Brain power can improve even at the age of 90

 Brain power can improve even at the age of 90

A new study has been made public, challenging the common belief that mental acuity and thinking ability weaken with age.

A study from the University of Texas has found that the brain health of people over the age of 90 can also be improved.

Published in the scientific journal 'Scientific Reports', 3,966 people aged 19 to 94 participated in this research.

According to the research, 5 to 15 minutes of brain exercise daily can significantly improve a person's thinking clarity and emotional balance.

31 Jestha, Kathmandu. A new study has been made public, challenging the common belief that mental acuity and thinking ability weaken with age. A three-year study conducted by researchers at the 'Center for Brain Health' under 'The University of Texas at Dallas' has shown that the brain health of people over the age of 90 can also be improved.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, involved 3,966 people aged 19 to 94.

During the study, participants engaged in a variety of brain-training activities for just 5 to 15 minutes a day. After three years of continuous tracking, researchers found measurable improvements in their thinking clarity, emotional balance, and outlook on life.

To measure this change in brain health, the research team used a special method called the ‘Brain Health Index’. This index evaluates about 20 indicators, including a person’s sleep quality, happiness level, and ability to think complexly.

According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Lori Cook, each person’s brain is as unique as a fingerprint and always has the potential to develop. This study has proven wrong the old belief that the brain must weaken with age.

Another interesting aspect of the study is that participants with the lowest initial brain health scores showed the greatest improvement over time. People with lower scores were more concerned and motivated about their mental health, so they invested more time in the practice, which resulted in better results, the study found. However, signs of improvement were also recorded in people with already good mental abilities.

Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, chief director of the Center for Brain Health, explained that brain capacity is determined not by age but by potential. According to her, efforts to keep the brain healthy before any problems or diseases appear in it are very effective even in old age.

According to the researchers, factors such as a person’s age, gender or educational level do not make a difference in brain improvement, but rather how much a person engages in these exercises plays a key role. To further clarify this issue, more than 1,200 brain scans (brain imaging) of about 400 participants in the Dallas area are also being conducted.

Development of a medicine to cure gum disease from bitter gourd and pomegranate peel

 Development of a medicine to cure gum disease from bitter gourd and pomegranate peel

A combination of bitter gourd and pomegranate peel has opened up a new way to solve the problem of pain and wear caused by severe gum disease (periodontitis). Brazilian scientists have developed a special biomaterial by combining bitter gourd, pomegranate peel juice and the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Pontifical Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil, has been published in the scientific journal ‘Polymer Bulletin’. Severe gum disease gradually destroys the bones and tissues that support teeth, which leads to tooth loosening and loss.

Although currently available treatments reduce infection and swelling, they cannot regenerate the destroyed tissues or bones.

To overcome this limitation, scientists have used bitter gourd. Since the bark of the tree has a strong natural ability to stick (mucoadhesive property), it helps to keep the medicine and natural ingredients stuck to the gums for a long time. This eliminates the need for frequent use of antibiotics. All three ingredients used in this technique have different and important roles.

The bark of the tree acts as a base to keep the medicine stuck to the infected part of the gums for a long time, while the antimicrobial properties of the pomegranate peel juice fight harmful germs and infections in the gums. Similarly, the drug simvastatin reduces swelling and helps in the growth of new bone (osteoinduction).

Since most of this medicine is absorbed by the liver when taken directly as a pill, it would have to be taken in large quantities to reach the gums, which could cause side effects such as muscle weakness. However, when applied directly to the gums through this new gel, even a small amount works safely.

Initial laboratory tests on human stem cells have shown significant improvements in the process of new bone formation within 14 to 21 days of using the gel.

According to Professor Eliana Aparecida de Rezende Duque, coordinator of the research team, this gel made from the bark of the thorn bush, which has not received much attention in medical science until now, could be a revolutionary step in the treatment of teeth and gums in the future.