Cognitive functioning

Just a few days after scientists announced we're at a pivotal tipping point in Alzheimer's disease research, a team has made a huge breakthrough, proving that mitochondrial dysfunction fuels memory loss. Then they engineered a way to restore it.

Higher vitamin D in pregnancy could mean sharper minds for kids years later. A large US study found early pregnancy may be the key window for boosting brain development, especially in children of Black mothers.

Even without infection, the COVID-19 pandemic aged our brains. A new study found that accompanying stressors like isolation and uncertainty accelerated brain aging, especially in men, older adults, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A specific amount of the trace element copper has been linked to protecting cognitive function in older adults, providing new insight into how the mineral aids the brain. It may even offer greater benefits to people recovering from stroke.

A new study has found that your belly might reveal more about your brain health than your bathroom scales do, especially if you’re an older man. When it comes to dementia risk, the location of body fat, not just the amount, appears to be a factor.

A safe and affordable treatment to effectively combat the progress of Parkinson's dementia has emerged – in the form of a commonly available cough syrup that's already being studied for its brain-protecting power in other degenerative diseases.

A protein found in our cells has emerged as a secret weapon against biological aging, acting like a glue to repair damaged DNA and ward off neurological degeneration including that seen in motor neuron, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

A new study has found that diet-driven weight gain triggers impaired cognitive functioning an symptoms of anxiety, adding to the growing body of evidence that there's an intrinsic biological link between our gut health and our mental health.

Men who carry two copies of a common genetic variant are twice as likely to develop dementia than women with the same mutations. This discovery may now lead to early detection and novel interventions to block how these variants impact the brain.

A personalized facial e-tattoo wirelessly monitors the brain and can tell when it’s being overworked and can use the data it collects to predict mental overload, according to a new study. The tech could help us maintain a productivity sweet spot.

The first blood test for Alzheimer's disease detection has been green-lit by the US Food and Drug Administration, providing a simpler, quicker and less invasive method of diagnosis and speedier intervention. It's a milestone moment for medical science.

If you need an excuse to turn off the laptop over the weekend or rein in overtime, scientists have linked working extended hours to changes in parts of the brain linked to emotional regulation, working memory, attention and decision-making.