Hearing, Speech Changes Can Be Early Warning Signs For Dementia
The speech pattern of those in the study with a condition that usually progresses into Alzheimer's used shorter, simpler sentences, and their delivery was more halting.
Los Angeles Times:
Worried About Dementia? Hearing And Language Problems Could Be Forerunners Of Cognitive Decline
Scientists have traced the roots of dementia back to midlife, a time when hearing loss and changes in speech patterns may signal the onset of cognitive decline. In research presented Monday at the Alzheimer’s Assn.’s annual international conference in London, investigators also reported that for people in their 80s, those who were admitted to a hospital for an urgent or emergency medical problem subsequently suffered more dramatic decline in mental functioning than their peers who checked into a hospital for an elective procedure or avoided the hospital altogether. (Healy, 7/17)
In other public health news —
The Mercury News:
UC Berkeley's Window To The Brain
UC Berkeley has been awarded $21.6 million to help federal scientists develop an implantable system to provide precision communication between the brain and the digital world. This system, as envisioned by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, would convert the electrochemical signaling used by neurons in the brain into the “ones” and “zeros” that are the language of information technology — advancing our understanding of the neural underpinnings of vision, hearing, and speech. (Krieger, 7/17)
The Press-Enterprise:
Study: Big Breakfast, Skimpy Dinner Help Weight Loss
Using information gained from the more than 50,000 participants, researchers found that timing and frequency of meals plays a large role in predicting weight loss or gain. Dr. Hana Kahleova, one of the study’s authors, said that the findings confirm the validity of the saying: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” (Steinberg, 7/15)