cognitive

New research finds that longer breastfeeding durations were associated with higher verbal and spatial cognitive scores during childhood.Breastfeeding duration is linked with improved cognitive scores at ages 5 through 14, even after controlling for socioeconomic position and maternal cognitive ability, according to a new research study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Reneé Pereyra-Elías, Maria Quigley, and Claire Carson of the <span class="glossaryLink"…

Comparing those with type 2 diabetes and those without, a new study published in the journal eLife has found the disease significantly accelerates brain aging. While the pattern of neurodegeneration is similar to normal brain aging, it was found to progress around 26 percent faster in those with the largely preventable disease.For the first-of-its-kind study, the researchers drew on a dataset from the UK Biobank, specifically brain structure and function data for 20,000 people aged 50 to 80 years old. Using this data and…

People struggling with insomnia in the middle of their lives are at a greater risk of developing cognitive problems later in life, according to a new study involving 3,748 participants from Finland.  Those cognitive problems include issues with memory, concentration, and learning ability, researchers report – and the longer the insomnia lasts for, the worse these brain functions are likely to be as the years roll on, whereas if insomnia symptoms ease, cognitive function tends to stay healthier in later life.We already…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain What are the barriers to the adoption of electric cars? Although the main financial and technological obstacles have been removed, their market share still needs to increase. In a recent study, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) investigated the cognitive factors that still dissuade many people from switching to electric cars. They found that car owners systematically underestimate…

Researchers have linked spending more time playing video games with a boost in intelligence in children, which goes some way to contradicting the narrative that gaming is bad for young minds.  While the difference in cognitive abilities was a small one and isn't enough to show a causal relationship, it is enough to be notable – and the study was careful to factor in variables including differences in genetics and the child's socio-economic background.Meanwhile, watching TV and using social media didn't seem to have a…

Sony Bravia A75K Smart TV with 4K OLED display has been unveiled. The smart TV comes with multiple video-related technologies and features such as Cognitive Processor XR, XR OLED Contrast Pro, XR Triluminos Pro, Auto Low Latency Mode, Acoustic Surface Audio, support for virtual assistants, and a smart remote. The Sony Bravia A75K will be available in two display sizes: 55 inches that will have a model number XR-55A75K and 65 inches with model number XR-65A75K. One of the USPs of this Sony TV is that it comes with two HDMI…

According to a team of scientists, cognitive impairment as a result of severe COVID-19 is similar to that sustained from the 20 years of aging between 50 and 70 and is the equivalent of losing 10 IQ points.Cognitive impairment as a result of severe <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>COVID-19</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious…

Sleep – a lot like eating food – is one of those things we need to live, but seemingly there are plenty of ways to do it wrong.  A new study has weighed into the debate. Looking at UK Biobank data from almost 500,000 adults, researchers conclude that seven hours of sleep per night is the optimal amount for good mental health, wellbeing and cognitive performance, for people in their late 30s to early 70s.  "We identified a nonlinear association between sleep, with approximately seven hours as the optimal sleep duration,…

We all know that COVID-19 can lead to lingering fatigue and brain fog. But one of the most rigorous examinations to date of the long-term cognitive impacts of severe infection has just yielded some pretty unsettling results.  In a study comparing 46 severe COVID-19 patients with 460 matched controls, researchers found the mental impacts of severe COVID-19 six months later can be the equivalent to aging 20 years – going from 50 to 70 years old – or losing 10 IQ points.The specific mental changes were also distinct to…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New research from Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas demonstrates that professional development with a focus on neuroscience equips teachers with the tools and confidence to reduce learning gaps in eighth grade students, as measured by State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) performance.…