dementia

WASHINGTON -- More than 35 million people around the world are living with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, says the most in-depth attempt yet to assess the brain-destroying illness -- and it's an ominous forecast as the population grays. The new count is about 10 percent higher than what scientists had predicted just a few years ago, because earlier research underestimated Read more...

A single episode of low blood sugar severe enough to require prompt medical attention increases a person's risk of developing dementia in old age, a study in people with diabetes suggests. More than one bout of hypoglycemia seems to heighten the risk even further, researchers report in the April 15 Journal of the American Medical Association. Chronically high blood sugar is known to increase the Read more...

One challenge doctors have with diagnosing Alzheimer's disease is that memory loss can be caused by many medical conditions. Depression and anxiety can cause us to forget things. So can what's called vascular dementia, caused by blockages in the brain's blood supply, or a metabolic problem, a stroke, even a brain tumor. Yet people who age normally will continue to learn things -- their Read more...

Everywhere we turn, we hear information about the benefits of exercise in building stronger bones and muscles and reducing the incidence of illnesses from diabetes to heart disease. A growing body of research however, is demonstrating that exercise is not just good for your body -- it's good for your brain. Physical activity can be beneficial to stroke victims, people suffering from Read more...

Smoking can almost double the risk of developing dementia later in life, research has found. A study of more than 11,000 people -- the biggest of its kind -- also found a strong link between lifestyle-related illnesses, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and mental problems among elderly people. Scientists say modifying unhealthy habits may help stave off brain disintegration. Read more...

One of the longest and largest studies looking at alcohol consumption in older people found that moderate drinking was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing dementia. The research, which is the latest development in the perplexing issue of alcohol and health, is being presented Monday at an Alzheimer's Association conference in Vienna, Austria. The study Read more...

With more people living alone than ever before, and fewer couples deciding to tie the knot, the institution of marriage needs all the help it can get. Whether it's fears about commitment or simply the cost of getting hitched, weddings aren't as popular as they once were. But now scientists have come up with one unlikely reason why getting married is a good idea -- a study of 2000 people Read more...