Category: Brain Health

Source: http://www.nia.nih.gov/research/blog/2017/02/data-infrastructure-aging-research

Though research on age differences has its place, almost by definition, research on aging involves tracking people over time periods long enough to observe long-term changes in their lives and health. And, accurate measurements of large samples can be an expensive undertaking. The NIA has made major investments to create and maintain data resources that can be used for dozens—and in some cases, hundreds—of analyses, using the tools of the behavioral and social sciences….

Source: http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2017/02/22/how-microsoft-anticipated-wearables-machine-learning-and-cognitive-enhancement-key-neurotech-patent-18/

– Illustrative image from U.S. Patent No. 6,842,877

Let’s discuss today a fascinating patent assigned to Microsoft back in 2015. (As mentioned, we are featuring a foundational Pervasive Neurotech patent a day, from older to newer by issue date)

U.S. Patent No. 6,842,877: Contextual responses based on automated learning techniques.

• Assignee(s): Mic…

Source: http://www.webmd.com/news/20170222/zika-mice-male-fertility?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The CDC is working with a fertility clinic in Puerto Rico to determine if men infected by Zika have lower sperm counts or lower sperm function after infection

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Source: http://womensbrainhealth.org/think-twice/do-you-know-how-to-keep-your-brain-healthy

by Tarlee Pearce for Canadian Living: Here are some scary truths: 70 percent of new Alzheimer’s patients in Canada will be women, and we’re diagnosed with depression and dementia at twice the rate of men. But new research says there……

Source: http://totalbrainhealth.com/?p=5928

Review Suggests Evidence for Computer-Based Brain Training Limited and Varies Widely

What: Evidence for the effectiveness of commercially available computerized braining training programs to ward off age-related cognitive decline remains unclear, despite the popularity of such products.  Researchers in Australia conducted a literature review to assess the quality of the studies that have been done on computer-based brain training programs that claim to reduce cognitive decline. Of 18 training products identified, researchers found only 7 of the programs with published research data. In looking at evidence for those 7 programs, they found only 2 companies offered data meeting the highest criteria of research methodology (Level III). Of those programs, one relied in part on data from a governmental study (ACTIVE) from which a piece of their training protocol was based, yet modified from the version researche…

Source: http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2017/02/15/method-for-adaptive-training-of-short-term-memory-and-auditoryvisual-discrimination-within-a-computer-game-key-neurotech-patent-13/

– Illustrative image from U.S. Patent No. 6,599,129

Today we are sharing a 2003 cognitive training patent assigned to Scientific Learning Corp.

U.S. Patent No. 6,599,129: Method for adaptive training of short term memory and auditory/visual discrimination within a computer game

• Assignee(s): Scientific Learning Corp.
• Inventor(s): William M. Jenkins, Michael M. Merzenich, Steven L. Miller, Bret E. Peterson, Paula Tallal
• Technology Category: NeuroCognitive Training
• Issue Date: July 29, 2003

SharpBrains’ Take:

The ‘129 patent b…

Source: http://yourbrainhealth.com.au/how-to-go-with-the-flow/

White water kayakers and musicians experience it. So do video-gamers, rock climbers, and experienced meditators. If you’ve ever lost complete track of time or your sense of self when you’re engrossed in a satisfying task, chances are you’ve experienced it too. The optimal state of consciousness in which you perform and feel your best is called ‘flow’.

What is flow?

The concept of flow was first described by positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi who described it as:

 

“a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it…

Source: http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2017/02/21/computer-modeling-meets-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-key-neurotech-patent-17/

– Illustrative image from U.S. Patent No. 6,827,681

This is a very interesting 2004 patent, assigned to Brainlab AG,  outlining a way to use computer modeling to target brain stimulation.

U.S. Patent No. 6,827,681: Method and device for transcranial magnetic stimulation.

• Assignee(s): Brainlab AG
• Inventor(s): Phillipp Tanner, Andreas Hartlep, Henrik Wist, Kerstin Wendicke, Thomas Weyh
• Technology Category: Transcranial Stimulation
• Issue Date: December 7, 2004

SharpBrains’ Take:<…

Source: http://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2017/medical-Marijuana-assisted-living-homes.html

4 hours ago … Increasingly, retirement communities and nursing homes see more residents
choosing medical marijuana over traditional pain meds….

Source: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20170221/david-cassidy-dementia?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Cassidy says both his grandfather and his mother struggled with dementia in their final years

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