Latest news with #MIND
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Over $7.7M in Ontario-Based Platforms to Advance Open Science and Brain Health Innovation Français
Two cutting-edge platforms at CAMH and Western University aim to accelerate AI-driven brain research and global data sharing TORONTO, June 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Brain Canada is pleased to announce an investment of more than $7.7 million to support two innovative research platforms based in Ontario that will drive forward brain health discovery, data sharing, and open science collaboration. Funded through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a visionary partnership between Brain Canada and the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, these two projects will provide Canadian and international researchers with the tools and infrastructure they need to transform how brain disorders are studied, understood, and treated. "Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, the Government of Canada is pleased to support these two essential and innovative research initiatives, which will help drive new discoveries and improve care for people affected by neurological conditions," said the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. The newly supported platforms are the Brain Health Data Challenge (BHDC) platform, led by Dr. Tristan Glatard at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data (MIND) Platform, led by Dr. Ali Khan at Western University. "Canada is at the forefront of a global shift toward open science in brain research," said Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. "These two platforms exemplify how we can responsibly share data, scale innovation, and build collaborative networks to unlock the full potential of neuroscience and AI." ABOUT THE PROJECTS Building Reproducible AI Frameworks for Brain Health with the Brain Health Data Challenge Platform Tristan Glatard, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (Grant total: $4.9M) With vast amounts of brain health data now available, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we understand, diagnose, and treat neurological conditions. However, data privacy regulations often prevent this information from being used in open AI challenges—a key method that has already accelerated innovation in fields like cancer and medical imaging. The BHDC platform will create a secure, privacy-compliant framework to enable AI competitions using Canadian brain health data. By unlocking these datasets for responsible and collaborative use, the platform will foster the development of reproducible and equitable AI models, helping clinicians tailor treatments and improve care for people living with brain disorders. "With this transformative investment from Brain Canada, CAMH is proud to lead the development of a secure and robust framework for ethical AI in mental health," said Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, SVP of Research and Science, CAMH. "The Brain Health Data Challenge will empower researchers globally to address complex brain health questions using advanced data science—while upholding the highest standards of privacy and equity. By enabling predictive, reproducible AI for serious mental illness, we move closer to better care, earlier interventions and improved quality of life." The Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data (MIND) Platform Ali Khan, Western University (Grant total: $2.9 million) The MIND Platform combines ultra-powerful MRI and lightsheet microscopy, which enables researchers to see the brain's structure and activity in unprecedented detail. By linking images of living brains with detailed microscopy of brain tissue, scientists can gain deeper insights into how diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's progress, affect brain circuits, and can be treated. The MIND Platform builds on two internationally recognized imaging facilities at Western University to create a centralized, standardized repository for high-resolution brain tissue data. Through a user-friendly online portal, researchers around the world will be able to send brain tissue for imaging and access powerful tools to analyze the data—without requiring advanced infrastructure at every site. By adopting global data standards and a robust open science framework, the MIND Platform will fuel national and international collaboration, enabling deeper understanding of brain structure, function, and disease. "Western is internationally recognized for its strengths in neuroimaging, with a long history of innovation and collaboration," said Robert Bartha, Vice Dean of Research and Innovation at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. "The MIND Platform builds on that foundation, pairing powerful imaging technologies with open science to push the boundaries of how we explore and understand the brain." Together, these platforms mark a major step forward in Canada's leadership in brain research, making it easier for scientists to share knowledge, build on each other's work, and transform brain health through open, data-driven innovation. About Brain Canada Brain Canada is a national charitable organization that enables and supports excellent, innovative, and collaborative brain research in Canada. Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, a public-private partnership with the Government of Canada through Health Canada, Brain Canada funds initiatives that advance knowledge, drive innovation, and accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments, and cures. About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit or follow @CAMHnews on Bluesky and LinkedIn. About Western University Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community. CAMH [email protected] Western University Crystal Mackay Director, Media Relations m. 519-933-5944 e. [email protected] Brain Canada Kate Shingler, Senior Director, Strategic Communications [email protected] 514-550-8308 SOURCE Brain Canada
National Geographic
4 days ago
- Health
- National Geographic
The diet that could make your brain 7 years younger
Many people worry about losing their mental sharpness as they get older. That's not surprising given that we're all hearing about rising rates of dementia as the population ages: A study in the January issue of Nature Medicine suggested that by the year 2060, the number of adults in the U.S. who will develop dementia is likely to double to a million people. That's a club no one wants to join. Fortunately, science is showing that healthy eating habits can have a powerful impact on protecting cognitive function and memory as we get older. Developed in 2015 by researchers studying the effects of diet on brain function and cognitive decline, the (aptly named) MIND diet combines the Mediterranean diet—with its focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil—and the fruit and veggie-rich DASH diet (which was designed to prevent or treat hypertension). Effectively, the MIND diet boils down to eating more high-nutrient foods like leafy greens and berries, and avoiding highly processed foods and saturated fat-filled stuff. Studies show the MIND diet is associated with better brain function and could even help slow age-related cognitive decline . Those with the closest adherence to the MIND diet experienced slower aging of their brains—equivalent to being 7.5 years 'younger' than those with the least adherence. The MIND diet (short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) may also play a role in protecting against Alzheimer's disease and dementia. In one study that tracked middle-aged and older adults for an average of four and a half years, those who most closely followed the MIND diet had lower rates of Alzheimer's disease. Even those who moderately adhered to the MIND diet saw a decreased risk of Alzheimer's, more so than those who moderately followed the Mediterranean or DASH diets alone. Again and again—in studies involving Puerto Rican adults in the Boston area, and middle-aged and older adults in China—studies show that close adherence to a MIND-style diet is associated with better global cognitive function and less decline over time. Even when it's started later in life, the MIND diet is associated with a consistent reduction in dementia risk, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. Those who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over a period of ten years had a 25 percent lower risk of having dementia. The findings are promising not only for older adults but for younger people, too. Middle-aged women with obesity who followed the MIND diet closely for three months showed greater improvements in their working memory, verbal recognition memory, and attention, compared to women who followed a calorie-restricted diet. And a study in the April 2025 issue of Child Neuropsychology found that kids ages seven to 13 whose food intake most closely resembled the MIND diet had 'significantly lower odds of ADHD' in comparison to kids whose diet least resembled it. The secrets to its protective powers? The foods in the MIND diet reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are bad for the brain. Eating right for your brain The MIND diet is not a rigid one. It's more of a lifestyle, and a framework for thinking about foods that are best for your brain and body. It relies on a scoring system to rate people on how well they follow the diet: the closer someone adheres to the tenets of the MIND approach—by eating mostly plant-based foods, healthy fats, and lean protein and avoiding highly processed foods, saturated fats, and the like—the higher their 'score.' 'One of the beauties of the MIND diet is the fact that you don't have to be perfect on it and you still see benefits,' says Christy Tangney, a professor of clinical nutrition and family and preventive medicine at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and codeveloper of the MIND diet. 'The MIND diet offers more flexibility than the Mediterranean or DASH diets.' The key components of the MIND diet are dark green leafy vegetables (think spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards, arugula); other colorful veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and bell peppers; berries (all kinds); extra-virgin olive oil; and nuts like almonds, walnuts and pistachios. Also important are whole grains such as brown and wild rice, quinoa, barley, farro, oats, and whole-grain breads; beans and legumes; and fish and poultry (white meat, without the skin). And, yes, wine is permitted in moderation. The diet also encourages people to avoid (or, at least, limit) red meat and processed meats, butter and margarine, full-fat cheeses, pastries and other sweets, fast foods, and fried foods. 'One of our big goals is to reduce saturated fat and added sugar intake,' says Tangney, because they promote inflammation. The truth is, the MIND diet, the Mediterranean diet, and the DASH diet have a lot in common—especially an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and an avoidance of saturated fats, red and processed meats, fried foods, fast foods, and sweets. While the DASH diet places a premium on restricting sodium intake and incorporating low-fat dairy foods, the MIND diet doesn't. While the plant-based foods recommended in all three diets are similar, the MIND diet has a greater focus on leafy, green vegetables, berries, and nuts. How the MIND diet fights inflammation Many of the foods that are emphasized in the MIND diet—such as green leafy vegetables and berries—are high in plant-based compounds called flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, notes Natalia Palacios, an epidemiologist and associate professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'Oxidative stress and inflammation are very bad for the brain—and antioxidants, especially flavonoids, help reduce inflammation.' Meanwhile, 'fish, which is emphasized in the MIND diet, has long been considered one of the most brain-healthy foods because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help protect neurons from damage,' Palacios says. 'The older we get, the more inflammation we get in the brain and body,' explains Rudy Tanzi, a neuroscientist and director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital. 'Neuroinflammation is what leads to dysfunction in the brain, as well as nerve cell damage and cell death. 'Once you have inflammation that triggers cell death, you have more inflammation, [and] it becomes a vicious cycle,' Tanzi adds. 'The biggest benefit of the MIND diet is that it fights inflammation and damage from inflammation.' As an added perk, the diet's fiber content and diversity of plant-based nutrients feed the gut microbiome in a positive way so that 'it has more protective bacteria and less harmful bacteria,' Tanzi notes. This in turn has a positive trickle-up effect on brain health. The MIND diet may even influence total brain volume in addition to boosting overall cognitive functions like verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, and verbal comprehension and reasoning, as one study reported. 'In terms of the integrity of the brain, polyphenols and other antioxidants preserve hippocampal volume and white matter integrity,' explains Uma Naidoo, director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and author of This Is Your Brain on Food. Indeed, a 2023 study in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia found that people who adhered most closely to the MIND diet had larger volumes of the hippocampus, thalamus, and other critical brain areas—which play key roles in memory, learning, motor control, attention, and emotional regulation—and lower white matter hyperintensities (which indicate tissue damage), as seen on MRI scans. Ultimately, the MIND diet reminds us that what we eat has as much of an effect on our brains as on our bodies. 'What matters most for brain health is overall diet quality and consistency, day after day, year after year,' says Palacios. 'It's not an age-related issue,' adds Naidoo. 'My feeling is we should always be eating this way. We want people to be thinking about their brain health all the time.' This article is part of Your Memory, Rewired, a National Geographic exploration into the fuzzy, fascinating frontiers of memory science—including advice on how to make your own memory more powerful. Learn more.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
How a single blood sample could predict your lifespan, study finds
Source: Medical News Today Researchers have developed a method to assess 'intrinsic capacity', a measure of mental and physical function crucial for healthy aging, using just a single drop of blood or saliva. The new test that looks at DNA methylation could help predict a person's overall risk of death and even track how they're aging. Defined by the WHO, intrinsic capacity refers to 'all the physical and mental capacities that a person can draw on and includes their ability to walk, think, see, hear, and remember.' It is the sum of a person's mental and physical capacities. According to TheMedicalNewsToday, the innovative discovery could play a big role in helping people live healthier and longer lives through more personalized care. It offers a more accessible way to support healthy aging, making it easier and more accessible than traditional methods. Blood and saliva samples shed light on cellular aging From blood and saliva tests, the researchers collected data on DNA methylation- a process that activates or deactivates genes. Due to developmental mutations, environmental factors, and abnormal methylation patterns, DNA methylation changes over time. They used this information and data to construct an epigenetic predictor of intrinsic capacity (IC), then evaluated associations between IC clock and mortality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Tracking aging and predicting risks The discovery of this blood test signifies a shift towards personalized healthcare, where interventions are tailored based on an individual's biological age. By identifying the early signs of aging, healthcare professionals can implement preventive measures to delay the onset of age-related diseases, enhancing quality of life and lifespan. Researchers have suggested several measures to help ensure healthy aging: Focus on eating a healthy diet (like MIND or Mediterranean) with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats. Stay physically active with exercises like aerobics, strength training, and balance exercises. Keep your brain occupied with cognitive activities. Manage chronic diseases and stress Maintain social connections and networks Also read | How stress impacts sleep and memory; here's what researchers say One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New Study Reveals There's A Specific Diet Linked To A Significantly Lower Dementia Risk
A new study suggests that a specific diet could lower your dementia risk. Researchers analyzing data from nearly 93,000 American adults found that those who closely followed the MIND diet had a 9 percent lower risk of developing dementia. The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. If you've been paying attention to health and wellness headlines over the past few years, you'll already know that your diet impacts everything from gut health to energy levels, but new research suggests it may even influence your dementia risk. That's the major takeaway from the study, which was presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting. The study pinpoints a specific eating plan—the MIND diet—as having a meaningful impact on dementia risk. Of course, following a specific diet won't automatically wipe away any risk of developing dementia, but neurologists say these new findings are worth paying attention to. Here's why that is, and what they make of the results. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 93,000 American adults who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, a long-term study that started in the '90s. At the start of the study, the participants were between 45 and 75 years old. During the study period, more than 21,000 developed Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The researchers discovered that study participants who closely followed the MIND diet had a 9 percent lower risk of developing dementia. There was a difference in race, too: People who were African American, Latino, or White had a 13 percent lower risk. But the researchers also discovered that people who followed the MIND diet more closely over 10 years, even if they weren't super consistent at the start of the study, had a 25 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who stopped adhering as much to the eating plan over time. The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It's an iteration of the Mediterranean diet that is focused on eating plant-based foods with the goal of preventing dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The MIND diet encourages people to focus on eating green leafy vegetables, berries, whole grains, beans, and nuts. It also encourages followers to have olive oil and one or more weekly servings of fish, while limiting red meat, sweets, cheese, butter and margarine, and fast and fried food, per the NIA. The study didn't find that following a MIND diet caused a drop in dementia risk—it just found a link between people who followed the diet and lower risk. But neurologists say there could be something behind this link. 'The MIND diet is generally a balanced diet that manages portion control and offers a diversity of food choices,' says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'This approach offers benefits for improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. By improving blood flow to the brain, overall brain health can be improved.' Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, agrees. 'Eating healthy prevents cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease which, in turn, prevents heart attacks and strokes,' he says. That question is still under investigation, Dr. Segil says. 'Many diets have been proposed to decrease your risk of getting Alzheimer's dementia as we age and it still remains challenging to see any diet is 'neuro-protective' against getting Alzheimer's dementia,' he adds. Still, Dr. Segil suggests that it may be best to avoid diets that are high in fats and sugars, and limit simple carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods. (All of these food factors have been linked to bodily inflammation, which is associated with dementia risk.) 'Eating a balanced diet of proteins, vegetables, and vitamins, and drinking water are healthy choices which can make you more healthy—and maybe your brain more healthy,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MIND Technology Inc (MIND) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with ...
Revenue: $7.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, down approximately 18% from the same period a year ago. Gross Profit: $3.3 million, with a gross profit margin of 42% for the quarter. General and Administrative Expenses: Approximately $3.4 million for the first quarter. Research and Development Expense: $380,000 for the first quarter. Operating Loss: Approximately $658,000 for the first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA: Loss of approximately $179,000 for the first quarter. Net Loss: Approximately $970,000 for the first quarter. Cash Flow from Operations: Approximately $4.1 million, an improvement of approximately 98% sequentially. Backlog of Firm Orders: Approximately $21 million as of April 30, 2025. Cash on Hand: $9.2 million as of April 30, 2025. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with MIND. Release Date: June 11, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. MIND Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MIND) reported a strong cash flow from operations of $4.1 million, indicating improved liquidity. The company has a solid backlog of firm orders amounting to approximately $21 million as of April 30, 2025, up from $16.2 million at the end of January 2025. MIND Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MIND) is strategically positioned for growth with a resilient business model, improved order visibility, and a strong demand environment. The company is expanding its facility in Huntsville, Texas, which is expected to contribute significantly to revenue through additional repair and manufacturing services. MIND Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MIND) maintains a clean, debt-free balance sheet with a simplified capital structure, enhancing financial flexibility and shareholder value. The first-quarter results were down sequentially due to a $5.5 million delay in order deliveries, impacting revenue and profit margins. General and administrative expenses increased to $3.4 million, partly due to nonrecurring costs related to restructuring and tax analysis. The company reported an operating loss of approximately $658,000 and a net loss of $970,000 for the first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of approximately $179,000, impacted by nonrecurring expenses. MIND Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MIND) faces challenges in utilizing its $80 million in US tax loss carryforwards due to the majority of its revenue being generated outside the United States. Q: On the $5.5 million delayed delivery, have those been delivered yet? And are they mainly comprised of one or two systems? A: Partially delivered. There was one large system and a few other orders. So it's a little bit of both. It will be soon, though. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: On the tax loss carryforwards, what did you determine as the amount that you reasonably have that could be used in the future? A: It's about USD 80 million of NOL carryforward roughly. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: Are you seeing increased interest in your technology from industries like deep-sea mining and rare earth elements? A: Yes, existing and potential new customers are looking to use their expertise in exploration survey work, which aligns with our SeaLink product line. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: Do you have any active master supply agreements with larger customers, and is this approach favorable for Mind? A: We have such agreements with some larger customers, which facilitate new business by providing a framework for general terms and conditions. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: Can you provide more details on the new streamer system and customer interest? A: It's more of an enhancement of what we have, allowing us to address additional markets. I prefer not to get too detailed for competitive reasons. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: How did the $5.5 million delay impact your earnings in the quarter? A: It would have added about $2 million of operating profit or gross profit, roughly $0.25 a share at the gross profit level. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: How much have you invested in the Texas repair facility, and how will it impact your financials? A: We've spent roughly $0.5 million. It should generate several million dollars a year of additional revenue, helping utilize tax losses. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Q: Can you provide more information about your arrangement with the German company [GWL]? A: It's a partnership to bring a new product concept to market, and we'll have more to say about it in the near future. - Robert Capps, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
