Healthbeat Headlines 4/25

Brain boost games- If you're looking to boost your brain power, computer games are not going help, like once thought.  A new study of 11-thousand adults finds computer brain games do nothing to improve cognitive function. For up to 6 weeks, the participants played computer games that were designed to work the mind for 10 minutes a day, 3 times a week. Even though the participants got better at the games the more they played, researchers say it didn't do anything for their brain function. It didn't it result in a higher I-Q either. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 60. The study did not target the aging population.

Obesity brain gene - A third of Americans are estimated to carry a type of gene that experts say makes them more vulnerable to obesity.  It also makes them more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease. UCLA researchers studied brain scans of more than 200 elderly adults and found reduced brain volume in carriers of the gene. The gene is also linked to greater fat mass.  However, researchers say switching to a low fat diet and exercising can help shed extra pounds and reduce the risk for dementia. The gene is called fto.

Teacher reading - Research has shown genetics play the largest role in a child's reading ability, while the classroom environment plays a smaller part. A Florida state university study using data from twins, found when children got effective instruction, they developed reading skills to the best of their ability. And the study showed children who got poor instruction didn't reach their reading potential, erasing any genetic advantages they may have had. 280 identical and 526 fraternal twins participated in the study.

Dream interpretation - According to researchers from Beth Israel deaconess medical center, taking naps may help you perform better at work and school. Experts there had nearly one hundred adults participate in a virtual maze for an hour. Then half the group took a ninety minute nap, while the rest were assigned to quiet activities.

They found those who slept and had dreams about the maze, and they performed ten times better than the rest of the participants when they were retested five hours later. Researchers say dreams are a sign your brain is still working on the new tasks you learned that day. And your brain is storing them in your memory. The participants who dreamt about the maze were more likely to have performed poorly the first time around, which researchers say triggers the brain to work harder to make sure you do better.