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
Bramble on. The blacker the berry, the better for you — at least that’s how it would seem, given that this one little berry carries such a staggering array of health benefits. While superfoods like açai, avocado, quinoa and kiwi enjoy global attention, the humble blackberry — native to parts of the US, unlike those other … Read more
We’ve been told that many things increase our risk of dementia — genetics, too much alcohol, not enough exercise, improper nutrition, high blood pressure, the risks go on and on. Neuroscientist Vivienne Ming wants to add one more item to the list — artificial intelligence. Scientists have already sounded the alarm that US dementia cases could … Read more
Hannah Fowles was spiraling. It had been a grueling day at work, and by the time the 22-year-old from Provo, Utah, got home, panic was bubbling in her chest as her thoughts raced and her cheeks flushed red. “I was starting to get super overheated and I couldn’t calm myself down,” Fowles told The Post. … Read more
Bad news for Coachella fans as one act scheduled for the upcoming music festival had to cancel their appearance due to the guitarist suffering an “acute brain injury.” In a post on the rock band’s Instagram on Wednesday, the band, Lambrini Girls, wrote that they would not be performing on Saturday at the desert festival because … Read more
An estimated 42% of Americans over the age of 55 are expected to develop dementia at some point, but there’s a bright side to that dark statistic. Researchers from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health are adding to growing evidence that one particular personality trait can lower the risk of dementia — … Read more
Walk this way to a longer and healthier life. For years, 10,000 steps has been the magical number promoted by fitness trackers and health apps for daily activity. You may need even less than that — a mere 20 minutes a day could bring positive health effects and more. Walking has plenty of health benefits, … 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
It’s known as a “mini” stroke — but a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is no small thing. Though it typically lasts only a few minutes, this temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain can be an early sign that a full-blown, potentially disabling stroke is on the horizon. “A TIA can be a blessing … Read more
Add another downside of lighting up to the list. The risks of smoking are well-documented, from the fact that a single cigarette shortens your life to weed not actually helping anxiety or depression. And while each substance has different neurological effects, new research has found that both marijuana and tobacco physically affect the brain, resulting … 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
Some people don’t need to be in a children’s story to think everything is bigger or smaller. In the classic tale “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” Alice encounters situations where the size of objects, creatures, and even herself is distorted. However, while this phenomenon may have once only existed in fairy tales, the perception that you’re … Read more
Scientists hunting for treatments and cures for multiple sclerosis may have found an unlikely ally — the yak. The high-altitude, cold-hardy relative of the cow could be the key to a medical breakthrough, according to a March13 study published in the journal Neuron. At the center of it all is the myelin sheath — a … Read more
Couch potatoes, rejoice: lounging around might not be so bad — at least for your brain. While exercise is known to help lower dementia risk, new research suggests that even a small change in how you spend your time sitting could also make a difference. That’s welcome news for Americans, who spend an average of … Read more
Dementia is anything but fast — in fact, it’s often described as the “long goodbye.” Over 6 million Americans have the profoundly slow disease, which tends to take years, or even decades, to unfold. The largely irreversible condition gradually erodes personality, cognitive abilities and physical mobility. The good news is that there are lifestyle changes … 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