Latest news with #brainhealth
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tackling dementia: New approach urged
Urgent action is needed to fight the 'darkness' of dementia, as the deadly condition threatens to affect 850,000 Australians by 2058, a leading brain researcher has said. Dementia is estimated to cost Australia's economy $18bn each year, a figure that will more than double to $37bn in 25 years. But Professor Henry Brodaty spoke to the National Press Club on Wednesday about the need for a new approach to tackling brain health. He said tackling the syndrome would increase productivity in Australia, and delaying the effects of it would allow people to work longer, especially as the workforce ages. A new approach was needed with increased investment to become a world leader in preventing or delaying dementia onset, he said. 'Think about the slip, slop, slap for skin health,' he said. 'We need the slip, slop, slap of brain health, now. 'Funding for dementia has lagged behind cancer and heart disease, even though it contributes more to disease burden. 'Research is critical to find the best ways to provide services efficiently.' He said dementia develops in Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders at 2-5 times the rate of the rest of the population, and suggested steps to counter this. 'Better care before, during and after pregnancy, and in early childhood, and particularly more education, could make a difference to this,' he said. Professor Brodaty said personalised coaching programs improved brain cognition, and increased people's fitness — pushing back the onset of dementia by a year or more. He said this could save Australia billions. 'Imagine what the return on investment would be if Australia did this?' he asked. 'Improving fitness, not only would improve cognition, it would improve fitness, physical, mental and social health.' But Professor Brodaty said Australia's National Dementia Action Plan has only $166m in funding, 'too little for what Australia needs'. 'I sympathise with the government, because there's always competing priorities and there's always other things that can be funded,' he said. 'But, when it makes sense economically, as well as personally to people, then why not do it?'
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
‘Slip, slop, slap for brain health': Australia needs a major prevention campaign for dementia, doctor says
A 'slip, slap, slop'-style preventative campaign is needed for dementia, as new research shows cases of the disease could be delayed with no added cost, a leading doctor has told the National Press Club on Wednesday. In the speech titled 'Hope Beckons', Prof Henry Brodaty, a co-director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at the University of New South Wales, said there was much more Australia could be doing to help prevent dementia in its ageing population by addressing risk factors that can be managed, such as poor diet. Australia has a 'very proud record of prevention' when it comes to health, such as the 'slip slap slop' and 'life be in it' campaigns, as well as smoking reduction and heart health awareness, Brodaty said. 'But we don't have an awareness in our community we can do the same thing for dementia, where half the risk factors for dementia is caused by environmentally modifiable factors that we can all do something about. 'We all have the power to do more exercise, to keep our brains active, keep socially connected. We can monitor and treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol. We can compensate for hearing loss. We can try to avoid obesity. We can reduce the risk of diabetes and head injury. We can live in environments free of air pollution. We can not smoke and avoid excess alcohol.' Brodaty told the press club 'We need the slip, slop, slap of brain health now.' Sign up: AU Breaking News email The National Dementia Action Plan 2023–2034 was released, but $166m in funding is too little for what Australia needs, he said. 'Where are the navigators to guide patients and families after a diagnosis? Think about breast cancer … We can do this too in dementia, and it can be cost neutral,' Brodaty said. A study on which Brodaty was senior author, published on Wednesday in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, found that CHeBA's internet-based dementia prevention program tailored to an individual's risk profile shows cost-effectiveness for improving cognition and reducing dementia risk. Between 2018 and 2021, the trial followed 6,104 Australians aged 55 to 77 without dementia but who carried at least two modifiable dementia risk factors such as being overweight or suffering from anxiety. CHeBA's 'Maintain Your Brain' online had coaching modules for four of these factors: physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training, and depression or anxiety. Half of the participants were assigned to the online program, where they were allocated between two to four of the modules depending on their dementia risk profile, while the other half of participants in the trial (the control group) were given access to curated but freely available information sheets regarding dementia risk reduction. After three years, the researchers analysed the differences in costs for both the direct healthcare that participants received and the program costs, and the effectiveness (cognitive outcomes and dementia risk) between the two groups. They found the participants who received the online coaching showed significant improvements in cognitive performance and greater reductions in dementia risk compared with those who received general health information alone. The difference was highly significant, which would have a 'major effect' at a population level, delaying the onset of dementia, Brodaty said. 'Every year that we can delay the onset of dementia reduces the prevalence of dementia by 10% because it pushes the disease to later in life.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion They also found there was no significant difference in cost per person over the trial period because those who participated in the program used fewer healthcare resources which offsets the cost of delivering it. The researchers noted that the online program would become cheaper per person in future because some research and development costs had already been borne. The researchers also acknowledged limitations within the study: the participants were primarily Caucasian, better educated than average and had a higher socioeconomic status than the general population. They also noted risk-reduction practices may reap greater benefits in higher-risk populations. As the study, they said, considered short-term measures of effectiveness only, 'the true long-term cost savings will only be known if the sample is followed long enough to identify whether cases of incident dementia are prevented'. Prof Scott Ayton, a director in dementia research at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, who was not involved in the research, said 'evidence accumulated over the past decade indicates that lifestyle and risk factor-targeted prevention strategies can meaningfully lessen dementia risk'. 'The large Maintain Your Brain trial stands as a leading exemplar, showing that straightforward, cost-effective, risk-factor targeted interventions can delay onset or reduce overall risk without adding pressure to the health budget,' Ayton said.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Australia needs more investment in dementia research to tackle productivity losses, leading researcher says
Urgent action is needed to fight the 'darkness' of dementia, as the deadly condition threatens to affect 850,000 Australians by 2058, a leading brain researcher has said. Dementia is estimated to cost Australia's economy $18bn each year, a figure that will more than double to $37bn in 25 years. But Professor Henry Brodaty spoke to the National Press Club on Wednesday about the need for a new approach to tackling brain health. He said tackling the syndrome would increase productivity in Australia, and delaying the effects of it would allow people to work longer, especially as the workforce ages. A new approach was needed with increased investment to become a world leader in preventing or delaying dementia onset, he said. 'Think about the slip, slop, slap for skin health,' he said. 'We need the slip, slop, slap of brain health, now. 'Funding for dementia has lagged behind cancer and heart disease, even though it contributes more to disease burden. 'Research is critical to find the best ways to provide services efficiently.' He said dementia develops in Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders at 2-5 times the rate of the rest of the population, and suggested steps to counter this. 'Better care before, during and after pregnancy, and in early childhood, and particularly more education, could make a difference to this,' he said. Professor Brodaty said personalised coaching programs improved brain cognition, and increased people's fitness — pushing back the onset of dementia by a year or more. He said this could save Australia billions. 'Imagine what the return on investment would be if Australia did this?' he asked. 'Improving fitness, not only would improve cognition, it would improve fitness, physical, mental and social health.' But Professor Brodaty said Australia's National Dementia Action Plan has only $166m in funding, 'too little for what Australia needs'. 'I sympathise with the government, because there's always competing priorities and there's always other things that can be funded,' he said. 'But, when it makes sense economically, as well as personally to people, then why not do it?'
Times
9 hours ago
- Health
- Times
Covid was bad for our brains (even for those who didn't catch it)
The Covid-19 pandemic was 'detrimental' to brain health, even for those who never contracted the virus, a study has suggested. Academics say that the strain of the pandemic on people's lives may have aged our brains prematurely. The team, from the University of Nottingham, found that brain ageing during the pandemic was 'more pronounced' among men, older people and those from deprived backgrounds. • Is your holiday making you ill? Dr Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, who led the study, said: 'What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates. It really shows how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health.' The team trained a brain-ageing model on more than 15,000 healthy people, then applied the model to 1,000 people taking part in the UK Biobank study, a long-term piece of research tracking the health of British adults. Half of this group were assessed before the global pandemic, and half were assessed before and after. The research, published in Nature Communications, found that those who had lived through the crisis had a '5.5 month higher deviation of brain age gap' compared with the people who were only assessed before the pandemic. 'We found that the Covid-19 pandemic was detrimental to brain health and induced accelerated brain ageing … regardless of Sars-CoV-2 infection,' the experts said. The team also assessed cognitive performance by looking at tests taken at the time of the scans. Those infected with the virus were found to perform worse on cognitive tests when they were assessed before and after the pandemic. • Optimists all on same wavelength, but no two pessimists are alike Professor Dorothee Auer, a senior author of the study, added: 'This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment. The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought.' Professor Masud Husain, from the University of Oxford and who is not affiliated with the research, urged 'caution' when interpreting the results. He said: 'The brain age difference between the two groups (as indexed by brain scanning) was on average only five months, and difference in cognitive performance between groups was only on the total time taken to complete one of the tests. 'Is this really going to make a significant difference in everyday life? The time between scans was much shorter in the people scanned before and after the pandemic, compared to those who had both scans before the pandemic. We therefore don't know if brain ageing would have recovered if more time elapsed.' Previous research has found that people who had Covid performed less well in cognitive tests, especially executive function. Scientists from Imperial College London found that those who had had Covid scored about three IQ points lower than those who had not been infected. Those who had been in intensive care scored nine points lower, and those who suffer from long Covid scored about six points lower than uninfected individuals.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
7 Superfoods That Boost Brain Health, According to RDs
What we eat can directly impact how our brain functions. Whether related to cognition and memory, mood, or mental clarity, all can be affected by diet throughout our lifespans. So which foods make the most positive impact on the brain? While nearly all plant foods have their benefits, there are some key types that research shows really boost brain health. And certain seafoods have anti-inflammatory benefits. Bonus: Foods that benefit your brain also benefit other body systems like your heart, digestive function, and blood sugar. Read on to learn about my top food picks with additional insights from brain health nutrition expert and Los Angeles-based registered dietitian Maggie Moon, MS, RD, author of a new book, The MIND Diet: 2nd Edition. CruciferousCruciferous vegetables, including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, and more, contain a phytochemical called sulforaphane which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can be particularly protective of the brain. Sulforophane has been researched for its role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, and Parkinson's disease. Leafy Green VegetablesLeafy green vegetables are one of the easiest and beneficial foods you can eat for your brain. According to Moon, 'Leafy green vegetables are rich in lutein, an antioxidant that likes to make a beeline for the eye and brain where it protects both from oxidative stress.' Advertisement Moon also shared that research from the Univesity of Georgia College of Public Health suggests lutein may improve mental flexibility, essential for problem solving. How can you incorporate more leafy greens into your diet? Short-cuts are okay! 'The simplest way I've gotten people to eat more leafy greens is to encourage them to get pre-washed baby greens—they're mild in flavor and always ready. I recommend trying them in soups, salads, smoothies, grains and greens bowls, and omelets,' says Moon. Berries grandriver/getty images Berries—such as raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, and more—pack a lot of good nutrients for the brain in a small package. They can help fight inflammation, protect cells from damage, and improve communication between neurons. While all berries are concentrated sources of polyphenols, Moon points out that blueberries (and more specifically wild blueberries) are one of the best choices, adding, 'The main type of polyphenol in blueberries are anthocyanins, which are associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline, lower oxidative stress, and improved brain cell survival.' Wild blueberries have significantly more anthocyanins per serving than regular blueberries, though Moon suggests eating a mix of berries as a snack to benefit from the variety of different brain-healthy nutrients. Look for fresh berries when they are in season near you, or head to the freezer aisle where they can be found year-round. Related: The 7 Healthiest Frozen Foods You Can Find at the Supermarket, According to Registered Dietitians Extra Virgin Olive Oil Nico Tondini / Getty Images Different types of olive oil Advertisement Extra-virgin olive oil, thanks to its healthy fats and plant compounds, can improve brain health (along with heart and gut health) by boosting good gut bacteria and reducing inflammation. In addition to being a source of healthy monounsaturated fats, extra virgin olive oil is packed with polyphenols which can help combat free radicals associated with cognitive impairment. A systematic review found that the consumption of olive oil may enhance cognitive functioning and reduce cognitive decline. Another large study found that people who regularly consumed more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day had a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia over 28 years, compared with those who never or rarely consume olive oil, suggesting that olive oil may really be a superfood for the brain. Nuts and Seeds Mykola Sosiukin / Getty Images Two bowls of walnuts Two bowls of walnuts According to Moon, 'Nuts and seeds high in plant-based omega-3 ALA like walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are key for brain health because they support brain cell integrity and help fight neuroinflammation.' These are great to have on hand as a staple. Moon is an especially big fan of walnuts because 'in addition to omega-3s, walnuts also offer anti-inflammatory polyphenols, fiber to regulate serotonin, and melatonin to help clear proteins that can clump together and cause brain cell dysfunction.' For optimal storage, keep nuts and seeds in your refrigerator or freezer to avoid the risk of them turning rancid. To up your intake, include them in a smoothie, top off your yogurt or a salad, use them in a snack mix, or blend them into a sauce or dressing. FattyYou've likely heard fatty fish being recommended for heart health, but they are also a key food for brain health. Because the brain and nervous system tissues are made up of fat, some research shows that these tissues benefit a lot from the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fatty acid found in fatty fish. Several studies have linked lower levels of DHA with increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive problems. Aim for at least 8 ounces of seafood per week and prioritize oily fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout, and sardines because of their high DHA content. Advertisement Related: 8 Foods High in Omega-3s That Are Good for Your Heart, Brain, and Gut Green Tea and Coffee Cheryl Chan/ Getty Images Need another excuse to enjoy your morning brew? Coffee contains more than a thousand bioactive compounds including phytochemicals that have protect your brain. Preliminary research suggests that the polyphenols in coffee, along with the caffeine itself, may improve motor and cognitive performance in aging and protective effects against Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Similarly, green tea (Camellia sinensis) has its own set of polyphenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective qualities to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Aim for moderate consumption of coffee and tea (around 2 to 3 cups per day) to reap the most benefits. Read the original article on Real Simple
