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Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Against Cognitive Decline in Diabetes
Decaffeinated coffee seems to improve brain energy metabolism in association with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Glucose utilization in the brain is reduced in individuals with type 2 diabetes and may result in other neurocognitive problems, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. For the study, researchers tested whether dietary [...]
Sibling Brain Abnormalities May Hold Key to Addiction
An abnormality that makes it more difficult to exercise self-control has been identified in the brains of drug addicts, as well as their siblings who have no history of addiction. Researchers at the University of Cambridge scanned the brains of 50 pairs of brothers and sisters. One in each pair was dependent on cocaine while [...]
Multiple Exposures to Anesthesia May Increase Chance of ADHD
Multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic. Children exposed to two or more anesthetics before age 3 had more than double the incidence of ADHD than children who had no exposure, says David Warner, M.D., a [...]
Untangling the Mysteries of Alzheimer’s
A characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease is the alteration of a protein that resides in the brain. The protein, called tau, is present in normal brains and is believed to be responsible for the health of nerve cells. In the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s, tau proteins combine into twisted structures known as “neurofibrillary tangles.” [...]
Aging Insights from Identical Twins
A long-term study of identical twins reveals that an individual’s DNA may change over the course of a lifetime. Researchers discovered cases where large or small DNA segments change direction, are duplicated, or become completely lost. The changes were mainly discovered in older twins. This finding may help to explain why the immune system is [...]
True Marriage Commitment Requires Willingness to Sacrifice
The topic of marriage commitment strikes an interesting chord in America, where half of all first marriages fail and an even greater percentage of second and third marriages are unsuccessful. In a new study, UCLA psychologists asked 172 married couples the question: What does being committed to your marriage really mean? The findings, published online [...]
Facebook May be Harmful to Self-Esteem
As social networking explodes across the world, a new study suggests using Facebook may not be a great idea for those with low self-esteem. The finding is remarkable; in theory, Facebook should be great for people with low self-esteem. The site allows unobtrusive sharing of information considered important for solidifying friendships and making new friends. [...]
Blood Test Shows Promise in Aiding Depression Diagnosis
A blood test may help diagnose depression, according to a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital. In a new study, the researchers report that a blood test analyzing the levels of nine biomarkers accurately identifies patients diagnosed with depression from control participants. “Traditionally, diagnosis of major depression and other mental disorders has been made [...]
Changes to Neurons Hamper the Aging Brain
The good news is that most people in the developed world are living longer; the not-so-good news is that the brain often does not stay sharp in our older age. Currently, experts do not fully understood why the brain’s cognitive functions such as memory and speech decline as we age. This despite the realization that [...]
Mentors Help Women Recover from Abuse
Mentoring has been found to improve the health and well-being of young women who were victimized in their youth. Canadian investigators determined female college students who have survived childhood abuse or domestic violence were significantly aided by a mentoring program. Researchers from Concordia University have published their findings in the Journal of College Student Development. [...]
Researchers Gain Ground on Antipsychotic Side Effects
Experts proclaim that approximately 14.4 million Americans take an antipsychotic medication. The drugs are typically prescribed for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a number of other behavioral disorders — making them among the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. Unfortunately, despite their widespread use, most of the medications are known to cause the metabolic side effects [...]
Severe Memory Loss Tied to Future Stroke
A new paper warns that severe, rapid memory loss may be linked to a future deadly stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012. Researchers believe knowledge of the association could pave the way for aggressive therapies to minimize risk for stroke. In the study, researchers found that people [...]
The Marriage Market Mismatch
Research has shown that college is the great equalizer in the labor market, overcoming social class differences, but the same can’t be said for the marriage market. According to a new study from researchers at Cornell University, going to college unexpectedly lowers the odds of the less-advantaged ever marrying. In the study, published in the [...]
Online Social Networking May Cause Job Loss
According to a new report, innocuous personal information on social networking sites can be grounds for job dismissal. While most prospective job searchers understand that employers will usually review a site such as Facebook before tendering an offer of employment, many are unaware that posting what would seem to be “normal” pictures or discussion may [...]
Short Term Memory Dependent on Brain Synchronization
Remembering information for short periods would appear to be a simple task. However, new research discovers short-term human memory, often compared to random access memory (RAM) used in computers, is actually a complicated cognitive action. Researchers agree that short-term memory is a complex cognitive act that entails the participation of multiple brain regions. However, whether [...]

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