimeters long; therefore smell training may make deep sense.
In the mentioned 2023 study, the subjects (43 men and women aged 60 to 85, with no diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia ) were randomly assigned to an olfactory enrichment group or a control group. During the six months of the study duration, the subjects in the olfactory enrichment group were exposed to seven different scents of essential oils (rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, and lavender) delivered by a diffuser at home, one scent per night for two hours and rotating the scents. The subjects were asked to turn on the diffuser when they went to bed and the diffuser released the scent for two hours at night when they were sleeping . The control group received bottles of distilled water with a minimal amount of deodorant to use in the diffuser.
All subjects were assessed at the beginning of the study and at the end of the study (after six months). The assessment contained olfactory abilities (smelling sticks were used), cognitive abilities (assessment of verbal learning and memory , working memory and planning and attention switching tasks) and mental health status. All participants also had brain imaging completed (fMRI scans).
The results were quite impressive because they showed an improvement in both cognitive and neuronal functions. The participants in the olfactory enrichment group had a 226% improvement in learning and memory. The FMRI studies results showed improvement in the left uncinated fasciculus, which is a part of the brain that is involved in episodic memory, memory retrieval, language, and socio-emotional processing.
However, the above study was done on a relatively small group of subjects. Intrigued by the idea, I dove deeper into the subject and found more research on humans and animals which indicated that smell training may improve memory and also other cognitive functions.
In a 2022 study (Cha, H. et al.), 34 patients with dementia in the experimental group were exposed to intensive olfactory training for 15 days (twice a day, a 40-odor set). The control group contained 31 individuals receiving “conservative management ”. The results indicated that intensive smell training improved memory, attention language function, and also depression in participants. In an animal study, (Veyrac, A. et al. 2008) the results indicated that when mice were repeatedly daily exposed to a single novel odorant they showed improvement in short-term olfactory memory and neurogenesis in the mouse olfactory bulb.
In a 2022 study (Oleszkiewicz, A. et al.), 55 participants (mean age 58.2) with impaired olfaction were randomly assigned to the standard, twice-daily olfactory training or intense, four-times-a-day training. The participants were given an electrical odor dispenser and were instructed to sniff each five odors for 30 seconds. The results indicated that participants in the twice-a-day olfactory training group showed improvement in verbal semantic fluency and olfactory functions. Some studies indicated that olfactory training can improve verbal functions and subjective well-being in older adults (Wegener, B.A. et al. 2018) and executive functions in patients with mild cognitive impairment (Haehner, A., et al. 2022).
The studies above concluded that olfactory training could be an effective method for preserving and enhancing memory and other cognitive functions in the elderly. This method is also feasible (two hours at night) and has a low cost (requires an infuser and some essential oils), compared to some expensive medications used to prevent cognitive decline in older adults. It’s important to note that the loss of smell is often the first indication of future cognitive decline. Therefore, it’s crucial to pay attention to our olfactory functions, especially considering that, reportedly, about 70 neurological and psychiatric disorders are linked to some degree of olfactory loss.
References
Woo, C. et al. “Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory and modifies the uncinated fasciculus in older adults”. Front. Neuroscience Vol 17, 2023
Veyrac, A. et al. “Novelty determines the effects of olfactory enrichment on memory and neurogenesis through noradrenergic mechanisms”. Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 34, 2008
Oleszkiewicz, A. et al. “Olfactory training with Aromatics: olfactory and cognitive effects “. European Archives of Oto-Laryngology, 2022
Cha, H. et al. “Effects of intense olfactory training for cognitive functions in patients with dementia”. Geriatrics and Gerontology International. Vol 22. Issue 2, 2022
Wegener, B, A. et al. “Olfactory Training with older people” Int. J. Geriatr Psychiatry, 2018 Jan; 33(1)
Haehner, A, et al. “Training with Odor Impacts Hippocampal Thickness in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment”. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease, Vol 88 no.2. 2022
Common sleep supplement could boost memory function
Credit: Unsplash+ A recent study from Tokyo Medical and Dental University has brought some exciting news about melatonin, a hormone usually known for helping people sleep.
Scientists found that it might also have a special effect on improving memory, offering hope for new treatments to fight memory problems in aging brains.
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body, mainly to help regulate our sleep-wake cycles. Many people take it as a supplement to help them sleep better, especially when dealing with jet lag or sleep disorders.
But this new research hints that melatonin could be doing much more than just helping us get a good night’s sleep—it might be helping us keep our memories sharp, too.
The scientists didn’t just focus on melatonin itself, though. They looked closely at what happens to melatonin when it breaks down in the body. This process creates by-products, or “metabolites,” which might hold the key to melatonin’s surprising effects on memory.
The study used mice as the main subjects. Mice are often used in memory studies because their natural behaviors make it easy to test their ability to remember things.
Mice like to explore new objects more than objects they’ve seen before, just like how humans tend to focus more on things that are new or unfamiliar. If a mouse treats an old object as new, it could indicate memory problems—similar to how a person with memory decline might forget familiar things.
In this experiment, the researchers set up a test to see if melatonin and its breakdown products could improve the memory of the mice.
They introduced the mice to some objects and then gave them melatonin and two specific metabolites—substances that come from melatonin breaking down in the body—about an hour later. The next day, the researchers tested the mice to see if they could remember the objects.
The results were promising. The researchers noticed that one particular metabolite, called AMK, had a strong effect on the mice’s ability to remember.
The mice who were given AMK were better at telling the difference between familiar and new objects, suggesting their memory was sharper.
The researchers also found that AMK gathered in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is known to be crucial for forming long-term memories.
Interestingly, when the scientists blocked the process that turns melatonin into AMK, the memory-enhancing effects disappeared. This suggests that AMK plays a key role in how melatonin helps with memory.
What makes these results especially exciting is that the positive effects were seen in mice of all ages, including older mice.
This suggests that AMK might have potential as a treatment for age-related memory problems, like those seen in conditions such as mild cognitive impairment or even Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Of course, it’s important to note that these findings are still in the early stages. While the results in mice are exciting, more research is needed to see if the same effects will be seen in humans.
Still, the idea that melatonin and its metabolites could one day help people maintain or improve their memory is a hopeful one.
As we continue to learn more about melatonin’s effects, researchers are optimistic that these findings could eventually lead to new ways to treat memory problems, particularly those linked to aging.
If further studies confirm the role of AMK in boosting memory, it could open the door to therapies that help people maintain their cognitive health as they grow older.
For now, this study shines a light on an unexpected benefit of melatonin, offering hope that this common sleep aid could also be a valuable tool in the fight against memory loss.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk , and flavonoid-rich foods could help prevent dementia .
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory , and how alcohol, coffee and tea intake influence cognitive decline .
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report . All rights reserved.
Food for the brain: Boost your cognitive function and memory with almonds
Tags: almonds , brain function , brain health , cognitive function , cognitive health , food cures , food is medicine , food science , goodfood , goodhealth , goodmedicine , health science , natural cures , natural health , natural medicine , organics , superfoods Recent research has found fascinating effects of almonds on the brain, particularly in how they might support memory and learning. Almond consumption has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidants in the brain.
Almonds are a rich source of several key nutrients that are essential for optimal brain health : Vitamin E
Almonds are packed with essential nutrients, particularly vitamin E. Just 28 grams of almonds, or about 43 nuts, can provide around 50 percent of your daily vitamin E requirement. This vitamin has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, particularly in slowing down the progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia , in a 2021 study published in Healthcare .
Research indicates that vitamin E may help protect brain health by improving neurotransmission and reducing neurotoxicity. Various studies have shown that higher levels of vitamin E are linked to better cognitive performance, especially in older adults and those with conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease. Healthy fats
The monounsaturated fats found in almonds are essential for maintaining healthy cell membranes, including those in the brain. These fats support overall brain function and can help improve cognitive performance. Specifically, almonds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for maintaining the structure and functions of brain cells.
According to a study published in Cureus , omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in promoting cognition, preserving neurons and protecting against neurodegeneration. These beneficial effects are achieved through two mechanisms: enhancing membrane fluidity and boosting neurotransmitter release . Flavonoids
A study conducted by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles found that consuming almonds regularly improved memory and cognitive function in participants, especially in tasks that require logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
One of the reasons behind this cognitive boost is the presence of flavonoids in almonds, which are known for their antioxidant properties. These natural compounds reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, which are known to contribute to cognitive decline – promoting better blood flow.
Almonds are rich in dietary flavonoids, which offer several neuroprotective benefits . A study published in Genes & Nutrition highlights that these flavonoids can protect neurons from damage caused by neurotoxins and reduce neuroinflammation. Furthermore, they may enhance cognitive function, learning and memory. Magnesium
Almonds are a good source of magnesium, which plays a vital role in brain health, primarily due to its involvement in energy production. Without enough magnesium, energy production in brain cells can be impaired – affecting cognitive function.
Additionally, magnesium regulates neurotransmitters , like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, as well as calcium levels in brain cells, which supports learning, memory and neuron activity. Research also suggests that higher brain magnesium levels enhance neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells) – boosting cognitive adaptability and flexibility. Almonds: The perfect snack
Raw almonds are generally more nutrient-dense than roasted almonds as the roasting process can reduce some of their vitamins and healthy fats. Unsalted almonds are a better choice for overall health since added salt can contribute to high blood pressure.
Mamra Badam almonds, grown in Afghanistan and Iran, stand out for their unique curved shape and superior nutritional profile. Unlike mass-produced California almonds, Mamra almonds are considered to be nutritionally richer – offering higher levels of healthy fats, including omega-3s . Their premium quality and limited production make them one of the most expensive almonds on the market.
Almonds are the perfect snack no matter the time of day or situation . Whether you’re adding them to your oatmeal for extra flavor, snacking during your morning commute, or swapping out chips for a healthier crunch at lunch – almonds fit right in.
Keep a jar at your desk to curb mid-morning cravings, toss them on your salad for a nutty boost, or rely on them for that afternoon energy slump. On the go? Carry almonds in your purse or car for a convenient, satisfying snack. Even late at night, almonds can satisfy cravings without the guilt. Whatever the moment, almonds have you covered.
If you enjoy a mix of textures in your snacks, try making your blend of trail mixes, with almonds at the heart of it. Add in dried fruit, dark chocolate chips, coconut shavings, or whatever you love for a fun, healthy snack that’s both crunchy and chewy . Get creative and make it your perfect combo.
Learn how almonds affect the brain by watching this video.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com . More related stories:
Almonds can save your heart and reduce obesity .
Almonds shown to lower the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease .
Almonds found to help regulate appetite, caloric intake . Sources include:
ScienceDirect.com
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 3
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9 Things You Should Do for Your Brain Health Every Day, According to Neurologists
By Angela Haupt
October 17, 2024 11:28 AM EDT
Taking care of your cognitive health ought to be—well, a no-brainer. According to a survey published in March, 87% of Americans are concerned about age-related memory loss and a decline in brain function as they grow older, yet only 32% believe they can take action to help control that trajectory.
“All of us want to be cognitively intact for as long as possible,” says Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, a neurologist and stroke specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The good news, he adds, is that “there are definitely risk factors that can be modified.” Prioritizing healthy behaviors can increase the likelihood that, when we reach our 70s and 80s, we’re still able to summon important memories, drive a car, and engage in a wide variety of activities, Chaturvedi says. And there’s no such thing as “too young” to start taking these steps.
With that in mind, we asked four neurologists what we should all do every day for better brain health. Manage your chronic illnesses
If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, it’s essential to make sure it’s under control. Each condition can “damage the blood vessels in the brain and increase the risk of stroke and dementia,” while diminishing cognitive function, Chaturvedi says. In one study , for example, people who had hypertension in their 40s to early 60s had a 6.5% steeper decline in cognitive skills—including mental processing speed and executive function—in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, compared to those with normal blood pressure. Other research has found that people with higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower levels of HDL cholesterol tend to have more amyloid plaque in their brain, which is linked with Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s why it’s important to get your numbers checked regularly, and to work with your doctor to establish a treatment regimen, Chaturvedi says. The sooner you do that, the better: “If you’re 35 or 40 and have high cholesterol, the current belief is that it’s better to start treatment early,” rather than waiting until you’re 65 or 70 and have a heart attack, he says. “If you get started early, maybe you could either postpone or never even have the heart attack,” which would be doing your brain a big favor.
Read More: 7 Metrics Everyone Should Know About Their Own Health Exercise for 30 minutes
Your entire body will benefit if you work out at least a few days a week—and that includes your brain. Research suggests that exercising improves cognitive processes and memory, while increasing the thickness of your cerebral cortex, which is responsible for tasks like language, thinking, and emotions. “We’re learning more and more about the benefits of regular exercise for brain health,” Chaturvedi says. “Even in patients who have mild dementia, it’s recommended they engage in exercise three to five times a week.”
Whatever activity you choose—walking, biking, swimming—make sure you’re operating at a moderate intensity, or about 50% to 80% of your maximum heart rate. “A rule of thumb I give my patients is that if you and I were going for a walk, we’d want to be walking at a pace where we’d be pretty out of breath, but we’d still be able to have a conversation,” says Dr. Carolyn Fredericks, an assistant professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine. One type of cardiovascular exercise doesn’t appear to be better than any other, she adds: “It’s just getting your heart into that range and keeping it there for a while.” Rest up
Not getting enough sleep is a key risk factor for dementia, says Dr. Augusto Miravalle, a neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist at Rush University Medical Center. Research suggests that people in their 50s and 60s who get six hours of sleep or less per night are 30% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those who log at least seven hours of Z’s. Another study found that sleep-initiation insomnia, or trouble falling asleep, is associated with a 51% increased dementia risk.
So what should you do if you lie awake at night counting sheep? Invest time in improving your sleep hygiene, which means taking steps like avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening, limiting naps, and putting away electronics before bed, Miravalle advises. If that doesn’t work, schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist to figure out if you need a more aggressive approach. Options like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can help some people achieve more restful slumber.
Read More: The Best Way to Treat Insomnia Eat like you’re vacationing on the Italian coast
Fredericks always recommends her patients follow a Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. “We’ve tried over the years to find the secret ingredient that makes the Mediterranean diet work,” she says. “Like, could it be the omega-3’s in the fish, or the vitamin E in the nuts? But every time we try to study an individual ingredient, we don’t actually see that big of a difference at a large group level.” What appears to be most impactful, she adds, is the style of eating and emphasis on whole foods.
In addition to prioritizing certain ingredients, Miravaelle recommends avoiding those that negatively impact brain health, like trans fats and too much salt. In one study , young and middle-aged men who followed a diet heavy in trans fat remembered 11 fewer words out of 104 than those who didn’t consume as much. And excessive salt intake is linked with stroke , cognitive impairment , and cerebrovascular disease , which affects the brain’s blood vessels and circulation. Challenge your mind
People often ask Dr. Roy Hamilton what kind of intellectual stimulation is best: Should they put together puzzles or play Sudoku every day? What about video games? He tries not to be overly prescriptive, but offers a few guidelines. Brain-boosting activities should be “mildly challenging,” says Hamilton, who’s a professor of neurology, psychiatry, and physical medicine and […]
Scientists unlock new insights into neural stem cell activation
An international team of neuroscientists, led by Duke-NUS Medical School, have uncovered a mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain cells. The research, published in Nature Communications , offers exciting potential for advancing our understanding and treatment of common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Neural stem cells are the source of the brain’s primary functional cells. After the initial development of the brain, neural stem cells typically enter a dormant state, conserving energy and resources. They re-awaken only when the brain needs them, such as after an injury or with physical exercise. However, with age, fewer neural stem cells can be roused from their dormant state, leading to various neurological conditions. Understanding how this reactivation is regulated is essential for developing treatments for various neurological conditions.
In this study, the team discovered that a specific group of proteins play an essential role in “waking up” dormant neural stem cells through a process called SUMOylation.
In SUMOylation, a small protein named SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) tags target proteins inside a cell to influence their activity and/or function. These SUMO-tagged proteins, the researchers found, trigger the reactivation of neural stem cells, allowing them to contribute to brain development and repair. Conversely, without SUMO proteins present, the fruit flies produced a microcephaly-like phenotype. This is the first study to pinpoint the SUMO protein family’s exact role in the reactivation of neural stem cells.
Dr Gao Yang, a research fellow with Duke-NUS’ Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders Programme and the study’s first author, remarked:
“We have demonstrated for the first time that the SUMO protein family plays a pivotal role in neural stem cell reactivation and overall brain development. Going a step further, we also showed that when these proteins are absent, normal neuronal development is hampered, with fruit flies developing undersized brains characteristic of microcephaly.”
Delving deeper into the effects of SUMOylation, the researchers determined that it regulates a key protein in another well-known pathway, called Hippo. While the Hippo pathway is known to play a crucial role in cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell death and organ size, very few regulators of this pathway in the brain are known.
When modified by SUMO, the Hippo pathway’s central protein Warts, which limits cell growth and prevents the reactivation of neural stem cells, becomes less effective. This allows neural stem cells to grow and divide, forming new neurons that contribute to brain function.
Professor Wang Hongyan, Acting Programme Director of the Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders Research Programme and senior author of the study, said:
“Given that SUMO proteins and the Hippo pathway are highly conserved in humans, our findings aren’t just relevant for fruit flies. They’re also important for understanding human biology. Disruptions in the SUMOylation process and Hippo pathway are linked to various illnesses in humans, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Our new insights into the role of SUMOylation in the brain opens exciting new opportunities for interventions that could lead to targeted therapies that harness the body’s own regenerative powers.”
Prof Wang and her team had previously demonstrated that fruit fly neural stem cells are an excellent model for unravelling the mysteries of dormancy, reactivation and neuronal regeneration.
Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, commented:
“This discovery advances our understanding of how cells work and are controlled, informing the development of new regenerative therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, it opens new possibilities for developing treatments for neurological conditions such as microcephaly. As research continues, we move closer to finding effective ways to help people with these disorders and improve their quality of life.”
Research Roundup: Neuron growth, ocean carbon absorption and longterm hurricane harms
The Daily’s academics desk gathers impactful research publications and developments at Stanford in the weekly research roundup. (Graphic: DA-HEE KIM/The Stanford Daily) The Daily’s science and technology desk gathers a weekly digest collecting some of the most impactful and interesting research publications and developments at Stanford. Read the latest in this week’s Research Roundup. Scientists develop method to promote neuron growth
Researchers from Stanford Medicine have found a new way to accelerate the growth of neurons, or nerve cells, according to a study published in Nature on Oct. 2.
Neurons are vital to memory, but they experience cell death just like other human cells. Normally, neuronal stem cells generate new neurons to replace old ones, but those stem cells grow less efficient at generating new neurons as they age — which can lead to memory loss in the long run.
Led by genetics professor Anne Brunet, researchers used the molecular gene-editing tool CRISPR to look for a gene that, when silenced such that no protein from the gene is translated, activates neuronal stem cells.
They found it. When the gene controlling glucose transport protein GLUT4 is suppressed, the production of that protein decreases and the body’s glucose levels also decrease. This increases the activation of neuronal stem cells, stimulating the growth of new neurons.
The researchers are hopeful they can use this knowledge in the future to create genetic therapies that can silence GLUT4 and promote neuronal growth. They aim to apply their findings to treat various neurological conditions, including brain damage caused by strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Ocean absorbs carbon dioxide more slowly than scientists believed
A Stanford-led study has uncovered new details of how microscopic marine life matter absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Using observations from a microscope they invented themselves, the researchers described precisely how marine snow — a mixture found in oceans consisting of dead phytoplankton, bacteria and other organic particles — collects carbon dioxide and falls to the ocean floor.
The study, published in Science on Friday, found that marine snow can produce mucus “parachutes” that slow the sinking of the particles. Manu Prakash, associate professor of bioengineering, and his team used their newly-invented rotating microscope to observe this phenomenon. The organisms are kept in a circular chamber meant to mimic the ocean, while the microscope rotates to accommodate their movements and simulate their travel.
Prakash’s study showed that the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide more slowly than previously understood, due to marine snow mucus impeding its fall to the ocean floor.
The rotating microscope has also helped the team make other scientific observations more reliably. Instead of collecting marine organisms during expeditions and transporting them to the lab, Prakash and his team can simply take the rotating microscope on the expeditions, enabling them to observe the marine organisms in their natural habitats.
“In biology, stripping [life] away from its environment has stripped away any of our capacity to ask the right questions,” Prakash told Stanford Engineering.
In the future, the team plans to identify the factors contributing to the production of the mucus they observed in the marine snow using the rotating telescope. Hurricanes shown to increase mortality for years after striking
While public attention on a hurricane typically lasts only as long as the hurricane itself, a new Stanford study published in Nature shows that higher death rates persist long after a hurricane has ended.
Typically, official reports only publish death tolls of hurricanes themselves. However, Solomon Hsiang, Stanford professor of environmental social sciences, and Rachel Young, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley, found that the average U.S. tropical cyclone can cause between 7,000 to 10,000 deaths not directly related to the cyclone itself. A community’s limited access to resources following a hurricane is just one factor that can contribute to this toll.
While the researchers initially believed the effects of a hurricane could last months, after analyzing the distribution of mortality risk across the U.S., they found that harm caused by hurricanes could last for years, depending on the community. The study also found that Black individuals are far more likely to die after a hurricane than white individuals, reinforcing concerns of racial disparities in natural disaster aid.
The researchers are now working to develop a clearer understanding of the causes of abnormally high post-hurricane death rates. They plan to combine data across different disciplines, including economics and social science fields, to help paint a more well-rounded picture of post-hurricane deaths.
Rishi Upadhyay ’28 is a news writer.
Brain-Boosting Secrets: 6 Proven Tips from Ancient Indian Wisdom
Medindia » Articles » Lifestyle » Brain-Boosting Secrets: 6 Proven Tips from Ancient Indian Wisdom Last Updated on Oct 14, 2024 About
As the body ages, so does the brain. Given our sedentary lifestyles, mental health is getting center stage. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry has revealed that half of the world’s population will experience a mental disorder at some point of time in their life(1 ✔ ).
Given the high prevalence of mental health disorders, it has become all the more crucial to boost brain power. Some time-tested Ancient Indian traditions can help to improve holistic well-being. These age-old strategies can help to stimulate the brain and improve overall focus and memory. Did You Know?
The practice of Tratak, or gazing at a candle flame, can significantly improve your concentration and memory. This ancient yogic practice is believed to cleanse the mind, helping you to declutter your thoughts and sharpen your mental focus in just a few minutes a day. #brainboostingtips #mentalhealth Top 6 Brain-Boosting Tips Based on Traditional Indian Knowledge
Medhya Rasayan (Nootropic Drugs)
Ancient Ayurvedic texts have mentioned several medhya rasayanas i.e. Ayurvedic herbs that help boost cognitive wellness. Herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, and Jyotihsmati are known for their nootropic activity and for helping improve memory and intellect(1 ✔ ). These herbs help to acquire, retain and recall any information(2 ✔ ). However, it is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before including these cognition-enhancing herbs in your routine.
Advertisement Chanting of Mantras
Chanting is practised in many religions. Chanting religious mantras helps to counterbalance negative emotions(3 ✔ ). Mantra meditation can help you in grounding. It also helps in significant reductions in mental health symptoms(4 ✔ ). The chants set in vibrations which activate neural pathways that help to reduce stress and anxiety (5 ✔ ). Dhyana (Meditation)
Meditation is beneficial for mental and physical health. It helps address mental problems like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression (6 ✔ ). This daily practice helps to develop a calm and focused mind. It decreases negative mood and enhances memory and attention(7 ✔ ).
Advertisement Yoga
Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that combines physical postures, rhythmic breathing and meditative exercise for enhanced physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual health. It offers positive effects on brain structure and function. It also mitigates age-related and neurodegenerative decline(8 ✔ ). Tratak (Yogic Visual Concentration)
Did you know that maintaining your health could be as simple as staring at a candle for a few minutes? Yes, Tratak, an ancient yogic practice that involves fixing the gaze on a fixed object, such as a candle flame, helps to improve attention and memory(9 ✔ ).
Advertisement Pranayam (Breathing Practice)
Pranayama , a branch of yoga practice, involves controlled breathing. Since breath connects the mind and the body, pranayama induces meditative states and reduces stress(10 ✔ ). Different types of pranayama influence the brain functioning in specific ways. Yogic methods such as Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) improve cognition, reduce anxiety and enhance general well-being. Bhramari pranayama (BhP) is a calming breath practice that helps to improve sleep quality and enhance cognitive performance. Why Traditional Indian Knowledge is Still Relevant Today
While the modern lifestyle often leads to stress, mental fatigue, and disconnection from our inner selves, ancient Indian knowledge focuses on a holistic approach to health- addressing the mind, body, and spirit. These techniques, whether it be yoga, meditation, or herbal remedies, have stood the test of time because they promote overall well-being and balance in a way that is still applicable to our everyday lives.
Traditional Indian methods, such as dhyana or mantra chanting, are not just rituals- they are backed by science. Similarly, the use of herbs like Brahmi and Ashwagandha has been validated by modern research for their cognitive benefits. Moreover, practices like meditation and pranayama (breathing techniques) are practised worldwide and have been scientifically shown to decrease stress, improve focus, and enhance brain function.
The beauty of these practices lies in their holistic nature. They address not just the brain but also mental, physical, and emotional health. This multifaceted approach helps us to stay calm, focused, and resilient in a world that often feels overwhelming. By integrating these traditional techniques into modern life, we can create a sustainable, long-term strategy for boosting brain health and overall well-being. How to Start a Simple Routine to Improve Brain Health
If you are new to these brain-boosting tips, here is a simple, beginner-friendly routine you can follow. It only requires about 20–30 minutes of your day and can be easily incorporated into any lifestyle: Morning Meditation (5-10 minutes): Start your day with a short session of meditation or mantra chanting . This sets a calm, focused tone for the day and enhances mindfulness.
Breathing Exercises (Pranayama) (5-7 minutes): Practice Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) or Bhramari pranayama for 5-7 minutes. These exercises will help to clear your mind and balance your emotions.
Yoga (10-15 minutes): Engage in a few simple yoga postures that focus on balance, strength, and flexibility. This not only strengthens your body but also sharpens your focus and mental clarity.
Mindful Eating: Incorporate medhya rasayanas (like Brahmi or Ashwagandha) into your diet after consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner. You can do this by adding these herbs to your food or in the form of herbal teas or supplements.
Tratak Practice (5 minutes): Before bed, try Tratak by focusing on a candle flame or another fixed object. This practice will help to enhance concentration and clear mental clutter before sleep
By following this routine consistently, you’ll start experiencing improvements in mental clarity, reduced stress, and a greater sense of well-being.
Whether you are looking to enhance memory, improve your ability to concentrate, or simply reduce the mental fog that comes with daily life, embracing these ancient practices can be transformative. Start small, be consistent, and experience how the wisdom of traditional Indian knowledge can bring peace, happiness, and mental clarity to your life.
Magnetoelectric nanodiscs offer remote brain stimulation without implants or genetic modification
by David L. Chandler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Magnetoelectric nanodiscs for neuromodulation. Credit: Ye Ji Kim et al Novel magnetic nanodiscs could provide a much less invasive way of stimulating parts of the brain, paving the way for stimulation therapies without implants or genetic modification, MIT researchers report.
The scientists envision that the tiny discs, which are about 250 nanometers across (about 1/500 the width of a human hair), would be injected directly into the desired location in the brain. From there, they could be activated at any time simply by applying a magnetic field outside the body.
The new particles could quickly find applications in biomedical research, and eventually, after sufficient testing, might be applied to clinical uses.
The development of these nanoparticles is described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology , in a paper by Polina Anikeeva, a professor in MIT’s departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, graduate student Ye Ji Kim, and 17 others at MIT and in Germany.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a common clinical procedure that uses electrodes implanted in the target brain regions to treat symptoms of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Despite its efficacy, the surgical difficulty and clinical complications associated with DBS limit the number of cases where such an invasive procedure is warranted. The new nanodiscs could provide a much more benign way of achieving the same results.
Over the past decade, other implant-free methods of producing brain stimulation have been developed. However, these approaches were often limited by their spatial resolution or ability to target deep regions.
For the past decade, Anikeeva’s Bioelectronics group as well as others in the field have used magnetic nanomaterials to transduce remote magnetic signals into brain stimulation. However, these magnetic methods relied on genetic modifications and can’t be used in humans.
Since all nerve cells are sensitive to electrical signals , Kim, a graduate student in Anikeeva’s group, hypothesized that a magnetoelectric nanomaterial that can efficiently convert magnetization into electrical potential could offer a path toward remote magnetic brain stimulation. Creating a nanoscale magnetoelectric material was, however, a formidable challenge.
Kim synthesized novel magnetoelectric nanodiscs and collaborated with Noah Kent, a postdoc in Anikeeva’s lab with a background in physics who is a second author of the study, to understand the properties of these particles.
The structure of the new nanodiscs consists of a two-layer magnetic core and a piezoelectric shell. The magnetic core is magnetostrictive, which means it changes shape when magnetized. This deformation then induces strain in the piezoelectric shell which produces a varying electrical polarization.
Through the combination of the two effects, these composite particles can deliver electrical pulses to neurons when exposed to magnetic fields.
One key to the discs’ effectiveness is their disc shape. Previous attempts to use magnetic nanoparticles had used spherical particles, but the magnetoelectric effect was very weak, says Kim. This anisotropy enhances magnetostriction by over 1,000-fold, adds Kent.
The team first added their nanodiscs to cultured neurons, which allowed them to activate these cells on demand with short pulses of magnetic field. This stimulation did not require any genetic modification.
They then injected small droplets of magnetoelectric nanodiscs solution into specific regions of the brains of mice. Then, simply turning on a relatively weak electromagnet nearby triggered the particles to release a tiny jolt of electricity in that brain region. The stimulation could be switched on and off remotely by the switching of the electromagnet. That electrical stimulation “had an impact on neuron activity and on behavior,” Kim says.
The team found that the magnetoelectric nanodiscs could stimulate a deep brain region, the ventral tegmental area, that is associated with feelings of reward.
The team also stimulated another brain area, the subthalamic nucleus, associated with motor control. “This is the region where electrodes typically get implanted to manage Parkinson’s disease,” Kim explains. The researchers were able to successfully demonstrate the modulation of motor control through the particles. Specifically, by injecting nanodiscs only in one hemisphere, the researchers could induce rotations in healthy mice by applying a magnetic field .
The nanodiscs could trigger neuronal activity comparable with conventional implanted electrodes delivering mild electrical stimulation. The authors achieved subsecond temporal precision for neural stimulation with their method, yet observed significantly reduced foreign body responses as compared to the electrodes, potentially allowing for even safer deep brain stimulation .
The multilayered chemical composition and physical shape and size of the new multilayered nanodiscs is what made precise stimulation possible.
While the researchers successfully increased the magnetostrictive effect, the second part of the process, converting the magnetic effect into an electrical output, still needs more work, Anikeeva says. While the magnetic response was a thousand times greater, the conversion to an electric impulse was only four times greater than with conventional spherical particles.
“This massive enhancement of a thousand times didn’t completely translate into the magnetoelectric enhancement,” says Kim. “That’s where a lot of the future work will be focused, on making sure that the thousand times amplification in magnetostriction can be converted into a thousand times amplification in the magnetoelectric coupling.”
What the team found, in terms of the way the particles’ shapes affect their magnetostriction, was quite unexpected. “It’s kind of a new thing that just appeared when we tried to figure out why these particles worked so well,” says Kent.
Anikeeva adds, “Yes, it’s a record-breaking particle, but it’s not as record-breaking as it could be.” That remains a topic for further work, but the team has ideas about how to make further progress.
While these nanodiscs could in principle already be applied to basic research using animal models, to translate them to clinical use in humans would require several more steps, including large-scale safety studies, “which is something academic researchers are not necessarily most well-positioned to do,” Anikeeva says.
“When we find that these particles are really useful in a particular clinical context, then we imagine that there will be a pathway for them to undergo more rigorous large animal safety studies.”
More information: Ye Ji Kim et al, Magnetoelectric nanodiscs enable wireless transgene-free neuromodulation, Nature […]
Innovative nanodiscs offer less invasive method for deep brain stimulation
Novel magnetic nanodiscs could provide a much less invasive way of stimulating parts of the brain, paving the way for stimulation therapies without implants or genetic modification, MIT researchers report.
The scientists envision that the tiny discs, which are about 250 nanometers across (about 1/500 the width of a human hair), would be injected directly into the desired location in the brain. From there, they could be activated at any time simply by applying a magnetic field outside the body. The new particles could quickly find applications in biomedical research, and eventually, after sufficient testing, might be applied to clinical uses.
The development of these nanoparticles is described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology , in a paper by Polina Anikeeva, a professor in MIT’s departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, graduate student Ye Ji Kim, and 17 others at MIT and in Germany.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a common clinical procedure that uses electrodes implanted in the target brain regions to treat symptoms of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite its efficacy , the surgical difficulty and clinical complications associated with DBS limit the number of cases where such an invasive procedure is warranted. The new nanodiscs could provide a much more benign way of achieving the same results.
Over the past decade other implant-free methods of producing brain stimulation have been developed. However, these approaches were often limited by their spatial resolution or ability to target deep regions. For the past decade, Anikeeva’s Bioelectronics group as well as others in the field used magnetic nanomaterials to transduce remote magnetic signals into brain stimulation. However, these magnetic methods relied on genetic modifications and can’t be used in humans.
Since all nerve cells are sensitive to electrical signals, Kim, a graduate student in Anikeeva’s group, hypothesized that a magnetoelectric nanomaterial that can efficiently convert magnetization into electrical potential could offer a path toward remote magnetic brain stimulation. Creating a nanoscale magnetoelectric material was, however, a formidable challenge.
Kim synthesized novel magnetoelectric nanodiscs and collaborated with Noah Kent, a postdoc in Anikeeva’s lab with a background in physics who is a second author of the study, to understand the properties of these particles.
The structure of the new nanodiscs consists of a two-layer magnetic core and a piezoelectric shell. The magnetic core is magnetostrictive, which means it changes shape when magnetized. This deformation then induces strain in the piezoelectric shell which produces a varying electrical polarization. Through the combination of the two effects, these composite particles can deliver electrical pulses to neurons when exposed to magnetic fields.
One key to the discs’ effectiveness is their disc shape. Previous attempts to use magnetic nanoparticles had used spherical particles, but the magnetoelectric effect was very weak, says Kim. This anisotropy enhances magnetostriction by over a 1000-fold, adds Kent.
The team first added their nanodiscs to cultured neurons, which allowed then to activate these cells on demand with short pulses of magnetic field. This stimulation did not require any genetic modification.
They then injected small droplets of magnetoelectric nanodiscs solution into specific regions of the brains of mice. Then, simply turning on a relatively weak electromagnet nearby triggered the particles to release a tiny jolt of electricity in that brain region. The stimulation could be switched on and off remotely by the switching of the electromagnet. That electrical stimulation “had an impact on neuron activity and on behavior,” Kim says.
The team found that the magnetoelectric nanodiscs could stimulate a deep brain region, the ventral tegmental area, that is associated with feelings of reward.
The team also stimulated another brain area, the subthalamic nucleus, associated with motor control. “This is the region where electrodes typically get implanted to manage Parkinson’s disease,” Kim explains. The researchers were able to successfully demonstrate the modulation of motor control through the particles. Specifically, by injecting nanodiscs only in one hemisphere, the researchers could induce rotations in healthy mice by applying magnetic field.
The nanodiscs could trigger the neuronal activity comparable with conventional implanted electrodes delivering mild electrical stimulation. The authors achieved subsecond temporal precision for neural stimulation with their method yet observed significantly reduced foreign body responses as compared to the electrodes, potentially allowing for even safer deep brain stimulation.
The multilayered chemical composition and physical shape and size of the new multilayered nanodiscs is what made precise stimulation possible.
While the researchers successfully increased the magnetostrictive effect, the second part of the process, converting the magnetic effect into an electrical output, still needs more work, Anikeeva says. While the magnetic response was a thousand times greater, the conversion to an electric impulse was only four times greater than with conventional spherical particles.
“This massive enhancement of a thousand times didn’t completely translate into the magnetoelectric enhancement,” says Kim. “That’s where a lot of the future work will be focused, on making sure that the thousand times amplification in magnetostriction can be converted into a thousand times amplification in the magnetoelectric coupling.”
What the team found, in terms of the way the particles’ shapes affects their magnetostriction, was quite unexpected. “It’s kind of a new thing that just appeared when we tried to figure out why these particles worked so well,” says Kent. Yes, it’s a record-breaking particle, but it’s not as record-breaking as it could be.” Polina Anikeeva, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology That remains a topic for further work, but the team has ideas about how to make further progress.
While these nanodiscs could in principle already be applied to basic research using animal models, to translate them to clinical use in humans would require several more steps, including large-scale safety studies, “which is something academic researchers are not necessarily most well-positioned to do,” Anikeeva says. “When we find that these particles are really useful in a particular clinical context, then we imagine that there will be a pathway for them to undergo more rigorous large animal safety studies.”
The team included researchers affiliated with MIT’s departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Chemistry, and Brain and Cognitive Science; […]
Anise: The ancient spice with surprising health benefits you should know about
Tags: alternative medicine , ancient spice , Anise , Bible herbs , goodfood , goodhealth , goodmedicine , goodscience , herbal medicine , kitchen staple , natural cures , natural medicine , Naturopathy , Pimpinella anisum L. , star anise Anise ( Pimpinella anisum L. ) has been used for thousands of years to flavor food and treat health problems, including coughs and digestive issues. What makes anise so special is its unique flavor, which you may recognize from foods like herbal teas and licorice, and its powerful medicinal properties that modern science is beginning to record and understand.
With its warm, licorice-like flavor, anise has a long, rich history that began in the ancient world .
In ancient Egypt, anise was cherished not only as a cooking spice but also as a remedy for a variety of ailments. The Egyptians used anise to ease digestion, help with fluid retention and relieve toothaches.
The Greeks furthered the tradition, with well-known healers like Dioscorides and Hippocrates highlighting anise’s medical benefits. Dioscorides praised the herb for calming headaches, relieving digestive issues and even encouraging better sleep. Hippocrates, on the other hand, saw anise as a remedy for respiratory issues – helping clear congestion and soothing excessive sneezing and coughing.
The Romans embraced anise with equal enthusiasm. Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist, recorded many of the Greek uses of anise, including its effectiveness for easing digestive troubles and clearing the chest. Medicinal properties and health benefits of anise
Anise is rich in nutrients and natural compounds that make it both flavorful and beneficial to health .
The seeds of anise have about nine to 12 percent moisture, 18 percent protein and varying amounts of fatty oils and fiber, along with a range of B-complex vitamins – thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3) and pyridoxine (B6) – which are crucial for energy, healthy cells and metabolism. Anise is also a good source of choline, a compound often grouped with B vitamins due to its similar health benefits, supporting brain health and cellular function. In addition to vitamins A and C, anise is rich in essential minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc, which are vital for healthy bones, blood and overall cellular health.
Anise’s real magic lies in its unique blend of volatile (1.5 to 3.5 percent) and fixed oils (eight to 23 percent) in the seeds. These oils are packed with bioactive compounds like anethole, methyl chavicol and various terpenes. Anethole is the main component, making up 70 to 90 percent of anise’s essential oils, and is responsible for its distinctive flavor. Anise eases digestive discomfort
Anise has carminative properties , which help to ease bloating, gas and indigestion . It works by relaxing the muscles in the digestive tract, which makes it easier for trapped air to pass – relieving discomfort. Anise relieves coughs and clears respiratory tract
Persistent coughs and respiratory discomfort can be draining. Anise has been traditionally used for these symptoms and modern science shows it works as an expectorant . This means it helps to loosen mucus – making it easier to clear out of the respiratory system. The main compound responsible for this is (E)-anethole, which supports breathing by allowing trapped mucus to be expelled – soothing coughs and easing congestion. (Related: Herbs and honey: 7 Natural home remedies for a cough .) Anise eases menstrual discomfort
Anise has long been used to relieve menstrual cramps and recent studies confirm its effectiveness. The phytoestrogens in anise, such as anethole, can help balance hormones, which is especially helpful for managing menstrual irregularities and pain. Anise boosts breast milk production
In some cultures, anise is used to boost milk production for nursing mothers. This property, called ” galactagogue ,” is likely due to the phytoestrogen compounds in anise that mimic estrogen and support milk flow. While still under research in the West, anise shows promise as a natural way to support lactation. Anise fights bacterial and fungal infections
Research has shown that the essential oils in anise have strong antibacterial and antifungal properties , which can help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. This makes anise a potential natural ally in fighting infections, especially for those looking for alternative treatments.
Discover more health benefits and uses of herbs at Herbs.news .
Watch this video to learn more about aniseed and star anise .
This video is from the Holistic Herbalist channel on Brighteon.com . More related stories:
Prep with Mike: How to make shikmic extract at home using star anise and an espresso machine .
Anise is known for its gastrointestinal benefits and can relieve cramping caused by gas .
Anise can help protect you from harmful organisms .
Sources include:
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AntiquityNow.org
ScienceDirect.com 1
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1
Drugs.com
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Extended Timing: How neurons encode information on timescales that match learning
New research from the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience published this week in Nature has identified a key step in how neurons encode information on timescales that match learning.
A timing mismatch
Learning takes seconds to minutes. However, the best-understood mechanisms of how the brain encodes information happen at speeds closer to neural activity — around 1000 times faster. These mechanisms, known as Hebbian plasticity, suggest that if two connected neurons are both active within a hundredth of a second, then the connection between the two neurons is strengthened. In this way, information arriving at connected neurons within this short time window can be linked. However, during behavior, information that needs to be encoded together is often separated by seconds to minutes. How, then, can neurons integrate information on timescales relevant to learning?
A new model of learning
Recently, a new neural model of information encoding called behavioral timescale synaptic plasticity (BTSP) addressed this discrepancy by demonstrating that neurons can integrate information over seconds, a timescale consistent with behavior. Indeed, during behaviors such as navigation, neurons encode specific locations through BTSP. However, the molecular mechanisms of how neurons implement BTSP were unknown.
This week, a research team led by Dr. Anant Jain, Dr. Yoshihisa Nakahata, and Scientific Director Dr. Ryohei Yasuda identified key aspects of how BTSP works in neurons, reporting their years-long study into this critical model of plasticity.
Dr. Yasuda describes the team’s motivation for the project, “Understanding the precise molecules and mechanisms that neurons use to encode information is critical for understanding brain function and health. Research in this area has primarily focused on traditional plasticity models, which may be less relevant to learning during experience. It is critical to explore the molecular mechanisms that underlie new plasticity models, such as BTSP.”
The team’s first hurdle was modeling BTSP in isolated brain tissue, where they could precisely measure the resulting neuronal changes. The researchers were able to trigger BTSP by inputs separated by ~1 second, confirming the extended integration time of information storage. The team also found that BTSP occurs at single synapses, a property critical for specificity in information coding. By combining electrophysiological measurements of neuronal activity with specialized microscopy and biosensors, the team could visualize real-time molecular changes that occurred during BTSP to determine their role.
CaMKII: Same player, different role
The research team focused on a molecule called CaMKII, which is well-known for its critical role in many types of plasticity in neurons.
“We hypothesized that CaMKII would be critical for BTSP. This molecule is activated at synapses and can remain active for many seconds. It seemed the perfect candidate to be the key player in extending the time window of information integration in neurons,” described Dr. Jain. “Well, it turns out that we were right — CaMKII was critical for BTSP, but we were completely wrong about its role.”
When the research team disrupted the function of CaMKII, BTSP was disrupted. Wanting to visualize the CaMKII activity in neurons during the BTSP process, the group optimized a biosensor to report when CAMKII was active. Using this newly optimized sensor, with nearly two-fold improved sensitivity over previous tools, the scientists could measure CAMKII activity during BTSP. However, they didn’t find what they expected.
Contrary to their hypothesis, they found no detectable CaMKII activation during BTSP induction. Instead, a delayed and stochastic activation of CaMKII occurred tens of seconds after initiating BTSP. In addition, while the plasticity was happening at a specific synapse, CaMKII was active in a much larger area of the neuron. The research revealed that CaMKII is an instructive signal for BTSP but does not define the synapse specificity of plasticity. It suggests a broad time window for synaptic plasticity and a new model of how synapse-specific and instructive signals can integrate over tens of seconds.
“This is a paradigm shift in our view of CaMKII function and our understanding of plasticity mechanisms. The activity of CaMKII throughout the dendrite reveals that it does not define synapse specificity of plasticity, but rather is involved in dendritic information processing. Our results have opened many more questions for further investigation, including what defines the specificity of information coding at single synapses or the time-delay in CAMKII activation,” describes Dr. Jain. “The surprising findings underscore the importance of behaviorally relevant models of information encoding in the brain to reach our ultimate goal of linking molecular activity to memory formation and preventing neurological disorders involving learning and memory dysfunction.”
Brain molecule makes neurons less selective, deepening understanding of human cognition
Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a brain cell surface molecule shapes the way certain neurons behave.
The research, published October 2 in Nature , reveals how a molecule, the calcium permeable (CP)-AMPA receptor, suppresses a specific neuron’s ability to pay attention to specific external cues, such as your friend’s earrings, according to the study in genetically-engineered mice. Understanding why some neurons are less “selective” about their response to certain cues may also help researchers study schizophrenia, epilepsy and autism — conditions marked by the faulty processing of external cues and misfirings of neurons in the mammalian brain.
“We’ve discovered that the calcium permeable subtype of AMPA receptors has an added role of suppressing the selectivity of a given neuron,” says Ingie Hong, Ph.D., first author and an instructor in neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University Medicine. “Until now, the role of these specific receptors in the wider mammalian brain as it functions in everyday life has been a mystery.”
Along with Hong, the research was led by Richard Huganir, Ph.D., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience and Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who has been studying AMPA receptors for more than 40 years.
AMPA receptors are critical to the fast transfer of information and memory formation in the brain, such as hearing and remembering a person’s name. The subtype of AMPA receptors in this study, CP-AMPA receptors, act as a “gate” that lowers the selectivity of parvalbumin (PV) neurons, which are inhibitory and thereby cast unselective inhibition to nearby neurons, the researchers say.
“Selective neurons will respond to something really specific, for example, your grandfather’s mustache, whereas less selective neurons will respond to different faces or people as well,” Hong says. “We’ve been looking for the mechanisms and molecules that control this specificity, or selectivity, and how it goes awry in conditions such as autism and epilepsy, where excitatory neurons can become overstimulated.”
The researchers also found that mutations of GluA2, a protein subunit within the CP-AMPA receptor, are associated with intellectual disabilities.
“Human mutations in the GluA2 subunit of the AMPA receptors, which regulates the calcium permeability of the receptor, can lead to intellectual disability and autism,” says senior author Huganir. “This suggests tight control of AMPA receptor calcium permeability is essential for human cognition.”
Specifically, the investigators focused on CP-AMPA receptors in two distinct areas of the brain, the visual cortex, where neurons process visual information, and the hippocampus, where neurons respond to “where you are, where you are headed, or where you have been,” Hong says.
To conduct their research, the scientists developed novel adeno-associated virus vectors to replace calcium permeable AMPA receptors with impermeable counterparts and express them in the mouse brain. They say they hope these vectors can help treat disorders that arise from AMPA receptor mutations in the future.
To map out PV neuron selectivity, the scientists used advanced imaging techniques to observe neuron structure and activity deep within genetically engineered mice brains while showing them video stimuli.
“In most cases, we found that these PV neurons, which are typically less selective, became more selective to visual stimuli as well as spatial location when we swapped out CP-AMPA receptors for impermeable molecules, making inhibitory neurons act more like excitatory neurons,” Hong says.
The researchers say the high amount of CP-AMPA receptors in PV neurons is well-conserved across many species of mammals, including humans.
“Making neuron inhibition less selective makes our neural circuits more efficient than species that don’t have this molecular feature,” Hong says. “It probably also means that our neural networks are more stable.”
Hong says the new research may also have implications for machine learning used in artificial intelligence.
“In machine learning, there are many computerized ‘artificial’ neurons that are trained to be very selective or less selective,” he says. “We’re trying to find how specific and less specific units can work together to give us smarter machines and smarter AI.”
Up next, the scientists intend to study other critical molecules known to change cognition. In clinical neuroscience, Hong says, a better understanding of which brain molecules contribute to biased neuronal computations in patients could advance the search for drug therapy targets in psychiatric disorders with a genetic component, a budding field Hong calls “neurocomputational therapeutics.”
In addition to Hong and Huganir, other scientists who contributed to this study are Juhyun Kim, Dong Won Kim, Richard C. Johnson, Nathachit Limjunyawong, Zhuonan Yang, David Cheon, Taeyoung Hwang, Amit Agarwal, Xinzhong Dong, Seth Blackshaw, Dwight E. Bergles and Solange P. Brown of Johns Hopkins; Thomas Hainmueller, Thibault Cholvin and Marlene Bartos of University of Freiburg; Joram Keijser and Henning Sprekeler of Technical University of Berlin; Soo Hyun Park and David A. Leopold of the National Institute of Mental Health; Fenna M. Krienen of Princeton University; and Steven A. McCarroll of Harvard Medical School.
Funding for this research was provided by National Institutes of Health grants R37NS036715 and U01DA056556.
Echoes in the brain: Why today’s workout could fuel next week’s bright idea
In a rare, longitudinal study, researchers from Aalto University and the University of Oulu tracked one person’s brain and behavioral activity for five months using brain scans and data from wearable devices and smartphones.
‘We wanted to go beyond isolated events,’ says research leader Ana Triana. ‘Our behaviour and mental states are constantly shaped by our environment and experiences. Yet, we know little about the response of brain functional connectivity to environmental, physiological, and behavioral changes on different timescales, from days to months.’
The study found that our brains do not respond to daily life in immediate, isolated bursts. Instead, brain activity evolves in response to sleep patterns, physical activity, mood, and respiration rate over many days. This suggests that even a workout or a restless night from last week could still affect your brain — and therefore your attention, cognition and memory — well into next week.
The research also revealed a strong link between heart rate variability — a measure of the heart’s adaptability — and brain connectivity, particularly during rest. This suggests that impacts on our body’s relaxation response, like stress management techniques, could shape our brain’s wiring even when we are not actively concentrating on a task. Physical activity was also found to positively influence the way brain regions interact, potentially impacting memory and cognitive flexibility. Even subtle shifts in mood and heart rate left lasting imprints for up to fifteen days.
Study goes beyond a snapshot
The research is unusual in that few brain studies involve detailed monitoring over days and weeks. ‘The use of wearable technology was crucial’, says Triana. ‘Brain scans are useful tools, but a snapshot of someone lying still for half an hour can only show so much. Our brains do not work in isolation.’
Triana was herself the subject of the research, monitored as she went about her daily life. Her unique role as both lead author and study participant added complexity, but also brought firsthand insights into how best to maintain research integrity over several months of personalized data collection.
‘At the beginning, it was exciting and a bit stressful. Then, routine settles in and you forget,’ says Triana. Data from the devices and twice-weekly brain scans were complemented by qualitative data from mood surveys.
The researchers identified two distinct response patterns: a short-term wave lasting under seven days and a long-term wave up to fifteen days. The former reflects rapid adaptations, like how focus is impacted by poor sleep, but it recovers quickly. The long wave suggests more gradual, lasting effects, particularly in areas tied to attention and memory.
Single-subject studies offer opportunities for improving mental health care
The researchers hope their innovative approach will inspire future studies that combine brain data with everyday life to help personalise mental health treatment.
‘We must bring data from daily life into the lab to see the full picture of how our habits shape the brain, but surveys can be tiring and inaccurate,’ says study co-author, neuroscientist and physician Dr Nick Hayward. ‘Combining concurrent physiology with repeated brain scans in one person is crucial. Our approach gives context to neuroscience and delivers very fine detail to our understanding of the brain.’
The study is also a proof-of-concept for patient research. Tracking brain changes in real time could help detect neurological disorders early, especially mental health conditions where subtle signs might be missed.
“Linking brain activity with physiological and environmental data could revolutionize personalized healthcare, opening doors for earlier interventions and better outcomes,” says Triana.
A Neuroscientist Shares 3 Foods And Supplements That Can Improve Skin Health And ‘Reduce Wrinkles’—#2 Increases ‘Blood Flow To The Skin’
If you’re on the hunt for foods that can boost your skin’s elasticity, moisture, youthful glow, and brightness this autumn, your search ends here. Neuroscientist and well-known TikTok influencer Dr. Robert Love focuses his knowledge on anti-aging skincare and Alzheimer’s prevention, combining scientific research with practical dietary tips.
In a recent TikTok video, Dr. Love discussed the benefits of three key foods and nutrients—collagen, fish oil, and beetroot powder—highlighting how their antioxidant-rich properties can enhance your skin’s radiance and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A Doctor Shares 3 Foods & Supplement Ingredients To Prioritize This Autumn To Help Reduce Fine Lines
1. Collagen
At the beginning of his aforementioned video, Love shared that “research shows that women who consume collagen have fewer wrinkles and better looking skin, specifically because the collagen in the supplement that they take helps give the raw materials to make more collagen.” This powerful protein, he noted, is the “most abundant form of protein in your body” and “helps make your skin, also your hair and nails.”
Whether you want to boost collagen through a supplement or through nutrient-rich foods, both ways can be beneficial, he explained. Citrus fruits, berries, bone broth, egg whites, spinach, and other nutritious choices assist in transforming amino acids into collagen, stimulate its growth, shield skin cells from sun damage, and boost collagen production. 2. Beetroot Powder
Love’s next recommendation is beetroot powder, packed with essential micronutrients and phytonutrients that could enhance heart, gut, and brain health. This powder also “improves blood flow,” Love notes, and in order to have healthier skin, you really want to get healthy blood flowing to your skin.”
He also added that this is “why exercise is so good and why smoking is so bad for your skin,” as it “increases inflammation.” Beetroot powder is also “really great for your heart,” according to the doctor, and it “gets more fresh blood and nutrients to your skin, which helps enhance repair.” 3. Fish Oil
The third food and supplement ingredient that Love suggested trying is fish oil. He deemed it to be the “most powerful,” explaining that “research shows that women who eat fish will not only have healthier brains, but they also have fewer skin wrinkles .”
Regarding fish oil supplements, Love acknowledged that “a lot of people don’t think of” taking it for anti-aging purposes. “Fish oil is not only great for your brain, it’s also really great for your skin,” he said. The creator continued: “Research shows that those who consume high levels of fish oil have fewer wrinkles.” The Bottom Line
Overall, wrinkles are a natural aspect of aging, and it is essential to embrace these changes for mental wellbeing. However, there is no harm in seeking ways to look and feel your best, regardless of age. Maintaining healthy and radiant skin is one such approach that can work wonders.
Consulting a dermatologist is crucial in determining the most suitable supplement for your specific skincare requirements, even though these three foods and supplement ingredients are held in high esteem by skincare experts. For anyone looking to age gracefully, doctors frequently suggest collagen, peptides, fish oil, and vitamins C, E and A as a valuable starting point for supplement choices.
How a restless night or a good workout can affect your brain — even days later
Lead study author Ana Triana underwent twice-weekly brain scans, took mood surveys and wore technology that tracked her movements as she went about her daily routine for five months. Got a lot on your mind to work out? Maybe last week’s workout is to blame.
A new study reports that our brains do not respond to daily life in immediate, isolated bursts — instead, the effects of sleep, exercise, heart rate and mood can linger on our minds for over two weeks.
Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Oulu in Finland tracked a neuroscientist’s brain and behavioral activity for five months, finding that a workout or restless night can influence attention, cognition and memory for several days afterward. Triana’s study found that brains do not respond to daily life in immediate, isolated bursts — instead, the effects of sleep, exercise, heart rate and mood can linger on our minds for over two weeks. “Our behavior and mental states are constantly shaped by our environment and experiences. Yet, we know little about the response of brain functional connectivity to environmental, physiological and behavioral changes on different timescales, from days to months,” said lead study author Ana Triana, who underwent twice-weekly brain scans, took mood surveys and wore technology that tracked her movements as she went about her daily routine.
From Triana’s data, the team identified two distinct brain response patterns: a short-term wave lasting under seven days and a long-term wave of up to 15 days. Rates of babesiosis, a potentially fatal tick-borne disease sometimes referred to as "American malaria," increased an average of 9% a year in the US between 2015 and 2022, a new study finds. An American Airlines passenger experienced the ultimate flightmare after discovering a bed bug crawling up their leg during a flight from New York City to Detroit. An American Airlines passenger experienced the ultimate flightmare after discovering a bed bug crawling up their leg during a flight from New York City to Detroit. Exercise was found to positively affect brain region interaction, potentially influencing memory and cognitive flexibility. The short wave reflects rapid adaptations, like how poor sleep briefly affects our focus. The long wave suggests more gradual, lasting effects, especially in areas tied to attention and memory. Neuroscientist and mindset coach Emily McDonald is sharing four ways to boost the birth of new brain cells, a process known as neurogenesis — exercise, meditation, polyphenol-rich foods and sunlight. Physical activity was also found to positively affect brain region interaction, potentially influencing memory and cognitive flexibility.
Even slight shifts in mood and heart rate left lasting impressions for up to 15 days, the researchers found.
The study revealed a strong tie between heart rate variability — an indication of how well the heart can adapt to changing situations — and brain connectivity, especially during rest.
The team proposes that stress management techniques can shape our brain’s wiring even when we are not actively concentrating on a task.
The findings were published Tuesday in PLOS Biology .
“The use of wearable technology was crucial,” Triana said. “Brain scans are useful tools, but a snapshot of someone lying still for half an hour can only show so much. Our brains do not work in isolation.” Get the latest breakthroughs in medicine, diet & nutrition tips and more.
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She and her colleagues hope their method of tracking brain changes in real time leads to personalized health care, perhaps helping with the early detection of mental health conditions where subtle signs might be missed.
“We must bring data from daily life into the lab to see the full picture of how our habits shape the brain, but surveys can be tiring and inaccurate,” said study co-author and neuroscientist Dr. Nick Hayward. “Combining concurrent physiology with repeated brain scans in one person is crucial. Our approach gives context to neuroscience and delivers very fine detail to our understanding of the brain.”
The Power Within by Corey Daniels book available for only $2.99
Mind has both conscious and subconscious halves. These are likened to a driver and the truck he drives. The driver plans the destination and observes road conditions, while the truck provides motive power. Your subconscious mind is like the truck and it only goes in the direction in which is a steered. This can be the road or off a cliff. Likewise, the consciousness paints a picture of what the world is and what your goals are and the subconscious acts on them through emotion, physical response and energy, whether these are correct, rational images or false negative ones. The subconscious is also like an emotional reservoir which your body and mind draw responses from to external stimuli.
The Power Within lays out a method of programming your subconscious and tapping into the Holy Spirit, God voice or what the Greeks called the daimon (godman).