Showing posts with label brain health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brain health. Show all posts


Stunning 3D Scan Reveals the Inner Workings of a Mouse Brain

A pioneering research has produced the most comprehensive map of a mammalian brain ever recorded.

The 3D diagrams showcase over two miles of neural connections, nearly 100,000 neurons, and approximately 500 million synaptic junctions—all within a fragment of mouse brain not larger than a speck of sand.

Dr. Clay Reid from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle stated, "Within this minuscule particle lies an intricate network of connections, governed by principles we are just starting to unravel."

The specimen originates from an external section of the brain called the cortex, a zone that plays a role in vision. Times reports.

Dr Forrest Collman, of the same Institute, said: 'By studying how the cortex functions in the mouse brain, we can generate better ideas and hypotheses about how our own brains work.'

His group thinks that having the ability to chart and examine the brain’s internal connections at this scale could pave new avenues for understanding and addressing neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and autism.

He described it as the 'Google Maps for the brain', which doesn't just show major motorways but every small street, house and room inside that house.

Similar to how individuals utilize Google Maps to determine the optimal path from location A to location B, or simply to verify if such a route is possible, this comprehensive neural map enables researchers to identify whether two neurons are interconnected and precisely pinpoint where these connections take place.

What made this research particularly intriguing was that the mice needed their brain activity documented as they viewed YouTube videos. This enabled researchers to observe the interactions between various clusters of neurons.

Following this, they cut the tissue into 25,000 slices, with each slice being merely 1/400th the thickness of a human hair, before examining them through powerful electron microscopes.

The images were combined to generate a 3D model with the help of artificial intelligence. The final result not only depicts the structure but also illustrates which brain cells interact and the manner in which they do so.

Nuno Macarico da Costa from the Allen Institute remarked that one of the outcomes of their project reveals "just how extraordinarily beautiful the brain truly is."

Simply observing these neurons allows one to grasp their complexity and size, instilling an overwhelming sense of wonder towards the brain.

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Scientists Unveil the Brain’s 3 Aging "Waves" Starting Long Before 60

  • EXPLORE FURTHER: 4 key elements that may shield you from dementia development

Regardless of whether you reach 60, 70, or even 80 years old, each person begins to feel 'aged' at distinct moments in their life.

However, our brains experience three specific ‘aging peaks’ during our lifetimes, as revealed by a recent study.

Experts have found that the levels of 13 proteins associated with brain aging increase significantly at ages 57, 70, and 78.

This suggests that these specific age ranges may be critical points where interventions could aid in maintaining brain health for an extended period, according to them.

The group examined the levels of approximately 3,000 proteins in the blood plasma of almost 5,000 Britons ranging from 45 to 82 years old.

The analysis showed that 13 proteins closely associated with brain aging peak at ages 57, 70, and 78 years.

In particular, one protein known as Brevican (BCAN) is linked to the beginning of dementia, stroke, and motor problems.

A different protein known as GDF15 has likewise been associated with age-related disorders.

The researchers indicated that the spikes observed in these 13 proteins could signify alterations in human brain health at those particular age points.

These might be crucial moments to think about intervening in the brain aging process, they noted, which could aid in postponing the emergence of conditions like dementia.

The study was headed by a group from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.

In the journal Nature Aging, they cautioned that by 2050, it is projected that the global population aged 65 and over will surpass 1.5 billion—underscoring the necessity for a more comprehensive grasp of the aging phenomenon.

In the UK alone, almost one million individuals are affected by this condition, and the figures are increasing. It continues to be our leading cause of death.

"We discovered that the latter part of the fifties may be a possible starting point for brain aging," they stated.

Furthermore, our research indicated that the seventieth and late-seventieth years of life represent crucial stages in the process of brain aging.

These discoveries help fill critical gaps in our understanding of the molecular processes involved in brain aging, which could have significant impacts on the future creation of... markers for brain aging and tailored treatment targets for various age-related neurological conditions.

The finding arrives merely months following independent research that similarly identified specific decades when the human body experiences the most significant aging—thus debunking the notion that the process happens steadily over time.

In September, researchers from Stanford University found that age-related changes such as decreased metabolic rate, wrinkles appearing in the skin, and heightened susceptibility to illnesses peak significantly around ages 44 and 60.

These alterations may result in weight gain or increased sensitivity when consuming alcohol.

Professor Dr. Michael Snyder, who specializes in genetics at Stanford University and is also the lead researcher for this particular study, commented, "Many people think everyone ages progressively over time. However, what we found was that most changes do not occur steadily."

To counteract the effects of these significant demographic shifts, the researchers recommend that individuals nearing the ages of 44 and 60 increase their physical activity and embrace a better nutritional regimen.

The group examined information gathered multiple times from blood and stool samples as well as oral, skin, and nasal swabs taken from 108 individuals aged 25 to 75 in good health across California during an average timeframe of 1.7 years.

In their examination, researchers found that during the process, 81 percent of the detected molecules such as proteins and RNA underwent alterations across at least one phase.

The team finally determined that substantial dysregulation happens during two primary stages — the first being around age 44, which triggers the largest change, followed by another notable increase at age 60.

Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany, informed The Wall Street Journal: "These findings likely correlate closely with our personal observations or those shared by individuals noticing an abrupt decrease in their physical health."

'Determining and examining these elements must take precedence in upcoming studies,' stated Dr. Xiaotao Shen, who previously was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Medicine and is currently an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

For individuals in their 40s, notable alterations occurred in the levels of molecules associated with alcohol, caffeine, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, there were variations observed in indicators linked to cardiovascular diseases, along with changes in markers pertaining to skin and muscle aging.

A comparable yet less significant 'wave' of aging was observed around the age of 60.

Dr. Snyder suggested that some of these alterations might be linked to lifestyle or behavioral patterns that tend to occur within specific age brackets.

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Breinrust: Waarom Mentale Vrijheid Jouw Gezondheid en Prestaties Versterkt

In een wereld die er nooit toe doet tot rust te nemen, waarbij wij constant 'aan' zijn en ons brein overgoten wordt met sensaties, heeft het concept van herstel meer voordelen dan ooit. Dr. Inge Declercq , bekroond neuroloog en slaapdeskundige, richt haar carrière op het steunen van individuen bij het voorkomen van hersendegeneration en het verbeteren van hun geestelijke gezondheid. Waar gaat gezonde ontbinding naartoe? Welke invloed heeft slapengaan op uw brein gedurende langere periodes? En hoe kunnen we onze relatie met technologie efficiënter reguleren? Tijdens deze onderhoudsronde deelt Dr. Declercq Haar observaties en concrete adviezen voor een fittere en gest balanceerde levensstijl.

U legt de nadruk op de betekenis van hersenpauzes. Kan je meer vertellen over wat je exact bedoelt met deze hersenpauzen en waarom ze cruciaal zijn voor ons welzijn en evenwicht?

Breinrust houdt in dat je zowel lichamelijk als geestelijk afstand neemt van de arbeid en andere stressorfen, of dat nu is gedurende pauzes of nadat je gewerkt hebt. Dit proces gaat verder dan slechts relaxen; het draait vooral om effectieve hernieuwing en herstel. Mensen worden immers niet gecreëerd om continu bezig te blijven zonder ophouden.

Ontbreken van hersenrustperiodes kan resulteren in te veel prikkels, permanente stress en stoornissen in de mentale processen als het vermogen om je te richten, informatie op te slaan en beslissingen te nemen. In het langere voorziens kun dit leiden tot problemen met het hart en bloedvatstel, evenals een grotere kans op uitputting door werkoverload.

Vele individuen hebben last van wat u 'hersenrot' noemt. Welke vroege signalen wijzen hierop hinheen, en welke strategieën bestaan er om dit te verhinderen of te behandelen?

Breinrot is een begrip dat al sinds 1854 gebruikt wordt en in 2024 door het Oxford Dictionary uitgeroepen werd tot Woord des Jaars. Ondanks dat TikTok-gebruikers de term opnieuw actueel hebben gemaakt, dragen juist de excessieve gebruik ervan vaak bij aan gevoelens van breinrot.

Dit verwijst naar een toestand van mentale overspanning en uitputting die resulteert uit excessief gebruik van schermen en een tekort aan ware geestelijke verkwikkingsrust. Kenmerken van breinvermoeienis omvatten gedragsproblemen zoals hersenvochtovermaat, problemen bij het focussen, ontoereikende motivatie en het gevoel alsof elke taak té ingewikkeld is.

Wat is de oplossing? Kortere, kwaliteitsvolle pauzes gedurende de dag, een bewust gebruik van schermen en het instellen van een duidelijke 'uitschakelknop' aan het eind van de werkdag.

Hoe kunnen we in onze gewone dagen een evenwicht bewerkstelligen tussen werkzaamheid en de nodige verkwikking voor ons gedachten?

De sleutel ligt in jouw 'ontkoppelingsbalans©'. Start elke morgen doorbewust beslissingen te nemen, zoals vermijden direct naar je telefoon te kijken als je ontwaakt. Gedurende de dag kan het helpen om periodes van concentratie regelmatig te laten omslaan met korte pauzes van hoge kwaliteit. In de avonduren is het cruciaal om een routine te hebben waardoor je mentaal kunt afschermen van je werkzaamheden. Bovendien kun je jezelf stellen: verstuur ik deze e-mail echt noodzakelijk, of gewoon uit angst wat men anders zou kunnen denken?

U bent een grote aanhanger van het gezonde afkoppelen. Kan u dat concept verduidelijken en wat concrete adviezen bieden over hoe we dit in onze dagelijks routine kunnen opnemen?

Bewust loskoppelen voor gezondheid inhoudt het op een doordachte manier afstand nemen van zowel arbeid als digitaal gestimulation door lichamelijk en geestelijk herstel te bevorderen en de werking van je brein optimalisering. Hierbij kun je verschillende methodes hanteren waaronder:

  • Korte, kwalitatieve pauzes als kort bewegen, naar het uitzicht staren of een enkele minuut lang ademen oefenen.
  • Na afwerkken van mijn taken volg ik een routine om de overstap naar rust te makkelijker te maken.
  • Twee uur voordat je gaat slapen zorg ervoor dat je geen schermen meer gebruikt en sociale mediakanalen links laat liggen.
  • En een andere kijk op je werk en taken aanleren, én bereid zijn om minder hoge eisen te stellen, hebben ook enorme waarde. Zo sta ik dat tenminste in mijn boek geregistreerd. Breinrust Ik wijs een gehele hoofdstuk toe aan dit onderwerp, waarin ik handzame en toegankelijke oefeningen bied. Belangrijk om op te merken: wanneer je "ja" zegt tegen iets of iemands verzoek, maak er dan zeker van dat je niet "nee" zegt tegen je eigen beloften en behoeften!

Welk effect hebben slapen en geestelijke rust op onze hersenen gedurende een langere periode, en wat voor gevaren lopen we indien we dit negeren?

Ontbreken van breinpauzes en slaapproblemen hebben ernstige consequenties. In de kortetermijn neemt u uw tijdsbesteding met 55 procent toe bij het voltooien van activiteiten, terwijl uw kans op overwerk dubbelgaat. Langere lijvige tekortslaappers lopen binnen een periode van 10 tot 40 procent hoger risico op cardiovaskulaire ziektes. Bovendien kan chronisch slecht slapen uw levensduur beperken door 13 tot 20 procent.

Een goede nachtrust en regelmatige hernieuwing zijn hiermee niet meer als luxes te beschouwen, maar als essentiële behoeften.

Wat voor rol speelt technologie bij de steun of disruptie van onze geestelijke genezing, en hoe moeten we daarmee omgaan?

Technologie vormt een geweldige ondersteuning, echter alleen wanneer wij de baas blijven over haar toepassing. Net zoals Gretchen Rubin stelt: "Technologie is een uitstekende bediende, doch een armzalig heerser." Staat uw smartphone niet toe om te beslissen hoe u uw dag ingericht krijgt. Maak doelbewuste ogenblikken vrij van techneuten en stel uzelf deze kwestie: Beheert gij uw telefoon, of wordt u bestuurd door die zelfde telefoon?

Welk punt hoop je het meest te benadrukken ten aanzien van de betekenis van geestelijke rust in een drukke wereld voor de lezer?

Vergeet niet wachten op het moment dat je echt moe wordt voordat je aan brainerust werkt. Een investering in geestelijke rust vandaag heeft als doel om na 20 tot 30 jaar nog altijd goed mentaal en cognitief prestatievol te blijven. Dit is een belegging in jouw toekomst, vergelijkbaar met gezonde eetgewoontes of regelmatig sporten.

Dr. Inge Declercq Deelt haar kennis niet alleen door middel van haar praktijk en boeken, maar spreekt er ook over als gastoprichter. Generatie WOW Gezondheidsslagen: Gedachten Doen Ervaren.

Heb je interesse om dieper te gaan into de manieren waarop je het rustige van je geest kunt bevorderen en mentale evenwicht in je dagelijks leven kunt introduceren?

Misluk haar talk dan niet op 20 februari! Voor meer informatie raadpleeg: Generation WOW Health Talks .

Het bericht Breinpauze: waarom kalmte essentieel is voor jouw welzijn en resultaten verscheen eerst op DIWIDA.News .



Doctor Unveils the Peak Age of Your Brain and Its Journey Through the Years

A neuroscientist And a medical researcher has disclosed the age at which our brains attain the height of their abilities and what occurs to them when they do so age from that point onwards.

Dr Stefan Mindea spoke to The Mirror Regarding the development timeline of human brains, their maturation spans many years and we can explore what occurs afterward.

During early childhood, spanning from birth to five years of age, our brains undergo "a rapid expansion in neural connections and learning potential," as he mentioned, noting that this period serves as the foundation for developing skills related to language acquisition, social engagement, and problem-solving abilities.

Next is adolescence, spanning from age 10 to 20, during which unused neural pathways get trimmed back, making it more challenging to pick up new skills.

Following that comes the stage of full brain maturation around our mid-20s; however, we haven’t reached the pinnacle just yet. This period marks the completion of development for those areas of the brain responsible for managing impulses, regulating emotions, and facilitating planning.

The brain doesn't reach its pinnacle until midway through life, specifically between the ages of 40 and 60.

Dr Mindea stated, "A lot of individuals go through changes in their mental focus, typically placing greater emphasis on what they can offer to upcoming generations and engaging in deeper self-examination."

This is also when individuals often reach what's referred to as their 'cognitive peak,' particularly in aspects such as verbal recall and gathered information.

Essentially, this is the moment where your mental capacity or cognitive function reaches its peak.

Following that, during late adulthood and thereafter, starting at around 65 years old, the brain slowly diminishes in regions linked to memory, leading to potential lapses in recollection at this phase.

However, intelligence "stays intact or might even get better," it simply requires more time to retrieve or access that information.

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Brain Scans Reveal Six Unique Forms of Depression and Anxiety

In the future, seeking assistance for depression could include a brief brain scan to determine the best treatment approach for you.

A study examining brain activity in individuals with depression and anxiety both at rest and when performing particular tasks revealed six distinctive patterns of neural activity, associated symptoms, and reactions to therapeutic interventions.

The researchers from both the US and Australia who carried out the study also identified treatments that are more probable to be effective for certain categories. Consequently, this might enable physicians to better pair patients with optimal therapies according to their brain activity patterns.

"The prevailing 'one-size-fits-all' method of diagnosis in psychiatry often results in patients going through various treatments via a process of trial and error," says Leonardo Tozzi from Stanford University along with his team. write In their published paper, they describe it as protracted, costly, and exasperating, noting that 30-40 percent of patients fail to achieve remission after attempting one therapy.

The researchers examined 801 primarily untreated participants who were diagnosed with either major depressive disorder , generalized anxiety disorder , panic disorder , social anxiety disorder , obsessive-compulsive disorder , or post-traumatic stress disorder , or a mix of these. Additionally, they incorporated 137 individuals without the conditions as control subjects.

Functional MRI ( fMRI Brain scans were utilized to obtain 41 measurements of activation and connectivity for each participant, concentrating on six neural networks associated with depression. The imaging was conducted both during periods of rest and while participants engaged in cognitive and emotional tasks.

Machine learning was utilized to group individuals suffering from depression and anxiety into six categories according to particular brain circuits that show either heightened activity or reduced function compared to one another and the healthy control subjects.

As far as we know, this is the first instance where we have shown that depression may stem from various impairments in how the brain operates, says lead author Leanne Williams, a psychiatrist and behavioral scientist at Stanford University.

The team subsequently randomly allocated 250 participants to be prescribed one of three antidepressants or to undergo talk therapy. The antidepressant venlafaxine performed most effectively for one specific group: individuals with overly active cognitive areas of the brain.

Counseling was more effective for individuals who exhibited greater activity in areas of the brain associated with depression and problem-solving. Conversely, those showing lower activity in the brain’s attention circuits derived lesser benefit from counseling, which might imply they could see more advantage from initially addressing their attention-related issues through other means. the reduced activity when taking medication.

"To genuinely advance the discipline towards precision psychiatry "we need to pinpoint the treatments that are most likely to succeed for patients and initiate those treatments as quickly as possible," said public health scientist Jun Ma from the University of Illinois. says .

Having data about their brain activity could assist in tailoring more accurate treatments and medications for individuals.

In 2023, some members of the same team recognized a novel cognitive biotype Of depression, which impacts 27 percent of individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The cognitive impairments – related to attention, memory, and self-regulation – typically remain unchanged when treated with antidepressants that target serotonin.

And earlier this year Williams and a fellow researcher employed fMRI technology to pinpoint individuals possessing the cognitive biotype, achieving a prediction success rate of 63%, as opposed to just 36% without using fMRI. Investigations into new therapies specifically targeting this biotype are currently underway.

Depression is complex , as are the factors contributing for it. This process might require considerable time. those who have access to treatment to find one that helps , should they ever decide to. So every step Moving towards a more efficient, tailored approach proves beneficial.

Feeling extremely frustrated within the realm of depression treatment due to the lack of alternatives for this one-size-fits-all method. says Williams. "Our aim is to determine how we can achieve success on the initial attempt."

The study has been released in Nature Medicine .



The man who lived with no brain

How do you navigate a world that lacks any coherence whatsoever? How do you persist when each moment of your existence feels like an impossible riddle, with even the fragments you grasp failing to materialize? This encapsulates the experience of Lev Zasetsky, who endured a brain trauma while battling in […]

How can one navigate a universe that lacks coherence entirely? How does someone endure each moment when their existence feels like an insolvable riddle, with even the smallest fragments remaining elusive? do figure out how to escape not being able to leave?

This describes the life of Lev Zasetsky, who sustained a brain injury during World War II combat. His extensive 3,000-page journal he maintained post-injury emerged as an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of the human mind within neurological research. biological Science. Zasetsky was afflicted with aphasia, a condition that hampers one’s capacity to comprehend and express language. This type of aphasia left Zasetsky capable of writing, yet he could neither read back his writings nor fully grasp their contents.

Alexander Luria, one of the Soviet Union’s foremost neuropsychologists, was tasked with caring for Zasetsky and discovered that the young soldier "could not write anymore and...had unexpectedly lost his literacy." Luria determined that Zasetsky's injury affected "a second significant area of the brain." brain Situated in the rear areas of the large hemispheres, this part of the brain solely functions to "serve as a station for acquiring, analyzing, and storing information an individual gathers from the outside world."

The exact position of the shrapnel wound indicated that "a crucial ability had been severely compromised: he could not swiftly integrate his perceptions into a unified experience; his reality became disjointed." This was how Lev Zasetsky experienced life—as something fractured. However, he did not surrender. His compelling narrative and unwavering spirit offer a fresh perspective on contemporary psychological studies and historical insights. language , communication, and the essence of humanity.

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Scientists discover the brain's 3 ageing 'waves' that starts before 60

  • READ MORE: 4 crucial factors that can protect you from developing dementia

Whether you're turning 60, 70 or 80, everyone starts to feel 'old' at very different times.

But our brains go through three distinct 'ageing peaks' throughout our lives, according to a new study.

Experts have identified that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain ageing spike at 57, 70 and 78.

This suggests that these specific age groups may be critical points where interventions can significantly aid in maintaining brain health for an extended period, according to them.

The group examined the levels of approximately 3,000 proteins in the blood plasma of almost 5,000 Britons ranging from 45 to 82 years old.

The analysis showed that 13 proteins closely associated with brain aging appear in three distinct peaks related to age at 57, 70, and 78 years old.

A specific protein known as Brevican (BCAN) is linked to the beginning of dementia, stroke, and problems related to movement.

Another protein, called GDF15, has also been linked to age-related diseases.

The authors said that the peaks in these 13 proteins may reflect changes in human brain health at these specific ages.

And these could be important times to consider interventions in the brain ageing process, they said, that could help delay the onset of diseases such as dementia.

The research was led by a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.

Writing in the journal Nature Ageing they warned that by 2050, it is estimated that the number of people aged 65 years and above will exceed 1.5 billion globally – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the ageing process.

In the UK alone, nearly one million people have the condition, with numbers rising. It remains our biggest killer.

'We found that the late fifth decade is a potential onset timepoint for brain ageing,' they said.

'In addition, our study suggested that the seventh and late seventh decades are also essential time points in brain ageing.

'These findings contribute to bridging essential knowledge gaps in clarifying the molecular mechanisms of brain aging, with substantial implications for the future development of… biomarkers for brain aging, as well as personalised therapeutic targets for subsequent age-related brain disorders.'

The finding arrives only months following independent research that similarly identified specific periods throughout one’s lifespan when the body experiences the majority of aging—thus debunking the notion that this process happens steadily over time.

In September, researchers from Stanford University found that age-related alterations such as decreased metabolic rate, aging skin, and heightened susceptibility to illnesses notably spike around ages 44 and 60.

These alterations might result in gaining weight or experiencing more intense effects from consuming alcohol.

Dr Michael Snyder, Professor of Genetics at Stanford University and senior author of the study, said: 'People assume everybody's kind of aging gradually. It turns out that most changes are not linear.'

To offset the impact of these dramatic aging 'waves', the team suggests that people approaching the milestones of 44 and 60 exercise more often and adopt a healthier diet.

The team analyzed data from repeated collections of blood and stool samples and oral, skin and nasal swabs from 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75 across California over a median period of 1.7 years.

During analysis, scientists noticed that 81 percent of the observed molecules including proteins and RNA changed in at least one wave.

The team ultimately concluded substantial dysregulation occurring at two major periods — with the age of 44 causing the biggest shift, and 60 also producing a significant uptick.

Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany told the Wall Street Journal: 'These studies probably align very well with the experiences we have ourselves, or heard from others who perceive a sudden decline in physiological fitness.'

'Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,' said Dr Xiaotao Shen, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar, and now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

In people in their 40s, significant changes were seen in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism; as well as shifts in markers related to cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle aging.

A similar but less pronounced 'wave' of aging was noted at age 60.

It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, Dr Snyder said.

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