Latest news with #BrainCommunications
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Contact sports can cause brain injuries. Should kids still play?
RECENT YEARS have seen a steady drip of troubling studies on head injuries among young players of rugby and American football. Research on schoolboy rugby published in Sports Medicine in 2023, for example, calculated that nearly two concussions result from every 1,000 tackles. As for American football, one in 20 youth players suffers a concussion over the course of a season, per a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. The real risks could be even higher, as many concussions go unreported. The consequences can be tragic. If a second concussion is sustained before complete recovery, it is more likely to trigger acute brain swelling, which can be fatal. Younger, developing brains appear more susceptible to such 'second-impact syndrome'. Even weaker 'subconcussive' blows to the head are a concern. If repeated for long enough, such hits may damage a brain's white matter, the nerve fibres that transport electrical impulses. A paper published in Brain Communications in 2023 suggests that athletes who were exposed to head impacts from a young age are more likely to experience cognitive decline from subconcussive damage to white matter. Outright bans on youth contact sport are one option. Another is to focus on protective gear. But in rugby, at least, research has yielded surprising results. Padded 'scrum caps' do protect ears and reduce cuts, but neither scrum caps nor helmets can stop a brain from being pushed into the skull, the cause of concussions. Many players are unaware of this, leading to dangerous false confidence and more aggressive play. New types of protective headgear are emerging. In 2022 a British startup called Rezon began to sell a special padded headband for rugby and other sports. Known as Halos, it is composed of nine layers which slide over each other when hit at a non-perpendicular angle. The resulting friction, the company claims, reduces by 61% the transmission of rotational forces to the brain. Rule changes are another solution. Some are hotly contested. Forbidding tackling for minors, for example, may end up increasing injuries when players grow up without having learned the best techniques. The American Academy of Paediatricians, for its part, has declined to endorse a blanket ban. Widespread rules against specific types of impacts including head-first 'spear-tackling', however, have curbed injuries. So have increasingly common policies that limit full contact during practice. Young players can also be grouped differently. Children enter puberty at different ages, which can lead to glaring mismatches in body size and agility. The injury risk to smaller kids is compounded when teams short on players call up older children too. To avoid such risks, young players are increasingly grouped by physical maturity, not age. This 'bio-banding' appears promising, but research remains regrettably thin. Parents who are still concerned should consider two final points. First, any impacts that rough-and-tumble sports may have on mental development could be revealed by periodic cognitive tests. Second, a child prevented from playing rugby or tackle football might well find other dangerous hobbies. A paper published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2019 reviewed 8,857 children taken to emergency rooms for head injuries and found that recreational activities such as horse-riding, biking and skateboarding caused more serious injuries than contact sports. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Bahrain News Gazette
03-03-2025
- Health
- Bahrain News Gazette
Study Finds: Exercise Linked to Brain Changes That Help Prevent Dementia
London: Leading an active lifestyle, particularly before the age of 50, changes the brain in a way that could prevent dementia. According to a new study, the findings suggest this could be down to exercise helping to preserve the volume in the area of the brain that contributes to thinking and memory, researchers said. According to Bahrain News Agency, the team collected information on how many times a person took part in activities such as walking, swimming, cricket, rugby, and football over the course of three decades, before and after they turned 50. Brain scans taken when participants were aged 70 were then analyzed. The study found exercising throughout life was 'associated with better cognitive functioning at age 70, even in those with early markers of Alzheimer's disease', with the benefits more pronounced in women. People who reported exercising once or more a month before the age of 50 tended to have less shrinking in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps with learning and memory. 'It's a really important part of the brain, and we're showing that it's actually larger,' Dr. Sarah-Naomi James added. 'We call it preservation of this area of the brain that is usually starting to decline and that is responsible for the early signs of dementia.' The benefits of activity before the age of 50 could be linked to the intensity of exercise and the kinds of activity people were doing in their 30s and 40s, Dr. James said, although more research is needed to confirm this. While future studies may 'shed light on the mechanisms of physical activity as a potential disease-modifying intervention', Dr. James said her team's findings, published in Brain Communications, 'add a little bit about the question of how, or why'. 'Why is exercise good for us? It makes intuitive sense, but we still actually don't know lots about it. We call it the mechanisms, the pathways – what is it about being physically active that is good for our brain,' she added. 'For instance, we look at something like dementia, and we say, 'there's a pattern that we can see replicated lots of times. People who are physically active are less likely to have dementia'. But what we're showing is that even before they have dementia, they are able to tolerate and keep their cognitive function, regardless of if they start to have the early signs in the brain. 'It might be to do this preservation of the specific area of the brain. And then also you're able to tolerate the pathology for longer. So it means that perhaps we're not changing the disease itself, but we're changing perhaps when you might start to develop symptoms.' According to Alzheimer's Research UK, which funded the study alongside the Medical Research Council, about 982,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK. This figure is projected to rise to more than 1.4 million in 2040. 'It's never too late, it's never too early. People who are active, it's really good for your brain,' Dr. James said. 'But actually, even if you are later in life and even starting to have disease symptoms, it could still be beneficial.' She said she would like policies to emphasize 'the importance of access to physical activity throughout life'. 'We can think about policies around schools, which we think are really important, but especially thinking about it throughout life, when we are in our early, when we start to juggle careers and families. Then thinking about the 50s, and health is changing, but we need to adapt and be physically active,' Dr. James said. David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Dementia is not just an inevitable part of aging, and finding ways to prevent people from ever developing it is a vital part of our mission for a cure. While there is no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, there are some things within our control that can reduce our risk of developing it, including keeping ourselves active and looking after our heart health, challenging our brains and keeping ourselves connected to the people around us. The evidence shows that it's never too early or late to start making positive changes.'
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The common clue to your risk of Alzheimer's just discovered by scientists
Measuring variations in the brain's respiration patterns could help detect Alzheimer 's disease early, according to a new study that may lead to better diagnosis and treatment. Changes in oxygen supply to the brain can contribute to the degeneration of nerve cells, leading to Alzheimer's, the study by Lancaster University researchers says. Nerve cells and blood vessels work together to ensure the brain receives sufficient energy. The organ needs as much as a fifth of the body's total energy consumption despite weighing just 1.4kg. Researchers examined how changes in the brain's neurovascular unit, which consists of blood vessels connected to neurons via brain cells called astrocytes, affect the Alzheimer's condition. 'Alzheimer's can be hypothesised as being a result of the brain not being appropriately nourished via the blood vessels,' said biophysicist Aneta Stefanovska, a co-author of the study. In the new study, published in the journal Brain Communications, researchers connected probes to the scalp to measure brain blood flow and electrical activity as well as an electrocardiogram and a belt wrapped around the chest to monitor heart rate and breathing. By simultaneously capturing these parameters, researchers could capture the body's natural rhythms and their imperfect timings. Scientists found that the efficient functioning of the brain depends on how well all these rhythms are orchestrated. They also found that the respiratory frequency at rest is significantly higher in participants with Alzheimer's disease. For instance, while the control group had an average respiration rate of about 13 breaths per minute, the Alzheimer's group had 17 breaths per minute. 'This is an interesting discovery - in my opinion a revolutionary one - that may open a whole new world in the study of Alzheimer's disease,' Dr Stefanovska said. 'It most likely reflects an inflammation, maybe in the brain, that once detected can probably be treated and severe states of Alzheimer's might be prevented in the future,' she said. Researchers said the findings could yield promising drug targets as the current protein-focused trials had produced 'disappointing results'. 'We show clear results of our approach and how Alzheimer's can be detected simply, noninvasively, and inexpensively,' Dr Steganovska said. 'Of course, more research is needed.'
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Your breathing pattern may hold clue to Alzheimer's risk
Measuring variations in the brain's respiration patterns could help detect Alzheimer 's disease early, according to a new study that may lead to better diagnosis and treatment. Changes in oxygen supply to the brain can contribute to the degeneration of nerve cells, leading to Alzheimer's, the study by Lancaster University researchers says. Nerve cells and blood vessels work together to ensure the brain receives sufficient energy. The organ needs as much as a fifth of the body's total energy consumption despite weighing just 1.4kg. Researchers examined how changes in the brain's neurovascular unit, which consists of blood vessels connected to neurons via brain cells called astrocytes, affect the Alzheimer's condition. 'Alzheimer's can be hypothesised as being a result of the brain not being appropriately nourished via the blood vessels,' said biophysicist Aneta Stefanovska, a co-author of the study. In the new study, published in the journal Brain Communications, researchers connected probes to the scalp to measure brain blood flow and electrical activity as well as an electrocardiogram and a belt wrapped around the chest to monitor heart rate and breathing. By simultaneously capturing these parameters, researchers could capture the body's natural rhythms and their imperfect timings. Scientists found that the efficient functioning of the brain depends on how well all these rhythms are orchestrated. They also found that the respiratory frequency at rest is significantly higher in participants with Alzheimer's disease. For instance, while the control group had an average respiration rate of about 13 breaths per minute, the Alzheimer's group had 17 breaths per minute. 'This is an interesting discovery - in my opinion a revolutionary one - that may open a whole new world in the study of Alzheimer's disease,' Dr Stefanovska said. 'It most likely reflects an inflammation, maybe in the brain, that once detected can probably be treated and severe states of Alzheimer's might be prevented in the future,' she said. Researchers said the findings could yield promising drug targets as the current protein-focused trials had produced 'disappointing results'. 'We show clear results of our approach and how Alzheimer's can be detected simply, noninvasively, and inexpensively,' Dr Steganovska said. 'Of course, more research is needed.'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Exercise could lead to brain changes that help stave off dementia, study finds
Keeping active throughout life – particularly before the age of 50 – leads to changes in the brain that could help stave off dementia, according to a study. Researchers suggest this could be down to exercise helping to preserve the volume in the area of the brain that helps with thinking and memory. Those who exercised throughout life were also less likely to experience cognitive decline even if they had key markers of Alzheimer's disease, such as a build up of the protein amyloid in the brain. For the study, researchers analysed data from Insight46, a sub-study of the National Survey of Health and Development which has followed 5,362 people since their birth in England, Scotland and Wales during one week in March 1946. Some 468 people – aged 70 at the time – were included in the analysis. Dr Sarah-Naomi James, who is based at the UCL Dementia Research Centre and MRC unit for lifelong health and ageing at UCL, told the PA news agency: 'When we're thinking about brain changes, one of the biggest predictors of how big your brain volume is is age. 'So the fact that we've got exactly the same people born in the same week takes that into account.' The team collected information on how many times a person took part in activities such as walking, swimming, cricket, rugby and football over the course of three decades, before and after they turned 50. Brain scans taken when participants were aged 70 were then analysed. The study found exercising throughout life was 'associated with better cognitive functioning at age 70, even in those with early markers of Alzheimer's disease', with the benefits more pronounced in women. People who reported exercising once or more a month before the age of 50 tended to have less shrinking in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps with learning and memory. Dr James added: 'It's a really important part of the brain, and we're showing that it's actually larger. 'We call it preservation of this area of the brain that is usually starting to decline and that is responsible for the early signs of dementia.' The benefits of activity before the age of 50 could be linked to the intensity of exercise and the kinds of activity people were doing in their 30s and 40s, Dr James said, although more research is needed to confirm this. While future studies may 'shed light on the mechanisms of physical activity as a potential disease-modifying intervention', Dr James said her team's findings, published in Brain Communications, 'add a little bit about the question of how, or why'. 'Why is exercise good for us? It makes intuitive sense, but we still actually don't know lots about, we call it the mechanisms, the pathways – what is it about being physically active that is good for for our brain,' she added. 'For instance, we look at something like dementia and we say 'there's a pattern that we can see replicated lots of times, people who are physically active, they they're less likely to have dementia'. 'But what we're showing is that even before they have dementia, they are able to tolerate and keep their cognitive function, regardless of if they start to have the early signs in the brain. 'It might be to do this preservation of the specific area of the brain. And then also you're able to tolerate the pathology for longer. 'So it means that perhaps we're not changing the disease itself, but we're changing perhaps when you might start to develop symptoms.' According to Alzheimer's Research UK, which funded the study alongside the the Medical Research Council, some 982,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK. This figure is projected to rise to more than 1.4 million in 2040. Dr James said: 'It's never too late, it's never too early. People who are active, it's really good for your brain. 'But actually, even if you are later in life, and even starting to have disease symptoms, it could still be beneficial.' She added that she would like policies to emphasise 'the importance of access to physical activity throughout the life'. 'We can think about policies around schools, which is really important, but especially thinking about throughout the life – the early 30s, when people are starting to juggle careers and families. Then thinking about the 50s, and health is changing but we need to adapt and be physically active,' Dr James said. David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer's Research UK, added: 'Dementia is not just an inevitable part of ageing, and finding ways to prevent people from ever developing it is a vital part of our mission for a cure. 'While there is no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, there are some things within our control that can reduce our risk, including keeping active and looking after our heart health, challenging our brains and keeping connected to the people around us. 'The evidence shows that it's never too early or late to start making positive changes.'
