Cognitive Dysfunction
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…
A Supplement to Help You Maintain Cognitive Func…
If you want natural blood pressure control, you can follow a DASH diet. Numerous studies have shown that such a regimen can help lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular complications. But what…
How to Overcome Cognitive Impairment with Bluebe…
Blueberries show promise for the brain as well as the heart. But they aren't the only berries that may offer older people a hedge against cognitive impairment. A recent study suggests that cranberries…
Will Spices Help Protect Your Memory?
Dementia is as frightening to most people as the prospect of heart disease or cancer. You probably know that to avoid heart disease you want to control your weight, eat a healthful high-vegetable diet…
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…
What Is the Evidence That Cocoa Flavanols Improv…
An ongoing argument often surfaces around Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween. You'll see a number of feature pieces suggesting that chocolate is actually good for you. These stories are frequently …
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…
Should You Drink Cherry Juice for Your Brain?
Tart cherry juice has a reputation for fighting inflammation. Readers of our syndicated newspaper column have been singing the praises of tart cherries for decades. They have been using this sour frui…
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…
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…
Sauna Bathing and Its Health Benefits
Finnish researchers have been studying the health benefits of sauna bathing for years. Now, a study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings reviews the evidence for cardiovascular and other health be…
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 1273: Finding Ways to Manage Long COVID
When the COVID pandemic began, doctors thought that patients either recovered fairly quickly or they died. Before long, though, some patients identified themselves as “long haulers” because they w…
Do Omega-3 Supplements Improve Cognitive Perform…
Experts have been debating the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Marine oils contain both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A new study in the America…
Should You Delay Retirement to Save Your Brain?
Millions of people dream about early retirement. Reducing day-to-day work stress seems like it should be good for your health. But a new study from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in…
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 …
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…
Do Statins Affect Memory or Scramble Your Brain?
The top four statin-type cholesterol-lowering medications are atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin and rosuvastatin. Our back of the envelope calculations suggest that over 210 million prescriptions…
Eating Right for Better Brain Power with Age
Most older people would like to know how to maintain their brain power as they age. There are no pills that will do this, but a new randomized controlled trial suggests that a combination of a healthy…
Can Skimping on Sleep in Middle Age Lead to Deme…
Have you been skimping on sleep? Some people have more to do in a single day than they can accomplish in the hours they have. As a result, they steal time from the hours they should be sleeping. Young…
New Study Shows Cocoa Compounds May Help Improve…
Many people find cocoa brings back fond memories of childhood. Mom often put a marshmallow in a mug of cocoa for a special treat. The flavor was divine. However, this favorite treat might have been a …
Will Lots of Veggies on the Menu Help Your Brain…
If you are looking to reduce your risk of Alzheimer disease, you might want to pile lots of veggies on your plate. According to a new study, people who eat lots of veggies rich in carotenoids appear l…
Will Cheese and Wine Save Your Brain?
Epistemology Alert: This story is based on data from an epidemiological study, not a randomized controlled trial that fed people cheese and wine or other foods. (Epistemology is a fancy way of saying …
Show 1237: Improving Your Mood With Food
Working from home during the pandemic has wrought havoc with a lot of healthy eating habits. It’s harder to shop safely, and minimizing time in the grocery store may mean people have stocked up on s…
Show 1231: How Can Women Reduce Their Risk for D…
Two out three people with Alzheimer disease are women. Why are they at higher risk for this devastating condition than men? Even more important, how can they reduce their risk for dementia? Many of th…
COVID-19 Has Neurological Effects in Most Patien…
COVID-19 is known as a respiratory infection. Although the coronavirus certainly affects the lungs, however, it can also cause neurological effects. What Do We Know About the Neurological Effects of C…
Can COVID-19 Symptoms Last for Weeks?
After a recovery, how long do COVID-19 symptoms last? Although we are now about ten months into this pandemic, we simply don't have enough information to answer that question definitively. Researchers…
Show 1220: How We Can Learn Faster and Better an…
When Jim Kwik was a little boy, he had a bad fall that resulted in a concussion. He struggled with learning problems throughout elementary school and even later. But he eventually learned to stop thin…
Does Eating Fish Protect the Brain from Pollutio…
Have you ever heard the "old wives' tale" that fish is brain food? Although scientists were skeptical for a long time, studies show that eating fish is linked to a range of beneficial effects in the b…
Show 1219: How to Achieve Maximum Memory Fitness
In these challenging times, keeping our brains healthy and working well is important. Social isolation can be debilitating, but there are approaches that can help counteract these difficulties. Resear…
Are There Cognitive Benefits to Moderate Drinkin…
Researchers have been disputing the benefits and risks of moderate alcohol consumption for decades. Some studies have suggested that several drinks a week might be beneficial for the cardiovascular sy…
Show 1216: How Sugar Interferes With Healthy Dec…
The telomeres that cap our chromosomes are a good way to gauge biological aging. Dr. Elissa Epel, who studies aging and metabolism at UCSF, has found a link between soda consumption and cellular aging…
Show 1214: How to Defend Your Brain During the P…
For decades, neurologists have been telling us that Alzheimer disease is driven largely by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain. They have suspected that this is determined in large me…
Will Blood Pressure Medicines Prevent Alzheimer …
Doctors have been debating the link between high blood pressure (hypertension) and cognitive decline for decades (BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, Nov. 3, 2016). They have been equally divided and uncert…
Can Your Gut Microbiome Affect Your Memory?
A decade ago, no one would have imagined that the bacteria in your digestive tract could in any way interact with your brain. We assumed that the brain and the belly were completely isolated. But ther…
How Can You Make Your Own Rosemary Water?
Many of us worry about experiencing cognitive decline in our later years. Following a non-smoking lifestyle with adequate sleep and physical activity, along with a prudent diet, can help us stay healt…
Show 1132: Are Infections to Blame for Alzheimer…
With nearly six million Americans living with Alzheimer disease, this condition is a serious public health problem. It robs people of their memories, their ability to function independently and even t…
What Can Help You Stay Sharp as You Age?
Do you know how to stay healthy? Chances are you are aware that exercise and diet are keystones of good health throughout your life. You and your health care provider may also be paying attention to y…
Surgery Doesn’t Boost Risk of Alzheimer Di…
There’s good news and bad news about surgery under general anesthesia. Anesthesiologists have been debating the effects or surgical anesthetics on brain function for years. Some research suggests th…