Latest news with #executiveFunction
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Taboo habit millions do behind closed doors shockingly linked to DEMENTIA
Tens of millions of Americans engage in a taboo habit that scientists have warned could pose risks to cognitive health. A recent study found that regularly viewing pornography can immediately reduce a person's performance on tasks requiring attention and cognitive control right after exposure to explicit content. Impaired executive function and reduced cognitive performance are known early markers of cognitive decline, a precursor to dementia. Research has suggested that if such effects are sustained or repeated over time, they could potentially contribute to long-term health risks. In the study, college students watched a 10-minute internet pornographic video chosen for its high viewership. Before and after viewing, they completed a test that measures focus and attention control by requiring them to name the ink color of a word, even when the word spells out a different color, along with three psychological questionnaires. Scientists observed that after watching pornography, participants had significantly slower reaction times and made more errors on the test compared to their performance before viewing. Additionally, the brain activity patterns seen in these students resembled those found in individuals with drug addiction and schizophrenia. Approximately 69 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the U.S. view online pornography each year. Among young adults aged 18 to 25, 57 percent report using porn monthly or more often, compared to 29 percent of those aged 25 and older. Porn addiction is more prevalent among men, with 11 percent reporting having the issue. The study was conducted by scientists from Chengdu Medical College in China, who recruited 16 healthy college students and five college students with severe internet pornography addiction. Participants completed the test, watched the 10-minute pornography video, and then did the test again, while scientists monitored their brain activity. Each group completed 18 rounds of the test, with each round lasting two seconds. The results revealed clear differences between the two groups. Low-frequency users demonstrated stronger connectivity in brain regions involved in language processing, movement coordination and sensory input. While the high-frequency users showed increased connectivity in areas associated with executive functions, which are commonly linked to addiction and emotional regulation. This suggests that frequent pornography consumption may produce neural and behavioral effects similar to other types of addiction. However, the team noted that the low-frequency group also showed slower accuracy and increased reaction while taking the test. Those findings suggest that even if people viewing porn sporadically, they will still experience cognitive effects. The study also examined emotional responses during viewing. Participants who watched pornography less frequently displayed a wider range of emotions, such as surprise, fear, and disgust, while frequent viewers showed more muted or neutral facial expressions. This supports the idea that repeated exposure to explicit content may dull emotional sensitivity over time. In addition to cognitive effects, the high-frequency group scored significantly higher on anxiety and depression questionnaires. Although the study does not establish whether pornography use causes these symptoms or if they arise from other factors, the results align with earlier research connecting heavy pornography consumption to increased emotional distress. 'The effects of internet pornography addiction on brain functional connectivity in the prefrontal lobe exhibit characteristics similar to those of drug addiction,' the researchers concluded. 'Moreover, individuals who frequently consume internet pornography report that they experience stronger sexual arousal and heightened pleasure while viewing, which subsequently adversely affects their cognition and emotions.' A separate study, released in May 2024, evaluated thousands of adults across the world for 'problematic pornography use,' That was defined as watching enough pornography as hurting relationships and job performance, and found that three percent of people exhibited concerning usage, but less than one percent sought treatment. Dr Beatha Bőthe, lead study author and psychologist at the University of Montreal, said: 'Our research shows that the problematic pornography use may be more common than many might think and affects a wide range of people. 'It highlights that while many are struggling, not many seek help. That's important because it suggests that more work needs to be done to understand and support those who are affected by it.'
Medscape
30-05-2025
- General
- Medscape
Childhood AD Not Linked to Executive Function Deficits
A cohort study of children in the United Kingdom found that early childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), especially when mild, is not associated with executive function (EF) deficits in middle childhood. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed 11,373 children (51.5% boys; > 95% White individuals) from the UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, with parental reports of AD activity and severity in their children between ages 6 and 81 months. AD activity and severity of children were assessed using maternal questionnaires at two or more of seven timepoints between 6 months and 7 years of age, focusing on itchy, dry skin rash in joints and creases, such as behind the knees. At 81 months, data was available for 8208 children, 81% had no AD and 19% had varying degrees of AD activity and severity. Using latent class mixed modeling, researchers classified children into five distinct early childhood AD trajectories: Unaffected/rare (62.90%), early onset resolving (1.09%), persistent mild (31.35%), persistent moderate to severe (0.93%), and worsening (3.74%). EF, specifically attention regulation, inhibition, and working memory, was measured at ages 8, 10, and 11 years, adjusted for covariates. TAKEAWAY: No statistically significant differences were detected across AD trajectories in selective attention, divided attention, and attentional control at ages 8 and 11 years, inhibition at age 10 years, and working memory at ages 8 and 10 years. Similarly, no statistically significant associations were observed between AD severity status at 81 months and EF outcomes in middle-childhood. IN PRACTICE: 'The role of EF in the relationship between childhood AD and neuropsychological outcomes is an understudied area,' the authors wrote, 'but together with prior research, the current study supports the conclusion that EF impairment is not a major mechanism driving this relationship, at least in a sample of nonadolescent children with largely mild AD.' SOURCE: The study was led by Elle Kim, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and was published online on May 2025 in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology . LIMITATIONS: Only a small portion of the study population experienced moderate or severe disease, which limited the statistical power to detect effects in more severe cases. Other limitations included potential selection bias, lack of information about treatments for AD, and limitation of generalizability to non-UK populations. DISCLOSURES: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Some authors reported receiving research and fellowship funding from and having other ties with various sources, including Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceuticals, La Roche Posay. One author also declared holding patents, being a deputy editor, and being a member of the Board of Directors for the International Psoriasis Council and the Medical Dermatology Society.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts reveal 60-second writing task that can reveal earliest signs of dementia - how do you perform?
A simple 60-second test can help uncover if you are at risk of memory robbing dementia, research suggests. The test, which only requires a pen, paper and timer, can pick up early signs of cognitive decline considered a precursor to dementia. It involves picking a large category, with common examples being types of fruit, species of animal, or TV shows. A person then tries to write down as many examples they can think of within the allotted time. Experts say that you should be able to name at least 15 items and ideally more than 21. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Psychiatry, said that: 'If he or she cannot name 15 or more objects, the patient is likely to be cognitively impaired and the likelihood that he or she has Alzheimer's disease may be 20 times higher than if a patient can name 15 animals or more. A 2022 study of 69 adults by American researchers found that scores in the test did get lower as people aged. But crucially worse performance was related to the levels of amyloid-β in the body, which is considered a sign of Alzheimer's. Other similar tests can also be used to identify potential signs of dementia. One of the most famous is the analogue clock drawing test. It involves asking a person to draw a clock face on a blank piece of paper. They must add all the numbers from one to 12 and then set the hands to a specific time, for example 11.10 (ten past 11). The task relies on the patient remembering what a clock face looks like—a skill known as executive function, which involves how we plan, organise and complete tasks. Executive function is one of the cognitive skills that first begins to falter when dementia develops. Used by the NHS for decades, a skewed circle and incorrectly placed numbers on this clock can indicate early signs of the condition. If the patient manages to draw a clock correctly it 'virtually excludes' dementia because the task requires a wide range of cognitive skills, the NHS says. However, if they struggle they should seek further advice from a GP. Dementia affects an estimated one million people in the UK, with Alzheimer's being the most common cause of the disorder. Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt. An ageing population means these costs—which include lost earnings of unpaid carers—are set to soar to £90billion in the next 15 years. A separate Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer. Previous studies have estimated that around 40 per cent of all dementia cases could be prevented with lifestyle changes. This includes healthier diets, increased exercise, drinking less alcohol, preventing head injury and using hearing aids.
