Smoking is notorious for causing damage to the lungs — but a recent study confirmed that it’s also harmful to the brain. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine (WashUMed) in St. Louis, Missouri, analyzed the brain scans, smoking history, and genetic risk of 32,094 participants of European descent from the UK Biobank database. Those who … Read more
Fans of chocolate, rejoice! Here’s another win to celebrate, and just in time for the holidays. Cocoa extract has been shown to have cognitive benefits for older adults, according to new research. Earlier studies have suggested that cocoa extract might have a protective effect on brain health, but the results from some studies have been … Read more
It’s been proven that what people eat can help prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease — but what about when they eat? Participating in intermittent (time-restricted) fasting could lead to a reduced risk of cognitive deterioration, a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine adjusted the feeding schedule of … Read more
Could a simple blood test detect Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appear? New research from Resonant, a Utah biotech company that develops diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative diseases, suggests it may be possible. Researchers said its new test achieved 100% accuracy in identifying patients with Alzheimer’s disease and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease … Read more
They call it the “good” cholesterol — but like a cheating spouse, HDL might have been gaslighting us all along. A new study adds to a growing body of evidence that HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, isn’t good or healthy, especially once it’s reached certain levels in your blood. The research reveals that people with high … Read more
Coffee has been see-sawing between healthy and unhealthy for years, according to medical experts. One study finds it helps, while sometimes only weeks later, another warns of hidden risks. Not that Americans are waiting around for the final verdict — coffee stands firmly as America’s favorite drink, even surpassing water, according to the National Coffee … Read more
A senior living facility in Scotland recently held a “baby shower” using dolls for its patients with dementia. Ryan Meadows Care Home received 60 baby dolls from Pearl’s Memory Babies to host a baby shower for the patients, as SWNS reported. The residential facility tested the experience as part of a trial — and held a baby … Read more
Even if you can’t see it, fat buried deep within the belly can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. That’s according to research released by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) on Monday. Visceral fat, which surrounds the internal organs in the belly, has been linked to brain changes that could point to future dementia … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have some advice for your readers who write regarding problems with how others behave badly or are verbally abusive or inappropriate toward them. Hopefully, it will help someone. I suggest recording video of the offending individual while it’s happening, and then showing them the video later when they are calm/sober/receptive. If the … Read more
Obviously, Gisele Bündchen is doing something right. The 43-year-old supermodel and actress recently revealed that one of her health and beauty secrets is lion’s mane mushrooms, an edible fungus widely used in Asian medicine. “I’ve been taking lion’s mane mushroom for a while, and it really helps me focus and boost my energy,” said Bündchen … Read more
Viagra could cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%, according to a new study. Researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York found that Viagra (sildenafil), a drug most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, blocks an enzyme found in the brains of those who suffer from the disease. The study looked at … Read more
Pharmacy and supermarket shelves are overflowing with herbal supplements, potions and pills that make lofty health and wellness promises. Some supplements have proven benefits, others are little more than snake oil — or fish oil, if you prefer. One little-known herbal supplement, marketed as SaiLuoTong (SLT), has been getting attention from medical researchers for its reputed … Read more
There’s probably a fungus living in your brain right now. And it could be contributing to the development of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, according to new medical research. The fungus is Candida albicans, an ordinary yeast that lives on every human body, especially on your skin, in your mouth and your intestines. … Read more
Chris Hemsworth is taking his health more seriously ever since he learned he has a high risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The Marvel actor, 40, got candid with Men’s Health in a new profile where he revealed he made some major wellness and lifestyle changes to help keep him in tip-top shape. “I’ve always been pretty … Read more
More than six million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s, and every 67 seconds, someone in America develops the disease, according to Monica Moreno, senior director of care and support at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago. Despite the prevalence of this most widespread form of dementia — expected to affect 12.7 million people by 2050 … Read more
Living alone is putting the lives of 1 in 4 Americans at risk, according to new research published Friday in the JAMA Network Open. Researchers at UC San Francisco found that the estimated 25% of US citizens who have dementia or other mild cognitive impairments are in danger of mixing up medications, unsafe driving, wandering outside … Read more
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a whiff of certain scents is worth some major memories. A recent study conducted by the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory has found that drifting off while smelling certain natural oils could help boost memory. The study, published by the University of California, … Read more
Like any other grandparent, Josie Hunt excitedly gives her grandchildren a loving hug when she sees them. The sad difference is that the 65-year-old Australian woman suffers from an alcohol-induced form of dementia called Korsakoff syndrome — and thinks she’s meeting the children for the first time each time they visit. “It’s a bittersweet moment … Read more
New promising treatments for Alzheimer’s disease may not be as beneficial for black and Hispanic sufferers. Leqembi and donanemab, an experimental antibody developed by Eli Lilly, are the first drugs that may slow the effects of the fatal disease as they target and attack buildup of toxic plaques of the beta-amyloid protein in the brain. Older … Read more
The U.S. government said on Monday it would trial a new payment program for people who provide dementia care coordination services for patients covered by the Medicare health plan. The program includes services such as personalized assessments, care plans for patients as well as 24/7 access to a support line. Medicare said the program aims … Read more