News Feature Channel: Cognition and Learning

Highly Accurate Blood Test Diagnoses Alzheimer's Disease, Measures Extent of Dementia

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 EST

A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer's disease not only aids in the diagnosis of the neurodegenerative condition but also indicates how far it has progressed, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden.

Study Unlocks How Diabetes Distorts Memory and Reward Processing

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:05:50 EST

Type 2 diabetes may rewire the brain in ways that mimic early Alzheimer's disease -- and UNLV researchers say the "why" may lie in a previously unexplored connection between high blood sugar levels and a key part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

How Cells Respond to Stress Is More Nuanced Than Previously Believed

Case Western Reserve University — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:00:00 EST

The body's cells respond to stress--toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults--by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.

Highly Educated People Face Steeper Mental Declines After Stroke

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:00:00 EST

Stroke survivors who have attended some level of higher education may face even steeper mental declines, according to a study led by Michigan Medicine. The findings suggest that attending higher education may enable people to retain greater cognitive ability until a critical threshold of brain injury is reached after a stroke.

Pioneering Tests Could Improve the Assessment of Dementia in Ageing Africans

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:35:01 EST

Researchers have introduced specialised dementia tests tailored for older African adults, improving on standard cognitive assessments. These tools, part of HAALSI-HCAP, aim to address data gaps in Africa's ageing studies. The initiative aligns with global efforts and may inform national dementia surveys in South Africa.

How Cholesterol Regulation May Affect Alzheimer's Development

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:45:53 EST

To determine the underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a research team from the UC San Francisco's Memory & Aging Center made use of brain tissue samples from two brain regions with differing susceptibility to AD.

Exercise of Any Kind Boosts Brainpower at Any Age

University of South Australia — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:41 EST

Whether it's an early morning jog, or a touch of Tai Chi, groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults

How the Brain Links Related Memories Formed Close in Time

Ohio State University — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:45:38 EST

If you've ever noticed how memories from the same day seem connected while events from weeks apart feel separate, a new study reveals the reason: Our brains physically link memories that occur close in time not in the cell bodies of neurons, but rather in their spiny extensions called dendrites.

Influencing Without Authority: The Currency of Collaboration

University of Michigan Ross School of Business — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:30:49 EST

The ability to influence others can often mean the difference between success and missed opportunity. But, in contemporary organizations that are flatter and more cross-functional today, the reach of formal job ranks and titles becomes increasingly limited and less receptive to incoming generations.

Boosting Brain's Waste Removal System Improves Memory in Old Mice

Washington University in St. Louis — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:00:00 EST

Aging compromises the lymphatic vessels surrounding the brain, disabling waste drainage from the brain and impacting cognitive function. Researchers at WashU Medicine boosted lymphatic vessel integrity in old mice and found improvements in their memory compared with old mice without rejuvenated lymphatic vessels.

New Rules for the Game of Memory

University of Chicago Medical Center — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:00:27 EST

New research from UChicago upends traditional views on how synaptic plasticity supports memory and learning.

Severance Explained: Could You Really Separate Your Memories?

Binghamton University, State University of New York — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:30:55 EST

In AppleTV's "Severance," characters separate their work memories from their personal memories -- but could that really happen?

Anti-Amyloid Drug Shows Signs of Preventing Alzheimer's Dementia

Washington University in St. Louis — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:30:00 EST

An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a study led by the Knight Family Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), which is based at WashU Medicine.

Scent-Sational Advancement in Canine Research!

Bar-Ilan University — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:45:47 EST

A pioneering study investigating the brain activity of dogs during scent detection has unveiled crucial insights into their remarkable olfactory capabilities. Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed an optical sensor capable of remote sensing dogs' brain activity in three key regions-- the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and amygdala-- that play a critical role in how dogs distinguish between different smells.

Mastery of Language Could Predict Longevity

Association for Psychological Science — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:00:19 EST

A recent study has linked longevity specifically to verbal fluency, the measure of one's vocabulary and ability to use it.

Preschoolers Can Reason Better Than We Think

Universite de Montreal — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:30:04 EST

Education researcher Sarah Dufour explores how young children sort, classify and group the toys they play with.

Wayne State University Research Reveals New Data in How the Brain Learns New Information

Wayne State University Division of Research — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:10:04 EST

Wayne State University researchers are using photoacoustic imaging to observe brain activity and, in the process, discovering more about how it responds to different types of learning and experiences. The team's findings were recently published in the science journal Photoacoustics.

More Than Marks: How Wellbeing Shapes Academic Success

University of South Australia — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:30:52 EST

A world first* study of more than 215,000 students, UniSA researchers found that while standardised tests measure academic skills, different dimensions of wellbeing - emotional wellbeing, engagement, and learning readiness - can play a crucial role in performance.

Good Parenting Helps, but Has Limits Under Major Deprivation

Washington University in St. Louis — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:20:01 EST

Parenting skills can make a big difference in fostering a newborn's language acquisition and cognition, but there may be a limit to how far parenting can go to make up the challenges to developing this skill in those born in highly disadvantaged backgrounds.

Children Who Lack Fish in Their Diets Are Less Sociable and Kind, Study Finds

University of Bristol — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:10 EST

Children who consumed the least amounts of seafood at 7-years-old were likely to be less 'prosocial' at ages 7 and 9 years than those who regularly consumed seafood, according to a new study led by the University of Bristol, UK. 'Prosocial' behaviour includes friendly interactions, altruism, and sharing.