#Brainhealth

Moments of mind blanking happen at the most inconvenient times—during exams, important meetings, or casual chats. A growing body of research treats these lapses not as personal failings but as common, brain-wide events that reveal how our minds recharge. For Thai readers, understanding this phenomenon can guide daily stress management, productivity, and mental health awareness in education and work settings.

Researchers now view mind blanking as a normal aspect of cognition, not a rare quirk. A major review indicates people spend roughly 5% to 20% of waking hours with no conscious thoughts. This challenges the notion that blank moments are simply a failure of attention and shows they are a widespread feature of human experience that affects students, professionals, and older adults alike. In Thai classrooms and offices, recognizing this as a natural part of brain function can reduce stigma around forgetting or pausing mid-speech.

A growing body of research points to a simple yet powerful tool for healthy, resilient brains: regular exercise. A recent Lancet article on neuroprotective mechanisms of exercise highlights the scientific consensus that physical activity protects the ageing brain and can slow cognitive decline. This finding is particularly timely for Thailand, where the population is rapidly ageing and dementia risk rises.

Thailand is entering a “super-aged” era. By 2031, more than 28% of Thais are expected to be over 60. With cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease on the rise, affordable, accessible strategies to protect brain health are urgently needed. Evidence now suggests that regular moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity could be among the most effective and equitable interventions.

A growing body of evidence is pointing towards a powerful tool in the quest for a healthy, resilient brain: regular exercise. A recent article published in The Lancet, “Neuroprotective mechanisms of exercise and the importance of fitness for healthy brain ageing,” highlights the robust scientific consensus emerging around physical activity’s unique ability to protect the ageing brain and ward off cognitive decline. This research is highly relevant for Thai readers, especially as Thailand’s population rapidly ages and the risks associated with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases climb.

It hits at the most inconvenient moments: during a stressful exam, a high-stakes meeting, or even a casual conversation when you simply cannot recall what you were just about to say. This sudden “mind blanking” is more than a common annoyance—recent research reveals it is a complex and surprisingly frequent mental event that holds important lessons about how our brains function and recharge. For Thai readers, understanding this phenomenon can help manage daily stress, enhance productivity, and inform approaches to mental health and education.

Feeling left out—whether overlooked for a job or not invited to a gathering—stings everyone. In Thai culture, where face and social harmony are deeply valued, this pain can linger longer. Yet fresh insights from social psychology show that rejection, while painful, can teach us how to form stronger, wiser connections in the future.

Across the world, studies have documented how social rejection triggers distress, elevating stress hormones and lowering our sense of belonging. Chronic rejection can contribute to mental health struggles. But a broader view suggests an evolutionary purpose: the brain treats rejection as a signal to protect us from being cut off from the group, a danger our ancestors faced. Thai communities, with their emphasis on unity and communal well-being, particularly feel this dynamic.

Feeling the sting of being left out—whether passed over for a job opportunity or not invited to a gathering—can be gut-wrenching. Many describe social rejection as “painful,” and for Thais, where the concept of “face” and social harmony are woven deeply into daily life, the pain can linger. Yet new research by social psychology experts suggests that while rejection hurts, it also acts as a powerful teacher, guiding us toward stronger, wiser connections in the future.

A recent scientific breakthrough has illuminated the vital connection between consistent physical exercise and enhanced brain health, revealing that long-term exercise facilitates key processes for clearing waste from the brain—marking a significant stride for both medical science and public health guidance. The study, published in Nature Communications, provides the first direct human evidence that regular physical activity can improve function in the brain’s glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic vessel systems, which are responsible for removing metabolic waste and maintaining neurological well-being (Nature Communications).

A new study provides the first direct evidence in humans that long-term, regular physical activity can improve the brain’s waste-clearing systems. Researchers found that sustained exercise enhances function in the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic vessels, which remove metabolic byproducts and help protect brain health. The work, published in Nature Communications, signals a meaningful link between daily movement and neurological well-being.

The findings come at a pivotal time for Thailand, where the population is aging rapidly and neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise. While exercise has long been recommended to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, this study helps explain how movement directly supports brain health beyond cardiovascular and metabolic benefits.

A new study from China suggests that more exercise isn’t always better for the brain. Both too little and too much physical activity may accelerate brain aging, challenging the belief that higher activity always sharpens cognition. The researchers describe a “Goldilocks zone” where moderation yields the best brain health.

The Health Data Science study analyzed nearly 17,000 adults to reveal a U-shaped relationship between activity and brain aging. Wrist accelerometers tracked movement while advanced brain imaging estimated each person’s brain age. Those in the middle range of activity showed the strongest brain health, while the least and most active groups exhibited signs of accelerated aging. The study’s average weekly activity levels were roughly 34 hours of light activity, 7.7 hours of moderate activity, and about 20 minutes of vigorous activity. Participants performing far more strenuous exercise were labeled “excessive exercisers,” while those with very low activity were classified as sedentary.

A cutting-edge scientific study has unveiled new insights into the neurological roots of lifelong premature ejaculation, suggesting the condition is linked to altered brain activity and imbalances in critical neurotransmitter systems. These findings not only enhance scientific understanding but also carry important implications for millions of men globally, including Thai men, who frequently suffer in silence due to cultural taboos around sexual health (PsyPost).

Premature ejaculation—a condition marked by consistently early climax, often within a minute of sexual activity—affects as many as 3% of men in China and up to 5% of men worldwide, according to the new report. For countless Thai men, the disorder is a source of considerable personal distress, undermining self-esteem and straining intimate relationships. Yet, despite its prevalence, the biological mechanisms underpinning premature ejaculation remain poorly understood, with diagnosis typically reliant upon self-reported symptoms rather than any concrete biological markers (Harvard Health).

A recent scientific investigation has shed light on the brain mechanisms behind lifelong premature ejaculation. The study suggests the condition ties to altered brain activity and imbalances in key neurotransmitter systems. For Thai men and many others facing stigma around sexual health, these insights offer a chance to view the condition as a medical issue with physiological roots rather than a personal failing.

Premature ejaculation is characterized by consistently early climax, often within a minute of sexual activity. Global estimates place its prevalence at a few percent of men, with regional variations. In Thailand, many men endure distress and strained relationships while cultural taboos impede open discussion and access to care. While diagnosis often relies on self-report, researchers hope objective biological markers could eventually support clinical assessment.

A groundbreaking study out of China has uncovered a surprising truth: when it comes to exercise and brain health, both too little and too much may actually accelerate the aging process of your brain. The research challenges the prevalent notion that more physical activity always equals better cognitive health, highlighting that moderation might be the key to keeping our minds sharp as we age (StudyFinds.org).

The research, recently published in the journal Health Data Science, analyzed nearly 17,000 adults to reveal a clear “U-shaped” relationship between physical activity and brain health. Using advanced brain imaging and wearable fitness trackers, the scientists demonstrated that while sedentary lifestyles are harmful, so too might be pushing your body to extreme fitness limits. Those who engaged in moderate amounts of activity, not too little and not too much, seemed to have the healthiest brains.

Individuals recovering from long-term addiction to substances like cocaine or heroin are finding themselves moving to a different musical beat—quite literally. New research led by Aarhus University in Denmark reveals that the pleasure and urge to move to music, a phenomenon scientists call “groove,” undergoes a distinct shift among those with a history of substance use disorder, demanding more complex rhythms and harmonies to spur engagement. These findings offer significant insights not just for understanding addiction’s effect on the brain, but also for reshaping therapies and interventions, including in Thailand’s own music-based rehabilitation programmes.

New research from Aarhus University in Denmark shows that people recovering from long-term substance use experience a shifted musical “groove.” In recovery, the urge to move to music grows strongest with more intricate rhythms and harmonies. The findings offer important clues for treating addiction and suggest new directions for music-based rehabilitation in Thailand.

For Thai readers, music is woven into daily life, festivals, and wellness routines. This study links brain health directly to how we physically engage with song, explaining why some individuals in recovery may not react the same way to familiar tunes. It raises both treatment challenges and opportunities for more effective therapies.

A new study published in Scientific Reports has revealed that creatine, a supplement widely known for enhancing athletic performance, could also offer a crucial cognitive boost for those recovering from a poor night’s sleep. This discovery points to a potentially game-changing strategy for people in Thailand and worldwide who struggle to stay sharp after inadequate rest, particularly in high-pressure work and educational settings where optimal brain function is critical (mindbodygreen.com).

A new study in Scientific Reports suggests creatine, long used to enhance athletic performance, may also support cognition after poor sleep. For Thai readers juggling work, study, and shifting schedules, this could be a practical option to stay sharp when rest is limited.

Across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other urban centers, sleep deprivation is a common challenge. Beyond fatigue, lack of sleep can slow memory, reduce processing speed, and impair decision making—issues that affect professionals, healthcare workers, and students in Thailand’s fast-paced economy and competitive campuses. While coffee remains a popular quick fix, the study points to creatine as a potential brain energy support after restless nights.

A new scientific study has provided alarming evidence that acute sleep deprivation significantly impairs attention and cognitive processing, particularly in high-performance athletes. Published in the journal Neuroscience, the study focused on table tennis players in China and found that 36 hours without sleep resulted in slower reaction times, decreased attention, poorer processing capacity, and measurably weaker connections between key regions of the brain PsyPost summary.

This news is especially pertinent as Thailand faces increasing concerns over insufficient sleep among its youth and working-age adults. In a country where late-night study habits, long work hours, and a vibrant nightlife culture are common, the consequences highlighted by this research go far beyond sporting performance—they apply to students, office workers, shift employees, and anyone who regularly sacrifices restful sleep.

New scientific findings show that acute sleep deprivation sharply impairs attention and cognitive processing, with notable effects on high-performance athletes. Researchers published in a neuroscience journal examined table tennis players in China and found that 36 hours without sleep slowed reaction times, reduced attention, and weakened brain connectivity between key regions. Thai readers should note the broader implications for students, office workers, and shift staff who routinely sacrifice rest.

In Thailand, concerns over insufficient sleep are rising among youth and adults. Late-night study routines, long work hours, and a lively nightlife culture all contribute to sleep gaps that extend beyond sports performance. The study’s implications touch daily life—from classroom focus to workplace productivity and road safety.

Researchers at MIT have revealed a surprising role for astrocytes, star-shaped support cells in the brain, in storing memories. This challenges the neuron-centric view of memory and could influence both neuroscience and the future of artificial intelligence. The study, highlighted by multiple outlets, points to a collaborative network at synapses where astrocytes actively participate in memory processes.

For Thai audiences, the findings have broad relevance. Thailand faces aging demographics, rising dementia rates, and a growing interest in AI. A deeper grasp of how memory works could inform education, elder care, and technology development that benefits local communities and healthcare systems.

In a groundbreaking shift in neuroscience, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have identified a new way the human brain may store its vast portfolio of memories—thanks to star-shaped support cells called astrocytes. Traditionally overshadowed by their electrically active counterparts, the neurons, these abundant but understated cells could reframe how we understand brain power and inspire new advances in artificial intelligence, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Earth.com).

A recent study from the University of Montreal shows that caffeine consumed in the hours before bed can alter the brain’s sleep recovery, especially in younger adults. The research found more wake-like brain activity during sleep when caffeine is used in the evening, potentially hindering both mental and physical restoration. For Thailand’s coffee- and tea-loving society, these findings raise timely questions about late-day caffeine and its impact on well-being.

In Thailand, iced coffee and bubble tea after dinner are common choices for students and professionals burning the midnight oil. The study, published in Nature Communications Biology in 2025, indicates that even moderate evening caffeine can noticeably change sleep rhythms, keeping the brain more alert and less restorative. The effect is strongest among people in their 20s due to age-related differences in brain chemistry.

A growing body of research is overturning the idea that transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are harmless. New findings indicate that the effects of a mini-stroke can linger for months or even years, including persistent fatigue, cognitive changes, and an elevated risk of future strokes and heart problems. For Thai patients and the healthcare system, these insights call for faster action, ongoing support, and stronger follow-up care.

For decades, TIAs were described as brief disruptions of blood flow to the brain that serve as warning signs for a stronger stroke. Once symptoms like slurred speech, weakness, or vision loss resolved, people could resume daily life. But recent studies from 2024 and 2025 challenge this comforting narrative. They show that the aftermath of a TIA may undermine quality of life long after symptoms vanish.

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Montreal has revealed that caffeine, the world’s most widely consumed stimulant, tangibly disrupts the brain’s recovery during sleep—especially in younger adults. The researchers found that consuming caffeine in the hours before bedtime leads to more complex, “wake-like” brain activity at night and could hamper both mental and physical restoration, raising crucial questions for Thailand’s coffee- and tea-loving society regarding nighttime caffeine consumption and its impact on well-being (Neuroscience News).

A growing body of new research is turning long-held assumptions about “mini-strokes” upside down, revealing that the effects of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) may linger far longer than previously thought. Once regarded as brief episodes with symptoms that disappear within a day, these transient strokes are now understood to pose significant long-term health risks—including persistent fatigue, cognitive decline, and an elevated risk of subsequent strokes and cardiovascular events. As experts warn against taking a TIA lightly, the implications for Thai patients and the healthcare system are profound, demanding heightened awareness, rapid intervention, and ongoing support.