Executive Function

Boosting brain protein levels may slow decline from Alzheimer's

A study found that new monoclonal antibody drugs for Alzheimer's may slow cognitive impairment through boosting levels of a specific protein in the brain.

Games, puzzles and reading can slow cognitive decline in the elderly — even in those with mild cognitive impairment

Findings from a new study suggest that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities such as word games and hobbies have better memory, working memory, attention and processing speed than those who do not.

Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer's disease

Findings from a new USC Dornsife study suggest that when older adults fall for financial scams, it could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers used MRI scans to find that older adults with thinner brain regions linked to memory and decision-making -- areas often affected early...
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Alzheimer's drug may slow down cognitive decline in dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is a type of dementia that is similar to both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease but studies on long-term treatments are lacking. A new study highlights the potential cognitive benefits of cholinesterase inhibitor treatment....
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Researchers have discovered the brain circuit that controls our ability to recall information and memories

Researchers have identified the specific cell group in the brain that plays a central role in our ability to discriminate familiar and novel things, which is called recognition memory. This discovery is significant as it may impact our understanding -- and treatment -- of several cognitive disorders...
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New research identifies early sensorimotor markers for autism spectrum disorder

A study has uncovered significant findings related to the early sensorimotor features and cognitive abilities of toddlers who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Parental perceived immigration threat and children’s mental health, self-regulation and executive functioning in pre-Kindergarten.

Many children in immigrant households endure unique stressors shaped by national, state, and local immigration policies and enforcement activity in the United States. Qualitative studies find that during times of heightened immigration enforcement, children as young as 3 years of age show signs of b...
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Suicidal ideation in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with mental health conditions at risk for homelessness.

Suicide prevention among Veterans is a national priority. Overlap exists between conditions that may increase risk for suicide (e.g., mental health conditions, financial stressors, lack of social support) and homelessness among Veterans. We examined predictors of variance in suicidal ideation (SI) a...
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A novel model of obesity prediction: Neurobehaviors as targets for treatment.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that is on the rise, with approximately 30% of the world population classified as either overweight or obese. The United States has some of the highest rates of obesity, and in most countries in the world, obesity now poses more of a serious health concern than malnut...
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The rodent lateral orbitofrontal cortex as an arbitrator selecting between model-based and model-free learning systems.

Our understanding of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) function has progressed remarkably over the past decades in part due to theoretical advances in associative and reinforcement learning theories. These theoretical accounts of OFC function have implicated the region in progressively more psychologically...
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