Brain cells called microglia serve as the brain’s garbage crew, scarfing up bits of cellular debris. But their underperformance in aging brains contributes to neurodegeneration. Now, a possible workaround?
Category: neuroscience – Page 994
It May Be Possible To Avoid Developing Dementia
Scientists from the University of Exeter believe it may be possible to avoid developing dementia, and there are 5 ways that can help to reduce the risk, findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
As published in the journal JAMA living a healthy lifestyle may help reduce the risk of dementia even if you have a genetic risk; risk of dementia in those with a higher genetic risk who followed a healthy lifestyle were found to be at 32% lower risk than those with an unhealthy lifestyle.
Data was studied from 196,383 adults of European ancestry who were 60+ years old; 1,769 cases of dementia were identified over an 8 years follow up period; those with high genetic risk and an unhealthy lifestyle were found to be almost 3 times more likely to develop dementia.
Your brain loves conspiracy theories. Here’s why
It’s not ‘us’ (reasonable people) vs. ‘them’ (irrational conspiracy nuts).
Let’s face it — you love a good conspiracy theory. At least, statistically there is a good chance you do. About half of Americans believe in at least one conspiracy theory in any given year. How could that be? What is it about the regular, everyday reality we don’t like?
A recent study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology says that the answer to this predilection towards conspiracy-fueled thinking may lie in how our brains deal with probabilities. What may be responsible is a general cognitive bias associated with low probabilities. People tend to believe more in conspiratorial explanations of events as the probability of them actually occurring gets lower.
A conspiracy theory offers an alternative explanation for events and how things seem to be in the world around you. No, says a conspiracy theory, just because most people think this is the real state of things (especially politically), that’s not how matters really stand.
Elon Musk hopes to put a computer chip in your brain
Aired on Gadget Lab Podcast: buddy Elon Musk because it’s always fun to talk about Elon Musk and this time the man wants to put a computer in your brain this past Tuesda.
What if you were immune to chronic pain?
Our current approach to treating chronic pain is drug-based, but a vaccine-based approach can cut addiction out of the equation. In this video, Big Think contributor Lou Reese, co-founder of United Neuroscience, explains how soon we may soon be able to vaccinate people, en masse, against pain!
Can Learning a Foreign Language Prevent Dementia?
The evidence is far less clear than popular media might lead you to believe.
By: richard roberts and roger kreuz
You may have heard that learning another language is one method for preventing or at least postponing the onset of dementia. Dementia refers to the loss of cognitive abilities, and one of its most common forms is Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, the causes of the disease are not well understood, and consequently, there are no proven steps that people can take to prevent it. Nonetheless, some researchers have suggested that learning a foreign language might help delay the onset of dementia.
Brain Scans Can Now Reveal Criminal Behavior
Brain scans can now predict criminal behaviour.
Human brains naturally tuned to hear music
Compared to macaques, human brains respond much more strongly to music.
Computer use later in life may prevent cognitive decline
Researchers found that using a computer, playing games, and participating in social activities may reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
New research suggests that playing games, using a computer, and having a rich social life can keep mild cognitive impairment at bay.
Our brains go through changes as we get older, and some people may experience issues with memory, thinking, or judgment.
