Latest news with #DepartmentofNeurology
News18
22-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Brain Fog Explained: What Causes It And How To Clear Your Mind
Brain fog is a real and valid symptom, one that deserves attention, not dismissal Our brains are incredible: Designed to think clearly and process information quickly. But sometimes that smooth operation gets disrupted, leaving us with a frustrating sense of mental haziness—what many refer to as 'brain fog." While it may seem like a minor annoyance, brain fog is actually a cluster of subtle changes in how we think, and it deserves a closer look to understand what's causing it. One major concern that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic was brain fog. A significant proportion of people with Long COVID frequently between 20 and 40 percent, or even more experience persistent cognitive impairment, including brain fog, months after an acute infection. This was highlighted in studies published in Nature Medicine (2023), emphasizing how viral infections can lead to lasting neurological symptoms. Though common, brain fog is not a formal medical diagnosis. Rather, it's a symptom, a signal that something may be off with your brain's usual sharp performance. Dr. Mahendra JV, HOD & Consultant, Department of Neurology, Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital shares all you need to know: Recognizing Brain Fog: More Than Just Forgetfulness Brain fog isn't simply about forgetting where you left your keys. It's a collection of subtle, often frustrating cognitive changes that can impact your daily life. You might struggle to focus on tasks, feel mentally sluggish, or experience frequent 'tip-of-the-tongue" moments. It can also present as poor decision-making, a reduced sense of clarity, and increased forgetfulness. If routine tasks begin to feel overwhelming or mentally exhausting, it's likely your brain is trying to send you a signal. Common Medical Causes of Brain Fog From a medical perspective, brain fog often results from underlying issues that disrupt the brain's balance and performance. It's rarely caused by just one factor. Here are some of the most common causes: Chronic Stress: Long-term elevated cortisol levels can damage brain cells and cause inflammation, impairing cognitive function. Poor Sleep Quality: Inadequate sleep prevents the brain from clearing out metabolic waste, leading to mental sluggishness. Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of essential vitamins like B12 and D, and omega-3 fatty acids, can impair brain function. Inflammation: Chronic low-grade inflammation often caused by poor diet or gastrointestinal issues can directly affect brain function. Hormonal Imbalances: Changes in estrogen or thyroid hormone levels can significantly alter cognitive performance. Medications: Many prescription drugs can cause cognitive side effects, including drowsiness and mental cloudiness. Underlying Medical Conditions: Autoimmune Diseases: These can trigger systemic inflammation affecting the brain. Post-Viral Syndromes: Conditions like Long COVID often include persistent brain fog. Gut Health Issues: Inflammatory bowel conditions like IBS or SIBO may impact brain function through the gut-brain axis. How to Clear Brain Fog The good news? Brain fog is often reversible especially when its root causes are identified and treated. Here are expert-recommended steps to boost mental clarity: Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your brain to rest, detox, and repair. Eat a Brain-Healthy Diet: Focus on whole foods, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to reduce inflammation and provide essential nutrients. Manage Stress Effectively: Incorporate mindfulness practices such as yoga, deep breathing, or meditation to reduce cortisol levels. Exercise Regularly: Even short walks improve blood flow to the brain and encourage the formation of new brain cells. Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can affect memory, concentration, and mood. Keep Your Brain Engaged: Puzzles, reading, or learning new skills can sharpen cognitive function over time. If you suspect that brain fog may be caused by an underlying medical issue, hormonal imbalance, or side effects from medication, consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment. Brain fog is a real and valid symptom, one that deserves attention, not dismissal. Understanding its causes and adopting proven strategies can help clear the haze and restore clarity. If symptoms persist or interfere with daily life, don't hesitate to seek medical guidance. About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 More The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Euractiv
14-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
Europe's Alzheimer's research needs generational renewal, warns neurology expert
Despite promising strides in European dementia research, Hungarian neurologist Tibor Kovács warns that turning science into patient care still depends too heavily on national systems. In an interview with Euractiv during the 'Mind the Future' summit in Milan, Tibor Kovács, Full Professor and Deputy Director at the Department of Neurology at Semmelweis University in Budapest, welcomed the growing momentum behind international cooperation on dementia. But he also issued a warning: cooperation is not the problem - implementation is. 'There is extensive collaboration through various European and international grants,' Kovács said, welcoming the increasing involvement of less-resourced partners in cutting-edge research through inclusive application systems. 'The trend is clearly moving in a positive direction, which is promising for the future.' However, turning research into patient care remains a much tougher task. 'When it comes to translating that research into clinical practice, things become much more dependent on national contexts,' he explained. In other words, supranational efforts may push the frontier of discovery, but clinical neuroscience still lives - and often stalls - within domestic borders. Keep it local Any common European regulation, he added, would still need to be adapted to local realities: 'Applied and clinical research must be grounded in specific national circumstances.' Despite these challenges, Kovács remains cautiously hopeful: more funding, he said, could help smaller institutions take part in research at the highest level. And in Hungary, that kind of shift is sorely needed. While the country has long had a strong tradition in neuroscience, Kovács pointed out that this strength lies mainly in basic science, not in clinical applications. 'We still face a lot of handicaps,' he said, particularly when it comes to the use of new biomarkers for early diagnosis of degenerative dementias. A few centres in Hungary are conducting high-level clinical research on dementias and movement disorders, but staffing shortages and limited resources continue to slow progress. For Kovács, the solution must begin with generational renewal: 'We need to attract young researchers into the field, starting from university years.' The challenge isn't a lack of talent - quite the opposite. Many Hungarian researchers, he said, are working on neurodegenerative diseases abroad. 'The idea,' he added, 'is to bring those brains back and improve the local research environment.' Until then, the gap between what is discovered and what is delivered will remain. And for countries like Hungary, bridging that gap is now the real frontier. Alessia Peretti, Cesare Ceccato [Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Study Finds That A Blood Test For Diabetes Might Actually Predict Alzheimer's Progression
A new study suggests a simple blood test could tell who is at higher risk for rapid cognitive decline with Alzheimer's. The study found that people with higher insulin resistance were up to four times more likely to have rapid cognitive decline. Here's what to know about the test and how to get one. Historically, it has been quite difficult for doctors to predict how fast patients will experience cognitive decline with Alzheimer's disease, especially since the neurodegenerative disease impacts people differently based on a slew of factors. But new research has discovered that a specific blood test may help doctors get more answers, which could, in theory, help them respond more quickly with appropriate treatment and providing patients with more information. (But of course, experts first need to gather more data and perform further studies on the test.) The test measures insulin resistance, a condition where the body's cells don't respond properly to insulin, a hormone that helps escort blood sugar into cells for energy. The latest study finds a link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease progression, helping doctors and patients glean more information about what may be in store. Here's what the study found, plus what neurologists want you to know. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. The study, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analyzed health records of 315 people without diabetes who had cognitive deficits. Of those, 200 had confirmed cases of Alzheimer's disease. All of the patients had their insulin resistance checked using something called the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index, a way to check insulin resistance, based on fasting triglyceride (a type of fat in the blood) and blood sugar levels, at the start of the study and three years later. The researchers discovered that patients in the mild cognitive impairment group with higher TyG levels had their cognitive health deteriorate a lot faster than those who were lower on the TyG index. Ultimately, the researchers found that people with higher TyG levels were up to four times more likely to have rapid cognitive decline compared to those who were lower on the scale. For starters, this type of blood test isn't actually new. We're just discovering new ways it can be used. The TyG index is already used to look for insulin resistance in people, so technically, you could get this test now if your doctor thought that it was medically appropriate. Just know that it's usually used in the context of diabetes or when your doctor suspects you might have diabetes. The test appears to be pretty accurate in predicting rapid mental decline. The researchers found that people with high TyG ended up losing more than 2.5 points on the Mini Mental State Examination per year, which is a standardized test used to look at cognitive function in older adults. In Alzheimer's disease, insulin resistance is thought to interfere with how the brain uses glucose (blood sugar). It's also believed to promote the build-up of amyloid, or proteins deposits in the brain that are linked with Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, insulin resistance can disrupt the blood-brain barrier and fuel inflammation in the brain. All of these are linked with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. 'Insulin resistance often reflects features of overall health," says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University, pointing out that a major contributor to insulin resistance is higher bodyweight. 'If the overall health of the body is not optimal, then the brain will not be well supported and can be less resilient.' But the link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease is still being explored, says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. So, while it's clear that it seems to play some role, it's hard to tell what it's specifically doing as it relates to brain health. Your doctor can order one of these tests for you. However, neurologists say there are better options right now if you're concerned about Alzheimer's disease development and are looking for answers. 'Some tests that are more specific for Alzheimer's are serum amyloid and tau levels,' Dr. Sachdev sys. 'Tests that help predict risk for the anti-amyloid therapies used in Alzheimer's is the APO-E genotype. These studies are useful today in understand risk of dementia, type of dementia, and risk of treatment.' Dr. Segil says that doctors are 'extremely cautious' about using blood tests like TyG to determine if someone is at risk for developing dementia in the first place. 'There remains an extremely high number of false positive results in patients receiving various blood tests being marketed to determine if you are at risk for getting dementia,' he says. However, this specific study is exploring the test to see how quickly someone who already has cognitive decline will progress—and that usage is still being explored. All of this doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't get a TyG test. Just know that your doctor is more likely to use it while checking you for early signs of diabetes versus Alzheimer's disease right now. 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Time of India
23-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Study finds out link between nighttime heart rhythm, stroke
Bern [Switzerland]: New research has uncovered a powerful link between nighttime heart rhythm and future health conditions, even in people with no obvious sleep problems. The study, conducted at the Department of Neurology, Inselspital, the University Hospital of Bern, examined 4,170 people over a 13-year period and discovered that heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep can be a powerful early warning sign of future health conditions such as stroke , depression , and cognitive dysfunction . HRV reflects the fluctuation of time intervals between heartbeats.2 HRV adjusts constantly in response to the physical and emotional demands of the body. During the day, HRV is physiologically high, corresponding to high levels of activity. At night, and especially during deep sleep, HRV typically reduces, reflecting a shift into a rest and repair mode, where the body focuses on recovery and recharging for the next day. The research found that certain HRV patterns were linked to future health conditions. Participants who later developed stroke often showed unusually high and erratic HRV. In contrast, low HRV was common in those who further developed depression. High HRV with altered frequency patterns were also observed in individuals who later developed metabolic diseases. Similarly, cardiovascular and endocrine diseases were also associated with high HRV. "HRV matters for brain and overall health because it reflects how well the body regulates itself - primarily through the activity of the autonomic nervous system", explained the lead author of the study, Irina Filchenko, MD, PhD. "This system controls vital unconscious processes such as breathing, digestion and muscle tone, helping the body maintain balance and adapt to internal and external demands." "While many people are familiar with tracking sleep stages or total sleep time, nocturnal HRV provides a unique window into how the body functions during sleep. This is especially important because sleep is a critical time for many physiological processes underlying long-term health, such as cellular repair, memory consolidation, and the clearance of metabolic waste from the brain." Importantly, researchers believe that HRV could act as an early physiological marker, demonstrating subtle changes in body functioning before traditional symptoms or diagnoses appear. This could open the door to prevention and early intervention for diseases like Alzheimer's or stroke, where timely action can improve patient outcomes. Dr Filchenko noted, "Some participants had 'normal' sleep according to traditional criteria, with little sleep fragmentation and the expected balance of sleep stages. However, HRV told a different story, picking up risks that the common sleep metrics missed. This suggests we need to rethink how we define and measure optimal sleep." The findings of the study also raise the possibility of using wearable technology to monitor HRV patterns over time. While current consumer devices vary in accuracy and interpretability, experts believe future improvements could allow people to track changes in HRV as part of regular health monitoring. The research adds to growing evidence that sleep is a critical pillar of long-term health, and that subtle patterns could offer a window of opportunity to prevent serious disease. "The broader message is that sleep is not just a passive state of rest -- it is an active, dynamic process that plays a vital role in maintaining long-term health, especially brain health. Our findings reinforce the idea that primary prevention matters, and that health problems start long before the clinical symptoms appear", concluded Dr Filchenko.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New Study Reveals There's A Specific Diet Linked To A Significantly Lower Dementia Risk
A new study suggests that a specific diet could lower your dementia risk. Researchers analyzing data from nearly 93,000 American adults found that those who closely followed the MIND diet had a 9 percent lower risk of developing dementia. The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. If you've been paying attention to health and wellness headlines over the past few years, you'll already know that your diet impacts everything from gut health to energy levels, but new research suggests it may even influence your dementia risk. That's the major takeaway from the study, which was presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting. The study pinpoints a specific eating plan—the MIND diet—as having a meaningful impact on dementia risk. Of course, following a specific diet won't automatically wipe away any risk of developing dementia, but neurologists say these new findings are worth paying attention to. Here's why that is, and what they make of the results. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 93,000 American adults who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, a long-term study that started in the '90s. At the start of the study, the participants were between 45 and 75 years old. During the study period, more than 21,000 developed Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The researchers discovered that study participants who closely followed the MIND diet had a 9 percent lower risk of developing dementia. There was a difference in race, too: People who were African American, Latino, or White had a 13 percent lower risk. But the researchers also discovered that people who followed the MIND diet more closely over 10 years, even if they weren't super consistent at the start of the study, had a 25 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who stopped adhering as much to the eating plan over time. The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It's an iteration of the Mediterranean diet that is focused on eating plant-based foods with the goal of preventing dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The MIND diet encourages people to focus on eating green leafy vegetables, berries, whole grains, beans, and nuts. It also encourages followers to have olive oil and one or more weekly servings of fish, while limiting red meat, sweets, cheese, butter and margarine, and fast and fried food, per the NIA. The study didn't find that following a MIND diet caused a drop in dementia risk—it just found a link between people who followed the diet and lower risk. But neurologists say there could be something behind this link. 'The MIND diet is generally a balanced diet that manages portion control and offers a diversity of food choices,' says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'This approach offers benefits for improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. By improving blood flow to the brain, overall brain health can be improved.' Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, agrees. 'Eating healthy prevents cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease which, in turn, prevents heart attacks and strokes,' he says. That question is still under investigation, Dr. Segil says. 'Many diets have been proposed to decrease your risk of getting Alzheimer's dementia as we age and it still remains challenging to see any diet is 'neuro-protective' against getting Alzheimer's dementia,' he adds. Still, Dr. Segil suggests that it may be best to avoid diets that are high in fats and sugars, and limit simple carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods. (All of these food factors have been linked to bodily inflammation, which is associated with dementia risk.) 'Eating a balanced diet of proteins, vegetables, and vitamins, and drinking water are healthy choices which can make you more healthy—and maybe your brain more healthy,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
