New Study of 10,000+ People Revealed Regular Physical Activity Is Linked to Larger Healthier Brains

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In a new study, scientists seeking to better understand how physical activity protects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s found it’s because exercise makes the brain larger.

2 to 3 days of moderate to vigorous physical activity was correlated to a significant increase in total brain matter and in specific regions like the temporal lobe and hippocampus.

To ensure the record is understood absolutely clearly—there’s no doubt that physical activity protects the brain from neurodegenerative diseases, including mild and severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, and other forms of dementia.

The Canadian/American research team sought to better understand the mechanisms behind this effect.

Light physical activity, number of steps taken per day, and number of city blocks traversed per day, are all modalities that have been used to measure connections between physical activity and preventing these diseases, showing that even pedestrian, non-athletic, non-sportive activity can be neuroprotective in some cases.

One of the main culprits, in a positive sense, for this effect is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is released into the brain during periods of exercise where it lowers neuro-inflammation, improves synaptic connection, and performs other functions too numerous to list here.

The study benefitted from the use of a deep-learning neural network that allowed for multiple MRI scans of the same brain to be analyzed rapidly.

10,000 participants (and their brains) with an average age of 54, but ranging from 18 to 97, who were about half men and half women made up the study cohorts.

Exercise was self-reported—an inevitable flaw when conducting large population studies like this one. Participants were asked how many days of the week they engaged in 10 minutes or more of moderate or vigorous intensity exercise.

While previous studies quantified moderate and vigorous intensity through heartbeats per minute, this and other more modern studies simply define moderate as being engaged in physical activity and still being able to talk, but not being able to sing. Vigorous was defined as being in a state where only a few words could be spoken before pausing to breathe.

10,125 brain MRI scans were examined, and it was determined that a higher number of days of moderate to vigorous physical activity “predicted larger normalized brain volumes in multiple regions, including total gray matter volume, total white matter volume, hippocampus, frontal cortex, parietal lobes, and occipital lobe,” the authors wrote.

This was particularly true for the occipital lobe, parietal lobe, hippocampus, posterior cingulate, and temporal lobe, which all had correlative significance (also known as the p-value) of 6 or higher. A result of 6 or higher is typically when scientists begin to take notice of correlations—trained as they are to take them always with a grain of salt.

Brain matter and size are all predictors of better cognitive and neurological health as we age, while neurodegenerative diseases are often found in less-dense brains.

“The study included adults aged 18-97, showing it’s never too early or late to start,” wrote Chris Kresser, founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

“While 75% of participants reported doing some regular physical activity, many didn’t meet standard exercise guidelines—yet still showed brain benefits. This adds to growing evidence that even modest physical activity can protect brain health.”

“Notably, moderate exercise appeared more beneficial than vigorous activity, suggesting you don’t need to be a super-athlete to reap the brain benefits,” he added. New Study of 10,000+ People Revealed Regular Physical Activity Is Linked to Larger Healthier Brains

Read More........→October 09, 2025

Deep Breathing Can Create Psychedelic Bliss in Your Brain, Study Shows

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A study recently found that deep-breathing exercises induce similar patterns of blood flow to the brain seen in patients using psychedelic substances like psilocybin.

This altered state of consciousness matched one first described by Freud, and was characterized by blissful feelings, positively experienced depersonalization, and the sensation of unity.

Breathing exercises like high-ventilation breathing or holotropic breathing have been growing in popularity as forms of neuromodulation that can combat overactive feelings of fear, stress, anxiety, and helplessness.

Exactly why these exercises, known collectively as breathwork, have such a profound, almost psychedelic effect in the brain however, is not known.

To that end, Amy Amla Kartar from Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK, designed a trial to study blood flows in and out of the brain during 20 to 30 minute breathwork sessions accompanied by music.

“Conducting this research was a fantastic experience,” Kartar told PLOS, where the paper on her experiment was published.

“It was thrilling to explore such a novel area—while many people anecdotally recognize the health benefits of breathwork, this style of fast-paced breathing has received very little scientific attention. We are very grateful to our participants for making this work possible.”

Kartar and her team, which included Dr. Alessandro Colossanti, the director of the Colossanti Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, where the experiment took place, analyzed self-reported data from 15 individuals who participated online, 8 individuals who participated in the lab, and 19 individuals who underwent magnetic resonance imaging.

Relaxing music was played at baseline, while progressively evocative music was played during breathwork sessions.

The results showed that the intensity of blissful, psychedelic experiences brought on by breathwork were proportional to cardiovascular sympathetic activation, as indicated by a decrease in heart rate variability.

In addition, these states were associated with a “profound” decrease in blood flow to the left operculum and posterior insula: brain regions implicated in representing the internal state of the body, including breathing. Additionally, large reductions in blood flow to the brain were observed, but there was a progressive increase in blood flow to the right amygdala and anterior hippocampus, which are brain regions involved in the processing of emotional memories.

These blood flow changes correlate with those seen in the brains of patients undergoing psychedelic experiences, demonstrating that these alterations may underlie the positive effects of this breathwork.

During all experimental sessions, participants reported a reduction in fear and negative emotions, with no adverse reactions. In general, the reports matched with something the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, described as “Oceanic Boundlessness,” associated with a blissful feeling of oneness, detachment, and spirituality.

Music alone is not known to produce such profound states, and so the authors suggest that the findings be replicated with larger study groups with more focus into the musical content.

“Breathwork is a powerful yet natural tool for neuromodulation, working through the regulation of metabolism across the body and brain,” said Dr. Colossanti. “It holds tremendous promise as a transformative therapeutic intervention for conditions that are often both distressing and disabling.”Not sure where to get started with breathwork? Popular health influencer Gray Brecka is something of a breathwork missionary, and this 9-minute excerpt from his podcast may be as good a place to start. Deep Breathing Can Create Psychedelic Bliss in Your Brain, Study Shows

Read More........→September 11, 2025

Mentally stimulating down time activities linked to better brain health: study

Canberra, (IANS) Engaging in mentally stimulating activities during down time, such as reading, can be beneficial for brain health, according to an Australian research.

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In a new study, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) found that some sedentary, or sitting, activities are better for cognitive function than others.

The researchers assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of 397 adults aged 60 and above, and found that socially or mentally stimulating activities such as reading, playing musical instruments, crafting or talking to others are beneficial for memory and thinking abilities.

Watching television or playing video games was found to be detrimental.

The researchers said the findings could help reduce the risks of cognitive impairment, including from dementia.

"We already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and this should certainly be prioritised if you are trying to improve your brain health. But until now, we hadn't directly explored whether we can benefit our brain health by swapping one sedentary behavior for another," Xinhua news agency quoted Maddison Mellow, a co-author of the study from UniSA, as saying in the report.

She recommended breaking up time spent watching TV or gaming with five-minute bursts of physical activity or more cognitively-engaged seated activity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 55 million people globally have dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually.

In Australia, about 411,100 people (or one in every 1000 people) are living with dementia. Nearly two-thirds are women. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 55 million people have dementia with nearly 10 million new cases each year.And, while the 'move more, sit less' message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, the research - conducted by a team of UniSA researchers including Mellow, Prof Dot Dumuid, Dr Alexandra Wade, Prof Tim Olds, Dr Ty Stanford, Prof Hannah Keage, and Associate Prof Ashleigh Smith; with researchers from the University of Leicester, and the University of Newcastle - shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to thinking about the link between sedentary behaviours and cognitive function. Mentally stimulating down time activities linked to better brain health: study | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→December 19, 2024

7 Brain damaging habits you should stop today

Brain is the most complex, sensitive and important organ of a human body, which made up of 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses. So for better mental and physical health, we must ensure the systemic process of our brain. But there are some habits that deny our brain’s important nutrients or rapidly kill brain cells put us at risk of mental disorders like depression or anxiety, as well as physical ailments like Alzheimer’s, stroke, epilepsy, and even cancer. Let’s know those habits you must avoid to keep your brain healthy:

1. Skipping Breakfast

Breakfast is considered as the most important meal of the day. Skipping it can result in low blood sugar levels, and that is very damaging to the brain, especially if it happens a lot. Your brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body, and takes up to 20% of the total available glucose in your system each day. Regularly denying your brain enough nourishment causes a deficit in that energy budget, and you’ll find that your brain becomes less responsive to stimuli. So you should never miss your breakfast at time.

2. Poor Sleep

Almost all of you have noticed that after a sleepless or less sleep night you cannot enjoy a relax morning or day. The reason is that insufficient sleep robs your neurons of the ability to function properly. That leads to mental lapses that can affect your work and relationships. But more than that, your senses and reflexes are dulled, making it more likely that you’ll have a dangerous accident.

A continuous lack of sleep harms your memory too and has long-term effects on your brain. Lack of sleep means that these mechanisms cannot get sufficiently activated, and therefore fail to clean your brain from harmful substances. So a person usually needs between 7 to 8.5 hours of sleep per day for optimum overall health.

3. Smoking

As we age the cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of brain cells gets thin. This area of the brain is where important thought processes such as memory, language and perception occur. Nicotine speeds the thinning of your cerebral cortex and can contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. While quitting smoking does lead to some recovery of the cortex, it is slow and may be incomplete. Bottom line, smoking and vaping are terrible for your brain.

4. Too much sugar

Our bodies and our brains need sugar in order to function, but our modern diets include way too much of it. When you eat too much sugar on a regular basis, your cells, including brain cells, are in a state of chronic inflammation.

That impacts the ability of your body to absorb important nutrients from food and begins to starve the brain of what it needs for optimal cognition. Ultimately, you will have a higher risk of dementia and a smaller hippocampus, the region in the brain that manages memory.

5. Too much salt

After all these years of sugar-bashing, you can add another ingredient to the list of nutritional villains: salt. A study published in the journal of JAMA Neurology exposed salt as one factor contributing to high blood pressure. And indeed, research has proven that a high intake of salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to minor cognitive deficits and an increased risk of stroke. A higher risk of stroke can cause quite severe damage to your brain.

6. Taking stress

Chronic stress may affect all over the body. Situational stress is actually a good thing that prepares the body to fight or flee in the face of danger, but when your lifestyle includes chronic stress, the hormone cortisol builds up in the brain and causes lasting damage. Not only can it kill brain cells, it actually causes the brain to shrink. When this shrinking effect hits the prefrontal cortex, your ability to learn and remember becomes impacted. It is imperative that you find a way to relax before it’s too late.

7. Lack of stimulation

Stimulating your brain cells for healthy and fruitful work may be helpful in keeping them functional for a longer period of time. Research has indicated that stimulation of brain cells activates new pathways and better communication of brain cells network, allowing them to be more productive. The more you talk, think, and stimulate your brain cells; the more efficiently it will work. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

Read More........→August 26, 2020

Stop drilling the brain

Earth is now an echo chamber, where all kinds of sounds coalesce and collide, creating what we call noise. In noise we live each moment, as it kills us in ways we don’t know. However, we just shrug off clatter of machines, deafening buzz of aircraft overhead or the babbling hoot of vehicles.

Even music today gets tiringly noisy, what with disharmony unfurling its hood at its heart. More than making us uneasy, noise pollution put us out on health front, leading to hearing loss, and other health conditions including increased heart rate, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraine, disrupted sleep, muscle tension, poor cognitive function, impaired concentration and poor learning skills. The list might go endless. Exposure to deafening noise, even for a few minutes, could cause stress, anxiety, and emotional disorders.

There is no peace in the world, it seems. Each day our ears take in varying levels of noise—be it a rickety mixer or grinder at home, vehicles in the street, growl of machines at work place or even the muffled hum of an air conditioner, they all add to noise we listen to each day. Most people don’t know how harmful noise is, or they just take it for granted. 

They think it is okay to be in the vicinity of a growling machine. The biggest health hazard from noise pollution is hearing loss.

The inner ear has a snail-shaped structure called cochlea, which is lined with numerous tiny hairs.These hairs move back and forth when sound enters the cochlea; they function well only in moderate sounds levels. When heavy sounds enter the ear, the tiny hairs get flattened and damaged, leading to hearing loss.

How much is too much noise? You may be asking. Sound is measured in decibels (dB), starting from zero indicating the quietest sound humans can hear.

One study has measured sounds in a quiet library at 30 dB, usual conversation takes place between 50-60dB, sound rate of busy traffic or a noisy restaurant might hover at 70 dB, and growl at factory may be at 80dB.

Remember your stereo head phones could be booming at 100 dB. Even brief exposure to more than 110dB could damage ears immediately. More than 85 dB sounds can damage ears over time. We have created a “sound hell” for animals as well. Increasing noise pollution affects animals mentally and physically. For example, intolerable noise levels, says a study, decrease milk production in cows, and in chicken it leads to major drop in egg production and stunted growth.

This is especially so in the case of underwater animals like whales and dolphins, who bear the brunt of heavy noise from submarines and ships.

It is time we tamped down noise we produce to a healthy level. Given today’s round-the-clock exposure to plugged-in music, increasing vehicle populations, and clatter of towns and cities, it is an ambitious task. Each of us can at least hone in on the noise we produce and try to manage things quietly, for silence is golden.Source: https://english.madhyamam.com

Read More........→July 22, 2020

Real Food is the Key to Good Brain Health

By Paul Ebeling: A wholesome (real food) diet is the Key to good health.

The USDA recommends a wide variety of foods, including dark green, red, and orange vegetables, whole fruits, and protein foods, such as grass fed beef.

But some foods, in addition to being healthy for the entire body, can give our brains an extra boost, say experts.

Below is a list of 7 foods that keep the human brain healthy and may even make us smarter, as follows:

Salmon

In folklore, fish has always been referred to as “brain food,” and modern science is confirming its truth, especially where salmon is concerned. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which contain the nutrients docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

If your diet is low in omega-3 fatty acids, your brain may age more quickly, according to a study published in the American Academy of Neurology’s journal.

However, a diet higher in omega-3s may protect the aging brain. MRI brain scans and tests, such as problem-solving and multi-tasking, found that those with the lowest levels of omega-3s had lower brain volume and scored lower than those with higher levels.

In addition, astaxanthin, a red pigment found in salmon can also switch on a variation of the FOXO3 gene that protects against aging.

While all humans have the gene, 1 in 3 people carry a version that is associated with longevity.

Animals fed astaxanthin showed an increase of almost 90% in the activation of the FOXO3 longevity gene in their heart tissue.

“By activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, we can make it act like the ‘longevity’ version,” said researcher Dr. Bradley Willcox.

Rosemary

“Rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” said Shakespeare more than 400 years ago, and a British study discovered that merely sniffing a sprig of rosemary boosts learning skills and mood, showing for the first time that blood levels of 1,8-cineole, a chemical found in rosemary, improved cognitive performance.

The study, published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, found that the higher the concentration of 1,8-cineole in the blood, the better the participants scored on tests in both speed and accuracy. Previous studies have shown that rosemary also fights free radical damage and helps protect the aging brain from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Blueberries

Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and other berries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins which give berries their deep color and slow the aging process — the darker the berry, the higher the amounts of antioxidants. A study from the U.K.’s University of Exeter found that a daily cup of fresh or frozen berries fights the inflammation that leads to aging and also improves brain function in seniors.

“In this study we have shown that with just 12 weeks of consuming 30ml of concentrated blueberry juice every day, brain blood flow, brain activation and some aspects of working memory were improved in this group of healthy older adults,” said Dr. Joanna Bowtell. The concentrated juice was equivalent to one ounce, and was equal to about eight ounces of fresh blueberries.

Wine

A study at the University of Illinois found that men who relax with a drink or 2 are better at solving brain teasers than those who do not drink. The study found that not only did the drinkers answer more questions correctly — an average of 9 correct answers for the drinking group Vs 6 correct by the non-drinkers — they also were quicker than the sober chaps — an average of 11.5 secs for the drinkers and 15.2 secs for the sober gents. The amount of alcohol found to boost creative problem solving was the equivalent of 2 medium glasses of wine or 2 pints of beer.

A recent study in the journal Scientific Reports found that drinking low levels of alcohol improves overall brain health by lowering inflammation and helping the brain clear away toxins, including those associated with Alzheimer’s.

Dark Chocolate

A Y 2017 review of studies published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that cocoa beans are a rich source of flavanols, a class of compounds that has neuroprotective effects. Most of the randomized controlled trials found that cocoa flavanols had a beneficial effect on cognitive performance.

For women, eating cocoa after a night of total sleep deprivation actually counteracted the cognitive impairment that such a night brings about. The results are promising for people who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation or work shifts.

In the elderly, factors such as attention, processing speed, working memory, and verbal fluency were greatly improved after eating cocoa, and were most pronounced in those with mild cognitive impairments.

Walnuts

Think it’s a coincidence that the meat of walnuts resembles a brain?

Probably not.

Walnuts have 2X as many brain-healthy antioxidants as almonds, and a recent study conducted at Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center found that eating nuts on a regular basis strengthens the brainwaves associated with learning, memory, healing, cognition, and other essential brain functions.

A study at the University of California found that people who ate the most walnuts performed better on a group of six cognitive tests, and their performance was consistently better regardless of their age or gender.

Coffee

Two studies published in Psychopharmacology found that coffee improved the attention span and cognitive function in older adults.

Another study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that seniors who had drunk 3-5 cups of coffee a day for 21 years lowered their risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by 65%.

A double-blind study from Johns Hopkins University studied non-coffee drinkers and found that drinking coffee after a learning session improved their long-term memory. But, be sure to drink Organic coffee.

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively Source: Live Trading News

Read More........→April 09, 2018

Neurological disabilities... you are what you eat and breathe

Image credit: © Bowie15, iStock\Thinkstock

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A new study is finding that the origins of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia may have at least one of its roots in the exposure to pesticides, solvents and other neurotoxicants.

Phillipe Grandjean, an adjunct professor of environmental health at Harvard's School of Public Health in Cambridge, Mass., said that the risk of neurological dysfunction due to exposure to these toxicants is large and is occurring on a global scale. “I would say basically all children, all pregnant women in the world are at risk to some degree [to toxicants],” Grandjean said, “some of which can damage brain development.” While many of us are aware of the potential problems associated with lead and mercury, scientists just don't know what effects all the chemicals we put in the air, water, and our food may have. For example, Grandjean has found an association between manganese levels and impaired motor skills, while certain solvents have been linked to hyperactivity and aggressive behavior. The reason for that, he added, is that we are all exposed to industrial chemicals. Not all, though, are at equal risk. “It is true,” Grandjean admits, “that there are variations in the degrees of exposure. There are, for example, some developing countries with just enormous exposures to lead and pesticides, while [exposure] may be at least less in some Western countries." Some of these substances are well known. For example, DDT is a pesticide that has been banned in the United States and much of the Western world for decades, but after a period of disuse, it is once again making a comeback for malaria control in some developing countries according to Grandjean. This is not however exclusively a third world problem. “Since grapes” Grandjean explains as an example of an exposed food, “are then exported to say, Northern countries, that are not using it or where it is banned, the substance will enter the food from residues of the pesticide that originate from warmer countries where this pesticide is being used extensively.” One of the difficulties of neurotoxicants is that their effects are insidious. "This is not readily diagnosable,”Grandjean said, “but if you look at a whole population of children then there's a shift of the distribution so that there are fewer smart kids and there are more kids having problems and all of them are functioning at a lower level than they could have been... and I would think every single mother in this country and internationally they would not on behalf of their kids donate away IQ points." Nonetheless, there are a wide number of substances that many children are exposed to regularly. “Manganese is an example, and fluoride, and there are the brominated flame retardants that are being added or have been added to textiles to tents, sleeping bags, uh, sleepwear, furniture, etc. All of those, they are in our drinking water. They are in our house dust. They are in the air pollution.” “The real severe problem here is that there is no country in the world, certainly not the United States, where we are testing industrial chemicals to determine if the products are safe for pregnant women and children with regard to that extremely vulnerable organ the developing brain,” Grandjean stated. The impact of these chemicals may not manifest only in intelligence, but also in fine and gross motor skills, attention, and a variety of other functions regulated by the brain. “The human brain is such a complex organ that is uniquely sensitive to toxic chemicals and since a very large number of industrial chemicals can make it from the mother's bloodstream, through the placenta, into the fetus, and into the fetal brain... then we are essentially exposing a crucial part of our organ functioning to chemicals that can potentially damage the brain cells.” Source: http://sputniknews.com/

Read More........→December 14, 2015

Sleep 7 hrs a night to prevent brain from ageing

Sleeping for seven hours a night can prevent your brain from ageing by an extra two years, according to a new research. American researchers found that older women who slept for seven hours a night had far better concentration and memories than those who slept for nine hours. Those who got less than five hours were also found to suffer, the 'Daily Mail' reported. Scientists believe that those who restrict themselves to seven hours a night can prevent their brain from ageing by an extra two years, compared with those who get too much sleep or not enough. Earlier research has shown that having more than seven hours of sleep a night can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of heart problems and diabetes. However, the new study is one of the first to link it to concentration problems. The research, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Vancouver, Canada, looked at 15,000 women in their seventies over five years. All the participants underwent regular tests to check their memory, concentration and attention span. Those who usually slept for seven hours performed far better than those who got less than five hours, or more than nine. "Our findings support the notion that extreme sleep durations and changes in sleep duration over time may contribute to cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's changes in older adults," lead researcher Elizabeth Devore of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, was quoted as saying by the paper. "The public health implications of these findings could be substantial, as they might lead to the eventual identification of sleep-based strategies for reducing risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's," she added. "A good night's sleep is one of life's pleasures but, once again, this robust research suggests that the quality and duration of sleep are also linked to our cognitive health," a spokesman for the Alzheimer's Society said. "We're not saying you shouldn't enjoy the occasional lie-in, but good-quality sleep, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can all make a difference in reducing your risk," he said Source: Indian Express, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→December 01, 2015

Beautiful faces work like a drug on the brain: research

Pretty faces have the same effect on the brain as drugs. (Thinkstock)Beauty appears to stimulate the same brain region as the opioid morphine, found a new study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Just like tasty food or good music, “being attached to someone, like a romantic partner, is rewarding for people,” said study researcher Olga Chelnokova, a psychologist at the University of Oslo, in Norway. Chelnokova and her colleagues recruited 30 healthy men for their study. Some of the men were given morphine, which activates receptors in the opioid system, and others received an opioid suppressor. The scientists showed the men photographs of women’s faces that varied in attractiveness, which the men could flip through at their own speed. The scientists asked the men to rate how much they liked each of the faces and measured how long they lingered on each one, ‘LiveScience’ reported. Participants who were given morphine rated the most objectively attractive faces very highly. In addition, the morphine takers spent more time viewing the pictures of the faces they found most attractive and less time viewing unattractive faces, suggesting they also wanted those faces more. In comparison, the men taking the opioid suppressor showed less liking and wanting: They rated the attractive faces less highly and spent less time viewing them. to help us personalise your reading experience. Thus, the opioid system might help humans choose the best mate by producing rewarding feelings when seeing those mates, while making unattractive mates less desirable, researchers said. Source: The Indian Express

Read More........→May 28, 2014

Smell may shape human memories

Scents and smells can form the basis of some of the most significant memories humans form in their
lives, a new study suggests. The discovery may provide a means to detect early problems with memory formation and memory retrieval in the brain, researchers said. An international team led by University of Queensland has boosted understanding of the smell-memory connection, showing that olfactory memory in honeybees regulates receptors in their antennae. Bees’ antennae function like a human nose, said Queensland Brain Institute scientists Dr Judith Reinhard and Associate Professor Charles Claudianos. “French novelist Marcel Proust in his novel Remembrance of Things Past (also known as In Search of Lost Time) described how his childhood memories started to flow when he tasted a madeleine cake dipped in linden tea, as he had been given as a child,” Reinhard said. “Our team found that odour memories trigger recall of associated events, and that long-term odour memory formation in the brain regulates the sense of smell in the ‘nose’ via regulating the receptor molecules,” Reinhard said. “Preferences for different foods and beverages are linked to our sense of smell, and our research shows that long-term scent memories modify how odours are perceived,” said Reinhard. “In a nutshell: our smell experiences shape our preferences,” she added. “The study demonstrates for the first time that the ability to smell different things is experience-dependent and modulated by scent conditioning,” said Reinhard. Claudianos said the findings could help explain the wide variability of smell perception in humans and the neurological mechanism underlying the common phenomenon of “acquired taste”, where repeated sensory experience with a flavour or aroma leads to perceptual changes. “This knowledge will provide an enormous insight for understanding food and aroma perception,” he said. “The discovery may also provide a means to detect early problems with memory formation and memory retrieval in the brain,” said Claudianos. Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia or neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease often have an altered sense of smell perception, researchers said. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Source: The Indian Express

Read More........→April 14, 2014

The 10 unexpected virtues of the banana

As it turns out, the banana possesses quite a few hidden virtues. Listed below are just a few of them. Face: The active parts of the banana plants are a major source of antioxidants. Due to the high concentration of phytosterol and polyphenol, the banana counters the ageing of the skin. In addition, bananas face masks contribute to a good skin tone. Even today there is a new anti-aging skin care line based on the banana. Body: The banana ... 

• makes for better digestion thanks to a strong fibre content. 
• has a healing effect. In the traditional medicine of the countries in the southern hemisphere, the banana is known for its healing and soothing properties. It is therefore recommended to use the banana on superficial wounds, burns, skin infections and mouth ulcers. It also helps to rub the skin with the peel of a banana after insect bites to relieve itching and swelling. 
• contributes to the fight against allergic diseases by inhibiting the production of histamine. This is possibly due to the high amount of copper present in the fruit. 
• helps with anaemia. The strong iron content in the banana stimulates the production of haemoglobin. 
• is a natural appetite suppressant. The banana is an excellent snack because it contains just enough sugar and fibre to satisfy the munchies. 
• helps a hangover. Drink a banana milkshake the morning after a night out. The banana has a calming effect on the stomach and milk rehydrates the digestive system. 
• creates better memory. The potassium in the banana develops the brain capacity and therefore also the memory. 

Overall: Banana consumption is good for morale. Due to the rich content of magnesium and vitamin B, the banana contributes to the regulation of the nervous system and the maintenance of a good mood. Banana also appears to play a role as an Antidepressant thanks to the tryptophan content, an essential amino acid in this fruit. Source: Fresh Plaza

Read More........→December 31, 2013

Da Vinci’s last painting discovered in Scottish farmhouse

Fragment of the cover of “Da Vinci's Last Commission: The Most Sensational Detective Story in the History of Art” by Fiona McLaren

A painting believed to be the last work by Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered in Scotland. The owner almost threw the old painting away, but money issues forced her to contact auctioneers. Fiona McLaren, 59, arranged a meeting with the Scottish director of Sotheby's Harry Robertson to value the picture, The People newspaper reports. "I showed it to him and he was staggered, speechless save for a sigh of exclamation,” Fiona told the newspaper. Old masters’ art experts are intrigued. Some believe the work is from the school of Leonardo and dates to the 16th century, others concede Da Vinci might have had a hand in it. “Experts have confirmed Leonardo at least did the under drawing,” Fiona McLaren said. She inherited the painting from her doctor father who received it from one of his patients. For 40 years the possible Renaissance marvel hung in the family’s London home before Fiona and her mother moved to Scotland. The painting might be 500 years old and worth millions, got covered with small stains of white emulsion paint when the McLaren house was redecorated. An examination of the painting will take place at the University of Cambridge's Hamilton Kerr Institute where experts will date and attribute the artwork. "Every time I thought to myself, 'This cannot be right,' I found more evidence that proved it was…I'm convinced without a doubt that it is a genuine Leonardo," McLaren says. Thrilled with possibility of holding Da Vinci’s masterpiece, Fiona McLaren has written a book “Da Vinci's Last Commission: The Most Sensational Detective Story in the History of Art”. Leonardo Da Vinci is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists and the greatest minds of all time. Source: SAM Daily Times

Read More........→December 17, 2013

Herbal Remedies for Migraine

A migraine is a severe headache that is often exacerbated by a number of factors, such as stress, diet, lack of sleep, and even exposure to extreme climatic conditions. It results from a combination of blood vessel enlargement and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels in the brain. Migraine activates the sympathetic nervous system that controls automatic responses to stress and pain. Theactivation of this response leads to the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When trying to combat migraine attack, it is important to treat the underlying causes of the pain as well as to treat the symptoms of the attack. Find in this post, certain simple and effective natural herbal remedies to treat Migraine.

• Henna flowers have found to be beneficial in providing relief from head pain. Dip the flowers in vinegar and rub them on the forehead to ease migraine.
• Eating ginger or having a hot cup of ginger tea with basil leaves is also said to provide soothing relief from pain. Also, chamomile or mint tea works wonders.
• Prepare carrot juice combined with beetroot, cucumber and spinach. Take this preparation for migraine pain relief.
• Drinking fresh juice of ripe grapes is also said to be effective for migraine.
• A cabbage compress can relieve the pressure of the migraine. Just take several cabbage leaves and make a compress and lay on your head.
• Cold compress is thought to relieve the migraine pain. Placing an ice pack at the nape of the neck or surrounding the head with an ice wrap can help reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain, relieving the primary cause of Migraine.
• To treat the symptoms of migraine, put a single drop of pure peppermint oil on the tongue. Massage it on the part of the head that hurts. Peppermint oil is as an effective aid against vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
• Massaging the tensed muscles with tea tree oil will not only make the person feel good but will also relieve migraine.
• The most effective and safe natural medicine is butterbur, also known as petasites. It is available in pill form at the stores and is very effective in treating migraine pain.
• A hot shower is also said to give relief from head pain. Vinegar or Hydrogen peroxide can be added to water bath to relieve tensed muscles.
• Lie down in a dark room for instant relief as bright light makes the headache worst.
• Lie down with your face-up and your head hanging off the edge. Keep your legs elevated to allow the blood circulate to the affected area. Use this in combination with ice therapy to immediately reduce inflammation of the blood vessels.

Diet and Exercise for Migraine:  To combat migraine, eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of
exercise and sleep. Avoid smoking and Alcohol. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration! Migraine can be a result of dehydration, as sweating excessively and heat can trigger migraine attacks. Taking a complex combination of B Vitamins, particularly Vitamin B2 (400 milligrams a day) and B6, in diet or as supplement helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Take vitamins every day for best results. Vitamins will help you stay healthy and migraine-free. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be effective in reducing the intensity and the frequency of migraine attacks. Taking magnesium in diet or as supplement (at a dose of 400 - 600 milligrams/day) it is believed to be effective for menstrual-associated migraines and migraines associated with auras. Take caution that Magnesium may cause diarrhea, if you take too much. Also, consuming CoEnzymeQ10 (300 mg/ day) has proven to be effective in reducing migraine pain. A regular exercise is always recommended to migraine sufferers. Breathing exercises are quite helpful in providing relief. Every time you feel a migraine coming, begin taking long, slow and deep breaths. As you take deep breaths, allow all the tension to flow out of your body. Learn to cope up with day to day stress and anxiety. Get an adequate amount of sleep each night. By implementing a few healthy changes in your daily habits, and taking advantage of these beneficial natural remedies, you may look forward to a migraine-free life. Source: HerbHealtH,

Read More........→December 12, 2013

Researchers identify protein linking exercise to brain health

U.S. researchers said Friday that a protein that is increased during endurance exercise may help boost brain health. Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School found that the protein, called FNDC5, turned on genes that promote brain health and encourage the growth of new nerves involved in learning and memory, when given to non- exercising mice. Source: SAM Daily Times

Read More........→October 14, 2013

Compound in Grapes, Red Wine Could Help Treat Multiple Types of Cancer, Study Finds

Credit: Shutterstock Resveratrol might provide extra punch to cancer cells during treatment

A recent study by a University of Missouri researcher shows that resveratrol, a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can make certain tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment. This research, which studied melanoma cells, follows a previous MU study that found similar results in the treatment of prostate cancer. The next step is for researchers to develop a successful method to deliver the compound to tumor sites and potentially treat many types of cancers. "Our study investigated how resveratrol and radiotherapy inhibit the survival of melanoma cells," said Michael Nicholl, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the MU School of Medicine and surgical oncologist at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, Mo. "This work expands upon our previous success with resveratrol and radiation in prostate cancer. Because of difficulties involved in delivery of adequate amounts of resveratrol to melanoma tumors, the

Credit: University of Missouri

compound is probably not an effective treatment for advanced melanoma at this time." Nicholl The study found that melanoma cells become more susceptible to radiation if they were treated first with resveratrol. The MU researcher found that when the cancer was treated with resveratrol alone, 44 percent of the tumor cells were killed. When the cancer cells were treated with a combination of both resveratrol and radiation, 65 percent of the tumor cells died. Nicholl said his findings could lead to more research into the cancer-fighting benefits of the naturally occurring compound. "We've seen glimmers of possibilities, and it seems that resveratrol could potentially be very important in treating a variety of cancers," Nicholl said. "It comes down to how to administer the resveratrol. If we can develop a successful way to deliver the compound to tumor sites, resveratrol could potentially be used to treat many types of cancers. Melanoma is very tricky due to the nature of how the cancer cells travel throughout the body, but we envision resveratrol could be combined with radiation to treat symptomatic metastatic tumors, which can develop in the brain or bone." Resveratrol supplements are available over the counter in many health food sections at grocery stores. Nicholl does not recommend that patients rely on resveratrol supplements to treat cancer because more research is needed. Nicholl's study was published in the Journal of Surgical Research, the journal for the Association for Academic Surgery. If additional studies are successful within the next few years, MU officials will request authority from the federal government to begin human drug development. This is commonly referred to as the "investigative new drug" status. After this status has been granted, researchers may conduct clinical trials with the hope of developing new treatments for cancer. Contacts and sources: Derek Thompson. University of Missouri-ColumbiaCompound in Grapes, Source: Nano Patents And Innovation

Read More........→October 12, 2013

Intuition alone can help you take right decisions: study

Here is why you can trust your gut feeling to make the right decision! According to a new study, participants made the right call up to 90 per cent of the time when forced to choose between two options based on instinct alone. In a behavioural experiment, Professor Marius Usher of Tel Aviv University's School of Psychological Sciences and his fellow researchers found that intuition is a surprisingly powerful and accurate tool. "Even at the intuitive level, an important part of the decision-making process is the integration of value that is, taking into account the positive and negative factors of each option to come up with an overall picture," Usher said. "The study demonstrates that humans have a remarkable ability to integrate value when they do so intuitively, pointing to the possibility that the brain has a system that specialises in averaging value," Usher said in a statement. This could be the operational system on which common decision-making processes are built. Researchers designed an experiment to put participants through a carefully controlled decision-making process. On a computer screen, participants were shown sequences of pairs of numbers in quick succession. All numbers that appeared on the right of the screen and all on the left were considered a group; each group represented returns on the stock market. Participants were asked to choose which of the two groups of numbers had the highest average. Because the numbers changed so quickly - two to four pairs were shown every second - the participants were unable to memorise the numbers or do proper mathematical calculations. To determine the highest average of either group, they had to rely on "intuitive arithmetic". The participants were able to calculate the different values accurately at exceptional speed, the researchers found. They were also able to process large amounts of data – in fact, their accuracy increased in relation to the amount of data they were presented. When shown six pairs of numbers, for example, the participants chose accurately 65 per cent of the time. But when they were shown 24 pairs, the accuracy rate grew to about 90 per cent. "Intuitively, the human brain has the capacity to take in many pieces of information and decide on an overall value," Usher said. He said that gut reactions can be trusted to make a quality decision. The study was published in the journal PNAS. Source: Indian Express

Read More........→May 22, 2013

Boost Memory with Herb Power!

Today’s chaotic and stressful lifestyle sometimes leads to problems like poor concentration and forgetfulness! Other factors that can cause associated problems are lack of sleep, anxiety, aging, alcoholism, head injury, use of certain medications, etc. Herbs and herbal products can be promising in improving the memory power, without any side effects! Memory boosting herbs can be helpful in reducing anxiety & depression, improving intelligence, relieving learning incapability and by enhancing over all cerebral & cognitive balance. Learn in  this  post  about  such  herbal  formulations to  boost  up

memory power-(1) To enhance memory power, crush about 5g of mandukparni (Centella asiatica) leaves powder, 5g shankhpushpi (Evolvulus alsinoides) powder, 2 almond (Prunus amygdalus) seeds and 1 elaichi (Elettaria cardamomum). Boil the mixture in a glass of milk and take it for 4-6 months for enhancing memory. (2) Having half cooked dana methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum) curry is said to be beneficial in imporving memory power. (3) Mix equal amounts of brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) powder with ashoka(Saraca indica) bark powder. Taking 5g of this formulation daily is said to be effective in improving intelligence and memory recall. Another remedy is to prepare brahmi tea by soaking it in hot water. Steep for some time, filter and drink when cold, on an empty stomach daily. (4) A handful of walnut consumed daily with about 10 g of figs or raisins work as a beneficial remedy for weak memory. (5) Soak 4-5 almonds in water overnight, remove the skin, grind, & boil in a glass of milk. Add a tsp of clarified butter & sugar to taste. Take this formulation for about a month or two. (6) Seeds of ashoka (Saraca indica) should be chewed with betel (Piper betel) leaf for 2-3 weeks for improving intelligence. (7) Take equal proportions of powdered jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) whole plant, ghodavach (Acorus calamus) rhizome & mandukparni leaves and mix. Take ½ tsp of this formulation with honey to strengthen memory. (8) About 1/4th tsp of cinnamon powder can be mixed with honey and taken daily. (9) Administering 1 tsp of satavari (Asparagus recemosus) root powder with milk daily is useful for enhancing

memory.  (10) Ground 4-5 black pepper seeds & make a paste in a tsp of honey. Consume this daily to help improve memory and concentration.Remember, Herbal remedies won't help alone! One has to follow a proper dietary regime for attaining the maximum mental and physicalhealth benefits! Green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits should be included in the diet. Phosphorus rich fruits such as grapes, oranges, apples, figs and dates are considered to be best remedy for weak memory. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for development of the brain and eyes and are found in fish, walnuts, flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, etc. For a strong memory, give your brain a workout by indulging in some brain exercises, like learning a new language, instrument, or sport, or tackling a crossword or puzzles. Yogic exercises, such as pranayam and meditation help a lot to enhance memory naturally. Also, try and avoid the use of sleep inducing drugs as these have an adverse effect on the overall health. Cut down on alcohol and tobacco consumption. Learn to cope up with day-to-day stress and anxiety. Source: HerbHealtH, Source: flickr.com

Read More........→May 10, 2013

Music makes people more productive at workplace: study

Express India, London:  'Moderate' background noise like music or even chatter is better than silence to spark creativity at work, an Indian origin researcher has said. And the right level ideal for work is 70 decibels, which is about the same as the noise made by a car driving past, it added. It’s the 'Goldilocks Principle' said business professor Ravi Mehta who studied the way a brain processes information against different levels of background noise. Not enough noise and the mind tends to have little or no stimulation. Too loud and the distractions are too great. The middle is ‘just right’, said Mehta, of the University of Illinois. As a guide, 70 decibels is about the noise made by one ordinary-sized car going past - a stream of traffic, by comparison, would make around 85 decibels. A lorry’s horn beeping would make 110 decibel but a conversation at a nearby dinner table would be more like 60 decibels. “A moderate level of noise not only enhances creative problem-solving but also leads to a greater adoption of innovative products in certain settings,” said Professor Mehta. “It turns out that around 70 decibels is the sweet spot. If you go beyond that, it’s too loud, and the noise starts to negatively affect creativity. ‘It’s the Goldilocks principle - the middle is just right.’ “An increased level of distraction makes you think ‘out-of-the-box’, what we call abstract thinking or abstract processing, a hallmark of increased creativity. “But when you start to go beyond that moderate level of noise what happens is that distraction becomes so huge that it really starts affecting the thought process,” he added. It means that for those who like to work on their own, for instance, they would be better off in a moderately busy coffee shop than at home in silence. “This is research that people can relate to almost immediately. ‘I’m working in a coffee shop - how does the background volume of the music affect my performance?” he said. “Instead of burying oneself in a quiet room trying to figure out a solution, walking outside of one’s comfort zone and getting into a relatively noisy environment like a cafe may actually trigger the brain to think abstractly, and thus generate creative ideas,” he stated.Source: Express India

Read More........→March 22, 2013

Watch your brain of a stroke

Stroke is a cardiovascular disease that causes physical and cognitive impairment is a major cause of mortality and low labor around the world. It mainly affects older people but can occur in younger patients and even children. Despite its high incidence, there is widespread ignorance about the stroke. Statistics show that every 40 seconds someone suffers a stroke or stroke in the United States, while in Spain, there are about 100 000 new cases each year. Men tend to have more strokes than women, although they present risk during pregnancy or in the weeks afterwards. Stroke or stroke is defined as the interruption of blood supply to anypart of the brain. It is caused by a ruptured blood vessel or because it becomes clogged by a clot or other particle. This is due to the development of fatty deposits on the walls of the vessel (known as atherosclerosis). Watch your brain of a stroke (I) Fat deposits can cause two types of obstruction: 1) thrombosis, which occurs when a clot develops in the same cerebral blood vessel, or 2) embolism, the clot develops somewhere else in the body and then a portion of it breaks off and travels through the bloodstream until it finds a smaller vessel and blocks it. As a result, nerve cells in the brain affected area no longer receive oxygen and unable to work, die after a few minutes. Stroke is known by many names or synonyms, including: Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke or CVA), stroke, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke or apoplectic stroke, among others. Risk factors for stroke : Age, sex, race and family history are factors that increase the risk of stroke or stroke. There are other risk factors such as having suffered a stroke earlier, having high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, excessive alcohol, taking drugs like cocaine, smoking, head trauma, or consumption of certain medications such as birth control pills, among others. Source: Forum Human Health

Read More........→February 12, 2013

Young girls can dance their way to better mental health

Washington, November 21 (ANI): Dancing helps young girls overcome low spirits, stress, fatigues and headaches, besides boosting their mental health and self esteem, according to a new study. This is shown in a study run by Anna Duberg, a physical therapist at Orebro University Hospital and a doctoral candidate at Orebro University in Sweden. Dance also brings enhanced self-esteem and a greater capacity to deal with everyday problems, the researchers said. The dance study included 112 Swedish girls 13 to 19 years of age. On multiple occasions, these girls had gone to see the school nurse for symptoms such as anxiety and depression, fatigue, headaches, and back, neck, and shoulder pain. In the study, 59 of the girls were randomized to a group that regularly danced together two days a week and 53 girls to a control group where the girls did not change their living habits. The study results indicated that the girls in the dance group, despite all the challenges entailed by being a teenage girl, increased their self-esteem compared with the control group. The positive effect persisted at follow-ups four and eight months after the dance training ended. Fully 91 percent of the girls in the dance group felt that the dance study had been a positive experience. In the long run this may also lead to a more healthful lifestyle. (ANI), Source: News Track India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→February 02, 2013