In the mid 1950s, Dr. Bedford reported on a number of older adults who exhibited cognitive problems (memory or planning or being able to sustain attention) following surgery where anesthesia was used. This effect is now called postoperative cognitive dysfunction (or decline; POCD). POCD typically lasts for a few months to a year with a small minority of patients exhibiting permanent decline. Studies about it were few at first, with most focusing on cognition following cardiac surgery. Over time and especially more recently, there has been an increase in research of POCD following non-cardiac surgeries (e.g., abdominal or orthopedic) as well as continued interest in POCD following cardiac surgery. Read more →

The benefits of aerobic activity are well documented regarding overall physical health and well-being. Many studies have also shown an association between aerobic activity and cognitive function, but the mechanism was unclear. Now, we may know the reason.

A new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America reported that adults who exercise regularly exhibit increased blood flow to the brain, as well as more small vessels in the brain, compared with those who do not exercise regularly. This study posits that the differences in blood flow between exercisers and non-exercisers could explain why physical activity prevents cognitive decline as people age. Read more →

Welcome to the twenty-eight edition of Brain Blogging — a semi-monthly blog carnival that aims to review posts “related to the brain and mind that go beyond the basic sciences into a more human and multidimensional perspective.” Read more →

A new study has found evidence that suggests use of statins, commonly used in the regulation of cholesterol levels, may be associated with a reduction in cognitive decline in the elderly.

Researchers in the Cardiovascular Health Study Collaborative Research Group monitored the cognitive abilities of 3,334 people over the age of 65 without dementia for an average of seven years and found that regular statin use was associated with a rate of cognitive decline less than half of that of untreated patients. Read more →