Although cocaine makes people feel more alert and on top of things in the moment, it can leave users vulnerable to a much slower brain in the long run. A new study shows that chronic use ages key parts of the brain at an accelerated rate. The findings were published online April 24 in Molecular [...]

Many studies have linked exercise with improved brain health later in life. Now a new controlled trial reveals more about how aerobic activity might be helping to bolster the brain by beefing up the hippocampus. As we age, parts of the brain tend to shrink—even in the absence of neurocognitive diseases, such as dementia or [...]

How many late-life declines can be traced back to a fall? Whether or not it involves a fractured hip or just a general shake-up, even a minor spill can precipitate a rapid loss of function and independence or even death in seniors. "Falls are one of the most common health problems experienced by older adults," [...]

Like people, mice sometimes show signs of general confusion and memory loss after surgery. Common major (noncardiac) procedures, such as orthopedic operations, can lead to postsurgical cognitive decline in some seven to 26 percent of patients. And though it’s usually temporary, this mental fogginess has been linked to worse overall recovery and long-term cognitive problems. [...]

Symptoms of sickle-cell anemia often include severe pain and other major medical complications, but a new study shows that the disease might also decrease cognitive abilities in young and middle-aged adults. About 70,000 people in the U.S. have sickle-cell anemia (SCA), but improved therapies are allowing most people with it to live well beyond the [...]

The immune system’s cells work hard to fight off infections. But new research is uncovering their important role in cognition, and a study published online May 3 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine reveals how the immune system’s T cells, which aren’t present in the brain, can impact learning and memory. Inflammation around the brain [...]