Why is it that some people’s minds stay in better shape than others as we age? This has puzzled scientists for decades, but a USA team has discovered a whole set of molecular and cellular changes that help maintain a healthy brain.
Professor Michela Gallagher from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said, “Problems with memory become more commonplace as we age. As we get older, we get frustrated by little things like losing the car keys.” This kind of age-related memory problem can be normal and not linked to disease. [continue reading…]
A team of London scientists have found clues for the potentially therapeutic benefits of nicotine on learning, memory and attention while minimising the risk of addiction. The research announced in Geneva today (Monday 14 July) will assist the search for new drugs for dementia. [continue reading…]
When we have to make a difficult decision, or work through an idea, it’s often best to ‘sleep on it’ and come back to it fresh the next day. Swiss scientists have discovered that sleep can have lasting consequences on brain function by stimulating new brain connections that strengthen the learning processes and directly influence our actions. [continue reading…]
In the quest to find the biological route of drug addiction, research at Cambridge University, UK, is revealing what makes some people more vulnerable than others. Speaking at Europe’s major neuroscience conference in Geneva today (Monday 14 July), Professor Barry Everitt described what they now believe causes the switch from occasional, ‘recreational’ use to a compulsive habit. [continue reading…]
