Cognition Archives

Testing gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

University Hospitals Case Medical Center testing gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease — Phase 2 study will examine effectiveness, safety of nerve growth factor in slowing AD – University Hospitals Case Medical Center is one of 12 sites conducting the first Phase 2 clinical trial of a gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study uses a viral-based gene transfer system called CERE-110, which is designed to deliver nerve growth factor (NGF) into the brain.

Ginkgo biloba does not appear to slow rate of cognitive decline

Compared with placebo, the use of G biloba, 120 mg twice daily, did not result in less cognitive decline in older adults with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment. – Older adults who used the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba for several years did not have a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to adults who received placebo.

New Down syndrome treatment suggested by US researchers

New Down syndrome treatment suggested by Stanford/Packard study — Cognitive dysfunction reversed in mouse model of Down syndrome. – Findings from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital shed light on the neural basis of memory defects in Down syndrome and suggest a new strategy for treating the defects with medication.

Low fat diet improves mood in dieters

Mood improves on low-fat, but not low-carb, diet plan – A low calorie, low fat diet appears more beneficial to dieters’ mood than a low carbohydrate plan with the same number of calories, revealed by researchers.

Reduced muscle strength increases Alzheimer’s disease risk

Reduced muscle strength associated with risk for Alzheimer’s disease – Individuals with weaker muscles appear to have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and declines in cognitive function over time, revealed by the researchers.

Smoking in pregnancy causes psychotic symptoms in teenager

Smoking during pregnancy puts children at risk of psychotic symptoms – Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms in their teenage years. New research published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry shows a link between maternal tobacco use and psychotic symptoms.

Short stress may enhance learning and memory

Short stressful events may improve working memory – Acute stress – a short stressful incident – may enhance learning and memory through the effect of the stress hormone cortisol on the brain’s prefrontal cortex, revealed by researchers at the University at Buffalo.

FASD children have more behavioral problems than ADHD children

Children with FASD have more severe behavioral problems than children with ADHD – Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a high risk of psychiatric problems, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, or both.

HIV progresses faster in women than in men

Study may explain why HIV progresses faster in women than in men with same viral load — Pathways related to elevated immune activation could lead to new treatment strategies. – One of the continuing mysteries of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is why women usually develop lower viral levels than men following acute HIV-1 infection but progress faster to AIDS than men with similar viral loads.

Schizophrenia linked to common genetic variations

Schizophrenia linked for first time to chromosome region in study led by Stanford scientists — Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share genetic roots. – Researchers has discovered that nearly a third of the genetic basis of schizophrenia may be attributed to the cumulative actions of thousands of common genetic variants.

Parkinson’s disease alters ability to learn from rewards

New findings on Parkinson’s disease and effect on patient behavior — Parkinson’s disease alters patient’s ability to learn from rewards while treatment affects ability to learn from negative outcome — research reveals possible link to depression, impulse control disorders. – Parkinson’s disease alters patient’s ability to learn from rewards while treatment affects ability to learn from negative outcome — research reveals possible link to depression, impulse control disorders.

US seniors smarter than English seniors

Study shows US seniors ‘smarter’ than English seniors – The first international comparison of cognitive function shows US seniors perform better than English counterparts. – US seniors performed significantly better that their English counterparts, revealed by researchers. The finding is surprising because older people in the US are known to suffer more from cardiovascular risk factors and diseases generally associated with more cognitive decline and poorer mental function.