DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 59 years. As he has gotten older, he has less to do to keep himself busy, and he no longer drives due to Alzheimer’s. He is now doing things inside the house without asking my opinion, including moving things around. Abby, as the woman of … Read more
Feeling lonely may take a toll on older adults’ memory — but it may not speed up cognitive decline, according to a new study. Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 European countries and found those who reported higher levels of loneliness did … Read more
It’s time to iron out the details of your brain health. New findings show that a condition that affects 10% of US adults over 65 is likely increasing their risk of dementia by more than half. The good news, though, is that the condition is mostly treatable. A significant percentage of adults over 65 are … Read more
We’ve long been told that vegetarianism can improve heart health, nutrient intake and digestion while lowering the risk of chronic disease and certain cancers — but some plant-based diets may do more harm than good. Case in point: A new study in the scientific journal Neurology finds that high-quality, vitamin-rich plant-based diets go a long … Read more
What’s in the past doesn’t always stay buried. A new study suggests that a hormone therapy harvested from human corpses may be linked to a rare, controversial form of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the drug was discontinued more than 40 years ago, researchers are urging doctors to watch for signs of cognitive decline in the thousands … Read more
This might make you think twice about skipping your annual shot. A new study suggests older Americans who get a high-dose version of a common vaccine may face a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia than those who stick with the standard jab. The protective effect appears strongest in women — who are about twice … Read more
The future just got brighter, thanks to the sunshine vitamin. Scientists in Ireland have added to a growing stack of research on the relationship between vitamin D levels in the blood and a possible lower risk of dementia. A 16-year study found that higher vitamin D intake during middle age could have something to do … Read more
Talk about a brain drain. Several diets have been shown to have brain-boosting effects, from the Mediterranean diet’s gut-brain connection to reduced blood pressure effects from the DASH diet. But one health food staple surprised researchers by being linked to faster cognitive decline, even despite being part of a popular and well-backed healthy diet. One … Read more
Scientists have long been racking their brains to crack the mechanism behind Alzheimer’s disease progression. They may have finally found a crucial clue. A research team from Heidelberg University in Germany recently uncovered a hidden “switch” that acts like a death trigger for brain cells and plays a key role in cognitive decline. The study … Read more
Scientists may have sniffed out a breakthrough when detecting Alzheimer’s. The degenerative disease, which affects millions of Americans and gradually destroys memory, thinking skills and the capacity to perform basic tasks, is still notoriously difficult to detect, especially in its initial stages. But researchers have created a breakthrough nasal swab test that can pick up early signs, … Read more
A steak a day may keep the forgetfulness away. New research suggests that a meat-heavy diet may help ward off dementia, but don’t go switching to the carnivore diet just yet — this protein-packed advice is only for a select group of people with a genetic risk factor tied to Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists say the … Read more
Scientists have long searched for ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Chief among these strategies has been targeting amyloid beta, a toxic protein that forms plaque-like deposits when it accumulates abnormally in the brain. This accumulation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Now, scientists say a smaller peptide, a “cousin” of amyloid beta, … Read more
A simple blood test could predict not only a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but also the year symptoms will begin. Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to determine if levels of a specific protein in the blood could be used as a “biological clock” to predict when … Read more
The crème de la crème of diets? Many eating plans vie to be called the best, such as the Mediterranean diet, which offers several health benefits, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) for healthier aging. Now, new research has potentially identified the best diet for boosting brain health as we age. While several diets have … Read more
Brushing your teeth could do more than brighten your smile — it may also help you live longer. Growing research suggests that good oral hygiene is linked to a reduced risk of serious conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. At the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference, which took place in Arizona … Read more
People with greater exposure to air pollution could face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by Emory University in Atlanta. Air pollution has previously been established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as well as other chronic conditions, like hypertension, stroke and depression, the researchers noted. Since those other conditions … Read more
The drug that helps you stand at attention could also help keep your attention. In the hunt to ward off dementia, research out of the UK this week looked to assess whether existing drugs could be repurposed to fight the memory-robbing illness. And it may come as a surprise that erection meds may help prevent … Read more
It’s never too late to start. With dementia cases expected to increase over the next 25 years, new research has found a way to significantly lower the risk of the degenerative disease. All it takes is one habit that has proven benefits at any age, and especially if you’re in mid- to late-life. One activity … Read more
You might want to think twice before chalking grandma’s “senior moments” up to getting older. More than 10 million people around the world are diagnosed with dementia each year, but studies show symptoms often begin to appear long before the condition is officially recognized. Still, a 2023 Alzheimer’s Society survey found that one in three … Read more
Well, it’snot good news for most people. Some 90% of the population picks their nose — sometimes several times a day. This may seem like a harmless habit, but frequently digging for gold may have dire consequences. Dirty fingers can introduce bacteria into the nose, causing infections that can lead to crusting, tissue damage and … Read more