{"id":588,"date":"2018-12-05T10:34:22","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T10:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=588"},"modified":"2018-12-05T10:34:22","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T10:34:22","slug":"extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Regular naps may be one of the privileges of retirement but research is pointing to napping as a contributor to cognitive decline. Scientists are now testing the idea that older people should instead meditate or learn a language to preserve brainpower and wellbeing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

Sleep serves a crucial function in brain health and maintenance, but regular, extended naps during the day may be counterproductive in elderly people, damaging the processes that help the brain to keep working at its best, according to Dr Christina Schmidt, from the University of Li\u00e8ge in Belgium.<\/p>\n

By exploring this link, Dr Schmidt hopes she will be able to identify ways to ensure that as we live longer, people are able to retain their cognitive health well into old age.<\/p>\n

\u2018I am not saying that napping is something bad, but that it might be counterproductive for the temporal organisation of sleep \u2013 the sleep and wake cycle \u2013 when it occurs in a very specific context,\u2019 Dr Schmidt said.<\/p>\n

The problems appear to specifically affect the ageing brain, and where people nap regularly, perhaps every day, for at least an hour.<\/p>\n

What Dr Schmidt thinks is important about the context is that as we tend towards old age, our in-built circadian clock \u2013 which organises sleep and wake states \u2013 effectively ticks more quietly.<\/p>\n

We may end up in a vicious circle: we nap because the clock is more and more silent as we age, but in turn our regular, extended napping makes night-time sleep less efficient and further disrupts the rhythm of wakefulness and rest, with negative effects on brain maintenance processes.<\/p>\n

This summer Dr Schmidt and fellow researchers in a project called\u00a0COGNAP<\/a>\u00a0began observing the circadian rhythms of people aged 65 or more, who have been retired for at least a year, with assessments of cognitive function, regular saliva checks and monitoring of brain activity.<\/p>\n

Some participants are allowed to nap as often as they like, for as long as they like. The others are encouraged to keep occupied, rather than snooze.<\/p>\n

Age-related decline<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Schmidt\u2019s colleagues have already made some pilot findings that the structural organisation of the brain during ageing seems to be significantly linked to a decreased ability to tell the difference between day and night and so the propensity to sleep.<\/p>\n

She posits that after a year, the non-napping group in COGNAP should have increased or restored the efficiency of their circadian rhythm, with an impact on brain ageing. To check if this is the case, the researchers will again run their tests and see if there are observable differences between the two groups.<\/p>\n

And if her research does confirm that napping is not universally good, Dr Schmidt hopes that older people would be able to take simple steps that preserve cognitive function, with major consequences for their quality of life.<\/p>\n

\u2018Completely suppressing naps might be difficult, but it may prove to be worthwhile for older people to try not to do it every day, and not to do it for long, because the longer the nap, the more it affects the temporal structure of the sleep-wake cycle,\u2019 she said. \u2018So rather than encouraging routine napping, it would be better to combine avoiding a nap with a more challenging activity.\u2019<\/p>\n

Exactly what kind of activities can stave off cognitive decline in the ageing brain is the focus of Dr Ga\u00ebl Ch\u00e9telat, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), who is leading a project called\u00a0MEDIT-AGEING<\/a>, or Silver Sant\u00e9 Study as it is known to the public.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u2018Completely suppressing naps might be difficult, but it may prove to be worthwhile for older people to try not to do it every day.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Christina Schmidt, University of Li\u00e8ge, Belgium<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She and her partners in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland are carrying out trials to see if meditation or learning a new language could offer elderly people benefits in terms of cognitive health and wellbeing \u2013 holding out the prospect of practical steps people can take to preserve their brain function well into old age.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018With age, there is a decrease in attentional and executive performance and we expect that language learning will promote preservation of those cognitive functions,\u2019 said Dr Ch\u00e9telat.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Specifically, she suspects that learning a new language in later life can promote processes that are important in maintenance of brain regions that play crucial roles in these functions.<\/p>\n

And in parallel with the language-learning research, Dr Ch\u00e9telat and her partners are also looking at the potential impact of secular forms of meditation, which she suspects can have a positive impact on emotional regulation \u2013 particularly on those factors that are affected by age.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Scientists
Scientists believe that replacing daytime naps with meditation may help to maintain healthy brain function. Image Credit: Silver Sant\u00e9 Study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The techniques in focus are mindfulness and compassion meditation, where the participants focus on thoughts and emotions, bodily sensations and breathing, without any religious content.<\/p>\n

\u2018These different kinds of meditation techniques, mindfulness and compassion-based meditation, should impact emotional regulation, but also attention regulation, because these are also attention-related exercises,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

In the first clinical trial, the volunteers are randomly allocated to the language-learning, meditation or the control group. All are over the age of 65 and have been retired for at least a year.<\/p>\n

Before and after the 18-month interventions, which are being done in three groups, the participants undergo a range of cognitive and behavioural assessments, as well as a battery of blood tests, sleep monitoring, and structural and functional neuroimaging scans.<\/p>\n

One group has already completed the trial and participants are having their follow-up scans. The second group is reaching the end of the intervention and the third group is about halfway through.<\/p>\n

The second trial has been looking at impacts on elderly people with memory complaints, which in some cases could be the first symptoms of dementia. Volunteers take part in either a meditation or a health programme over two months, with behavioural and blood tests before and after the interventions and again four months later to assess any longer-term effects. Those have already been completed and the researchers are currently compiling their data.<\/p>\n

Dr Ch\u00e9telat says it is still too early to know the outcomes of the clinical trials. First results will be obtained in 2019 and 2020 for the second and first clinical trials, respectively. She believes any positive outcomes could help to encourage preventive public health programmes.<\/p>\n

\u2018If the study does show these interventions to be helpful, we would want as many people as possible to be able to take advantage of our findings, through advice and interventions that can help them to retain mental function and emotional well-being,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Originally published on Horizon<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regular naps may be one of the privileges of retirement but research is pointing to napping as a contributor to cognitive decline. Scientists are now testing the idea that older people should instead meditate or learn a language to preserve brainpower and wellbeing. Sleep serves a crucial function in brain health and maintenance, but regular, … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":321,"featured_media":589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[37,7,79,24,45],"class_list":["post-588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-health","tag-neuroscience","tag-research","tag-science","tag-sleep"],"yoast_head":"\nExtended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people - Horizon Magazine Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Regular naps may be one of the privileges of retirement but research is pointing to napping as a contributor to cognitive decline. Scientists are now testing the idea that older people should instead meditate or learn a language to preserve brainpower and wellbeing. Sleep serves a crucial function in brain health and maintenance, but regular, ... Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Horizon Magazine Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"933\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rex Merrifield\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rex Merrifield\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rex Merrifield\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/96035ab69925e8f81689096ff95f3227\"},\"headline\":\"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1136,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/12\\\/brainscan.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"health\",\"neuroscience\",\"research\",\"science\",\"sleep\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2018\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/\",\"name\":\"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people - Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/12\\\/brainscan.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/12\\\/brainscan.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/12\\\/brainscan.jpg\",\"width\":1400,\"height\":933,\"caption\":\"Brain scans can help reveal which activities promote cognitive health in older age. Image credit: Silver Sant\u00e9 Study\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/588\\\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"description\":\"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"width\":601,\"height\":283,\"caption\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/96035ab69925e8f81689096ff95f3227\",\"name\":\"Rex Merrifield\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rex Merrifield\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/author\\\/rexmerrifield\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people - Horizon Magazine Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people","og_description":"Regular naps may be one of the privileges of retirement but research is pointing to napping as a contributor to cognitive decline. Scientists are now testing the idea that older people should instead meditate or learn a language to preserve brainpower and wellbeing. Sleep serves a crucial function in brain health and maintenance, but regular, ... Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/","og_site_name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","article_published_time":"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":933,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Rex Merrifield","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rex Merrifield","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/"},"author":{"name":"Rex Merrifield","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/96035ab69925e8f81689096ff95f3227"},"headline":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people","datePublished":"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/"},"wordCount":1136,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","keywords":["health","neuroscience","research","science","sleep"],"articleSection":["Health"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2018","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/","name":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people - Horizon Magazine Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","datePublished":"2018-12-05T10:34:22+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","width":1400,"height":933,"caption":"Brain scans can help reveal which activities promote cognitive health in older age. Image credit: Silver Sant\u00e9 Study"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/588\/extended-napping-could-cause-cognitive-decline-in-older-people\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Extended napping could cause cognitive decline in older people"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","description":"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","width":601,"height":283,"caption":"Horizon Magazine Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/96035ab69925e8f81689096ff95f3227","name":"Rex Merrifield","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/09352f641cdc6490d092472d77d3f9c442f671a38379f662234e81fc292ddebb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rex Merrifield"},"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/author\/rexmerrifield\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/brainscan.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgtNKV-9u","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2030,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2030\/our-cells-hold-the-secrets-of-ageing\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":0},"title":"Our cells hold the secrets of ageing","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"May 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Most of us think about getting older from time to time, noticing how the years slip by and counting the grey hairs. Some of us even try and fight back, rubbing anti-ageing creams into our cheeks and turning to ideas like fasting. \u00a0 Biologist Dr Martin Denzel is no different,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may5.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":638,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/638\/claims-that-bilingualism-keeps-brains-young-could-be-wishful-thinking\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":1},"title":"Claims that bilingualism keeps brains young could be \u2018wishful thinking\u2019","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"January 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Vittoria D'Alessio Speaking two languages is a highly valuable skill but is an unlikely defence against age-related cognitive decline as previously thought, according to new research on ageing and bilingualism. Scientists from the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at Radboud University in the Netherlands have been studying\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"language\"","block_context":{"text":"language","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/tag\/language\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image credit - Pexels, licensed under CC0","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/people-old-chatting.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":476,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/476\/memory-jogging-robot-to-keep-people-sharp-in-smart-retirement-homes\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":2},"title":"Memory-jogging robot to keep people sharp in \u2018smart\u2019 retirement homes","author":"Steve Gillman","date":"September 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A robot that reminds older people where they have put things and helps them exercise has been used by residents in three retirement homes in a trial to combat cognitive decline in later age. Almost a fifth\u00a0of the European population are over 65 years old, but while quality of life\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sensors placed throughout a retirement home helped the ENRICHME robot to keep track of the movements and activities of residents taking part in the project\u2019s trial.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/09\/Header-pic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/09\/Header-pic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/09\/Header-pic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2047,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2047\/boosting-brain-function-in-later-life-through-singing\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":3},"title":"Boosting brain function in later life through singing","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"May 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Ask anyone in a choir why they enjoy it, and they will tell you about the euphoric effects singing has on their mental health. A team of neuroscientists and clinical psychologists based at the University of Helsinki (Finland) believe these benefits could extend to improving brain function and treating aphasia.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may-10.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may-10.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/05\/may-10.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1185,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1185\/social-skills-begin-to-decline-in-late-30s-and-early-40s-study-finds\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":4},"title":"Social skills begin to decline in late 30s and early 40s, study finds","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"March 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Gareth Willmer Training programmes to improve people\u2019s social and cognitive skills should target people in their late 30s and early 40s as these abilities start to decline earlier than previously thought, according to researchers who are looking at how social abilities change over time. It\u2019s part of a field of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Social Sciences"","block_context":{"text":"Social Sciences","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/social-sciences\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Researchers are collecting longer term data to investigate how social skills develop - or weaken - over a lifetime. Image credit - Fauxels\/Pxhere","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/group-of-person-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/group-of-person-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/group-of-person-small.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/group-of-person-small.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/group-of-person-small.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1623,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1623\/why-dogs-can-teach-humans-about-healthier-ageing\/","url_meta":{"origin":588,"position":5},"title":"Why dogs can teach humans about healthier ageing","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"February 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Our pet dogs could help extend human lives beyond their documented effects on people\u2019s wellbeing. Increasingly, studies are looking at how the domestic dog,\u00a0Canis familiaris,\u00a0is key to understanding cognition and processes involved in ageing \u2013 something that could improve both animal and human wellbeing. \u2018In recent years, the dog has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/02\/alvan-nee-FHl79chXS6s-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/321"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}