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Exposure to air pollution in midlife may slow thinking and cause brain changes in later life, potentially affecting cognitive health as people age. A 26-year study tracked 1,761 people aged 45 and over, assessing their exposure to air pollutants and testing their cognitive function at four points between ages 43 and 69. Researchers from King’s [...]
A simple skin test could detect Parkinson’s up to seven years before symptoms emerge, researchers say. The work builds on a discovery by Joy Milne, a retired nurse with an unusually strong sense of smell, who noticed a distinct odour on her husband years before his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Scientists from the University of Manchester examined [...]
A new MRI-based tool can estimate how fast someone is ageing and predict their risk of chronic illness decades before symptoms appear, scientists have said. The system identifies age-related conditions such as dementia by analysing health markers picked up in brain scans taken in midlife. It could help flag people at higher risk while there [...]
Trained dogs have identified Parkinson’s disease from skin swabs with up to 98 per cent accuracy, even before symptoms appear, a new study has found. In a double-blind study using more than 200 samples, scent-detection dogs were able to distinguish people with Parkinson’s from healthy individuals and those with other conditions. The results suggest the [...]
An AI model uncovered a 46 per cent drop in cognitive decline among early-stage Alzheimer’s patients when reanalysing data from a previously unsuccessful drug trial. Scientists used artificial intelligence to split trial participants into two groups based on how quickly their condition was progressing. The reassessment revealed the drug slowed symptoms in those with early-stage, [...]
Patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities when diagnosed by their GP, the government has announced. The service, called Diagnosis Connect, will launch next year and is expected to support 250,000 people in its first two years, including those with diabetes, mental health issues and lung conditions. Patients in primary care [...]
Denmark offers the most favourable conditions for slower ageing and healthier later life, new research across 40 countries has found. The international study, which analysed data from over 160,000 people, found that where someone lives can significantly influence how fast they age biologically. Researchers used artificial intelligence to estimate biological age based on environmental and [...]
The World Health Organization defines healthy ageing as nurturing physical, mental and social well‑being so we can continue to live meaningfully as we age. While diet, exercise and mental health are vital, there is an often-overlooked piece of the puzzle: genetic testing. At Jeen, genetic counselling is at the centre of everything. It helps people [...]
A new £1m research programme will aim to improve end-of-life care for people with dementia, one of the most under-served areas in UK healthcare. Although dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, people living with the condition often receive poorer end-of-life care compared to those with other terminal illnesses. Alzheimer’s Society and [...]
Older musicians show brain activity similar to young adults when processing speech in noisy settings, new research suggests. Long-term musical training may reduce age-related decline in speech perception by strengthening cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to maintain function despite changes due to ageing. This reserve may reduce the need for older adults to recruit [...]
