cognitive impairment

Quercetin hybrid-hydrogel microparticles modulate gut microbiota and improve memory in an antibiotic-induced dysbiosis rat model

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A natural quercetin supplement formulated with fenugreek fiber was tested on rats with antibiotic-damaged gut bacteria. The supplement successfully restored healthy gut bacteria diversity, reduced gut inflammation, and improved memory performance. These benefits likely work through the gut-brain connection, where healthy bacteria produce beneficial chemicals that support brain function and reduce inflammation.

Long-COVID symptoms improved after MDMA and psilocybin therapy: A case report

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A 41-year-old woman with Long-COVID experienced severe symptoms including fatigue, depression, anxiety, headaches, and brain fog that didn’t improve with traditional treatments. She decided to try psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA with guidance from a therapist. After multiple dosing sessions over several months, she reported roughly 80-90% improvement in her symptoms and was able to return to work and resume her studies. While this single case is promising, more research is needed to determine whether these psychedelics are truly safe and effective for Long-COVID.

Fermented Rice Bran: A Promising Therapeutic Agent Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders

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Fermented rice bran, created by fermenting rice byproduct with beneficial bacteria, shows promise in helping manage weight and blood sugar levels in studies using rats on high-fat diets. The fermentation process increases the nutritional value of rice bran by boosting protein, fiber, and antioxidant content. Animals supplemented with fermented rice bran for 8 weeks showed improved cognitive function, better liver health, and improved lipid profiles compared to those on high-fat diets alone.

A comprehensive overview of the effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics on the gut-brain axis

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This comprehensive review examines how probiotics (beneficial live bacteria), prebiotics (food for beneficial bacteria), and synbiotics (combinations of both) can influence communication between the gut and brain. These interventions can produce beneficial compounds like GABA and serotonin, strengthen the gut barrier, and reduce inflammation, potentially helping with mood, anxiety, cognition, and various digestive disorders. However, effects vary greatly depending on the specific strain used, dosage, and individual differences in gut bacteria, and more large-scale studies are needed to confirm long-term clinical benefits.

Screening of active components of Ganoderma lucidum and decipher its molecular mechanism to improve learning and memory disorders

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Researchers used computer analysis and laboratory experiments to understand how a medicinal mushroom called Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) helps improve memory and learning problems. They identified ten key active ingredients in the mushroom that work together to reduce inflammation in the brain and protect nerve cells. The most important ingredient appears to be a compound called β-sitosterol, which helps prevent memory loss similar to effects seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

Microglia and astrocytes mediate synapse engulfment in a MER tyrosine kinase-dependent manner after traumatic brain injury

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After a traumatic brain injury, brain cells called microglia and astrocytes overzealously consume synapses (connections between neurons), which prevents the brain from healing properly. This study shows that these brain cells use a specific protein called MERTK to do this unwanted cleanup. When researchers blocked MERTK in these cells, the mice recovered better motor and cognitive function, had smaller brain injuries, and maintained more healthy synapses.

High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Neurobehavioral Abnormalities and Neuronal Morphological Alterations Accompanied by Excessive Microglial Activation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescent Mice

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This study shows that eating a high-fat diet during the teenage years can harm brain development and mood in mice. The research found that high-fat diets led to anxiety and depression-like symptoms, along with shrinking brain structures and overactive immune cells in the brain. These findings suggest that teenagers should maintain healthy eating habits, as poor diet during adolescence may have long-lasting effects on mental health.

Association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among American adults: prospective cohort study findings from NHANES III

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This study followed over 15,000 American adults for nearly 20 years and found that people who ate mushrooms had a lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who didn’t eat mushrooms. The more mushrooms people ate, the greater the benefit. Replacing red or processed meat with mushrooms was associated with even greater longevity benefits. Mushrooms’ beneficial effects likely come from their high antioxidant content, particularly compounds called ergothioneine and glutathione.

Impaired spatial memory in adult vitamin D deficient BALB/c mice is associated with reductions in spine density, nitric oxide, and neural nitric oxide synthase in the hippocampus

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This study found that adults with vitamin D deficiency have impaired spatial memory and reduced brain structures called dendritic spines in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory. The researchers identified that low vitamin D decreases nitric oxide production in the brain, which is important for forming and maintaining the synaptic connections needed for memory formation. Importantly, when vitamin D was supplemented back to deficient mice, the brain’s ability to produce nitric oxide was restored, suggesting vitamin D supplementation could potentially improve cognitive function in vitamin D-deficient individuals.

Cerebral Hypoxia-Induced Molecular Alterations and Their Impact on the Physiology of Neurons and Dendritic Spines: A Comprehensive Review

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This review explains how low oxygen levels in the brain damage nerve cells and their connection points (dendritic spines) through a cascade of molecular changes. The brain normally has protective mechanisms, but severe or prolonged hypoxia overwhelms these defenses, leading to memory loss and cognitive problems. Several molecular pathways and supporting cells called astrocytes and microglia can help protect neurons. Understanding these protective mechanisms may lead to new treatments for brain conditions caused by low oxygen, such as stroke.

Disease: cognitive impairment