Cognitive deficits

8w5w33vb-1335414121The flavanoids in strawberries and blueberries could help delay dementia. EPA/Bilawal Arbab

People who eat greater amounts of blueberries and strawberries could delay their cognitive ageing by years, according to data from a large-scale study conducted over more than three decades.

In a paper published in the journal Annals of Neurology, German and US researchers report that cognitive decline could be delayed by up to 2½ years in elderly people who eat more of the flavonoid-rich berries.

Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, nuts and vegetables that have been linked to disease prevention through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Berries are particularly high in a type of flavonoid called anthocyanidins, which can cross the blood–brain barrier to areas of learning and memory. [continue reading…]

A Reason to Drink More Coffee

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Caffeine May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias and Restore Cognitive Function

Athough caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide, its potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated. Substantial evidence from epidemiological studies and fundamental research in animal models suggests that caffeine may be protective against the cognitive decline seen in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A special supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, “Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases,” sheds new light on this topic and presents key findings. [continue reading…]

Anew Mayo Clinic study found that physical exercise and computer use may help protect against mild cognitivie impairment, a disorder of the brain that affects nerve cells involved in thinking abilities. In previous studies, both physical exercise and cognitive activities (including computer use) were separately found to help reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment. In this new study, the combination of these two activities appears to be even more beneficial. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Toronto on April 15<continue reading>
Source: Mayo Clinic

Patients who received the antidepressant escitalopram following a stroke appeared to recover more of their thinking, learning and memory skills than those taking placebo or participating in problem-solving therapy, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. [continue reading…]