Brain Health

Early-Life Sugar Rationing Was Linked to Lower Dementia Risk Decades Later

A study of nearly 65,000 people born around the end of British sugar rationing found an association between lower sugar exposure early in life and later brain health, but it cannot show that sugar caused the difference.

Gut Signals Helped Rats Remember Where They Found Food

A new animal study identified a vagus nerve pathway linking nutrients in the digestive system with food-related memory.

Opposite Weight-Loss Drug Strategies May Work Through Different Parts of the Brain

A mouse study offers a possible explanation for why activating or blocking the same appetite-related receptor can both support weight loss, but it does not show which approach will work best in people.

Polyphenols May Support Brain Health

A broad review found promising biological clues, but it did not establish that any food, compound or diet prevents Alzheimer’s disease.

Keto Diet Trial Finds Early Metabolic Gains in Serious Mental Illness

A small randomized trial found metabolic improvements after one month on a ketogenic diet, while longer-term mental health findings remain preliminary.

Mediterranean-Style Eating May Support Well-Being as We Age

A study of adults over 50 found that greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with higher psychological well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creatine May Help Depression, but the Evidence Is Still Split

A review of five randomized trials found mixed results when creatine was added to standard depression treatment, with possible benefit in some studies and no effect in others.

Longer Breastfeeding Was Tied to Modestly Fewer ADHD Symptoms

A large Norwegian cohort study found that longer exclusive breastfeeding up to six months was associated with fewer ADHD symptoms through age 8.

Diet May Still Play a Role After Alzheimer’s Risk Markers Appear

A long-term study suggests lower-inflammatory eating patterns may be linked to lower dementia risk, even among older adults with biological signs of elevated risk.

Fish Oil Supplements May Not Deliver on Brain Health Promise

A two-year clinical trial found that high-dose DHA supplements raised omega-3 levels in the brain but did not improve memory, cognition or Alzheimer’s-related brain shrinkage.

Vitamin C Levels Were Linked to Differences in the Aging Brain

A study of more than 2,000 older adults found associations involving gray matter volume and brain connectivity, but it does not show that vitamin C prevents cognitive decline.

Early Eating Patterns May Matter for Learning Years Later

A systematic review suggests that nutrition in the first years of life may be linked to cognitive performance in adolescence, while evidence for teen-focused interventions remains mixed.

Alcohol Raises Cancer Risk Even at Low Levels, Analysis Finds

A global analysis found clear links between alcohol and cancer and liver disease, while the evidence for some heart, metabolic and brain conditions was more complicated.

A Nutrition Marker May Offer Clues About Fatigue and Motivation

In a study of healthy Japanese adults, higher homocysteine levels were linked with physical fatigue in men and lower motivation in women, but the findings do not prove that vitamin levels caused those symptoms.

Teen Heart Health Markers May Be Linked to Brain Function

A Finnish study found blood lipid markers tied to slower processing speed in adolescents, suggesting heart and brain health may be connected earlier than many people realize.

Caffeine May Change How Deeply Your Brain Sleeps

A new review suggests caffeine can affect sleep quality in ways people may not notice, including changes in brain activity tied to deeper rest.

Small Trial Adds Nuance to the 100% Fruit Juice Debate

A new study found lower depression scores among adults who added juice or smoothies while increasing produce intake, but the findings come from a small industry-funded trial.

Structured Healthy Habits May Help Older Adults Reduce Frailty

A two-year randomized clinical trial found older adults at risk for cognitive decline improved more on a frailty measure when lifestyle changes included coaching, goal setting and accountability.

Can Healthy Eating Help Memory Recover After a Sugary Diet?

A review of animal studies found memory improved after unhealthy diets were replaced with healthier food, though recovery appeared weaker after diets high in sugar or both fat and sugar.

Vitamin D During Pregnancy May Be Linked to Children’s Memory Years Later

A follow-up analysis of a Danish clinical trial found children whose mothers received higher-dose vitamin D3 during pregnancy performed better on some memory tests at age 10, but researchers say the findings should be interpreted carefully.

Cutting Back on Alcohol May Reverse Some Health Risks

A new review finds alcohol contributes to a wide range of diseases and injuries, but some risks may fall when people reduce or stop drinking.

Mouse Study Suggests Newer GLP-1 Drugs May Alter Food Reward Pathways

A Nature study found oral GLP-1 drugs affected brain circuits tied to food motivation in mice, offering clues about why these medications may influence cravings beyond appetite alone.

Higher Egg Intake Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk in Long-Term Study

A large observational study of older adults found that people who ate eggs more often were less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over time, though researchers cannot say eggs themselves were the cause.

Weight Gain Over Time May Be Linked to Faster Brain Aging

A 24-year study found that higher long-term BMI was associated with steeper cognitive decline in older adults, but BMI is only one piece of a much bigger brain health puzzle.

Study Links Ultraprocessed Foods to Lower Focus in Adults

A cross-sectional study found an association between higher ultraprocessed food intake and lower attention scores, even among adults with otherwise healthy diets.