Cognition

Could mental disorders like dementia be connected to gut bacteria? This seemingly unlikely correlation may not be so far-fetched: New research suggests that an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria could be one of the possible causes of dementia, a mental condition that primarily affects the elderly. Gut Bacteria and Dementia Defined The gut's microbiome is made up of trillions of...

Today we are so busy keeping their bodies in shape, it's easy to forget that brain health is just as important. The human brain is the biggest puzzle known to man, and there have been countless studies attempting to unlock its many secrets. Like most parts of the human body, the brain requires proper maintenance and conditioning. Brain and physical health go...

Since their development in the 1940s, antibiotics have been the medical go-to for eradicating and counteracting the effects of bacterial infections. In fact, at one time antibiotics were even viewed as something of a miracle drug that would possibly bring an end to all infection worldwide. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case; although after nearly 80 years doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics to...

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to properly handle glucose, or sugar, in the blood. In type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce any insulin -- the hormone responsible for ushering sugar from the blood into the cells where it can be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body can make insulin...

Recent research has brought to light a few key factors that can significantly contribute to your risk of dementia. Here, we highlight some of the newest findings regarding dementia and cognitive decline. A Healthy Brain Starts With a Healthy Heart: How Improving Your Heart Health Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia In a new study published in the Journal of the...

Vitamin B12, a part of the essential B-complex, is necessary for our bodies to create and repair DNA, red blood cells and nerves, as well as a whole host of other functions. New research out of Ireland illuminates the worrying magnitude of vitamin B12 deficiency among older populations. Over the Age of 50? You’re More at Risk for B12 Deficiency...

People who give in to their cravings are often seen as lacking willpower, with the inability to easily tame impulses commonly viewed as a character flaw, but this line of thinking assumes we all have the same ability to exercise self-control, and according to new research, that may not be the case. The results of a new study published in The...

According to new data from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU) and University College London (UCL), the neurotransmitter serotonin plays a vital role in the learning process, helping to speed learning. Researchers believe this explains why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are more effective when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Their findings were recently published in the...

In the United States alone, over 16 million people live with some form of cognitive impairment. While age is the greatest risk factor, with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia being the leading causes, cognitive decline bears no limitation to any specific demographic. Conditions such as brain injury, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia and stroke are all known to be accompanied by signs of...

Resveratrol is powerful phytoalexin, a group of naturally occurring antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds produced by plants, that can be found in red wine, raw cacao, pistachios, peanuts, and dark berries such as red grapes, blueberries and muscadines. Like other antioxidants, resveratrol can help the body to fight and repair cellular damage. Research over the past decade has indicated that resveratrol...