Anthea Rowan knew little about dementia until her mother forgot who her daughter was. For her, delving into research is key to preventing or delaying the condition in herself.
With no dementia cure, it can be daunting to get a brain scan to test for signs. But research shows 9 years can elapse between its showing on imaging and symptoms starting – giving time to form defensive habits.
Women may be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s than men for a number of reasons: biological, societal or cultural. Experts suggest exercise and social engagement can help offset the risk.
If your blood pressure is too high or low, you have a higher risk of dementia in later life, studies show. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will help you maintain optimal blood pressure.
We can reduce our dementia risk by adopting simple lifestyle practises, say experts Sanjay Gupta and Marc Milstein. Exercise, eating well, drinking less, reading more and trying new things help keep the brain sharp.
What carers can do for a dementia patient or loved one with ‘sundowning’ – who does not want to settle down and sleep at night, and who may become angry, aggressive or uneasy.
Research suggests that people who have stayed married for a long time have a lower risk for dementia – they feel less lonely, are more likely to eat well and exercise more, and are more cognitively engaged.
Residents of The Hogeweyk dementia care facility in the Netherlands, the first of its kind in the world, live in a neighbourhood setting totally different to a traditional care home.
Hearing loss has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline, but is preventable with hearing aids, say experts, who recommend testing for a problem which may otherwise go unnoticed.
Three new reports suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can lead to improved cognition and a reduced risk of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, going against two 2002 studies.
The new ‘Think Brain Health Check-in’ online tool from Alzheimer’s Research UK doesn’t test your memory but checks how well you’re looking after your brain and gives tips to help prevent dementia.
A lack of sleep is linked with greater dementia and Alzheimer’s risk later in life, while using sleeping tablets also increases the risk of cognitive decline. But it’s not all bad news.
Taking common drugs, including antidepressants, antihistamines and sleeping pills, for as little as 60 days can affect memory, cognitive ability and spatial awareness by disrupting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
‘Cognitive reserve’ refers to how many neurons our brains build and retain. This reserve – made stronger by mental stimulation derived from a variety of activities – reduces the effects of damage from dementia.
New research shows yoga’s robust health benefits for people experiencing cognitive decline or dementia, adding to previous studies on how the activity can also help in prevention.
A healthy diet is good for our brains, not just our bodies, and research has found 5 nutrients that are particularly important to preventing or delaying dementia. Experts explain how they aid brain health.
A smile may evoke a positive response from a dementia patient, and could make them more open to complying with your requests as a carer, an expert on the disease explains.
Experts explain the processes by which dementia triggers delusions, a lack of inhibition, and other troubling behaviour in sufferers, and how carers can best deal with it.
Amyloid plaques and tau tangles are telltale signs of Alzheimer’s disease, but what are they, how do they form, and how do they affect the brain, leading to dementia?
Five experts give advice on avoiding or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, including physical and mental exercise, socialising, and getting a hearing test.
New blood-based biomarker tests from Hong Kong-based Cognitact and US-based Quest could detect Alzheimer’s disease early, giving people a chance to work on interventions.
Excess belly fat can put us at increased risk of dementia as we age, studies show. Experts explain the link and offer advice on how we can lose weight to avoid our brains atrophying.
Your eyesight can affect your mental health, according to a recent study, which found a link between vision problems and increased risk of dementia. Experts advise getting your eyes checked regularly.
Neuroscientist Mark Mattson explains how intermittent fasting may promote brain health and protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s, with tips on how to begin and how long to fast for.
People who sat for 10 hours a day or more greatly elevated their dementia risk, a study finds. An expert explains the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, and how even light aerobic exercise can help.
As research finds strawberries to contain a compound that could help prevent dementia, we look at their benefits and those of other brain-boosting foods such as salmon, walnuts and wasabi.
Up to 40 per cent of all dementia cases are related to factors that also increase one’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease, highlighting the importance of heart health, research finds.
For some people with dementia, music therapy has been shown to improve their thinking, feeling, perception, mood and behaviour. It can be used as part of a care plan, say experts.
Speaking more than one language can delay dementia symptoms because it boosts what scientists call our cognitive reserve. The more you use a second or third language, the better, research shows.
Recent studies indicate statins, taken by 200 million people to lower cholesterol, can help stave off dementia, and a doctor recommends boosting this with a good diet and exercise.
Bad dental hygiene could affect your brain health in the future, according to a study that says the risk of Alzheimer’s is 21 per cent higher in people with poor hygiene and gum disease.
A stroke increases the short-term risk of dementia, which is no surprise, but new research shows the increased risk can last for 20 years after a stroke, even after recovering some abilities post-stroke.
Changes in gait – particularly difficulty walking a curved path – may be an early sign of dementia, an expert says; families should be on the lookout to help protect a sufferer’s safety and quality of life.
The Tsimané tribe in the Bolivian Amazon have great heart health and very little age-related brain shrinkage or dementia. Their lifestyle – exercise, fresh food and clean air – all play a part.
Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, can affect how sufferers experience taste and reduce their appetite. A professor explains why, and offers seven tips to help ensure they eat and drink enough.
We all forget things at times, and as we age, our recall becomes less powerful. This is not the same thing as forgetfulness due to dementia, say experts, who offer tips to keep your memory sharper.
