While Alzheimer’s disease is certainly the best-known type of dementia, there are others to be aware of. One is called frontotemporal dementia (FTD), also known as early-onset dementia because it’s usually diagnosed in middle age, between the ages of 45 and 65. While FTD is not as common as Alzheimer’s disease, occuring in ten percent [...]
One of the easiest and most important things you can do to improve your memory and protect against dementia is to go to bed at a regular time every night and sleep well. If you’re a long-time reader of this newsletter, then you’ve likely heard me tout the memory benefits of sleep many times before. [...]
Medical researchers have long been worried about the effects of the coronavirus on the brain and cognitive function. Concern began when people often lost their sense of taste and smell after getting infected with the coronavirus. And since those senses involve brain cell and sensory links to the nose and tongue, it led researchers to [...]
It's unlikely you've ever heard of farnesol. But you've probably smelled or tasted it, because it's a compound found in essential oils and is used in candles and incense, perfumes, air fresheners, soaps, and food flavors. Farnesol also has many medicinal uses. And thanks to a new discovery by scientists at Johns Hopkins University, we [...]
People who struggle to hear their companions chattering in a bustling restaurant are in good company. Difficulty hearing speech when there's background noise is a common problem for those with age-related hearing loss. And, while there's a plethora of studies that assess whether hearing loss is linked to dementia, not a single reliable one specifically [...]
There's good news and bad news about dementia. The distressing part is that a brand-new study reveals the number of dementia cases is about to rise dramatically – tripling by the year 2050. But the good news is it could've been a lot worse, and researchers say there’s still hope to curb the rise! Here’s [...]
Just as challenging the body with weight-bearing exercise makes bones stronger and helps to slow bone loss with aging, challenging the brain with cognitive exercise can make it more resilient and help delay the onset of Alzheimer's. But how much of an effect does it have? How many extra healthy cognitive years will it give [...]
Plants are full of pigments that produce the vibrant colors that attract our attention in the fruit and vegetable aisle. This rainbow of hues does more than please the eye. When we eat them they also have numerous health benefits for both the body and the brain. A new study not only demonstrates the powerful [...]
Many people who suffer with depression also have problems with their circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle. As a result, they also have insomnia. Now a novel five-day sleep therapy promises to bring about fast and lasting relief for insomnia and depression. This therapy is less about going to sleep and more about staying awake for [...]
By now, we’ve all heard plenty about the things that can go wrong with the aging brain – chief among them, memory loss and the fact that your risk for Alzheimer’s disease climbs with every passing year. But there’s good news about brain aging that you won't hear from your doctor... and that’s how some [...]
