All posts tagged: hippocampus

20 minutes of cycling can make your brain fitter

20 minutes of cycling can make your brain fitter

Published by Jenni Sidey

Even a brief time spent on a bedside pedal device has positively impacted an area of the brain related to memory, according to recent research published in Brain Communications. In a study involving 14 participants suffering from medically intractable epilepsy, researchers recorded activity in the brain before and after the participants engaged in approximately 20 minutes of light to moderate cycling. After cycling, the participants showed a higher incidence of fast electrical bursts (known as “ripples”) in the hippocampus. This is a well-known brain structure involved in learning and memory. For several years, scientists have been researching these ripples and their role in helping the brain sort and organize new information and replay memories. However, this study was unique because the authors were able to view the patterns directly in a human brain via intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG). This is an uncommon type of monitoring used for patients undergoing pre-surgical evaluation. Exercise has physiological effects throughout the body, including on brain activity. In the current study, participants aged 17–50 who were evaluated for epilepsy surgery at …

Low doses of lithium may slow verbal memory decline from Alzheimer’s

Low doses of lithium may slow verbal memory decline from Alzheimer’s

Published by Jenni Sidey

A once-daily dose of a medication, which averaged 195 mg, produced blood levels significantly lower than those typically pursued by psychiatrists. However, it succeeded in generating a weak signal concerning the potential influence on memory performance. This is the essence of a two-year placebo-controlled clinical trial studying the effects of low-dose lithium therapy on memory performance in older adults who have mild cognitive impairment. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine conducted the study, which utilized repeated cognitive assessments, neuroimaging data, and blood-based biomarkers to monitor participants over time. The results were published in JAMA Neurology. Lithium has been used for many years as a medication for patients with bipolar disorder. This study examined a different question. It asked how effective long-term therapy with low doses of lithium might be in slowing the decline of memory and cognitive function in individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, which is often identified before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. An Existing Medication But with an Alternate Purpose Ariel Gildengers, PhD, was the principal investigator of this clinical trial. …

Larger left hippocampus predicts better response to antidepressant escitalopram

Larger left hippocampus predicts better response to antidepressant escitalopram

Published by José Betancourt

A study of individuals suffering from moderate to severe depression in Japan found that those with larger volumes of the left hippocampus region of the brain and greater leftward laterality were more likely to respond to treatment with escitalopram (i.e., to experience a reduction in depression symptoms). Also, the volume of the right hippocampus and the right hippocampal head of these individuals increased more in response to this medication. The paper was published in Translational Psychiatry. Major depressive disorder is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It goes beyond normal sadness and significantly interferes with functioning at work, school, and in relationships. Core symptoms include depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt. Many individuals also experience changes in sleep, appetite, concentration, and psychomotor activity. Despite the large number of people worldwide suffering from depression, treatments for depression are still lacking. Studies indicate that at least 30% of people suffering from depression do not experience a remission of symptoms …