Gut Microbiome Link To ADHD Reinforced In Scientific Review
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4 days ago
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Attention! Road Safety Trial To Measure Brain Activity In Older Drivers
Press Release – University of the Sunshine Coast Samantha Ellis, a PhD candidate at the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration, explained the research will specifically examine brain activity and how it relates to driving. University of the Sunshine Coast researchers are seeking older drivers for a new trial measuring age-related changes in attention, as part of a broader program to develop a screening method for assessing cognitive fitness to drive. Samantha Ellis, a PhD candidate at the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration, explained the research will specifically examine brain activity and how it relates to driving. 'While a number of factors are important, we know that our ability to focus on the road is fundamental to safe driving,' she said. 'As we age, it's natural to experience changes in our attentional abilities. While these changes are normal, it is important to understand how they may impact our driving performance.' To measure this, researchers will have eligible participants perform computerised attention tasks while measuring their brain activity using an EEG. Participants will then complete measures of simulated driving to see how they respond and react behind the wheel, which will be compared to a control group of drivers aged below 30, with at least three years of driving experience. 'Unlike standard cognitive tests, the EEG will allow us to measure brain activity associated with attention in real-time,' Ms Ellis said. 'This will allow us to better understand how the measured brain activity relates to driving performance.' Researchers expect the trial will provide greater insights on how attention impacts driving ability as we get older, including whether compensatory behaviours have a place in maintaining safety. Senior Research Fellow Dr Kayla Stefanidis said this was crucial for informing the development of better tools to accurately assess cognitive fitness to drive. 'We want to keep older drivers who are safe, driving for as long as possible,' she said. Currently GPs and health professionals make assessments without the aid of any standardised measure or test for assessing cognitive fitness to drive. 'The development of a cognitive screening tool would help GPs and other health professionals accurately identify whether a patient requires further testing,' Dr Stefanidis said. 'For older adults, it could also reduce costly and unnecessary assessments in older adults who do not require them.' To be eligible, participants must be aged 60-90 and able to attend one appointment at the University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs campus. People that wish to take part in the study can find out more here ( or contact the research team at ADS@
Scoop
07-08-2025
- Scoop
Your Lifestyle Could Be Affecting Your Brain's ‘Brake System' And Be Putting You At A Higher Risk Of Dementia
Forty-five percent of dementia cases are potentially preventable, and simple lifestyle choices including exercise, diet and social connection all contribute to your risk score. But what if these risk factors were leaving chemical warning signs of decline in your brain – long before any symptoms of dementia played out? Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast's Thompson Institute believe they've found just that. It not only opens new avenues for early detection in dementia research – it could also help our understanding of how the brain deteriorates to increase risk of earlier dementia. The study, published today in Cerebral Cortex, used Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MR-spectroscopy to measure the brain chemical levels of 79 healthy older adults. All participants had normal memory, thinking skills and cognitive function. What varied was their modifiable-dementia risk score – calculated from health and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep, social engagement, and diet. Lead author Dr Jacob Levenstein said the research team discovered specific patterns in individuals' brain chemistry relating to that risk score. 'We examined the concentration levels of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) – which you can think of as the brain's 'brake system' he said. 'GABA is a neurochemical messenger that helps calm down brain activity and keep neural networks balanced. These results suggest 'riskier' lifestyle choices could hinder the brain's ability to properly regulate itself," he said. "We found that with higher modifiable dementia risk scores, individuals had lower GABA concentrations in movement and sensory brain regions. 'In the prefrontal cortex – a brain region that handles complex thinking and decision-making – we also found that with higher modifiable dementia risk, individuals had lower concentrations of total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA) and total choline (tCho). 'These two neurochemicals play important roles in brain tissue health and cell-to-cell communication. 'Lower levels of these neurochemicals in the brain's 'command centre' may suggest deterioration occurs long before noticeable changes in behaviour or memory.' The findings not only open the door for new early detection and intervention research, they also shed light on how the brain might deteriorate before dementia sets in. 'Crucially, these three neurochemical markers were identified in healthy older adults, meaning they could play a role in the detection of dementia years before behavioural symptoms appear, giving a head-start on prevention and mitigation' Dr Levenstein said. As co-author of the research and Lead of the Thompson Institute's Healthy Brain Ageing Program Dr Sophie Andrews points out, there is additional good news in these findings too. 'These are modifiable factors. You can make simple everyday choices that will improve your brain's health trajectory,' she said. 'We've shown that simple things like improving physical activity levels and sleep quality, looking after your mental health, and moving toward a Mediterranean-style diet, can significantly improve your outlook.'
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Scoop
Global Review Finds Mediterranean Diet May Play Key Role In Managing ADHD
It's the superhero of the nutrition world, and now a scientific review has shown the potential power of the Mediterranean diet to help manage the symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The recently published review by the University of the Sunshine Coast is one of the first to directly research the benefits of the Mediterranean diet – with its high intake of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and extra-virgin olive oil – versus unhealthy diets typically high in sugar, additives and saturated fats, to lessen ADHD symptoms. UniSC Psychology researcher Naomi Lewis said the novel review examined all available global evidence on the key nutrients and dietary patterns implicated in ADHD, and linked the findings to underlying biological mechanisms such as gut imbalance and inflammation. 'We found strong evidence that diet and nutrition may be more important than we think when it comes to managing ADHD symptoms and providing protective benefits,' she said. The study builds on earlier findings by the researchers on the role of diet in brain-gut inflammation pathways in ADHD, that an imbalance of good versus bad gut microorganisms may impact the severity of symptoms. 'What we eat plays a big role in the health of our gut microbiome, which are the trillions of bacteria and other microbes in our digestive system that help support brain and overall health,' Ms Lewis said. 'When these microbes become imbalanced, it can affect our physical and mental wellbeing, including possibly making symptoms of ADHD worse. This is because an imbalanced gut can lead to harmful states such as inflammation that can affect how the brain functions. 'A diet high in fibre, healthy fats such as omega-3s, and antioxidants helps good bacteria in our guts to thrive, whereas too much sugar, saturated fat, and other components of a highly processed diet could promote harmful bacteria and inflammation.' UniSC Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics Dr Anthony Villani said the Mediterranean diet was under-researched in ADHD, with a lack of robust trials investigating dietary strategies in its management. 'Most research to date has focused on elimination diets, with very limited exploration of the Mediterranean diet,' Dr Villani said. 'We know from other studies that children and adolescents with ADHD – a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity – tend to have poorer diets, compared to those without. 'These diets are often highly processed and at risk of being deficient in certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, magnesium, vitamin D and B vitamins, known to support optimal brain functioning. 'Following a Mediterranean-based diet has great potential to help improve ADHD symptoms by improving gut health and lowering inflammation as it is rich in anti-inflammatory foods and fibre such as olive oil, fruits, vegetables and fish." While medications are the most common treatment for managing symptoms of ADHD, they are associated with side effects and many people do not respond effectively. 'While it's not a cure for ADHD, a Mediterranean-based diet, as well as targeted supplements, may help some people better regulate ADHD behaviours more effectively. It's a low-risk, affordable option worth considering,' Dr Villani said. The researchers recommend clinical trials to determine the clinical utility and effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in ADHD management.
