Yet more evidence that friends and family are the best medicine: a new study finds that the most social seniors had a 70% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline, compared with their least social peers.
dementia
Q&A: The Surprising Upside of Getting Old
Americans have tremendous fear of aging — and a great deal of prejudice against the elderly. But, as the joke has it, being old is better than the alternative. And, despite our fears, new research suggests that being old is …
New Alzheimer’s Guidelines: Will They Help Doctors Spot the Disease Earlier?
For the first time in nearly three decades, experts have created a set of guidelines to better diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the clinic. The advice also helps doctors identify the earliest signs of the degenerative condition, …
Failure to Detect Sarcasm or Lies: A Sign of a Rare Dementia
It could be argued that a life free of lies and sarcasm would be a happier one. But the inability to recognize others’ insincerity can also be hazardous — and a warning sign of a form of dementia.
Want to Sharpen Your Mind? Drop a Few Pounds
Losing weight comes with a host of health benefits — including making your brain sharper.
Study: Scientists Revive Old, Fading Memories
What would it be like if you never forgot — if your brain were able to access your haziest long-term memories as though they had just been freshly made? For the first time, working in rats, researchers have enhanced weak, old …
Why Speaking More than One Language May Delay Alzheimer’s
There are many ways in which speaking another language may contribute to a well-lived life. You can talk to a whole lot more of Earth’s inhabitants, for one thing. You can also enjoy books, music and films in their original …
Have Trouble Paying Bills? Could Be a Sign of Alzheimer’s
When it comes to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, an inability to pay bills and understand contracts are often among the first red flags—so much so that the Alzheimer’s Association officially listed confusion over …
Study: Heavy Smoking in Midlife Hikes the Risk of Alzheimer’s
As if anyone needed another reason for quitting: a new study found that heavy cigarette use in middle age more than doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia down the road.
Study: Walking Is a Brain Exercise Too
I am often teased for my stubborn habit of traveling by foot. I often walk the 3 mi. home from work rather than take the subway. When I visit less pedestrian-friendly cities, kindhearted motorists regularly pull over and offer me …
The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease by the (Very Scary) Numbers
Suffering is always hard to quantify — especially when the pain is caused by as cruel a disease as Alzheimer’s. Most illnesses attack the body; Alzheimer’s destroys the mind — and in the process, annihilates the very self. …
The Truth About B Vitamins and the Alzheimer’s Brain
Senior moments are normal — scary, but normal. Forgetting a friend’s phone number, a celebrity’s name, or even what you came into a room to retrieve are all part of the typical aging process. It’s only when forgetfulness …
Study: Exercise Can Protect People at High Risk of Alzheimer’s
Staying active is good for the body, and the latest research shows it might benefit the mind as well.
In a study of individuals who carried a high-risk gene for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found that those who exercised …