Lifeboat Foundation

A new episode of our podcast, “Show Me the Science,” has been posted. These episodes feature stories about groundbreaking research, as well as lifesaving and just plain cool stuff involving faculty, staff and students at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

In this episode, Washington University researchers discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s recent full approval of the drug Leqembi (lecanemab) and what it could mean to the future of Alzheimer’s disease treatments. The drug is approved for use in people with mild dementia from Alzheimer’s disease, but researchers at Washington University’s Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC), believe the drug, along with other medications in clinical trials, one day may help prevent the development of memory loss and problems with thinking in people who have Alzheimer’s pathology in the brain but who have not yet developed clinical symptoms of the disease.

Barbara Joy Snider, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology and director of clinical trials at the Knight ADRC, says that although Leqembi doesn’t cure Alzheimer’s disease, it slows the decline in memory and thinking, and it also slows the progression of the disorder by removing some amyloid plaques from the brain.

Everyday lapses in memory can be a part of learning.

New insights into the medical mysteries behind dementia have been revealed this week, with two studies identifying drivers of the brain-degenerating condition.

One study, released on September 11 in the journal General Psychiatry, shows that the shortening of little caps on the end of chromosomes may be linked to increased dementia risk. Another, published in the journal JAMA on September 12, reveals that spending more time sedentary, such as sitting down, may also increase the risk.

These studies may help scientists to further understand the mechanisms behind what causes dementia to develop, and therefore how to stop it.

Summary: Depression, a challenging condition to diagnose early, may now be detected more promptly using a simple 1-minute Electroencephalogram (EEG) test at home.

This study revealed a relationship between EEG results and the severity of participants’ depressive moods over several weeks. Phase resetting, where brain waves from different regions synchronize, correlated with mood intensity.

The discovery could revolutionize early depression detection and future treatments.

Scientists propose a spray that will make the most aggressive brain cancer tumors commit suicide. This spray contains bio-nanoantennae, special molecules that can alter cells at the quantum level.

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have devised a unique spray treatment method to cure glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer that annually kills over 10,000 people in the US.

Continue reading “Scientists kill brain cancer with quantum therapy in a first” »

Mental preparation — and the ability to laugh at ourselves — can ensure that frustrating failures lead to great breakthroughs.

Synchronization in networks, from dancing groups to brain cells, is influenced by the structure of connections between its members. Recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that the quality of synchronization depends on ‘walks’ within a network, with a higher number of convergent walks leading to poorer synchronization…

Mind mastery refers to intentionally developing self-awareness and discipline to take control of your thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors. Rather than operating on autopilot or being swept away by negativity, you respond consciously in alignment with your values and goals. Benefits of mind mastery include reduced stress, achieving ambitions, fulfilled relationships, and overall life satisfaction.

Mastering your mind requires commitment, but small, consistent steps to steward your thoughts and manage your emotions will compound to impact your mental health and empower your life profoundly. Here are key techniques:

Practice observing your thoughts like clouds passing by without reacting or judging. Creating this mental space between stimulus and response allows you to gain perspective. Ask what evidence supports or contradicts anxious thoughts.

In a recent study published in JAMA, researchers investigated whether accelerometer-assessed sedentary behavior was associated with incident dementia.

The global population is engaging in more sedentary-type activities such as sitting while using the computer, watching television, and driving. Studies have reported associations between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic diseases and related mortality; however, its relationship with new-onset dementia is not clear.