aging Archives - Science Connected Magazine

Depression May Speed up Brain Ageing

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018 Science Connectedaging, brain age, depression

By Kate Stone Psychologists at the University of Sussex have found a strong correlation between depression and the speed at which the brain ages. Although scientists have previously found that people with depression or anxiety have an increased risk of dementia later in life, this is the first study that provides comprehensive evidence for the effect of depression on the decline in overall cognitive function (also referred to as cognitive state). The researchers behind this new study are hoping that their work will lead to greater public awareness of the…

Biology Health Science Policy

Science Policy Challenges, Part Three: The Aging Brain

June 1, 2017June 28, 2017 Science Connectedaging, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, research funding, science policy

By Jonathan Trinastic @jptrinastic This is the third in a series of four articles by Dr. Jonathan Trinastic in our new Science Policy section. In 2014, 46.2 million people over the age of 65 lived in the United States. By 2060, this number will skyrocket to around 98 million, increasing the percentage of older adults from 14 to 22 percent. As our population becomes older on average, later-life diseases will strike with more frequency. By 2025, more than seven million Americans will likely suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a specific type…

Brain Health (Illustration courtesy of Dream Designs via freedigitalphotos.net)

Biology Health

Brain Health: Fight Brain Age with Civic Activity

April 14, 2015September 4, 2015 Science Connectedaging, alzheimers, brain health, brains, citizen science, gerontology, neurobiology

Have you had a “senior moment” today? Do you worry about the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other forms of brain atrophy in old age? These are common concerns. As we age, our brains can shrink, but a new study from John Hopkins University reveals that brain health can be improved with civic-minded activities such as volunteering and teaching. Our brains can do incredible things, such as control robotics such as this mind-controlled robotic arm, or learn to use other tools. Our brains are so amazing that we are even trying to…