Why is math is harder for some kids? Brain scans offer clues - Science News

People with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, alcohol addiction, and psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia may show signs of accelerated brain aging, according to a study published in the open access journal PLOS Medicine. The research, led by Shile Qi of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China, found that different conditions appear to be associated with distinct patterns of aging across the brain. Researchers can estimate whether a person's brain appears older or younger than expected for their chronological age. One way to do this is with predictive age difference (PAD), which compares a person's actual age with an age estimated from brain imaging. A positive PAD means the brain appears older than would typically be expected.

A new brain imaging study led by scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has uncovered what researchers describe as the strongest evidence so far that long COVID is associated with damage to dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain. Published in eBioMedicine, the findings could help explain persistent problems such as fatigue-related loss of motivation, slower movement, and memory difficulties. They may also point toward new treatment strategies. Long COVID is estimated to affect about five per cent of the global population, including roughly two million people in Canada. The condition can involve a broad range of symptoms that continue for at least three months after the initial COVID-19 infection. Common brain-related symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, and low mood. Despite how widespread and disruptive long COVID can be, there are currently no evidence-based treatments, in part because scientists still do not fully understand what is happening in the brain.