Newswise Feature Channel: Cognition and Learning

Lifelong Physical Activity May Slow Cognitive Decline

UT Southwestern Medical Center — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:55:39 EST

High levels of physical activity may mitigate brain loss in adults and help maintain long-term cognitive health, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report in a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Brain Research: Study Shows How Brain Stimulation Can Influence Decisions

Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:45:52 EST

A simple method of brain stimulation has been shown to change how people make decisions. These were the findings of a new study by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), which was published in the "Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience". The investigation used transcranial direct current stimulation, which is an established method in research and therapy.

Georgia's Pre-K Program Boosts Kindergarten Readiness

University of Georgia — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:25:08 EST

Children who attend school-based sites in Georgia's universal pre-K program start kindergarten better prepared than their peers who do not attend any Georgia pre-K, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.

New Study: Shingles Vaccine May Decrease The Risk For Dementia, Hackensack University Medical Center Experts Available To Share Expertise

Hackensack Meridian Health — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:10:45 EST

New Research Deepens Understanding of How Vitamin K Affects Brain Health

Tufts University — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:50:57 EST

As scientists explore the connections between nutrition and the aging brain, a new study from researchers at Tufts University is shedding light on how insufficient consumption of vitamin K may adversely affect cognition as people get older.

BGSU Research Finds Clear Link Between Children's Education Level and Parents' Risk of Dementia

Bowling Green State University — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:00:34 EST

New research finds that older adults whose children did not graduate from high school experienced early cognitive decline, while older parents whose children completed college were less likely to experience the onset of dementia.

Pioneering Tests Could Improve the Assessment of Dementia in Ageing Africans

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:30:44 EST

Researchers have introduced improved cognitive tests to assess dementia in older Africans, part of the HAALSI-HCAP study in rural South Africa. These tools, tailored for local contexts, enhance global ageing research and could inform a national survey. With dementia rates rising, findings will aid prevention and policy.

Highly Accurate Blood Test Diagnoses Alzheimer's Disease, Measures Extent of Dementia

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 EST

A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer's disease not only aids in the diagnosis of the neurodegenerative condition but also indicates how far it has progressed, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden.

Study Unlocks How Diabetes Distorts Memory and Reward Processing

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:05:50 EST

Type 2 diabetes may rewire the brain in ways that mimic early Alzheimer's disease -- and UNLV researchers say the "why" may lie in a previously unexplored connection between high blood sugar levels and a key part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

How Cells Respond to Stress Is More Nuanced Than Previously Believed

Case Western Reserve University — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:00:00 EST

The body's cells respond to stress--toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults--by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.

Highly Educated People Face Steeper Mental Declines After Stroke

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:00:00 EST

Stroke survivors who have attended some level of higher education may face even steeper mental declines, according to a study led by Michigan Medicine. The findings suggest that attending higher education may enable people to retain greater cognitive ability until a critical threshold of brain injury is reached after a stroke.

Pioneering Tests Could Improve the Assessment of Dementia in Ageing Africans

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:35:01 EST

Researchers have introduced specialised dementia tests tailored for older African adults, improving on standard cognitive assessments. These tools, part of HAALSI-HCAP, aim to address data gaps in Africa's ageing studies. The initiative aligns with global efforts and may inform national dementia surveys in South Africa.

How Cholesterol Regulation May Affect Alzheimer's Development

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:45:53 EST

To determine the underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a research team from the UC San Francisco's Memory & Aging Center made use of brain tissue samples from two brain regions with differing susceptibility to AD.

Exercise of Any Kind Boosts Brainpower at Any Age

University of South Australia — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:41 EST

Whether it's an early morning jog, or a touch of Tai Chi, groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults

How the Brain Links Related Memories Formed Close in Time

Ohio State University — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:45:38 EST

If you've ever noticed how memories from the same day seem connected while events from weeks apart feel separate, a new study reveals the reason: Our brains physically link memories that occur close in time not in the cell bodies of neurons, but rather in their spiny extensions called dendrites.

Influencing Without Authority: The Currency of Collaboration

University of Michigan Ross School of Business — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:30:49 EST

The ability to influence others can often mean the difference between success and missed opportunity. But, in contemporary organizations that are flatter and more cross-functional today, the reach of formal job ranks and titles becomes increasingly limited and less receptive to incoming generations.

Boosting Brain's Waste Removal System Improves Memory in Old Mice

Washington University in St. Louis — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:00:00 EST

Aging compromises the lymphatic vessels surrounding the brain, disabling waste drainage from the brain and impacting cognitive function. Researchers at WashU Medicine boosted lymphatic vessel integrity in old mice and found improvements in their memory compared with old mice without rejuvenated lymphatic vessels.

New Rules for the Game of Memory

University of Chicago Medical Center — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:00:27 EST

New research from UChicago upends traditional views on how synaptic plasticity supports memory and learning.

Severance Explained: Could You Really Separate Your Memories?

Binghamton University, State University of New York — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:30:55 EST

In AppleTV's "Severance," characters separate their work memories from their personal memories -- but could that really happen?

Anti-Amyloid Drug Shows Signs of Preventing Alzheimer's Dementia

Washington University in St. Louis — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:30:00 EST

An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a study led by the Knight Family Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), which is based at WashU Medicine.