scholarly journals Are People Ready for Personalized Brain Health? Perspectives of Research Participants in the Lifebrain Consortium

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1050-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Bodorkos Friedman ◽  
Sana Suri ◽  
Cristina Solé-Padullés ◽  
Sandra Düzel ◽  
Christian A Drevon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Brain Research ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background and Objectives A healthy brain is central to physical and mental well-being. In this multi-site, qualitative study, we investigated views and attitudes of adult participants in brain research studies on the brain and personalized brain health as well as interest in maintaining a healthy brain. Design and Methods We conducted individual interviews with 44 adult participants in brain research cohorts of the Lifebrain consortium in Spain, Norway, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using a cross-country codebook. The interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Most participants did not focus on their own brain health and expressed uncertainty regarding how to maintain it. Those actively focusing on brain health often picked one specific strategy like diet or memory training. The participants were interested in taking brain health tests to learn about their individual risk of developing brain diseases, and were willing to take measures to maintain their brain health if personalized follow-up was provided and the measures had proven impact. The participants were interested in more information on brain health. No differences in responses were identified between age groups, sex, or countries. Discussion and Implications Concise, practical, personalized, and evidence-based information about the brain may promote brain health. Based on our findings, we have launched an ongoing global brain health survey to acquire more extensive, quantitative, and representative data on public perception of personalized brain health.

Working with others, the lesson of the European Brain Council

2019 ◽  
pp. 159-166
Author(s):  
Jes Olesen ◽  
Frédéric Destrebecq
Keyword(s):  
Brain Research ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Level ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Patient Organizations ◽  
European Brain ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Brain

In neurological advocacy it has often been forgotten that we share interests with related specialties and basic science, as well as with patient organizations and industry. We are all working with the same organ, the brain, and its extensions in the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system. When it comes to influencing at the highest level the European Union or the National Institutes of Health, it is important that all players work together to promote brain research and brain health. That was the aim of the European Brain Council, which successfully united everybody in Europe and managed to greatly improve the attention to brain research and brain diseases at the European level. While cancer and heart diseases have always worked closely together as major players, this was the first time that concerted action on behalf of the brain and its disorders took place and it was highly successful.

scholarly journals Social Volunteering in Aging Adults Increases Regions of the Amygdala and Correlates With Enhanced Generativity

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 795-795
Author(s):  
Michelle Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Volunteer Program ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Intervention Impact ◽  
Aging Adults ◽  
The Brain

Abstract The Brain Health Study (BHS) of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (BECT) examined whether a randomized, controlled trial of an intergenerational social volunteer program, entitled Experience Corps, increased subregions of the amygdala related to socioemotional memory and risk for Alzheimer’s disease in aging adults. We further assessed functional correlates of these intervention-related changes and changes in aging adults’ developmental need to be generative, or, to give back to the well-being of others. The BHS simultaneously randomized 112 men and women (59 intervention; 53 control) within BECT to evaluate intervention impact on biomarkers of brain health at baseline and annual follow-ups during the two-year trial. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed program-specific increases in the shape of the centromedial and basomedial regions of the left amygdala (p’s≤0.05 adjusted), which were correlated with increases in generativity (p’s =0.06). Meaningful social engagement buffered amygdalar declines important to preservation of emotionally salient memory and risk for dementia. Part of a symposium sponsored by Brain Interest Group.

scholarly journals EXERCISE EFFECTS ON WELL-BEING ON CANADIAN WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 65

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S124-S124
Author(s):  
Holly A Bardutz ◽  
Constance Corley
Keyword(s):  
Comparison Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Canadian Society ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Exercise Classes ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Two groups of Canadian women, over the age of 65, were interviewed (n = 20) in a study focused on brain health. The first group (n = 12) regularly attended exercise classes and met the exercise standards of the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists for the age group over 65 years for at least six months. Women in the comparison group (n = 8) had been taking adult education classes twice a week or more for at least six months. Thematic coding was used to analyze the results. Both groups reported benefits from their participation in their respective groups. However, the results show that the group who exercised regularly consistently reported improved mood, increased mental alertness, a better ability to handle stress, less pain, and improved sleep. These factors were not reported by the non-exercise group, which did benefit by gaining new knowledge, making new friends and feeling good because they were learning new things. This study suggests that Canadian women over the age of 65 who have been exercising regularly report many of the effects of exercise on the brain that are beneficial to their well-being. They did not specifically mention the new brain cells being made (neurogenesis) nor did they note neuronal rewiring (neuroplasticity), however they did self-report some psychological benefits that the Comparison Group did not report, as noted above. This research has implications for both practice and research.

scholarly journals Physical Activity vs. Redox Balance in the Brain: Brain Health, Aging and Diseases

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Paweł Sutkowy ◽  
Alina Woźniak ◽  
Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska ◽  
Karolina Szewczyk-Golec ◽  
Roland Wesołowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Redox Balance ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Health Aging ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

It has been proven that physical exercise improves cognitive function and memory, has an analgesic and antidepressant effect, and delays the aging of the brain and the development of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. There are even attempts to use physical activity in the treatment of mental diseases. The course of most diseases is strictly associated with oxidative stress, which can be prevented or alleviated with regular exercise. It has been proven that physical exercise helps to maintain the oxidant–antioxidant balance. In this review, we present the current knowledge on redox balance in the organism and the consequences of its disruption, while focusing mainly on the brain. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of physical activity on aging and brain diseases, and present current recommendations and directions for further research in this area.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Brain Health: Global Council on Brain Health Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 22-23
Author(s):  
Sarah Lock ◽  
Lindsay Chura
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Brain

Abstract With growing evidence that the coronavirus directly harms the brain and indirectly harms mental well-being due to social isolation and new, increased stressors, the GCBH recognized the urgent need to inform adults age 50+ about ways to their protect brain health as the pandemic continues. In our latest report, the GCBH describes the known neurological symptoms occurring in the short and long term for adults, providing 10 recommendations to protect brain health and urging research in 11 different areas. Calling for an all-of-society approach to protect the brain health of everyone, the GCBH described the negative effects of COVID-19 on people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and to the impact of health care inequalities. For example, people with dementia were twice as likely to catch the virus as those without dementia; African Americans with dementia had nearly three times the risk of COVID-19 as Caucasians with dementia. The GCBH also points out that caregivers for those living with dementia have experienced particular stress and provided resources and guidance. The Council spotlights the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on the vulnerable, including racial and ethnic minorities and those living in low- to middle-income countries. After attending this session, participants will be able to identify the neurological impacts of COVID-19, understand the various ways to mitigate risks to brain health, and learn which areas of research will be critical in the future. These recommendations were developed and put forth by the Global Council on Brain Health Governance Committee and Issue Experts.

scholarly journals Curcumin’s Nanomedicine Formulations for Therapeutic Application in Neurological Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahare Salehi ◽  
Daniela Calina ◽  
Anca Docea ◽  
Niranjan Koirala ◽  
Sushant Aryal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Metal Chelation ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Control Center ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Brain

The brain is the body’s control center, so when a disease affects it, the outcomes are devastating. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis are brain diseases that cause a large number of human deaths worldwide. Curcumin has demonstrated beneficial effects on brain health through several mechanisms such as antioxidant, amyloid β-binding, anti-inflammatory, tau inhibition, metal chelation, neurogenesis activity, and synaptogenesis promotion. The therapeutic limitation of curcumin is its bioavailability, and to address this problem, new nanoformulations are being developed. The present review aims to summarize the general bioactivity of curcumin in neurological disorders, how functional molecules are extracted, and the different types of nanoformulations available.

“Brainstorming”: Extracellular Vesicles in Physical Activity and Neuronal Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-59
Author(s):  
Alexandra Brahmer ◽  
Eva-Maria Krämer-Albers
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Communication Processes ◽  
And Function ◽  
Complex Architecture ◽  
Neuronal Maintenance ◽  
The Brain

Physical and mental activity are known to contribute to brain health and overall longevity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted attention for their ability to transport bioactive cargo through various body-fluids and their role in tissue crosstalk and regeneration. Targeted intercellular communication processes, including those facilitated by EVs, are of vital importance for the complex architecture and function of the brain. Activated neurons trigger the transfer of EVs from myelinating oligodendrocytes to neurons, promoting neuronal long-term maintenance and survival. Likewise, physical activity leads to the liberation of EVs into the circulation, while the molecular link between physical activity and neural performance is not yet fully understood. Interestingly, there are indications that EVs might be able to overcome the blood-brain-barrier and affect neuronal cells. Here, we discuss the ability of EVs to “storm the brain” in response to neural and physical activity in benefit of well-being and sustained brain health. Keywords: oligodendrocytes, neuron-glia interaction, extracellular vesicles, physical exercise, neuronal maintenance, neuroprotection

A new method to predict anomaly in brain network based on graph deep learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-689
Author(s):  
Jalal Mirakhorli ◽  
Hamidreza Amindavar ◽  
Mojgan Mirakhorli
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
High Order ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
Generative Adversarial Network ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Connections

AbstractFunctional magnetic resonance imaging a neuroimaging technique which is used in brain disorders and dysfunction studies, has been improved in recent years by mapping the topology of the brain connections, named connectopic mapping. Based on the fact that healthy and unhealthy brain regions and functions differ slightly, studying the complex topology of the functional and structural networks in the human brain is too complicated considering the growth of evaluation measures. One of the applications of irregular graph deep learning is to analyze the human cognitive functions related to the gene expression and related distributed spatial patterns. Since a variety of brain solutions can be dynamically held in the neuronal networks of the brain with different activity patterns and functional connectivity, both node-centric and graph-centric tasks are involved in this application. In this study, we used an individual generative model and high order graph analysis for the region of interest recognition areas of the brain with abnormal connection during performing certain tasks and resting-state or decompose irregular observations. Accordingly, a high order framework of Variational Graph Autoencoder with a Gaussian distributer was proposed in the paper to analyze the functional data in brain imaging studies in which Generative Adversarial Network is employed for optimizing the latent space in the process of learning strong non-rigid graphs among large scale data. Furthermore, the possible modes of correlations were distinguished in abnormal brain connections. Our goal was to find the degree of correlation between the affected regions and their simultaneous occurrence over time. We can take advantage of this to diagnose brain diseases or show the ability of the nervous system to modify brain topology at all angles and brain plasticity according to input stimuli. In this study, we particularly focused on Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Herbal Remedies and Their Possible Effect on the GABAergic System and Sleep

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 530
Author(s):  
Oliviero Bruni ◽  
Luigi Ferini-Strambi ◽  
Elena Giacomoni ◽  
Paolo Pellegrino
Keyword(s):  
Gaba Receptors ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Molecular Components ◽  
The Brain

Sleep is an essential component of physical and emotional well-being, and lack, or disruption, of sleep due to insomnia is a highly prevalent problem. The interest in complementary and alternative medicines for treating or preventing insomnia has increased recently. Centuries-old herbal treatments, popular for their safety and effectiveness, include valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, lavender, and Californian poppy. These herbal medicines have been shown to reduce sleep latency and increase subjective and objective measures of sleep quality. Research into their molecular components revealed that their sedative and sleep-promoting properties rely on interactions with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states. GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines. Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control. Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.

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