Dementia & cognitive health
Long hours spent caring may speed cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people, new research suggests. Researchers found that providing care for 50 hours or more a week was linked to faster decline in memory and thinking skills. However, lighter caring duties of five to nine hours a week appeared to support brain health, with [...]
An ultra-sensitive test could improve dementia diagnosis by detecting protein clumps linked to rarer forms of cognitive decline. The test targets abnormal clumps of TDP-43, a protein linked to a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration, or FTLD, is a group of brain disorders that can affect behaviour, emotions, language and planning. Investigators [...]
An at-home test could spot Alzheimer’s risk early by combining an online brain assessment with a finger-prick blood test, a study suggests. The test looks for blood markers linked to the disease and includes online checks of abilities linked to memory, attention and decision making. Researchers said the approach could help identify people who may [...]
Regular egg intake was linked to lower Alzheimer’s risk in older adults, with one study suggesting the reduction could reach 27 per cent. The research tracked nearly 40,000 adults aged over 65 and found that those who ate eggs more often were less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Compared with never eating eggs, [...]
UK Alzheimer’s patients are missing out on experimental treatments because diagnoses come too late or are not accurate enough, a charity has warned. Alzheimer’s drug trials reached a record high this year, according to data published on Tuesday, but too few UK patients are taking part because diagnoses are delayed or not specific enough. The [...]
Blue Zones are to be recognised in a new global recording system based on two key metrics. The initial recognitions will apply to the best-known, existing blue zones - Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan (pictured above), and six villages in Sardinia’s Ogliastra region. And, by recognising these existing Blue Zones the American Federation [...]
Higher UPF intake is linked to poorer attention and increased dementia risk in adults aged 40 to 70, with each 10 per cent rise tied to cognitive effects, new research suggests. It is well known that ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, can harm overall health, but new research suggests this type of diet could also affect [...]
Anaemia in later life is linked to Alzheimer’s-related blood changes and a higher dementia risk, a study suggests. Anaemia is a condition marked by low haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. The findings suggest anaemia may not only be a risk factor for dementia, but could also interact [...]
Ageing biomarkers may aid Alzheimer's diagnosis, with research suggesting they could help distinguish the condition from other brain disorders. Research led by Dr Bryan Ng, Prof Nick Fox and Prof Henrik Zetterberg at the UK DRI at UCL showed that biomarkers linked to ageing are altered in people with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is marked by a [...]
A nasal spray can slow brain ageing, cut brain inflammation and restore memory in two doses, with effects lasting months, according to a new study. Researchers from Texas A&M University in the US said the spray could reshape future therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, and may even change what is known about brain [...]
