Mental Function

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  Same Genes Influence Health, Thinking Skills: Study

  Is there any link between low levels of mental functioning and poor health? A study shows that the same genes which influence people's health also shape how effectively they think.

• Aging effects starts in the late 20s

  Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood

• Long work hours tied to poor mental function

  People who work beyond the standard 40-hour week may show a faster mental decline in middle-age.

• Diabetes slows mental function

  Type 2 diabetes may put the brakes on people's ability to process certain types of information quickly and precisely.

• Smoking alcoholics have poor mental function

  Alcoholics who are regular smokers as well have poorer mental function partially due to the long-term effects of nicotine.

• Prostate cancer therapy and mental function

  Men who undergo hormone therapy for early prostate cancer may experience a modest, short-term decline their mental capacities.

• Stroke affects mental function

  Small blockages in arteries supplying blood to the brain occur quiet commonly in older adults without causing symptoms. These silent strokes do damage and have a negative impact on mental function.

• Lack of iron impairs memory

  Moderately low levels of iron can affect women's memory, attention and other mental abilities. But correcting the problem is easy, as women who take iron supplements experience a reversal of the negative effect on mental skills.

• Mid-age mental function and death risk

  It was reported recently by researchers that declining mental ability in middle age may predict a person's risk of death. Previous studies have shown that declining mental ability among the elderly can be used to determine mortality risk, however few studies have investigated the relationship in middle-aged people.