Latest news with #cognitive decline
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charlamagne Tha God Brutally Claims Trump Is ‘Losing It As Badly As Biden'
Charlamagne tha God has claimed that President Donald Trump is 'losing it as badly as [former President Joe] Biden.' The radio host's comments came more than a month after Trump ordered an investigation into his predecessor's aides for allegedly covering up Biden's supposed cognitive decline. 'Is Trump really losing it as badly as Biden? Hmm. Let's run through this official list of dementia symptoms from the Mayo Clinic, all right?' Charlamagne said, referring to the private American academic medical center, while appearing as a guest host on 'The Daily Show' on Tuesday. He continued, 'Now, first, I want to say that doctors warn it's unethical to diagnose someone you haven't actually examined, but I'm not a doctor, OK? So let's fucking go!' The 'Breakfast Club' host, who pulled out the list on a clipboard, went on to point out memory loss as a first symptom of dementia. Charlamagne played a clip of the POTUS declaring he was 'surprised' Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was appointed, seemingly forgetting that he appointed him in 2017. 'Memory loss, check,' Charlamagne quipped to the audience while dramatically making a check mark on the symptoms list. 'He's stealing Biden's whole flow, word for word, bar for bar. I bet Biden's somewhere watching this, thinking, 'Where am I?'' Naming 'problems with communication' as another symptom, he then played separate footage of Trump mispronouncing the word 'cryptologic.' Elsewhere in the segment, Charlamagne alleged that Trump has no 'coordination and movement control,' another symptom of dementia, while showing a clip of the world leader awkwardly dancing to 'Y.M.C.A.' by the Village People. 'I don't get why Trump chose Y.M.C.A as his signature song. That dance involves coordination and spelling at the same time. Are you trying to kill this man?' he joked. Wrapping up his message, Charlamagne played multiple clips of Trump appearing to become agitated with the press before accusing the POTUS of having 'rage issues.' 'The bad news is, Trump has rage issues,' he added. 'The good news is there's no way he's remembering the nuclear codes, OK? Now, that's my whole checklist, and I've reached my diagnosis. This guy needs to be put into a retirement home immediately.' Watch Charlamagne tha God's appearance on 'The Daily Show' below. Related... Trump Snaps, Abruptly Ends CNN Interview After Being Questioned About New Epstein Photos Supreme Court Allows Trump To Remove 3 Democrats On The Consumer Product Safety Commission The Trump Administration Hopes You Never See These Stories — Which Makes Them More Important Than Ever
Medical News Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Higher copper intake may be linked to better brain health
As the population ages, disorders affecting the nervous system, including cognitive decline and dementia, are the leading cause of overall disease burden and lifestyle can affect a person's risk of developing cognitive decline as they and minerals, such as vitamins B and C, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, are essential in maintaining cognitive function.A new study suggests that dietary copper intake may also be important, with too little or too much negatively affecting cognitive are living longer, but not necessarily healthier lives. One consequence of living longer is a higher likelihood of cognitive decline and dementia. But following a healthy diet and lifestyle can help to reduce that help maintain cognitive function, people should ensure that their diet contains correct levels of vitamins and minerals. Although these micronutrients are needed in only tiny amounts, deficiencies can affect cognitive performance as well as physical health.A new study suggests that one particular micronutrient, copper, may be important in maintaining cognitive function as we get study, which is published in Scientific Reports, reports that there is an optimum level of dietary copper intake for older people, below which cognitive function may be impaired, and above which there was not further benefit.'The study suggests that moderate dietary copper intake (approximately 1.2–1.6 mg/day) is associated with better cognitive function in older adults, particularly in processing speed and executive function. The observed reverse L-shaped curve indicates benefits up to a threshold, beyond which no additional cognitive advantage is observed. This aligns with copper's role in neurotransmission and antioxidant defence.'— Steven Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health, who was not involved in the copper affects brain functionThe study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), between 2011 and 2014. Researchers analyzed 2,420 participants, determining their dietary copper intake by averaging two 24-hour dietary recalls. From this, they divided them into quartiles, from greatest to least copper intake. They then assessed their cognitive function using 4 standard tests:The Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) — a paper-and-pencil cognitive test on a single sheet of paper that requires a subject to match symbols to numbers according to a key at the top of the Animal Fluency Test (AFT) — naming as many animals as possible in a short period of time (usually 1 minute).A Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) subtest — a range of tests used to assess Alzheimer's cognition Z score — a standardized measure that summarizes an individual's overall cognitive function across a battery of cognitive M. Holland, MD, MS, physician-scientist and assistant professor at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, RUSH University, College of Health Sciences, not involved in the study, explained how copper is used in the brain:'Copper plays a vital role in the brain's health by supporting several biological systems, most notably energy metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and antioxidant defenses. It acts as a cofactor for enzymes that help generate cellular energy and protect neurons from oxidative stress, which is a key contributor to aging and cognitive decline. One enzyme in particular, superoxide dismutase (SOD1), relies on copper to neutralize harmful free radicals-that can harm normal brain tissue,' he told Medical News copper intake linked to better cognitive function, up to a pointIn this cross-sectional observational study, the researchers found that people in the top quartile for copper intake scored higher on the cognitive function tests. However, they observed that cognitive function scores peaked at a certain level of copper intake then did not increase optimum levels for each test were 1.63 mg/day for DSST, 1.42 mg/day for AFT and 1.22 mg/day for the Z score. 'This study highlights that cognitive benefits of copper appear most pronounced at moderate dietary levels, around 1.2 to 1.6 mg/day. Above that threshold, the gains taper off, which aligns with our understanding that both deficiency and excess can disrupt brain health. Too little copper may impair synaptic function and energy production, while too much can promote oxidative damage and inflammation, essentially flipping copper's role from protector to stressor.'— Thomas M. Holland, MDAllder also emphasized that balance is key:'Excessive copper can generate free radicals, overwhelm antioxidant systems, and disrupt mineral homeostasis, potentially accelerating neurodegenerative changes such as amyloid-beta accumulation and tau tangles seen in Alzheimer's disease.'How to get the right amount copper in your dietOur experts advised that eating a diverse, whole-food diet will ensure adequate, but not excess copper, and supplements should be taken only on medical advice. Elena Rolt, registered nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner at explained how you can get the right amount of copper.'Shellfish such as oysters, crabs and lobsters are among the richest natural sources, providing high concentrations of this mineral. Organ meats, particularly liver, are also exceptional sources of copper and have long been valued for their nutrient profile.'Sources of copper in diet'For those following plant-based diets, mushrooms, especially shiitake, nuts and seeds, including cashews, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, offer an excellent alternative. Whole grains, such as quinoa and oats, are other significant contributors, alongside legumes like lentils and chickpeas, which provide both copper and plant-based protein. […] leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain moderate amounts of copper, further supporting overall intake when incorporated into daily meals.'— Elena Rolt, registered nutritional therapistThere's good news for chocolate lovers, too. Both Rolt and Holland advocated dark chocolate, provided it is more than 70% cocoa, as a rich source of dietary findings, but further research neededAs a cross-sectional study, this research cannot determine whether copper causes improved cognitive function.'The methodological approach, leveraging NHANES data and validated cognitive assessments, gives the findings strong credibility, and the fact that the results held up even after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors adds to their weight,' Holland said.'To really move the science forward, I'd love to see prospective studies that follow people over time to determine whether copper intake actually slows cognitive decline. Even better would be randomized trials that test copper supplementation, specifically in individuals at risk of cognitive impairment,' he told MNT.'This study really highlights how our brains are influenced by the foods we eat, even at the micronutrient level. It reinforces my belief that lifestyle and nutrition aren't just about preventing chronic diseases like dementia, diabetes, or heart disease, but also about preserving the very essence of who we are, our memory, our ability to think clearly, connect with others, and maintain independence as we age.'— Thomas M. Holland, MD
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Huge Study Reveals 2 Vaccines That Appear to Reduce Dementia Risk
Some immunizations may be quietly protecting us from cognitive decline. How the medicine might do that is a mystery scientists are desperate to solve. A new study on two vaccines for older adults gives us a crucial clue. The retrospective cohort study included more than 130,000 people in the US. It reveals that the shingles vaccine (called Shingrix) and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (Arexyv) are associated with a reduced risk of dementia compared to the annual flu vaccine. Related: Both Shingrix and Arexyv are recommended for older adults, and they contain the AS01 adjuvant, which helps stimulate the immune system after vaccination. The flu vaccine does not. Because the link to dementia was noticed soon after receiving the jab, it's unlikely that the vaccines' protection from direct viral exposure is behind the dementia link. Instead, the findings from the University of Oxford suggest "that the AS01 adjuvant itself plays a direct role in lowering dementia risk." Within 18 months of receiving just the Shingrix vaccine, participants showed an 18 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to those who received only the flu vaccine. Meanwhile, those who received the RSV vaccine showed a 29 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to the flu vaccine. Participants who received both the Shingrix and the Arexyv vaccine showed a 37 percent reduction in risk. This combined effect was not statistically greater than one vaccine on its own. In other words, protection from two viruses didn't significantly increase the protection against dementia. The findings suggest that some vaccines "protect against dementia through mechanisms unrelated to (or at least in addition to) the prevention of their [target virus]", write the study authors, led by psychiatrist Maxime Taquet from the University of Oxford. If that's true, then certain vaccines may protect against dementia by triggering important pathways in the immune system. The conclusions align with an emerging hypothesis: that dementia is not actually a brain disease but a disorder of the immune system within the brain. Perhaps vaccines can help get that system up and running again, even if a threatening virus never comes along. In recent years, studies have shown that exposure to several common viruses, like those behind cold sores, shingles, mono, pneumonia, and COVID-19, can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline down the road. Moreover, vaccines seem to reduce that risk by a significant amount. But why that is has remained a mystery. In 2024, for instance, a study from the United Kingdom found that Shingrix delayed dementia onset by 17 percent compared to older, less effective shingles vaccines. At the time, this was interpreted as indicating that the more effective a shingles vaccine is at reducing viral exposure, the more the brain is protected against cognitive decline. This older version of the shingles vaccine (called Zostavax), however, doesn't include the AS01 immune-booster, and that may have influenced the results. In the US, it is generally recommended that adults over the age 50 receive two doses of the shingles vaccine to protect themselves against the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it can lie latent in the brain for years before re-emerging in adults. It is also recommended that adults over age 75 receive the RSV vaccine. Both of these vaccines can protect from dangerous infections, but it seems that may not be all they do. "It is likely that both the AS01 shingles and RSV vaccines provide some protection against dementia," conclude Taquet and his colleagues. "The mechanisms underpinning this protection remain to be determined." Vaccines have saved a staggering 154 million lives around the world in the last half century from deadly viruses. If we're lucky, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The study was published in npj Vaccines. Related News One Dietary Supplement Shown to Reduce Aggression by Up to 28% Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men? Here's The Science. Virus Traces Discovered in The Brain Lining of People With Schizophrenia Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Top Biden aide Annie Tomasini pleads the fifth on his mental health 'cover-up' as scheme widens
Joe Biden 's former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor Annie Tomasini has plead the fifth during an interview with lawmakers, making her the third Biden aide to do so. Tomasini invoked her right to remain silent and avoid incrimination during her closed-door interview with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. The committee has been probing the extent of the Democratic president's mental decline was understood by his top staffers. The probe has focused on former staffers who would be privy to the most sensitive presidential discussions, and even those who may have operated the autopen. Tomasini's interview lasted less than an hour and videos show she did not answer any reporter questions on her way in or out of the private session. She has become the third former staffer of Biden to invoke their right to silence in the Oversight investigation. Joe Biden's personal physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, and Jill Biden's longtime aide Anthony Bernal, also pleaded the fifth amendment protections in recent weeks. Oversight Chairman James Comer noted that there's a pattern beginning to emerge as the Biden aides stonewall the investigators. 🚨🚨🚨 The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today. There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for… — Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 18, 2025 'The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today,' Comer wrote on X. 'There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy.' 'Annie Tomasini, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations, pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time.' She also pleaded the fifth when asked about classified documents being found in Biden's garage, if the former president instructed anyone to destroy or conceal classified documents at the Democrat's home or if she's conspired with anyone to hide information on the Biden family's business affairs, Comer shared. The Kentucky Republican said this is a 'historical scandal.' Last week, Comer accused O'Connor of a conspiracy to 'cover up' Biden's cognitive decline. O'Connor cited patient privilege as his reason for pleading the fifth. His lawyer, ahead of his testimony, expressed concern about what O'Connor would be able to say without violating doctor-patient confidentiality laws. David Schertler, O'Connor's attorney, said in a statement that the doctor 'asserted the physician-patient privilege, as well as his right under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in declining to answer questions from the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his service as Physician to the President during the Biden Administration.' The physician was in charge of Biden's annual physical and repeatedly deemed Biden fit to hold office. Republicans charge the former president's inner circle engaged in a conspiracy to hide cognitive decline. Ahead of O'Connor's closed door sit-down, President Donald Trump's administration waived his ability to exert executive privilege, saying he needed to talk to Congress. A letter sent to him by the White House - obtained by the Daily Mail - informed him he did not have 'executive privilege' in the matter.
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Australian army said to not be doing enough to protect troops from blast overpressure
Sergeant Andrew Jennings thinks the first warning sign that something was terribly wrong inside his brain was more than a decade ago. But it was not until 2021 that he made a potentially lethal mistake that could have ended his career. He was instructing young soldiers at a rifle range but forgot one of the most critical safety steps: to officially open the range before soldiers started firing. "Anyone could have walked onto the range and been shot," Sergeant Jennings told 7.30. He was disciplined at the time and put it down to a memory lapse. Now, he thinks it was the beginning of severe cognitive decline caused by repeated exposure to blasts over 17 years of service. He is speaking out now because he is worried that it is no longer safe for him to lead and mentor the soldiers below him. "I am unable to function at the level that would be required for my rank," he said. Plagued by crippling headaches, memory loss, and persistent suicidal ideation, he fears that he will place himself or his colleagues at risk while performing his duties. "I am getting completely disorientated. I'm forgetting where I am … I can get lost driving to work," he told 7.30. Lately, he said, there have been several occasions he has not recognised his own wife. Sergeant Jennings is a man who likes order, policies and strictly sticking to the rules, but he is breaking ranks because he is so concerned that Australian soldiers are being put at risk every day from the blast overpressure coming from their own weapons during training. "I'm expecting a lot of pushback on this," he said. "But it's an issue that is affecting huge numbers of defence members. "It's affecting me. It's affecting my wife. It's affecting my peers. It's affecting those people that are coming through below me. "We are placing our soldiers at risk." The Australian Army has been grappling with how to manage blast exposure for well over a decade and has been criticised for failing to move swiftly enough to prevent ongoing injury to soldiers. Every day at training ranges around the country, soldiers are being exposed to invisible blast waves which scientists have now discovered cause new kinds of visible physical brain injury, inflammation and scarring. The debilitating symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can look a lot like PTSD and other psychological conditions experienced by many veterans, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. Soldiers like Sergeant Jennings never forget the feeling of firing weapons like the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, known as the 84. "You can feel the pressure wave, going through all your sinus cavities." The weapon is so infamous for making soldiers feel physically sick from the gut-punching blast wave it emits that its manufacturer, Saab, even notes it has been nicknamed the "Charlie guts ache" by Australian soldiers on its website. The shoulder-fired heavy weapon is so powerful it can launch a rocket capable of destroying tanks, bunkers or buildings hundreds of metres away. First introduced around the Vietnam War, it has been fired by generations of Australian soldiers. During training, two soldiers and a safety supervisor must be in close proximity when it is fired, exposing all of them to high levels of blast overpressure. For more than a decade, the Australian Army has placed limits on how many rounds can be fired in a 24-hour period because of concerns about the amount of blast overpressure it exposes soldiers to. To demonstrate the safety protocols in place to protect soldiers, the Australian Army gave 7.30 vision of infantry soldiers training with the weapon behind three-walled concrete firing bays, designed to protect soldiers if a rocket detonates short of its target. A 2021 US Marine Corps technical operator manual seen by 7.30 instructs marines firing the same weapon to do so from an open firing point to reduce the risk of the concrete barriers amplifying the blast overpressure back onto soldiers. Uniformed Services University researcher Joshua Whitty from the US-based CONQUER blast monitoring project said the Australian Army had "inadvertently created a very real hazard that affects everyone in those firing points" by using the concrete barriers. The vision provided by the Australian Army shows soldiers writing down their exposure to blast overpressure and calculating the overall exposure to ensure it is within a daily limit. According to range documents seen by the ABC, depending on the kind of round fired, soldiers can only fire between four and seven rounds on a Carl Gustaf 84 in a 24-hour period. That includes the second operator and safety supervisor standing next to them. Sgt Jennings was in the safety supervising role for years and says he ensured he stuck to the rules for his trainees. But due to staff shortages and pressure to get soldiers trained, he says was regularly exposed above daily limits, including, on one occasion, to 46 rounds in 36 hours. Firing well over the limits occurred when staffing was short, there was pressure to finish training, or when ammunition expired, according to more than half-a-dozen veterans the ABC spoke to. Two former soldiers described how in the years before safety limits were introduced, there were occasions of soldiers firing more than 100 rounds in a day to get rid of excess or out-of-date ammunition. Former Special Forces officer Paul Scanlan said that according to his own experience and surveys he has conducted, that is not uncommon. "That's probably one of the high-risk groups that are often ignored in this, are those people supervising in training." Mr Scanlan now runs Vigil Australia, a social enterprise dedicated to research and raising awareness of blast exposure and its links to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). "That's the inconsistency … leadership is saying you can only fire seven. That's not what's happening on the ground," he said. "100 per cent they're not doing enough. They're too slow. It's a leadership issue. You could do something tomorrow. "I respect that they are trying to do something and I get that feedback from people inside the army, but it's way too slow. "Cognitive baseline those in the high-risk groups … and put gauges on them. Capture the data now." Last year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide noted that "traumatic brain injury from blast exposure is common in active-duty military personnel" and that brain injuries are associated with a heightened risk of death by suicide. It recommended the establishment of a brain injury program to look at the impact of repetitive low-level blast exposure on the brain and to treat those affected. The responsibility to make that happen sits with the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, who told 7.30 he was pleased to have a "very clear direction to focus time, effort and resources on this matter". General Stuart said he has no doubt that blast overpressure can cause damage to the brain. "I've always accepted that, I think that's a fact … that we've learned more about over time. We've been following it and learning more about it since 2010," he said. The Royal Commission directed that the ADF's Brain Injury program monitor and assess exposure to blast overpressure, record members' exposure to brain injury in medical records and establish a neurocognitive program suitable for serving and ex-serving members. General Stuart says work is going on behind the scenes to ensure the research is done properly, adding that the first step is creating an effective cognitive baseline test to give soldiers on enlistment to track changes over time. "I want it to happen as soon as possible," he said, before adding that he has enlisted an expert advisory panel including "16 of Australia's most prominent neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, traumatic brain injury specialists, rehabilitation specialists" to assist with better understanding and mitigating the risk. "Then where we do know that people have been exposed to a level of risk, we can quickly divert them into the right medical care," he said. General Stuart was part of some of the army's earliest research efforts, wearing a blast gauge while deployed to Afghanistan during a 2012 trial known as Project Cerebro. It concluded personnel are exposed to potentially harmful blast effects in both combat and training and was followed by more blast gauge trials in 2016, 2019 and 2024. "We're probably up to our fifth or sixth blast gauge trial in 13 years," said Mr Scanlan, who before leaving the ADF, became the acting Director of Diggerworks, an ADF department that looks at technological innovations in 2019. By then, he had seen enough data to become seriously concerned that soldiers were being harmed by blast waves. Six years later, he is regularly contacted by veterans with blast exposure who are suffering, suicidal and frustrated by a lack of action. "I've had calls where people have essentially indicated they are committing suicide, and I've had to call the police to go and intervene," Mr Scanlan said. "They don't feel heard. They don't feel looked after. "For me, this is where it comes back to leadership and accountability. "You've captured the data, we know the effects it's having and something needs to be done about it." Finding the right medical care has been a years-long struggle for Sergeant Jennings. He has had a battery of tests including multiple MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, lumbar puncture and everything has come back normal. Neuropsychological testing found his memory recall and processing speed were unusually low. Sergeant Jennings is in the process of medically separating from the defence force and last week was placed on a 28-day medical restriction as he is unfit for duty. He said he feels let down by a system that has not been designed to protect soldiers. "There's been a lot of talk about this for a long time. It's been a problem that defence has been aware of at least in my experience since 2013 and I don't think Defence is doing enough," he said. He said many of his peers with repeated blast exposure had similar problems but were not seeking help. "It becomes an issue for them to progress in their rank, but it also becomes an issue for them potentially to perform their roles and duties properly." General Stuart said he has encouraged current and former soldiers to speak out about their experiences with brain injury. "I think the issue that they've felt let down about is probably two-fold," he told 7.30. "One, we haven't moved fast enough. I'm doing everything I can to shift that along, but I want to make sure we're doing the right things. "Secondly, it's been very difficult for them to be able to get a diagnosis and to link that to their service. General Stuart said he wants soldiers and veterans to know there is help available. "My message is, thanks for what you've done, I'm sorry you've been affected by your service that way. But let's get you the help that you need," he said. Sergeant Jennings said slow action on blast injuries isn't just a personal workplace health and safety issue but is also having an impact on Australia's defence capabilities. "We are losing huge amounts of corporate knowledge because they're getting injured, they're getting broken, they're having memory issues and they're having cognitive issues," he said. "We are losing our edge because we are not protecting our soldiers. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV
