Alzheimer’s Disease
Show 1326: Think Different About Alzheimer Disea…
For decades researchers have told us that beta amyloid accumulation in the brain causes Alzheimer disease (AD). The FDA has recently approved two new drugs, Aduhelm and Leqembi, based on this theory. …
Show 1341: Lessons Learned from Long Illness
You may not have thought much about long illness, but chances are you know someone who is suffering with one. The CDC estimates that some chronic condition afflicts as many as one in six American adul…
How Good Is Donanemab for Alzheimer’s Dise…
The media has been hyping donanemab as a major advance against Alzheimer's disease. For example, Time's headline read: "Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's Drug Shows Greatest Benefit Yet." That is a true stateme…
Is Donanemab a Breakthrough Against Alzheimer…
The news from Eli Lilly about its experimental Alzheimer's drug donanemab was upbeat. Some might say the headlines were downright euphoric: The company's headline on May 3, 2023 stated: "Lilly's Donan…
Aluminum and Alzheimer’s: The Connection Gets …
Those old enough to remember the 1960s and 70s may recall that there were concerns about exposure to food cooked in aluminum pots and pans. The rumors were that aluminum could contribute to Alzheimerâ…
How Can You Stop PM Sleeping Pills?
People with insomnia are caught between two hard rocks. On the one hand, they are told that lack of sleep can lead to all sorts of health problems including high blood pressure, forgetfulness, diabete…
Can Antiviral Herpes Drugs Reduce the Risk of Al…
There are few more devastating diagnoses than dementia. Alzheimer disease robs people of their memories, their personalities and their ability to care for themselves. It is often a torturous decline t…
Why Are There No Really Effective Alzheimer’s …
There are now over 6 million people in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The World Alzheimer Report from 2018 estimates that 50 million people around the globe are dealing with dementia. The f…
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Improves Memory in Mi…
An edible mushroom, called Lion’s Mane for its unusual appearance, has a reputation for improving heart health, modulating the immune system, easing depression and fighting cancer. In China, folklor…
Does Overweight Increase the Risk of Alzheimer D…
Obesity has been linked to a number of serious health conditions. Researchers have documented higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers as body weight increases. Now sc…
Does Funding of FDA with User Fees Damage Object…
The Food and Drug Administration is supposed to be completely objective. It regulates both America’s food supply and all its medications. Did you know that the pharmaceutical industry provides subst…
How Can You Keep Your Brain Healthy?
Are there ways to keep your brain healthy as well as your body? A study from the UK shows physical activity that's part of daily life can make a big difference. Short Bursts of Vigorous Activity Benef…
Black Pepper Boosts Turmeric’s Benefits
Scientists have been studying the yellow spice turmeric and its primary component curcumin for more than two decades. They have found evidence that it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer…
Healthful Diets Help People Live Longer, Healthi…
Have you ever wondered whether healthful diets make a real difference? A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that they do. Moreover, the scientists found that there is not just one good di…
Will Flu Shots Protect You from Alzheimer Diseas…
Influenza virtually disappeared from the southern and northern hemisphere between 2020 and 2021. That is attributed to the multiple strategies implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19. They includ…
Drug Boomerang: When Meds Cause What They Should…
When a doctor prescribes a medicine there is an implicit promise that it will relieve symptoms or cure us when we are ill. The Hippocratic Oath that most physicians take upon graduation is widely unde…
Brain Changes from COVID Affect Memory!
Long COVID continues to cause a lot of misery. Previous research hinted at brain shrinkage after infection. That may occur even if people experience only mild symptoms! Now, radiologists report that M…
Show 1318: Challenging Dogma About Alzheimer Dis…
Examining the Basis of Neuroscience Dogma: This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, our guests discuss the evidence supporting widely accepted ideas about Alzheimer disease and depression. N…
Could Fat from Fish Be Good for Your Brain?
The old wives used to claim that fish is brain food. Little by little, scientists are catching up to this idea. People with Higher Levels of Omega-3 Fats Perform Better on Tests: Investigators at the …
Will COVID Increase the Risk of Alzheimer’s Di…
At last count, COVID-19 has infected nearly 100 million people in the US. Over 1 million have died. Worldwide, the case count is over 600 million and more than 6.5 million people have died from this v…
Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?
Do you wear a FitBit or a fancy watch? What about a lower-tech pedometer? Step counters are popular because they give us feedback on how many steps we have taken in a day. Even if the common goal of 1…
How Dangerous is Aluminum for People? What’…
No doubt you have seen the commercial that repeatedly asks: What's in your wallet? That, of course, is the Capital One ad. We have a different question: What's in your armpit? If you use an antiperspi…
Will Benzodiazepine Use Increase Your Risk for A…
Americans love benzodiazepines (aka benzos). These anti-anxiety agents are used as all-purpose psych drugs. Millions of people take benzos to calm jittery nerves, ease anxiety and overcome insomnia. T…
Do ADHD Drugs Help People with Alzheimer Disease…
Most of the medications currently used to treat Alzheimer disease work by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter is important, but it certainly is not the only chemical br…
Will COVID-19 Increase the Risk for Later Dement…
Scientists have been concerned that COVID-19 could predispose older individuals to later dementia. Now, an epidemiological study has shown that Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and stroke are inde…
Will High Drug Prices Soon Destroy Healthcare?
Have you ever heard of a house of cards? It is a structure that will eventually collapse when it can no longer sustain itself. We fear that high drug prices could soon cause the collapse of our entire…
Heartburn Drugs like PPIs Are Linked to Dementia
PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) are incredibly popular. Drugs like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec) used to be only available by prescription. Physicians loved th…
Have You Lost Confidence in the FDA?
We used to tremendous confidence in the FDA. When we started writing about pharmaceuticals nearly 50 years ago, the agency was highly respected. It had mostly protected American children from the thal…
What Should You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Demen…
Do you know how to keep your brain healthy as you grow older? Often, people want to know what you should eat to reduce your risk of dementia. The Framingham Offspring Study offered some answers to tha…
Can You Prevent Alzheimer Disease with L-Lysine?
Intriguing research suggests that the dementia we call Alzheimer disease may be triggered by a common infection: herpes virus. Although the story is not yet complete, the brain's immune response to th…
Staying Fit Helps the Brain as Well as the Body
Most people know that staying fit is a great way to maintain health. People who are physically active are less likely to suffer cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks or strokes (Advances in Ex…
What Is It About Coffee That Protects Your Brain…
Java lovers appear to enjoy a variety of health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Most recently, Australian scientists discovered that coffee dri…
Can Anti-Herpes Treatments Prevent Alzheimer’s…
Does a common virus contribute to Alzheimer’s disease? The herpes theory of Alzheimer’s disease has been ignored by mainstream medicine for decades. Almost 40 years ago a pathologist suggested tha…
Are You Suffering Senility or Vitamin B12 Defici…
Whether they admit it or not, a lot of middle-aged and older people worry about senility. By this, they mean cognitive difficulties or even dementia, perhaps coupled with physical frailty. However, ge…
Anticholinergic Drugs and Dementia: The Link Get…
We have been writing about the dangers of anticholinergic drugs and dementia for more than a decade. There are dozens of studies and hundreds of articles referencing anticholinergic drugs and dementia…
Show 1272: How Your Eyes Reveal Your Health
You may have heard that the eyes are the window to the soul. That could be difficult to prove, but scientists have now shown that the eyes offer significant clues to your overall health. Most exciting…
Show 1269: How the First Survivors of Alzheimer&…
For more than a century, people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease have been condemned to a relentless slide into dementia. Experts stress that there is no cure for this devastating condition. Even …
Will Curry Alleviate Alzheimer’s?
Could natural foods have an impact on cognitive capacity? Most specifically, could curry alleviate Alzheimer's disease? There are numerous spices in various curry dishes, but turmeric is a constant. S…
Show 1263: Can We Reverse the Aging Process?
Can you reset your biological clock? You can’t make time run backward, but you may be able to slow or even reverse the aging process. Dr. David Sinclair believes that aging is far more reversible th…
Which Blood Pressure Pills Help Protect Memory?
High blood pressure is a risk factor for dementia as people age. However, people who take certain blood pressure medicines that cross the blood-brain barrier might be able to protect memory and c…