Latest news with #ShahabHaghayegh
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Want Better Sleep or More Energy? Time Your Showers Right
Morning or night? It's one of the most debated bathroom routines out there, but according to sleep researchers and wellness experts, the best time to shower might depend entirely on what you want to get out of it. If you're struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, switching to a warm nighttime shower could make a surprising difference. Time reported that research from Shahab Haghayegh, a sleep expert at Harvard Medical School, shows that a warm shower taken one to two hours before bed helps align your body's temperature with its natural circadian rhythm. That drop in core body temperature signals to your brain that it's time to wind down, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. 'The body clock doesn't change that easily,' Haghayegh says. 'But consistent nighttime showering can help shift your bedtime earlier and improve sleep quality.' There's also a creative bonus. Evening showers, when your mind is less focused and more relaxed, can trigger free association, giving way to breakthrough ideas or solutions. In short, it's the perfect environment for spontaneous thinking. Prefer morning showers? You're not wrong either. Cold morning showers, especially those paired with stimulating scents like rosemary or citrus, can kickstart alertness, improve your mood, and even enhance circulation. They also reinforce your body's natural temperature rise after waking, which helps shake off grogginess and get you into gear faster. For many, it's also a matter of practicality. Morning showers tame unruly bedhead, freshen you up post-sleep, and help you start the day with focus. Meanwhile, nighttime showers may be essential for those who sweat a lot, live in polluted areas, or want to keep their sheets clean. Ultimately, it's not about choosing the 'right' side. It's about aligning your routine with your goals. Whether you're looking to recharge or reset, your shower can be more than just a rinse. It can be a habit that supports better sleep, sharper focus, and a healthier Better Sleep or More Energy? Time Your Showers Right first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 11, 2025
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New AI tool predicts brain decline years before symptoms appear — how it could help fight dementia
Who needs a crystal ball when you've got artificial intelligence? Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a potentially game-changing AI tool capable of detecting subtle changes in brain wave patterns that could predict cognitive decline years before symptoms appear. 'This could completely change how we approach dementia prevention,' said Dr. Shahab Haghayegh, lead author of the study and an instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The AI tool works its magic by analyzing brain wave activity recorded during sleep using an electroencephalography (EEG) — a non-invasive technique that tracks electrical activity in the brain through sensors on the scalp. The AI tool was developed using data from a separate trial on fracture risk, where women aged 65 and older took cognitive tests around the same time they participated in a sleep study that included an overnight EEG. Haghayegh and his team honed in on 281 participants who had normal cognitive function at the time of the initial sleep study, then repeated the same cognitive tests five years later. By the second round of assessments, 96 of the women had developed cognitive impairment. Researchers applied advanced information theory techniques to extract brainwave patterns from the EEG data collected during the sleep study. They then used AI to detect subtle changes in brain wave activity — especially in gamma band frequencies during deep sleep — among individuals who later developed cognitive impairment, even before symptoms surfaced. The AI tool correctly flagged 85% of individuals who eventually experienced cognitive decline, with an overall accuracy of 77%. 'Using novel sophisticated analyses, advanced information theory tools and AI, we can detect subtle changes in brain wave patterns during sleep that signal future cognitive impairment, offering a window of opportunity for intervention years before symptoms appear,' Haghayegh said. A little cognitive decline is par for the course as we age, with most people experiencing slower processing speed, memory lapses and trouble multitasking over time. But when it begins to interfere with daily life, it can be a red flag that something more serious might be at play. Research suggests that one in 10 US adults aged 65 and older have dementia, while another 22% have mild cognitive impairment. Experts predict these numbers will rise significantly in the coming years, largely driven by longer life expectancies and an aging population. Thanks to the AI tool, early detection could give people valuable time to make lifestyle changes — such as exercising, staying mentally active and eating a balanced diet — that may help preserve cognitive health before the effects of impairment set in. Early identification could also open the door for therapies and medications that slow disease progression or alleviate symptoms. 'The new, FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's disease are effective at the earlier stages of dementia, but not the more advanced stages,' said Dr. Kun Hu, senior author and physiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 'Interventions that are performed even earlier — before someone shows signs of cognitive decline — are likely to be even more effective,' Hu added. The research also paves the way for an exciting new possibility: manipulating brain electrical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Haghayegh and Hu are currently designing a clinical study to test whether electrical stimulation can alter EEG patterns during sleep.
