Scientists discover ‘death complex’ that could worsen Alzheimer’s — and how to fight it

Scientists discover ‘death complex’ that could worsen Alzheimer’s — and how to fight it

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

Nasal swab may catch Alzheimer’s disease earlier — here’s how it works

Nasal swab may catch Alzheimer’s disease earlier — here’s how it works

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

Eating more meat can help slow dementia — for specific people

Eating more meat can help slow dementia — for specific people

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

Volleyball accident reveals woman’s rare condition leaving her with multiplying tumors

Volleyball accident reveals woman’s rare condition leaving her with multiplying tumors

A woman says a volleyball accident revealed a rare genetic condition that leaves her with 13 tumors. McKinnon Galloway, 33, found out she has neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) at the age of 16 — after a fall led to a routine concussion check. What started as two brain tumors quickly multiplied. McKinnon Galloway, 33, found … Read more

Exclusive | My ‘panic attacks’ turned out to be much more serious — I needed brain surgery at 24 to fix it

Exclusive | My ‘panic attacks’ turned out to be much more serious — I needed brain surgery at 24 to fix it

Something odd was happening to Arielle Hoffman. It was December 2016, and the aspiring actress was mid-shift at a Manhattan brunch spot when she was struck by a strange sensation. Moments later, she realized she’d wet herself — and a slice of time had disappeared. “It was almost as if somebody skipped ahead 30 seconds … Read more

Exclusive | I used to be a happy drunk — Ozempic made me a sad one, and the hangovers are horrendous

Exclusive | I used to be a happy drunk — Ozempic made me a sad one, and the hangovers are horrendous

Welcome to The Thin Line, the New York Post’s series about the darker side of GLP-1 drugs. Though GLP-1 agonists sold under brand names like Ozempic have helped millions of people lose weight, manage diabetes and improve other health conditions, they are not without risks. Check back for more stories about the lesser-known downsides of … Read more

Boy, 7, dies of brain condition caused by world’s most contagious disease — years after he had it as a baby

Boy, 7, dies of brain condition caused by world’s most contagious disease — years after he had it as a baby

Sacramento health officials sounded the alarm about a potential measles outbreak on Monday after more than 100 children were exposed to an unvaccinated child at an educational enrichment program. It’s far from the only community at risk. The US has already passed 1,000 confirmed cases this year, with infections “worse than expected” in Utah and … Read more

ADHD meds for adults are surging — and the typical patient may surprise you

ADHD meds for adults are surging — and the typical patient may surprise you

Six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects are still visible — from widespread hybrid work schedules to declining student performance. Add another wrinkle to the list — new prescriptions for ADHD medicine have more than doubled since the start of the pandemic, especially among younger adults. ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is … Read more

Overlooked peptide may be more harmful than we thought — and could ‘turn Alzheimer’s research on its head’

Overlooked peptide may be more harmful than we thought — and could ‘turn Alzheimer’s research on its head’

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

Women actually lose part of their brain during pregnancy — but there’s a bright side

Women actually lose part of their brain during pregnancy — but there’s a bright side

Is she “crazy,” or is her gray matter just being compressed? Neuroscientists in Spain have found a connection between pregnancy hormones and fluctuating gray matter in the brain — which could help illuminate more about the postpartum period and attachments between mothers and newborns. A study done in association with the BeMother project found that … Read more

Where you get your drinking water from can raise your risk of Parkinson’s by up to 62%

Where you get your drinking water from can raise your risk of Parkinson’s by up to 62%

Sip at your own risk. A new study suggests that where you get your drinking water could increase your odds of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a devastating movement disorder with no cure. Even more concerning, the source linked to the highest risk is used widely across the country, especially in the southeastern and central … Read more

Moms who do this before and during pregnancy have babies who develop faster

Moms who do this before and during pregnancy have babies who develop faster

Talk about prenatal gains. A new study out of Japan shows that women who prioritize one common activity during pregnancy might be giving their babies a developmental advantage. After assessing nearly 40,000 mothers and children, the researchers found that babies raised by moms who were physically active before and during pregnancy were more likely to … Read more

Christina Applegate details ‘excruciating agony’ of MS, from burning skin to numbness to diapers

Christina Applegate details ‘excruciating agony’ of MS, from burning skin to numbness to diapers

Christina Applegate is candidly revealing the horrific reality of living with the multiple sclerosis (MS) in her new memoir. The Emmy Award-winning actress was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease in June 2021 at the age of 49 and shared the life-altering news with fans two months later. “I wish I could say that I … Read more

Scientists pinpoint why resisting a donut can feel impossible — even when you’re full

Scientists pinpoint why resisting a donut can feel impossible — even when you’re full

Donut worry about giving in to that extra sweet treat. Overeating is an issue that plagues many, as researchers predict nearly half of US adults will be obese by 2035. But science may have an explanation for why we still reach for extra snacks even when we’re full — and it has nothing to do … Read more

Daily habit doesn’t help prevent colorectal cancer, scientists warn — and it ‘comes with immediate risks’

Daily habit doesn’t help prevent colorectal cancer, scientists warn — and it ‘comes with immediate risks’

It might be time to rethink that little pill in your medicine cabinet. A new study casts doubt on the idea that regularly taking an over-the-counter painkiller can help ward off colorectal cancer — at least for the general population. Worse, researchers warn that the daily habit carries “immediate risks,” including a higher chance of … Read more

4 supplement combos that are bad for your brain — and can lead to aging and memory issues

4 supplement combos that are bad for your brain — and can lead to aging and memory issues

Not all supplements are super for your health. In fact, in the wrong dose or combined with the wrong stuff, some supplements can actually do more damage than repair. The rise of TikTok docs, pseudo sponsorships with influencers and gray market sales has led to an explosion of misinformation around dietary supplements — or the more … Read more

Scientists discover why ‘SuperAgers’ have extraordinary memory and cognitive resilience

Scientists discover why ‘SuperAgers’ have extraordinary memory and cognitive resilience

Older adults classified as “SuperAgers” generate at least twice as many neurons in the hippocampus than their typical aging peers, a new study has revealed. These findings, released on Wednesday by the University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University, could help explain why SuperAgers have exceptional memory and cognitive resilience even well past 80 years old. Northwestern … Read more

Popular diet staple may speed up brain aging by a year and a half

Popular diet staple may speed up brain aging by a year and a half

That “fridge cigarette” might be accelerating your cognitive decline. A new study out of Brazil determined that popular sweetening agents in items like Diet Coke could cause the brain to age 62% faster than brains with less exposure. And the numbers are even more startling for younger people and those with diabetes. Over eight years, … Read more

Foods like Coca-Cola-flavored Oreos are ‘hijacking’ your brain — just like cigarettes

Foods like Coca-Cola-flavored Oreos are ‘hijacking’ your brain — just like cigarettes

Call ’em crimes against the food pyramid. The Snack Gods have blessed us with some out-of-this-world fusions lately, dropping mashups like crème brûlée grilled cheese, barbecue-flavored Cheetos and cheeseburger spring rolls. Researchers are now warning that these types of craving crossovers — while oh-so-tantalizing — hook us by blending novelty with comforting nostalgia, a captivating … Read more

This diet beat out 5 others as the best for bolstering brain health as we age

This diet beat out 5 others as the best for bolstering brain health as we age

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