Latest news with #MCI
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Can ashwagandha boost memory and thinking? Study unlocks unknown potential of this herb
Ashwagandha can improve memory and slow down cognitive decline in people, says a recent study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. The study, published on March 18, 2025, observed that when ashwagandha was standardised with a compound called sominone, it can demonstrate significant benefits for brain health. Also read | What is ashwagandha and what does it do? Here's all you need to know about the Ayurvedic superfood Ashwagandha helps to improving brain health.(Shutterstock) The study observed that the participants who took ashwagandha for two months demonstrated better results in memory and spatial reasoning than the ones who took a placebo. Also, no significant side effects were reported by the participants. The study was conducted on 40 people with MCI. MCI refers to mild cognitive impairment that leads to declining memory and thinking skills that are noticeable but are mild in nature, so as to not interfere with daily life. Participants between the ages of 25 and 65 were chosen for the study. The participants were randomly assigned to consume either 250 mg of Somin-On™ or a placebo capsule once daily for 60 days. Even the study authors were unaware who is consuming what. Also read | Study says Ashwagandha boosts brainpower and eases stress in just 60 minutes Ashwagandha helps in improving memory.(Shutterstock) With multiple standardised tools, the cognitive function of the participants was studied to understand the effect on their memory and thinking skills. Changes in immediate memory, general memory, working memory, attention, and visuospatial processing were recorded. The results were surprising: The results demonstrated that participants who consumed the herbal tablet showed more positive results across all domains than the ones who consumed the placebo. The results started showing up within 30 days after the medication was prescribed to them. However, in 60 days, the results were more significant with the least side effects. In the paper, the researchers noted, 'Subjects treated with Somin-On™ showed significant improvements in immediate memory, general memory, working memory and visuospatial processing. The supplementation of Somin-On is an effective therapy to improve the immediate, general and working memory, as well as cognitive functions like attention and information processing speed in adults with MCI.' Also read | Can ashwagandha cause liver damage? Doctor warns against possible side effects of supplements: 'Risk is higher if...' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Connected These Foods with an 80% Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RDA new study suggests eating more antioxidant-rich foods may lower cognitive decline risk by 80%. Participants who ate the most foods rich in vitamins, magnesium, zinc and selenium had the best outcomes. Nuts, leafy greens, berries, whole grains and more plant-based foods are great sources of you misplace your keys for the third time in a week or blank on a close friend's name, it's hard not to wonder: Is this normal aging—or something more? Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition marked by subtle but noticeable changes in memory and thinking. And it's surprisingly common among older adults. It affects nearly one third of people over age 65, and for many, it's an early warning sign of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Unlike normal age-related forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment can make it harder to manage daily tasks and can progress into more serious cognitive decline. While there's still no cure for Alzheimer's or other dementias, researchers are zeroing in on strategies to help delay or prevent cognitive decline. Diet is one of the most promising—and controllable—factors. Many studies have suggested that antioxidant-rich foods may protect the brain, but questions remain: How much do they help? And what about other common habits, like drinking alcohol—does it cancel out any benefits? To explore these questions, researchers looked at the relationship between dietary antioxidants, alcohol consumption, and the risk of mild cognitive impairment in older adults. They recently published their findings in the journal Nutrients—and the results may inspire you to rethink what's on your plate and in your glass. Let's break down what they discovered. This was a cross-sectional study, meaning it looked at data from a single point in time rather than following participants over a period of years. Researchers gathered data from 1,084 adults aged 55 and older living in Zhejiang Province, China. Participants answered questions about their diet, lifestyle, alcohol consumption and health history. They completed a cognitive screening using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a widely used tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment. The researchers used a validated dietary questionnaire to calculate a Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) for each person. The CDAI is based on six key antioxidants: vitamins A, C and E, as well as magnesium, zinc and selenium. Participants were sorted into four groups based on their CDAI scores, from lowest to highest. The study found a clear pattern: people with higher antioxidant index scores had lower odds of having mild cognitive impairment—up to an 80% reduced risk. But these risk reduction benefits aren't for everybody across the board. When researchers looked at how alcohol and antioxidants interacted, they found that the protective effects of antioxidants were only statistically significant among people who didn't drink alcohol at all. In other words, drinking any alcohol seemed to cancel out some of the brain benefits of a high-antioxidant diet. And people who drank alcohol one to two times a week had more than double the odds of having mild cognitive impairment compared to non-drinkers. Keep in mind, because this was a cross-sectional study, it can only show associations—not cause and effect. The dietary data was also self-reported, and people aren't always 100% inaccurate when remembering what they ate. And while the study accounted for many factors that might influence brain health (like age, education and depression), it didn't account for the amount or type of alcohol consumed. These findings support what many nutrition experts have been saying for years: antioxidants help protect the brain and alcohol—despite the hype around red wine—may do more harm than good when it comes to cognitive health. To add more antioxidants to your diet, focus on getting a variety of colorful, whole, antioxidant-rich foods. Some great options include: Leafy greens (spinach, kale) for magnesium and vitamin E Berries and citrus fruits for vitamin C Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash for vitamin A (especially sunflower seeds and almonds) for vitamin E and selenium for magnesium and zinc Instead of reaching for a glass of wine in hopes of getting antioxidants, reach for a fruit salad or a handful of nuts. Foods provide a broader mix of beneficial nutrients—and without the potential downsides of alcohol. Even small dietary upgrades can help. Try tossing sunflower seeds on your salad, snacking on oranges or blending spinach into a smoothie. If you're already eating some antioxidant-rich foods, think about how you can include even more variety. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that a diet rich in antioxidants can help protect your brain as you age—while regular alcohol consumption may increase your risk of cognitive decline. For a brain-healthy lifestyle, focus on eating more antioxidant-packed foods and avoiding alcohol. Your future self might thank you for it. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Why a mission-based approach to leadership can pay off
Brian Peckrill, head of the McGowan Charitable Fund, says ethical leadership is essential. He told BI that organizations that invest in their people do better in the long term. This article is part of " Culture of Innovation," a series on how businesses can prompt better ideas. As artificial intelligence promises to accelerate the speed at which many businesses can move, it could leave less time for focusing on ethics and values. Yet forgoing those discussions is a risk companies shouldn't take, said Brian Peckrill, executive director of the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, a family foundation focused on what it describes as compassionate philanthropy and ethical leadership — the idea that there's more to consider than just the bottom line. William McGowan was the founder of MCI Communications, a telecom company whose legal fights with AT&T preceded Ma Bell's 1984 breakup on antitrust grounds. Peckrill told Business Insider that while many CEOs support the McGowan Fund's call for maintaining a focus on ethical leadership, pressures to maintain profitability can be intense. Even though it can be a difficult balance, he said, leaders can get into trouble when they don't pull it off. "The truth is, if you're cutting corners, it's going to catch up to you at some point. And that's what we hear," he said. Pecrkill spoke with Business Insider about how those running organizations should think about the values they maintain as leaders. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider: What shapes your thinking around ethical leadership? Brian Peckrill: What Bill McGowan, our benefactor, saw is that when a business lacked ethics and they were fully focused on profits, what suffered was people. Ten years after Bill died, MCI and WorldCom got wiped out by a massive accounting scandal. Those who worked for MCI became millionaires because of their success at MCI, and if they didn't cash out prior to the bankruptcy, they lost everything. So, it was very clear to our board that ethical leadership transforms lives — that this is not just a matter of what's good for society. It's good for people. We need to create leaders who, when making decisions, look to their values. They are transparent. They're accountable to the people that they work for. They're accountable to their clients. They are they have integrity. They're thinking about how their words and their actions align, and they're empathetic to the ways that people struggle. If you look at a metric like the Edelman Trust Barometer, there's been a slide in workers' trust in their employers. It's shocking to see how it's fallen off. I've been thinking about this a lot in regard to the not-for-profit sector, which the data is a little bit stronger on. What I keep coming back to is that to be a trusted entity, ethical leadership matters because it means that your actions and your words align, and that you can get trust by being empathetic and credible. With AI threatening jobs, is rebuilding trust now a bigger challenge for for-profit CEOs? I wouldn't say that I think it's harder now. Society is constantly going through cycles of innovation. The way that our business leadership and education have progressed has put more and more of an emphasis on profit maximization. You look at MBA programs, and when they were founded, they were deeply philosophical. They were about building a whole-minded individual who can think broadly about business, and over time, they became more focused on the mathematical economics of making profits. Once you've maxed out efficiencies, the only place to go is either breaking the law or harming people. We need to return to that holistic way of thinking. Part of that is asking not can we, but should we? What's the effect on people? When you look at the most trusted businesses — those that are using ethical leadership as a frame — their horizon of profits is greater. Those businesses that think about their people, think about how they can invest in their people, and are not just focused on short-term profits through efficiencies, do better in the long term. What lessons can for-profit CEOs learn from nonprofit leaders about building trust? A major element to this is that when I say independence in the not-for-profit sector, this means leading with your values. It's setting up a charter between your stakeholders in your organization that you're going to deliver on a certain mission and that you're going to invest your money in this type of approach. I don't think it's very different for the for-profit sector. When people align themselves with an organization, they're expecting the organization to live up to their values. It's when organizations lack integrity and they fail to live up to the values that they put on their website and that they posture through media, that people lose trust in organizations. And I think that the for-profit sector could learn some lessons from not-for-profits in this regard.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mennonite high school in Gretna won't offer classes in fall, future uncertain
Mennonite Collegiate Institute, a Grade 9-12 high school in Gretna, has announced it is pausing operations. The provincially accredited and supported school, which was established in 1889, will not offer classes in September. Twenty-three teachers and staff will lose their jobs. The length of the pause will be determined by delegates from the school's 11 supporting churches, who will meet July 7 to decide whether to close the school permanently or seek other options for the future. A main reason for shutting down operations for the upcoming school year was cited as lower than hoped-for enrolment that led to financial challenges, said MCI CEO Chris Harms. The school had just 45 students this year, down from 54 in 2023-2024. 'It's been a year-by-year continued slow slide,' he said. Harms also cited a breakdown in relations and loss of support from some rural Mennonite churches over issues such as LGBTTQ+ inclusion. MCI had maintained an open and welcoming stance to all students, but 'there is polarization in the community over this,' he said. The school is also facing challenges raising donations to supplement tuition fees. 'We have counted on some big donors over the years, but donor fatigue is setting in,' Harms said, noting the school could not continue to rely on them to sustain the school's operations. Harms said the goal for the school is to end well, including ensuring teachers and support staff are fully paid for their work. MCI is appealing to its donors to help it raise enough funds to do that. Even before the decision to close, the school was getting by 'month-to-month' on payroll, he said, noting teachers had agreed to reduced salaries and extra work this year to help the school survive. Harms acknowledged the timing of the announcement is unfortunate since it will make it difficult for teachers and other staff to find new positions in other schools. 'Those roles have mostly been filled by now,' he said. The school also has $1.7 million in debt for a mortgage and a line of credit. The decision not to operate next year was not made lightly by the school's board, Harms said, noting that MCI had spent months trying to build the necessary steps to keep it open. But the enrolment issue made the decision impossible to avoid, he said, noting the supporting churches mostly have aging congregations and not many children or youth. He expressed regret about the impact the school's closure will have on students, particularly those in Grade 11 who hoped to graduate from MCI next year. 'That was the hardest group of students to walk through this,' he said. Former MCI board member Karla Klassen Fehr said the news is difficult to hear. 'I see the main issue as enrolment,' said Klassen Fehr, whose husband and two daughters graduated from MCI. 'Without students, donor support can't maintain a school.' She said the school's rural location means there are a limited number of day students who can attend, and parents who live further away are less willing to send their children away for boarding school. 'Sensitive issues' over LGBTTQ+ and theology have strained relations with some local Mennonite churches, she said. 'I'm very sad to see this happen,' Klassen Fehr said. 'MCI has played a huge role in our community, giving students an opportunity for faith-based education that I highly value.' Wil Epp is also a former board member whose three children graduate from MCI. His congregation, Emmanuel Mennonite in Winkler, voted last month to stop supporting the school. The church has few children or youth and is dealing with its own financial issues, Epp said. 'Like many other churches, our church struggles with its budget,' he said, noting supporting MCI had ceased to be a priority for the congregation. Michael Pahl, executive minister of Mennonite Church Manitoba, said the closing of the school is disappointing. Together with Westgate Mennonite Collegiate in Winnipeg, MCI was a 'significant pipeline' for lay leadership and clergy in the denomination, Pahl said, adding the school played a key role in forming faith for many young people over the years. In addition to shrinking and aging rural Mennonite congregations, there is also growing competition from other Christian schools in rural Manitoba, he said. Cost for tuition at MCI was $6,700 a year this year, while students living in dorm were charged $12,500 a year. Out-of-province students paid $19,000 a year for tuition, room and board. That amount included a $6,500 out-of-province fee, as these students were not covered by Manitoba's education grant. MCI is a member of Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools and the Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools. faith@ The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER John LonghurstFaith reporter John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Medscape
18-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Fast Five Quiz: Early Diagnosis and Management of AD
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder marked by a long preclinical period of progressive cognitive and behavioral impairment that significantly interferes with social and occupational functioning. Approximately 55 million adults worldwide have been affected by Alzheimer's disease. Early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease allow patients to maintain higher cognitive levels and functional ability. How much do you know about the early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz. Current clinical practice guidelines from the Alzheimer's Association state that, in order to render a diagnosis of MCI owing to Alzheimer's disease, the patient's cognition upon assessment must be outside the normal range of function for their age and educational background but not sufficiently impaired to constitute dementia. Cognitive decline can be documented by history from the patient, which is ideally corroborated by someone who closely observes the patient on a regular basis or upon observation by the clinician, per the same guidelines. The Alzheimer's Association guidelines also note that impairment can involve one or more cognitive domains. The clinician determines whether memory is prominently impaired or whether the impairments in other cognitive domains predominate, such as spatial or language impairment. Typically, memory is the most common domain involved among patients who subsequently progress to Alzheimer's dementia. There is generally mild functional impairment for complex tasks, but basic activities of daily living should be preserved, and the person should not meet criteria for MCI. Learn more about the presentation for Alzheimer's disease. Depression is a significant consideration in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Further, it has been shown to be a sign of early Alzheimer's disease. The clinical manifestations of depression overlap with those of Alzheimer's disease. The term pseudodementia refers to the appearance of cognitive dysfunction owing to depression. Depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease appears to differ from depression in elderly patients without cognitive impairment. Depression in Alzheimer's disease more often features motivational disturbances (eg, fatigue, psychomotor slowing, and apathy), whereas depression in patients without cognitive impairment tends to feature mood symptoms (eg, depressed mood, anxiety, suicidality, and sleep and appetite disturbances). Hypoglycemia, hearing impairment, and alcohol or drug abuse have been linked to cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. However, they are generally not regarded as signs of Alzheimer's disease nor are they significant diagnostic considerations. Learn more about diagnostic considerations in Alzheimer's disease. Patients with MCI are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias than patients who do not have MCI. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to greatly increase the risk for cognitive impairment in older adults. Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency have been shown to have more than double the risk of developing MCI than patients who were not vitamin D deficient. Similarly, a narrative review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies focused on neuroimaging changes in patients with vitamin D found a consistent association between vitamin D deficiency and cognitive impairment. Further, vitamin D deficiency leads to network disruption centered in the right hippocampus in patients with MCI. Moderate alcohol consumption, bilingualism, and hearing aid use are all considered part of the protective and lifestyle factors that have been associated with lower incidence rates of MCI. Learn more about the workup for Alzheimer's disease. ChEIs are used in an attempt to prevent or delay the deterioration of cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Available ChEIs have shown modest benefit on measures of cognitive function and activities of daily living. Patients taking ChEIs have shown slower declines on cognitive and functional measures than patients on placebo and might also alleviate the noncognitive manifestations of Alzheimer's disease, such as agitation, wandering, and socially inappropriate behavior. However, they do not address the underlying cause of the degeneration of cholinergic neurons, which continues during the disease. Antidepressants have an important role in the treatment of mood disorders in patients with Alzheimer's disease; however, data regarding their effect on delaying cognitive deterioration are inconsistent and they are not typically used for that function. Neuroleptic agents, also known as antipsychotics, can reduce confusion, delusions, hallucinations, and psychomotor agitation in patients and were sometimes used to treat secondary symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as agitation. In 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration added a black box warning on the use of atypical neuroleptics in the treatment of secondary symptoms of Alzheimer's disease because of increased risk for death or stroke. Further, they are not typically used to delay cognitive deterioration; the combination with antidepressants is also not typically used in this setting. Learn more about the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. ChEIs and mental exercises are used in disease as an attempt to prevent or delay the deterioration of cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Many experts believe that mentally challenging activities, such as doing puzzles and brainteasers, as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy might reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in patients with MCI. Clinical trials are under way to determine the effect these cognitive activities have on Alzheimer's disease progression. Behavioral interventions are often combined with the more widely used pharmacologic interventions rather than used alone. Their effectiveness ranges from modest and temporary to excellent and prolonged and varies greatly from patient to patient. Brain inflammation has been suggested as a key factor in the pathogenesis of dementia and is considered a cardinal feature of Alzheimer's disease. Both docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid can enhance the nerve growth factor level. However, they are not established treatments in this setting. There are no special dietary considerations for Alzheimer's disease. Learn more about approach considerations for Alzheimer's disease.
