#CognitiveHealth

A brief, classroom-friendly burst of high-intensity exercise — nine minutes of high-knee marching, jumping jacks, lunges and squats performed as 30-second activity/30-second rest intervals — improved children’s scores on a standardized verbal comprehension test and reduced brain signals linked to fixation on mistakes, according to a new pilot study. (Psychology of Sport & Exercise abstract) (Newsmax report). The findings suggest a low-cost, low-disruption strategy that Thai teachers could embed in classrooms to sharpen attention before high-stakes testing.

Groundbreaking study reveals brief classroom movement breaks improve verbal comprehension and reduce anxiety-related brain patterns

In Thailand’s intensely competitive educational environment, where O-NET scores determine student futures and school reputations, teachers constantly seek advantages that might boost academic performance. New research from the University of North Carolina provides a surprisingly simple solution: nine minutes of classroom-friendly exercise before testing can significantly improve student performance while reducing brain patterns associated with test anxiety.

A major new clinical trial has delivered compelling evidence that lifestyle changes—ranging from diet and regular exercise to social engagement—can effectively delay age-related cognitive decline in older adults. The findings, featured in both medical journals and leading media outlets including Smithsonian Magazine, come from the U.S. POINTER study, the largest randomized trial of its kind, and mark a turning point in our understanding of how the brain ages and what we can do to protect it (Smithsonian).

A major new study has shaken up our understanding of how physical activity protects our brains, revealing that “more isn’t always better” when it comes to exercise and healthy aging. Researchers now say that moderate—not excessive—levels of physical activity may be the secret to maintaining a youthful brain, challenging decades of advice that simply “more exercise” leads to stronger minds for life.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Data Science and led by Associate Professor of Public Health at Hangzhou Normal University in partnership with Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tianjin Medical University, this ground-breaking research involved a robust analysis of data from 16,972 participants in the UK Biobank. Using state-of-the-art machine learning and MRI scans, the scientists set out to answer a question that affects millions of Thais: could the right amount of daily movement slow down our brain’s aging—without going overboard? (scitechdaily.com, Health Data Science, DOI: 10.34133/hds.0257)

Groundbreaking clinical research demonstrates that comprehensive lifestyle modifications—encompassing dietary optimization, regular physical activity, and enhanced social engagement—can significantly delay age-related cognitive decline in older adults through scientifically validated interventions. The landmark U.S. POINTER study, representing the largest randomized trial investigating lifestyle-based brain protection strategies, provides compelling evidence featured across medical journals and Smithsonian Magazine reporting. These findings fundamentally reshape understanding of brain aging processes while offering practical approaches for cognitive preservation that hold particular significance for Thailand’s rapidly aging population facing increasing dementia and memory loss challenges.

Fresh research from Tufts University and partnering institutions is reshaping scientific understanding of B vitamins, revealing their substantial, wide-reaching effects on human health that extend from cognitive and cardiovascular function to cancer, neural tube defects, and even recovery from gastric bypass surgery. As these eight essential nutrients—collectively known as the B complex—emerge as central players in a myriad of biological processes, new guidance from experts and clinicians is urging more rigorous monitoring and nuanced supplementation, particularly for older populations and those at risk of cognitive decline.

Revolutionary research from Tufts University and collaborating institutions is fundamentally reshaping scientific understanding of B vitamins, revealing their extensive, multifaceted effects on human health that span cognitive function, cardiovascular wellbeing, cancer prevention, neural tube defect protection, and post-surgical recovery outcomes. As these eight essential nutrients—collectively comprising the B complex—emerge as central players in countless biological processes, leading experts and clinicians are advocating for more rigorous monitoring protocols and sophisticated supplementation strategies, particularly for aging populations and individuals at risk of cognitive decline who may benefit most from targeted interventions.

Thailand’s young generation confronts an invisible epidemic as excessive digital consumption fundamentally alters brain structure and function, creating widespread cognitive decline that educators, parents, and health officials across the kingdom can no longer ignore. Revolutionary neuroscience research demonstrates that prolonged exposure to social media, gaming, and superficial online content produces measurable deterioration in memory, critical thinking abilities, and emotional regulation among adolescents and young adults. This phenomenon, recently dubbed “brain rot” and selected as Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, represents far more than generational anxiety—it signals a genuine neurological crisis threatening Thailand’s educational achievements and economic competitiveness.

A wave of digital overload is sweeping through the world’s youth, and Thailand is no exception. Recent neuroscience research reveals that excessive social media, gaming, and screen time can harm memory, impair critical thinking, and leave young people feeling fatigued, unfocused, and emotionally detached. As Thais of all ages spend more time glued to screens, new findings provide urgent insights—and practical steps—to guard our brains in the digital age.

The term “brain rot,” notably named Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, has rapidly entered global consciousness to describe the subtle yet significant meltdown of cognitive capacities linked to the overconsumption of digital content, particularly that which is superficial or emotionally distressing. For Thai society—where mobile internet penetration is among Asia’s highest and app-based lifestyles are ubiquitous—the risk and reality of this phenomenon present far-reaching implications for education, mental health, and even national productivity.

A groundbreaking clinical trial has found that a comprehensive approach combining physical activity, healthy diet, social engagement, and mental stimulation can significantly boost cognitive abilities in older adults at risk for dementia. The findings, published in JAMA and unveiled at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, offer renewed hope for combatting age-related cognitive decline—not through medication, but by changing everyday habits, a message with profound implications for ageing societies like Thailand.

Groundbreaking clinical research published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that a comprehensive lifestyle intervention combining physical activity, Mediterranean-style nutrition, social engagement, and cognitive stimulation can dramatically enhance brain function and prevent cognitive decline among older adults at high risk for dementia—offering unprecedented hope for Thailand’s rapidly aging society facing escalating rates of neurodegenerative diseases. This landmark study, unveiled at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, represents a paradigm shift from pharmaceutical-focused dementia treatment toward accessible, behavior-based prevention strategies with profound implications for Thai families and healthcare policy.

A novel study has uncovered an innovative “time travel” technique capable of reviving fading memories, potentially revolutionizing how students, professionals, and aging populations in Thailand and worldwide approach memory retention. Published on Monday, July 28, 2025, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research demonstrates that deliberately recalling the emotions and thoughts from the original moment of memory creation can substantially restore memories that would otherwise deteriorate over time. This method, described by the study’s scientists as “mental time travel,” has already garnered attention for its applicability far beyond laboratory settings, holding promise for everyone from Thai university students facing high-stakes exams to elderly Thais seeking to sustain cognitive health in their later years (livescience.com).

A groundbreaking study has provided the clearest evidence yet that a targeted combination of lifestyle changes – specifically, a heart-healthy diet, regular aerobic exercise, mental training, and increased social activity – can actually slow down age-related declines in brain function among older adults. The findings, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hold significant promise for an aging population like Thailand’s, where cognitive issues and Alzheimer’s disease represent growing public health concerns (NPR).

A new study has revealed that a mental technique dubbed “time travel” can help restore fading memories, providing fresh promise for students, educators, and anyone hoping to recollect lost information. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on July 28, this research offers compelling evidence that mentally returning to the context in which a memory was formed—by recalling thoughts and emotions from that time—can significantly rejuvenate retention of learned information, sometimes making old memories nearly as accessible as new ones. This discovery may revolutionize current understandings of memory loss and learning efficiency from classrooms in Bangkok to university libraries across the globe (Live Science).

A new wave of neuroscience research suggests that abstaining from eating before bedtime might help supercharge the brain’s ability to cement memories during sleep, offering intriguing possibilities for both public health and everyday learning strategies. Insights from studies on rodents and emerging human data indicate that going to sleep hungry may enhance the brain’s natural memory-processing rhythms, potentially leading to improved cognitive function by morning (ZME Science).

This recent research holds significant relevance for Thai readers, as cognitive health and aging are national concerns in Thailand’s rapidly greying population. Against this backdrop, simple lifestyle interventions such as meal timing could offer low-cost approaches to boosting memory retention, aiding students and older adults alike.

A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders reveals that older adults who consume greater amounts of spermidine—a compound found in foods like aged cheese, mushrooms, and whole grains—tend to perform better on cognitive function tests. This finding offers a promising dietary strategy for Thailand’s rapidly aging society, where cognitive decline and dementia are growing health concerns.

The research team, led by a scientist affiliated with a U.S. university, analyzed data from over 2,600 Americans aged 60 and above, using the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants reported their diets through two 24-hour dietary recall interviews and completed four standardized cognitive assessments. The results showed a clear trend: those in the highest quarter for spermidine intake consistently achieved better cognitive test scores than peers with lower intake. Notably, the beneficial link was most pronounced in males, non-Hispanic whites, individuals classified as somewhat overweight (BMI 25–30), and those with hypertension or high cholesterol (PsyPost).

New research underscores that lifelong musical training offers powerful protection for the brain as we age, helping older adults to hear and process speech more efficiently—especially in challenging, noisy environments. Published in PLOS Biology and led by researchers from the University of Toronto, Baycrest Academy, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the study reveals that older musicians’ brains function in ways remarkably similar to those of much younger individuals, bolstering the argument for picking up an instrument at any age (PLOS Biology).

A growing body of research is shedding light on a delightful strategy for safeguarding cognitive health: keeping a pet dog or cat. As the Thai population rapidly ages and concerns about dementia and memory loss mount, recent international studies provide encouraging evidence that companionship from a furry friend could be a vital, joyful contributor to mental sharpness in later life. The latest findings, published in leading scientific journals and summarized in recent coverage by international and Thai media, point to a nuanced, species-specific association between pet ownership and the pace of cognitive decline.Kiplinger, Nature, The Guardian

A wave of new scientific research suggests that exercise routines focused on coordination could play a pivotal role in slowing the aging process, improving both physical and cognitive health in later life. With Thailand’s rapidly aging society, these findings are particularly significant for families, caregivers, and older persons aiming to maintain independence and quality of life.

According to a recent report by the Jerusalem Post, emerging studies indicate that coordination exercises — which challenge the body to control movements in space — not only help older adults maintain mobility and balance, but can also improve how different organs and systems in the body communicate (jpost.com). This type of exercise, which includes activities like sideways walking, grapevine walking, one-leg standing, balance with ball tossing, and dual-task exercises (combining mental and physical challenges), has now been highlighted as a potent, accessible tool in the battle against age-related decline.

A recent study published in Behavioural Brain Research has revealed a significant connection between symptoms of love addiction and persistent problems with memory, attention, and cognitive performance in everyday life. The research, conducted with 600 adult participants, paints a complex picture of how intense emotional dependence in romantic relationships—along with heavy social media use—may harm mental clarity and well-being, with important implications for Thai readers as digital habits and relationship expectations evolve (PsyPost).

A wave of groundbreaking research has found that reading fiction can significantly alleviate feelings of loneliness and foster brain health—offering a potent, low-cost remedy to a growing problem among Thais of all ages. With isolation surging in both urban and rural communities, health experts encourage a return to the much-loved tradition of reading stories, not just for entertainment but as a powerful tool for mental and social wellbeing.

The modern loneliness epidemic, recently highlighted by global leaders and the World Health Organization, is now recognized as a crisis affecting 25% of older adults and up to 15% of adolescents worldwide, with Thailand seeing parallel trends driven by urbanization, changing family structures, and the rise of digital lifestyles (psypost.org). While AI-enabled chatbots and social media often promise companionship, experts caution that these virtual solutions can never replace meaningful human connection. As such, recent studies are putting a fresh spotlight on the social and psychological benefits of reading fiction.

A groundbreaking international study has revealed that outdoor physical activity delivers far greater improvements in children’s brain function than identical exercise carried out indoors—prompting calls for Thai schools and parents to rethink how and where kids stay active. The findings, published in the journal Physiology & Behavior in mid-June 2025 and now gaining traction among health and education experts worldwide, reinforce the unique value of nature for sharpening young minds and signal an important opportunity for Thailand’s public health and school curricula.

As creatine gains traction among athletes and health-conscious individuals in Thailand, the question of optimal timing for maximum effect has taken centre stage. Recent research and expert opinions now shed new light on how and when to take creatine to reap the greatest health, strength, and cognitive benefits. Drawing from the latest findings published by reputable health and nutrition experts, this report unpacks the science, examines the practical implications for Thai readers, and highlights the importance of supplement safety and authenticity in a rapidly growing market.

A landmark study published in Psychological Medicine has revealed that individuals suffering from major depressive disorder show signs of accelerated brain aging, offering new insights into the profound physical toll depression takes on the body. The research, which focused on a Japanese cohort, is one of the first to confirm that depression’s impact on brain structure extends beyond Western populations, emphasizing the global relevance of the findings and their implications for countries like Thailand.