Anxiety disorders based on fear, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias, are common, affecting millions of people in the U.S. Although several treatment options for these conditions are available—including psychotherapy, medication, and alternative therapies—the success of these treatments varies. Now, a team of neuroscientists have discovered a way to “remove” fears from the brain.

Researchers from Great Britain, Japan, and the U.S. found a way to remove specific fear memories unconsciously using a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and brain scanning technology. In a new technique—called decoded neurofeedback—the scientists use brain scans to identify complex activity in the brain that indicates a fear memory. Each time the fear memory was detected, the researchers gave the participants a monetary reward—overriding and replacing the fear memory over the course of a three-day period.

This study was small and the sample size was limited, but the results are promising. If further research confirms the results, decoded neurofeedback could replace medications and stressful treatments like exposure therapy to treat phobias and PTSD.

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Sourced from: MNT

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have noticeably declined since 2000. However, although dementia rates have declined, that doesn’t mean there are fewer people with Alzheimer’s. In fact, the total number of people in the U.S. living with dementia continues to rise.

A recent study conducted by a team at the University of Michigan examined the medical records of 21,000 people with an average age of 75 years. Testing showed that the dementia rate in people over the age of 65 dropped from 11.6 percent to 8.8 percent in 2012.

According to researchers, declining dementia rates may be due, in part, to better education—the average amount of education in 2000 was 11.8 years and, in 2012, the average amount was 12.7 years. It may also be associated with better treatment for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. A “cognitive reserve” resulting from a lifetime of learning has been shown to help prevent dementia, as has a healthy lifestyle. Cardiovascular disease—including high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and obesity can increase dementia risk.

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Sourced from: NBC News

According to a recent study, running shoes with no cushioning—called “minimal” running shoes—that encourage runners to land on the ball of the foot rather than the heel may reduce injury risk. The force of the foot hitting the ground while running is referred to as the loading rate. Minimal running shoes help produce a lower loading rate.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Hannah Rice, of the University of Exeter, reports that about three-quarters of runners are injured each year. Some of these injuries could be prevented by adopting a forefoot strike running style instead of a rearfoot strike style.

According to Dr. Rice, runners are often misguided when it comes to buying new running shoes. Runners who wish to transition to minimal running shoes should do so gradually and under professional guidance.

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Sourced from: ScienceDaily