Stress and Cognition

In a May 2024 study by the Karolinska Institutet it was found,

• “These results might have clinical implications as an expanding body of research suggests that mindfulness exercises and meditation may reduce cortisol levels and improve cognition,”

• “Different stress management strategies could be a good complement to existing lifestyle interventions in Alzheimer’s prevention.”

• “We will continue to study the association between stress and sleeping disorders and how it affects the cognitive reserve in memory clinic patients,”

Reference

“Cognitive reserve, cortisol, and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers: a memory clinic study”, Manasa Shanta Yerramalla, Alexander Darin-Mattsson, Chinedu T Udeh-Momoh, Jasper Holleman, Ingemar Kåreholt, Malin Aspö, Göran Hagman, Miia Kivipelto, Alina Solomon, Anna Marseglia, Shireen Sindi, Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, online 4 June 2024, doi: 10.1002/alz.13866.

Ketones and Cognition

In a May 2024 study by the University of Rochester Medical Center said,

• "Once neuronal function is lost, there is no recovering the connection, so we need to identify when the function first becomes impaired,"

• "This study accomplishes that by bringing us closer to understanding how to rescue the function of impaired neurons and prevent or delay devastating diseases like Alzheimer's."”

• “This research has implications for developing ketone-based therapies targeting specific neuronal dysfunctions in conditions involving insulin resistance/hypoglycemia like diabetes or Alzheimer's disease,”

• “We are now looking to understand the role that astrocytes and other glia cells play in acute insulin resistance.”

Age-appropriate aerobic exercise for cognitive function in older adults

An October 2023 study by the University of East Finland said that, “These findings underscore the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise, such as golf, Nordic walking and regular walking, in maintaining and enhancing cognitive function among older adults. Previous research has shown that exercise also holds promise as a potential strategy for those experiencing cognitive decline,”

Activity and Brain Size

A March 2020 study by Columbia University in New York said,

• “[These results] suggest that people may potentially prevent brain shrinking and the effects of aging on the brain simply by becoming more active,"

• "Recent studies have shown that as people age, physical activity may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Our study used brain scans to measure the brain volumes of a diverse group of people and found that those who engaged in the top third highest level of physical activity had a brain volume the equivalent of four years younger in brain aging than people who were at the bottom third activity level."

• "Our results add to the evidence that more physical activity is linked to larger brain volume in older people."

• "It also builds on evidence that moving your body more often throughout one's life may protect against loss of brain volume."

Avocado, Lutein, Attention, Obesity

A March 2020 study by University of Illinois of eating an avocado each day found

• "Previous work has shown that individuals with overweight and obesity are at higher risk for cognitive decline and dementia in older age … We are interested in whether dietary approaches may have benefits for cognitive health, especially in midlife."

• "It could be that nutrients in avocados have a specific action in the brain that supports the ability to do this task in particular, or they could be more beneficial for certain cognitive abilities over others."

• "It's also possible that with a longer study or different tests, we could see other effects. Other studies have found broader effects in other populations, so it is interesting to see a more specific benefit for this population."

• "Avocados also are high in fiber and monounsaturated fats. It is possible that these other nutrients may have played a role in the cognitive effects we saw, but we focused on the lutein in our analyses."

• "Future analyses may focus on other nutrients found in avocados, or avocado consumption's impact on other measures such as weight status, inflammation and potential changes in the microbiome."

• "Our mission is to give people options. There are multiple ways people can eat to optimize brain health."

• "What we're learning is that avocados may be one of those fruits that may be neuroprotective in certain ways. This work provides some evidence behind one option people have from a plethora of healthful foods that we can consume."