Tag Archives: Scientists
Scientists Say Ginkgo May Improve Memory Functions
New research shows that the herb, ginkgo biloba, may improve human performance on tasks requiring short-term memory.1
These findings are detailed in a study from Australian and British scientists.
The study participants were given a ginkgo extract for fourteen days and showed improvements in memory-related functions, according to the results.
These functions included working memory and specific brain electrical activity, say R.B. Silberstein and five other scientists in the published study.
Silberstein and colleagues add that the nineteen healthy men who consumed ginkgo biloba tablets showed greater memory task accuracy and different brain waves.
For the memory task, participants who took the herb were handed an irregular polygon-shaped object. Then scientists allowed some time to pass by projecting different shapes on a screen for them.
Afterwards, the volunteers were handed an irregular-shaped object and were asked whether this object was the same as the previous object.
The study shows that the men who consumed ginkgo were 5.1% more accurate on that memory test than men who took the test after consuming only a placebo.
The research also indicates that there were differences in brain wave activity between the ginkgo group and the placebo group.
According to the scientists, brain wave activity was measured with electrodes that were applied to the scalp of the volunteers, men who ranged in age from fifty- to sixty-one years old.
The scientists determined that the volunteers who consumed ginkgo biloba had brain waves with increased amplitude, or strength, in brain regions related to task performance and IQ.
So, this herb shows promise for people who are interested in supporting memory functions.
MemoRise
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Scientists Link OCD to Immune System Problems
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental illness. People with OCD feel great anxiety. They’re trapped in a loop of repetitive thoughts known as obsessions.
Many OCD patients seek relief from these obsessions by engaging in compulsive behavior. Such behavior involves performing repetitive tasks such as counting or hand-washing.
But new research provides insight into potential causes of OCD. During the past few years, scientists have learned that this anxiety disorder may be linked to immunological problems.
Several studies have found that patients with OCD have smaller numbers of some immune system cells and signs of autoimmune activity.
Last year, four scientists from Firat University, a Turkish college, published research showing immunological differences between OCD patients and people who had no physical or mental problems.1
By using blood tests, the scientists found that patients with OCD had lower levels of neutrophils, which are white blood cells that help the human immune system fight off invading microorganisms.2
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Scientists Find New Clues to Cause of ADHD
Two recent studies have linked ADHD to possible problems with the body’s ability to create serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s essential for good psychological health.
According to the research results, the abnormalities could involve the amino acid, tryptophan, and a gene that helps produce serotonin.
The human body converts tryptophan into serotonin. But, scientists from Örebro University
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