Memory Decline

New York: Scientists have demonstrated that normal brain ageing is accelerated by approximately 26 per cent in people with progressive Type 2 diabetes compared with individuals without the disease, according to a study. There is already strong evidence linking Type 2 diabetes with cognitive decline, yet few patients currently undergo a comprehensive cognitive assessment as part of their clinical care. The results, published today in eLife, suggest that by the time Type 2 diabetes is formally diagnosed, there may already be significant structural damage to the brain. The findings also suggest that the patterns of Type 2 diabetes-related neurodegeneration strongly overlap with those of normal ageing, but that neurodegeneration is accelerated. Sensitive ways to detect diabetes-associated changes to the brain are therefore urgently needed. "Routine clinical assessments for diagnosing diabetes typically focus on blood glucose, insulin levels and body mass percentage," said Botond Antal, a doctoral student at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, US. "However, the neurological effects of Type 2 diabetes may reveal themselves many years before they can be detected by standard measures, so by the time Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by conventional tests, patients may have already sustained irreversible brain damage," Antal added. The team evaluated the relationship between typical brain ageing and that seen in Type 2 diabetes from a dataset, which includes brain scans and brain function measurements, of 20,000 people aged 50 to 80 years old. The results were then compared with a meta-analysis of nearly 100 other studies. Their analysis showed that both ageing and Type 2 diabetes cause changes in executive functions such as working memory, learning and flexible thinking, and changes in brain processing speed. However, people with diabetes had a further 13.1 per cent decrease in executive function beyond age-related effects, and their processing speed decreased by a further 6.7 per cent compared to people of the same age without diabetes. Further, MRI scans of people with and without diabetes showed that people with diabetes had even more pronounced decreases in gray matter beyond the typical age-related effects -- a further 6.2 per cent decrease in grey matter in the ventral striatum, but also loss of grey matter in other regions, compared with normal ageing. "Our findings suggest that Type 2 diabetes and its progression may be associated with accelerated brain ageing, potentially due to compromised energy availability causing significant changes to brain structure and function," said Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, at the varsity's Director of the Laboratory for Computational Neurodiagnostics. "By the time diabetes is formally diagnosed, this damage may already have occurred. Our results underscore the need for research into brain-based biomarkers for Type 2 diabetes and treatment strategies that specifically target its neurocognitive effects," Mujica-Parodi noted. (Agency) Read More► Does Vitamin D Affect Fertility?

London: Seven in ten long Covid patients experience concentration and memory problems several months after the initial onset of their disease, with many performing worse than their peers on cognitive tests, according to twin studies. In the studies led by University of Cambridge, researchers showed that half of the patients reported difficulties in getting medical professionals to take their symptoms seriously. It was likely because cognitive symptoms do not get the same attention as lung problems or fatigue. In a study of 181 long Covid patients, 78 per cent reported difficulty concentrating, 69 per cent reported brain fog, 68 per cent reported forgetfulness, and 60 per cent reported problems finding the right word in speech. These self-reported symptoms were reflected in significantly lower ability to remember words and pictures in cognitive tests. Participants carried out multiple tasks to assess their decision-making and memory. These included remembering words in a list, and remembering which two images appeared together. The results revealed a consistent pattern of ongoing memory problems in those who had suffered Covid-19 infection. Problems were more pronounced in people whose overall ongoing symptoms were more severe. To help understand the cause of the cognitive issues, the researchers investigated other symptoms that might be linked. They found that people who experienced fatigue and neurological symptoms, like dizziness and headache, during their initial illness were more likely to have cognitive symptoms later on. They also found that those who were still experiencing neurological symptoms were particularly impaired on cognitive tests. The researchers noted that their results support other findings that suggest society will face a 'long tail' of workforce illness due to long Covid. It is therefore important not just for the sake of individuals, but for broader society, to be able to prevent, predict, identify and treat issues associated with long Covid. "Long Covid has received very little attention politically or medically. It urgently needs to be taken more seriously, and cognitive issues are an important part of this. When politicians talk about aLiving with Covid' - that is, unmitigated infection, this is something they ignore. The impact on the working population could be huge," said Dr Lucy Cheke, a researcher in the University of Cambridge's Department of Psychology. (agency) Read More► Severe Covid Linked to Long-Term Adverse Mental Health Risk: Lancet

Regular physical activity is essential to not only reduce muscle loss and maintain strength as you age, but also to keep your memory intact. Forgetfulness is part of ageing and may worsen into Alzheimer's disease that may affect the quality of life. A new study has shown that practising aerobic exercises like cycling, walking or jogging thrice a week in the 50s and 60s can help stave off memory loss. "Everyone always asks, 'How much should I be exercising? What's the bare minimum to see improvement?'" said lead author Sarah Aghjayan, doctoral student in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. "From our study, it seems like exercising about three times a week for at least four months is how much you need to reap the benefits in episodic memory," she added. Episodic memory is the kind that deals with events that happened to you in the past. It's also one of the first to decline with age. Exercise that gets the heart pumping has shown promise in increasing brain health, and experiments in mice show that it improves memory, but studies looking at the same link in humans have come out mixed. To understand, the team pored over 36 studies with over 3,000 participants. "We found that there were greater improvements in memory among those who are age 55 to 68 years compared to those who are 69 to 85 years old, so intervening earlier is better," Aghjayan said. The team also found the greatest effects of exercise in those who hadn't yet experienced any cognitive decline, and in studies where participants exercised consistently several times a week. The findings are published in the journal Communications Medicine. While the team's analysis couldn't answer how the intensity of exercise affects the memory benefits, and there's plenty to learn about the mechanism behind the link. But the implications for public health are clear: Exercise is an accessible way older adults can stave off memory declines, benefiting themselves, their caretakers and the healthcare system, Aghjayan said. "You just need a good pair of walking shoes, and you can get out there and move your body." (agency) Read More► Ebola Virus Can Hide in Brain, Recur Even After Treatment: Study

न्यूयॉर्क: बढ़ती उम्र का असर ना केवल हमारी शारीरिक क्षमता पर पड़ता है बल्कि इसे चीजों को याद रखने की क्षमता भी प्रभावित होती है जिसे रोकने में कसरत काफी हद तक मददगार है। उम्रदराज लोगों को भूलने की आदत होने लगती है और इससे उनमें अल्जाईमर रोग अधिक प्रभावी होकर जीवन की गुणवत्ता को प्रभावित करता है। एक नए शोध में सामने आया है कि पचास वर्ष और साठ वर्ष की आयु में हफ्ते में तीन बार कसरत करना जैसे साइकिल चलाना, तेजी से पैदल चलना और जॉगिंग करने से ना केवल हमारी मांसपेशियां मजबूत होती हैं बल्कि यह हमारे मस्तिष्क की कोशिकाओं के लिए भी फायदेमंद है। इससे चीजों को याद रखने की हमारी क्षमता बरकरार रहती है। पिट्सबर्ग विश्वविद्यालय में केनेथ पी. डिट्रिच स्कूल ऑफ आर्ट्स एंड साइंसेज में डॉक्टरेट की छात्रा सारा अगहजयन ने कहा "हर कोई हमेशा पूछता है मुझे कितना व्यायाम करना चाहिए? अपने आप में सुधार लाने में न्यूनतम कसरत कितनी करनी है? हमारे अध्ययन से ऐसा लगता है कि कम से कम चार महीने के लिए सप्ताह में लगभग तीन बार व्यायाम करने से आपकी ऐपिसोडिक मेमोरी में सुधार आ सकता है।" यह हमारे मस्तिष्क की वह क्षमता है जो हमें अतीत में हुई घटनाओं की याद दिलाती है लेकिन बढ़ती उम्र के साथ सबसे पहले इसी क्षमता में कमी आती है। उन्होंने बताया कि ऐसे व्यायाम जिनसे दिल की रक्त पंप करने की क्षमता में इजाफा होता है वे मस्तिष्क की कार्यक्षमता को बढ़ाने में भी कारगर पाए गए हैं। इस बात को समझने के लिए शोध टीम ने 3,000 से अधिक प्रतिभागियों पर 36 से अधिक अध्ययन किए। उन्होंने कहा "हमने पाया कि 69 से 85 साल की उम्र के लोगों की तुलना में 55 से 68 साल की उम्र के लोगों की याददाश्त में अधिक सुधार हुआ है, इसलिए चीजों को बिगड़ने से पहले ही एहतियात बरती जानी जरूरी है।" इस शोध के निष्कर्ष 'कम्युनिकेशंस मेडिसिन' जर्नल में प्रकाशित हुए हैं। इस शोध से एक बात सामने आई है कि व्यायाम एक सहज तरीका है जिससे बढ़ती उम्र में स्मृति लोप को रोका जा सकता है। उन्होंने कहा "आपको कुछ अधिक नहीं करना है और बस पैदल चलने के लिए जूतों की एक अच्छी जोड़ी चाहिए जिसे पहन कर आप बाहर निकल कर थोड़ी बहुत कसरत कर सकते हैं।" (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► योग के जरिये मस्तिष्क पर पड़ने वाले प्रभाव पर जामिया में रिसर्च