Study on ASMR Videos and Sensitivity to Environment
University of Essex Fans of ASMR videos are more likely to be sensitive to their surroundings and feelings, University of Essex research has revealed. ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, has swept the internet with millions watching viral clips of whispered voices, delicate hand movements or tapping. Mysteriously only some people feel this […]
Diagnosed Cases of “Cognitive Decline” More Than Double in Last Ten Years
University College London The researchers set out to see if there had been an increase in the numbers of older people who were reporting their first concerns about memory loss or cognitive decline to their doctor and what their chances of developing dementia were after consultation. The study, published today in Clinical Epidemiology, looked at […]
Effects of Social Media on Adolescence Differs Between Boys and Girls
University of Cambridge Girls and boys might be more vulnerable to the negative effects of social media use at different times during their adolescence, say an international team of scientists. In a study published today in Nature Communications, the researchers show that, in UK data, girls experience a negative link between social media use and […]
Closer to a Universal Plastic Recycling Option?
ETH Zurich A team of ETH researchers led by Athina Anastasaki have succeeded in breaking down plastic into its molecular building blocks and in recovering over 90 percent of them — a first step towards genuine plastic recycling. The chemical industry has a long tradition of producing polymers. This involves turning small molecular building blocks […]
Using Anthrax for Pain Management
Razi Berry Anthrax has a scary reputation. Widely known to cause serious lung infections in humans and unsightly, albeit painless, skin lesions in livestock and people, the anthrax bacterium has even been used as a weapon of terror. Now the findings of a new study suggest the dreaded microbe also has unexpected beneficial potential — […]
Do Children with ASD Recognize Mother’s Voice?
Razi Berry Motherese is a form of simplified, exaggerated melodic speech that parents use to communicate with newborns and young toddlers. A horse becomes horsie; a dog becomes doggie; parents become mama and dada. The tendency to speak in such short sing-song phrases is universal across cultures. Previous research has shown that infants prefer to […]
Increasing Choline During Pregnancy Increases Attention of Child
Razi Berry Seven-year-old children performed better on a challenging task requiring sustained attention if their mothers consumed twice the recommended amount of choline during their pregnancy, a new Cornell study has found. The study, which compared these children with those whose mothers had consumed the recommended amount of choline, suggests that the recommended choline intake […]
Academic Pursuits Does Help Healthy Brain Aging
Razi Berry The benefits of good education and lifelong learning extend into old age. The initial findings of a long-term study show that certain degenerative processes are reduced in the brains of academics. Their brains are better able to compensate age-related cognitive and neural limitations. A good education is an excellent way to embark on […]
Genetic Link to Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
Razi Berry The brain has a natural protective mechanism against Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and collaborating institutions have discovered that gene variants associated with risk of developing the disease disturb the protective mechanism in ways that can lead to neurodegeneration. The researchers also showed in a fruit […]
Olive Oil Great for the Heart
Razi Berry Consuming more than 7 grams (>1/2 tablespoon) of olive oil per day is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, neurodegenerative disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, according to a study publishing today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study found that replacing about 10 grams/day […]