Aprender idiomas es la mejor gimnasia cerebral para prevenir el Alzheimer

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Aprender idiomas es la mejor gimnasia cerebral que existe, ya que no sólo proporciona la capacidad de comunicarse con otros, sino previene demencias seniles como el Alzheimer, aseguró hoy un panel de expertos en Washington.

Durante la reunión anual de la Asociación Estadounidense para el Avance de la Ciencia (AAAS), los investigadores indicaron que los estudios realizados con individuos en diferentes etapas de su aprendizaje, desde los bebés hasta los adultos, han demostrado que las personas bilingües tienen mayores capacidades de concentración y aprendizaje.

«Dicen que los niños que tienen dos idiomas parece que lo tienen más confuso pero eso no es así, ya que desde muy pequeños aprenden a separar los idiomas y evitan las interferencias», señaló la doctora María Teresa Bajo, del departamento de psicología experimental de la Universidad de Granada.

Los idiomas tienen estructuras diferentes y requieren estructuras cognitivas diferentes, aseguró, pero está demostrado que los niños que aprenden dos idiomas, ya sea castellano y catalán, que tienen una raíz común, o sean dos idiomas totalmente diferentes, como el inglés y el francés, tienen la memoria activa en todo momento.

Esto beneficia a la capacidad de concentración a la hora de realizar una tarea y ayuda a desarrollar más algunas partes del cerebro.

Según explicó, los niños bilingües son capaces de cambiar de un idioma a otro sin dificultad y a diferencia de quien aprende un idioma de adulto, que tiene que dejar de pensar en uno para centrarse en el otro, ellos mantienen abiertos los dos canales.

Alternar entre las lenguas permite a las personas bilingües ejercer sus mentes de manera más eficaz que las personas que hablan un solo idioma, aseguró.

«Los niños bilingües son capaces de alguna manera de negociar entre la competencia de las lenguas, lo que incrementa sus habilidades cognitivas y les hace más capaces a la hora de realizar varias tareas a la vez», señaló.

Pero no sólo ser bilingüe, sino también aprender un idioma de adulto puede ayudar a retrasar los efectos del envejecimiento, según explicó la doctora Ellen Bialystok, profesora de Psicología de la Universidad de York en Toronto (Canadá).

Bialystok mostró los resultados de un estudio realizado con 450 pacientes con Alzhemier. La mitad había hablado dos lenguas la mayor parte de su vida y el resto sólo una y encontró que, las personas que hablaban más de un idioma empezaron a mostrar los síntomas y se les diagnosticó la enfermedad entre 4 y 5 años más tarde.

La doctora coincidió en señalar que una de las razones por las que el bilingüismo es un potente mecanismo de protección de los síntomas de demencia es que mantienen el cerebro activo.

«Son como un gimnasio para el cerebro», dijo.

Pero Bialystok señaló que no hace falta ser bilingüe para disfrutar de los beneficios que aportan los idiomas, ya que incluso aunque se empiece a estudiar a los 50 años o a edades en las que es poco probable que se llegue a ser bilingüe «se está contribuyendo a una reserva cognitiva a través de actividades muy intensas», dijo.

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Aprender idiomas es la mejor gimnasia cerebral para prevenir el Alzheimer

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Aprender idiomas es la mejor gimnasia cerebral que existe, ya que no sólo proporciona la capacidad de comunicarse con otros, sino previene demencias seniles como el Alzheimer, aseguró un panel de expertos en Washington.

Durante la reunión anual de la Asociación Estadounidense para el Avance de la Ciencia (AAAS), los investigadores indicaron que los estudios realizados con individuos en diferentes etapas de aprendizaje, desde los bebes hasta los adultos, han demostrado que las personas bilingües tienen mayores capacidades de concentración y aprendizaje.

«Dicen que los niños que tienen dos idiomas parece que lo tienen más confuso pero eso no es así, ya que desde muy pequeños aprenden a separar los idiomas y evitan las interferencias», señaló la doctora María Teresa Bajo, del departamento de psicología experimental de la Universidad de Granada.

Añadió que  está demostrado que los niños que aprenden dos idiomas, ya sea castellano y catalán, que tienen una raíz común, o sean dos idiomas totalmente diferentes, inglés y francés, tienen la memoria activa en todo momento.

Esto beneficia a la capacidad de concentración a la hora de realizar una tarea cuando hay otros que interfiere la atención, y ayuda a desarrollar más algunas partes del cerebro.

Pero no sólo ser bilingüe, sino también aprender un idioma de adulto puede ayudar a retrasar los efectos del envejecimiento, según explicó la doctora Ellen Bialystok, profesora de Psicología de la Universidad de York en Toronto (Canadá).

La doctora coincidió en señalar que una de las razones por las que el bilingüismo es un potente mecanismo de protección de los síntomas de demencia es que mantienen el cerebro activo pues “son como un gimnasio para el cerebro”.

Los panelistas señalaron que otras actividades como completar pasatiempos como sudokus o sopas de letras también ayudan, pero los idiomas son una de las maneras más completas de mantener el cerebro en forma.

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

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A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10-an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75 percent higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

«Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,» said the authors.

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

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A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10-an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology `Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75 percent higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

«Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,» said the authors.

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Ideal

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Pág. 16: La UGR amplía la cuantía del plan propio de becas y ayudas al estudio

Los adolescentes que más duermen sacan mejores notas en matemáticas

Pág. 40: El ‘Uni’ femenino tratará de escalar en la tabla en la pista del Brújula

Descarga por URL: http://newcanalugr.ugr.es/medios-impresos/item/download/39082

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Granada Hoy

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Pág. 13: Los adolescentes que duermen más sacan mejor nota en matemáticas

Pág. 26: Herminia Luque leerá  hoy en la Biblioteca

Descarga por URL: http://newcanalugr.ugr.es/medios-impresos/item/download/39080

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

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A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10-an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75 percent higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

«Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,» said the authors

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

Escrito por

A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10—an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the department of paediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75% higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

«Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,” said the authors.

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

Escrito por

A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10-an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75 percent higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

«Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,» said the authors.

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Preterm Mothers’ Milk Contains Less Antioxidants Than Mothers Completing Their Gestation

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A study conducted at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio revealed that preterm mothers’ milk contains low concentrations of coenzyme Q10. This is a complex of great medical importance, due both to its antioxidant capacity and to its role as a component of the electron transport chain, among other functions.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology «José Mataix» (from to the Andalusian Government research groups AGR-145 and CTS-627), and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

30 Breastfeeding Mothers

To carry out this study, researchers selected 30 nursing mothers, 15 of which had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers. Three milk samples were taken from each mother: colostrum, transitional and mature milk. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology «José Mataix», of the University of Granada. The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study revealed colostrum CoQ10 concentrations of about 0.4 µmol/l in preterm mothers and 0.7 µmol/l in term mothers. This means that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75% higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

Perfect Food

Scientists stress that while breast milk is the perfect food for all newborns, as it provides the nutrients needed for proper development and growth, «in some cases, breastfeeding is not possible and infants are fed with artificial nutrition. Artificial nutrition is intended to be as similar as possible to human breast milk, or at least, to have the same functional effects as breast milk. This requires a deeper understanding of the composition of human breast milk». This is what makes the results obtained of this research so relevant.

Antioxidants

And, although some antioxidants as tocopherol, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, etc. are known, «there are components with antioxidant activity which concentration and presence in breast milk is completely unknown. Coenzyme Q10 – which is an antioxidant of great importance- belongs to this group».

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition. «Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk» – the authors state.

The authors of this study are Julio José Ochoa Herrera, José Luis Quiles Morales, María Del Carmen Ramírez Tortosa, Guillermo Rodríguez Navarrete, Magdalena López Frías and the deceased Francisco José Mataix Verdú (of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology «José Mataix»), and Eduardo Carbona and José Maldonado Lozano (of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain).

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Preterm mums’ milk has less antioxidants

Escrito por

A new study has revealed that preterm mother’s milk contains lower concentrations of coenzyme Q10-an important antioxidant and a vital component of the electron transport chain.

Researchers at the University of Granada and at the University Hospital San Cecilio took a sample of 30 nursing mothers, of which 15 had completed their gestation and 15 were preterm mothers.

This study counted with the participation of a group of researchers of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Jose Mataix, and with the collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital San Cecilio of Granada, Spain.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the presence of coenzyme Q10 in breast milk and to examine variation in Q10 concentrations in the three stages of breast milk (colostrum, transitional and mature milk). The second goal was to determine whether the milk of mothers at term and that of preterm mothers have different Q10 concentrations.

For the study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits, which was processed later with software developed by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘Jose Mataix’, of the University of Granada.

The milk samples were examined to measure -among other parameters- concentrations of coenzyme Q, tocopherol (isomers a, g and d) and the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

The study found that CoQ10 concentrations in mothers at term are 75 percent higher than in preterm mothers. Similar results were obtained regarding tocopherol.

The researchers believe that their study will make an important contribution to the area of infant nutrition.

“Having a deep understanding of the factors and components of human milk is paramount, as it can help in getting a better infant milk formula. This way, although a newborn can not benefit from breast milk, at least it will be given the opportunity to artificially benefit from the advantages of human milk,” said the authors.

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Le bilinguisme réduirait les effets de l’Alzheimer

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La maîtrise d’une deuxième langue peut retarder l’arrivée de la maladie d’Alzheimer, a affirmé une équipe de scientifiques américains, vendredi.

Cette nouvelle étude portait surtout sur les personnes étant bilingues depuis plusieurs années mais les experts croient que les gens qui apprennent une nouvelle langue tard dans la vie peut en tirer avantage au chapitre de la santé.

Plus l’individu devient chevronné dans la langue apprise, plus l’effet sera bénéfique, mais chaque effort compte, selon Ellen Bialystok, une professeure de psychologie de l’Université York, à Toronto.

La plupart des études sur le bilinguisme se sont concentrées sur les bambins, les chercheurs s’interrogeant sur leur capacité à apprendre une ou deux langues en autant de temps. Leur cerveau semblait plus flexible, plus apte à effectuer plusieurs tâches à la fois.

Mais ces prouesses intellectuelles se traduisent-elles en protection contre l’Alzheimer une fois les bambins devenus aînés?

Mme Bialystok a étudié 450 personnes souffrant de la maladie dégénérative, qui montraient tous les mêmes symptômes au moment du diagnostic. La moitié d’entre eux sont bilingues: ils ont parlé deux langues de façon régulière pour la majorité de leur vie. Le reste d’entre eux ne parlent qu’une langue.

Les patients bilingues ont commencé à ressentir les symptômes de la maladie entre quatre et cinq ans plus tard que les autres, a-t-elle affirmé dans le cadre de la rencontre annuelle de l’Association américaine pour l’innovation dans la science.

Le fait d’être bilingue n’empêcherait pas l’Alzheimer de survenir, mais une fois la maladie en place, les symptômes ne se feraient pas sentir aussi rapidement, selon Ellen Bialystok.

«Ils ont été capables de vivre avec la maladie», a-t-elle affirmé.

Ses travaux en viennent à la même conclusion que ceux d’autres chercheurs qui ont aussi déterminé qu’il existait un effet protecteur issu du bilinguisme.

Mais pourquoi le bilinguisme améliore-t-il les performances du cerveau?

Cette habileté est en fonction en tout temps, mais le cerveau apprend à mettre de côté celle qui n’est pas immédiatement sollicitée, explique la professeure de psychologie Teresa Bajo, de l’Université de Grenade, en Espagne. Il s’agit d’une activité effectuée en permanence.

Ce n’est pas la seule explication. La psychologue Janet Werker, de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique, s’est penché sur les cas de bambins qui ont été exposés à deux langues depuis leur naissance afin de comprendre pourquoi ils ne les mélangent pas, et soutient que les bébés bilingues apprennent rapidement à concentrer leur attention.

Mme Werker a effectué ses recherches sur des bambins qui ont grandi en espagnol et en catalan.

Elle a montré aux enfants des enregistrements au cours desquels des femmes parlaient des langues qu’ils ne connaissaient pas (l’anglais et le français), mais sans son. En mesurant le degré d’attention des petits Catalans, Mme Werker a conclu qu’ils pouvaient distinguer la langue de Molière de celle de Shakespeare simplement en observant le visage des locutrices.

Au contraire, les bambins unilingues ne pouvaient faire la différence entre les deux langues, a affirmé Janet Werker devant ses collègues scientifiques.

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