Does arterial plaque affect cognition?

[Darius871]

This morning I was just thinking, if the cause of heartattacks is clogged arteries preventing parts of the heart from getting the oxygen & nutrients they need, wouldn't it follow that clogged arteries in the cranium could significantly weaken brain function for the same reason? I figured the scienticians of Poly might have some idea. I only ask because I seem to have undergone a gradual dumbening over the past year and I'm making a list of ways to stem the tide.





(Wait... "dumbening"? That's not even a word!)

[Elok]

I have no idea, but that's a nice Simpsons reference

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Elok
I have no idea, but that's a nice Simpsons reference

Two, in fact. Only a truly pathetic Simpsons connoisseur could name the second one and the context where the show used it.

[Elok]

Oh, scientician, used by Troy McClure in one of those filmstrips (possibly the meat-propaganda one from when Lisa turns vegetarian?). I actually haven't watched the Simpsons in years though, you referenced two of the older ones.

[Darius871]

Yep, the veggie episode. I haven't watched any Simpsons (new or rerun) in about three years, but gags like that still stick somehow.

[Japher]

People always say that the best time to study is right after you exercise because the flow of blood to the brain is strong. However, I don't think mental cognitive power is associated with the magnitude of oxygen going to your brain, but you ability to learn is better when you have higher amounts of blood flow to your brain.

Lack of oxygen, obviously lessens your cognitive ability, as seen in stroke victims. This, though, is brain damage and not mere lessening of cognitive abilities brought on by total lack of oxygen, not just a lessening of the amount.

Personally, I think it would make for a good study. Compare those guys who do deep sea diving, the ones who hold their breath, with those athletes that go into oxygen chambers for training.

I guess if there were a correlation between oxygen getting to the brain and mental ability than people in Denver and the Dali Lama would be at a sever disadvantage.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Japher
I guess if there were a correlation between oxygen getting to the brain and mental ability than people in Denver and the Dali Lama would be at a sever disadvantage.

I thought about this too, but my understanding was that people at high altitudes just develop more efficient pulmonary systems; see e.g. Kenyans consistently being at the top of Olympic long-distance running events.

What I'm talking about is a lining of gunk within the lining of blood vessels that restricts the transfer of oxygen & nutrients alike to neurons, regardless of what concentration of oxygen & nutrients is in that blood to begin with. It just makes intuitive sense somehow, but again I ain't no scientician.

[Provost Harrison]

Never heard of a stroke?

[Darius871]

Strokes are caused by an already extreme embolism, clot, aneurysm, or even outright hemorrhage. I'm just talking about your garden-variety high cholesterol.

[Provost Harrison]

Well that is the cause of myocardial infarction and heart attack too...

[Elok]

My mother is an RN. She said plaque doesn't directly impair function AFASK, but by restricting circulation it would indirectly cut off air and lower performance. And, of course, she also noted that it leads to strokes.

[Provost Harrison]

She's the Royal Navy?

[Dauphin]

It's the unregistered nurses that I worry about.

[Provost Harrison]

I'd worry about some of the registered ones too. There's the sex offenders register, I mean, you wouldn't want a nurse registered there!

[Dinner]

I know sleep apnea supposedly damages part of the brain.