Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation shows modest cognitive improvements in mild cognitive impairment and post-stroke cognitive impairment
Could a tiny ear device help memory, but the proof is still very early?
This systematic review evaluated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive…
A tiny ear device shows promise for memory issues in early studies, but scientists say the proof is still very early due to small trials and…
Spatial coupling of enlarged perivascular spaces and white matter lesions observed across Alzheimer's disease continuum stages
Do enlarged brain spaces link to early Alzheimer's changes?
This observational cohort study analyzed participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset categorized by cognitive …
People with early Alzheimer's memory issues have swollen brain drainage tubes right next to damaged areas, suggesting these changes happen b…
BP variability and pulse pressure associated with cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes patients
Blood pressure swings linked to thinking problems in people with type 2 diabetes
A secondary analysis of 9,586 patients with type 2 diabetes from the ADVANCE trial found that higher blood pressure variability and baseline…
For people with type 2 diabetes, big swings in blood pressure are linked to a higher risk of memory and thinking problems down the road.
Social isolation linked to health risks in empty-nest older adults, integrative review finds
How does social isolation affect older adults whose children have moved out?
An integrative review of 14 studies found social isolation among empty-nest older adults over 60 is associated with elevated physical health…
For older adults whose children have moved out, feeling socially isolated is linked to higher risks of death, depression, loneliness, and a …
Systematic review suggests beef consumption may improve attention and memory in young adult females with iron deficiency
Could eating beef help young women focus better, remember more, and see details clearly?
A systematic review of dietary interventions in young adult females with iron deficiency indicates potential improvements in attention, memo…
Young adult women with low iron may see better focus, memory, and vision after adding beef to their diet, though long-term benefits need mor…
Systematic review finds wide variation in neurodegenerative disease prevalence among older Russian adults
How common are dementia and Parkinson's in Russia? The answer varies wildly
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 community-based studies in Russia found dementia prevalence ranged from 0.5% to 81.6%, cognitive…
Dementia and Parkinson's rates in Russia swing wildly from 0.5% to over 80% depending on how doctors diagnose patients and which age groups …
Nurse-led music intervention shows preliminary benefit for cognitive impairment in colorectal cancer patients
Can listening to your favorite music help clear cancer treatment brain fog?
A pilot RCT of 70 colorectal cancer patients with cognitive impairment found a 9-week nurse-led individualized music-listening intervention …
Listening to favorite music helped colorectal cancer patients feel less brain fog, depression, and fatigue while sleeping better during trea…
Qigong shows large effect on subjective cognitive function in cancer survivors in meta-analysis
Can gentle movement help cancer survivors struggling with brain fog?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies in cancer survivors found qigong significantly improved subjective cognitive function ve…
Cancer survivors struggling with brain fog may feel clearer after practicing qigong, a gentle mix of movement and breathing that showed stro…
Self-management and glycemic control linked to lower MCI risk in rural elderly with type 2 diabetes
Better diabetes self-care linked to lower cognitive decline risk in rural elderly study
A cohort study of 232 rural Chinese elderly with type 2 diabetes found improved self-management behaviors, fewer depressive symptoms, and be…
Better diabetes self-care and mood control in older adults with type 2 diabetes were linked to a lower risk of memory problems in a rural Ch…
COVID-19 survivors show brain network alterations in default mode and limbic systems
Does COVID-19 change how your brain is wired? A new map suggests it might
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 703 COVID-19 survivors and 596 healthy controls across 19 neuroimaging studies found structural and…
A new brain map shows COVID-19 survivors often have changes in the same networks used for daydreaming and emotions.
Plant-based diet adherence associated with lower cognitive impairment risk in meta-analysis
Plant-based diets linked to lower dementia risk in large review of studies
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 221,380 adults without baseline cognitive impairment found greater adherence to plant-based diets w…
People following healthful plant-based diets face a 26% lower risk of dementia, while unhealthful versions of these diets may actually incre…
Meta-analysis finds distinct fMRI activation patterns in MCI and Alzheimer's disease during cognitive tasks
What happens in the brain when memory starts to slip? A new analysis maps the changes
A coordinate-based meta-analysis of 90 task-based fMRI studies (N=2824) found spatial convergence of aberrant brain activation in patients w…
When memory fades, brain scans show activity shifting to sound and hearing areas in Alzheimer's, while mild impairment affects spatial and s…
Questions about Cognitive Dysfunction
How common is cognitive dysfunction in children who have had a liver transplant?
About 24% of children who have a liver transplant experience cognitive dysfunction, with higher rates in those transplanted before age 1 (39.4%) and in Asia (30.6%).
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