A preliminary study from the University of Michigan Medical Center has found that long-term pet ownership is linked to slower decline in cognition over time. The researchers believe that the potential stress-buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a reason for their findings. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223210035.htm The post Pets may be linked to slower cognitive decline first appeared on http://www.learningrx.org ..read more

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Neuroscientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have identified a population of neurons in the human brain that light up when we hear singing, but not other types of music. The neurons, which are in the auditory cortex, appear to respond to a combination of voice and music but not regular speech or instrumental music. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220222121221.htm The post Some neurons respond to singing but not other music first appeared on http://www.learningrx.org ..read more

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Although scientists have found that food dyes may increase ADHD symptoms by a small amount, some children appear to be more sensitive to their effects. Experts believe that synthetic color additives, including red dye 40, may cause behavioral changes due to: hypersensitivity, which causes inflammation; chemical changes in the brain; and a depletion of minerals, including zinc and iron, which play a role in growth and development. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/red-dye-40-adhd#other-names The post Red dye 40 linked to ADHD first appeared on http://www.learningrx.org ..read more

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New research published in the journal Neurology followed dementia-free individuals for more than 10 years and found that those who felt lonely 3 or more days per week were more likely to develop dementia later. Loneliness was also linked to poor executive function and brain changes associated with vulnerability to dementia in those without the condition.   https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dementia-frequent-loneliness-may-raise-risk The post Being lonely more often may raise dementia risk first appeared on http://www.learningrx.org ..read more

A new study published in JAMA Neurology reports that scientists have found an association between the composition of microorganisms that inhabit the gut and cognitive health. The researchers hope that the findings will help lead to prevention or treatments for cognitive decline. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/microorganisms-in-the-gut-are-linked-to-cognitive-function The post Gut health linked to cognitive function first appeared on http://www.learningrx.org ..read more

The American Heart Association’s 2022 update to the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics put emphasis on the bidirectional relationship between heart and brain health. For example, damage to the heart and blood vessels can increase a person’s risk of stroke and dementia. If you’re concerned about dementia, health experts agree that it’s worth modifying risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/heart-and-brain-health-inextricably-linked-data-show The post How Heart Health Affec ..read more

Neurologists seem to be in agreement that the gut-brain axis plays a prominent role in cognitive health, especially when it comes to dementia. When microbes go through the digestive process, some of the byproducts enter the brain and affect neurotransmitters like serotonin. When the microbiota is out of balance, it can create systemic inflammation, which has been linked to a variety of diseases and disorders that affect the brain. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-the-gut-play-a-role-in-dementia-here-is-the-evidence The post The Role of Gut Bacteria on Dementia first appeared on ..read more