Dementia

In the US, 6,000 women enter menopause every day, or 1.3 million in a year. Now, a study sheds light on the brain connectivity changes that happen in this phase, paving the way to finally understanding and ideally treating midlife cognitive decline.

Many people manage their symptoms with antihistamines bought from a pharmacy. But recent headlines have raised a worrying question: could some of the medicines used to relieve hay fever symptoms increase the risk of dementia?

A new study suggests that as many as 20% of Parkinson's disease cases may be something else entirely, highlighting the importance of test accuracy before treatment is even on the cards. As to why it's been misdiagnosed – well, it's complicated.

Many of us probably don't get a lot of time to put pen to paper these days, but a new study suggests we should be paying more attention to how we write – because changes in a couple of key areas could be early red flags of cognitive decline.

Sleep loss is one of the most challenging symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. New research has now likened poor sleep to a canary in a coal mine, an early symptom of neurodegeneration that could serve as a biomarker to identify the disease.

After an analysis of data from over 131,000 people, researchers found that drinking coffee and tea daily seems to guard against the development of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline - caffeine may be the key protective compound.

Scientists have uncovered an intriguing link between infection and brain health, finding that a common bacterium may advance cognitive decline. It's the latest evidence suggesting that bacteria and infections play a key role in destroying our brains.

Using the largest sample of super-agers to date, scientists have found convincing evidence that supports what many of us have suspected: Longevity isn’t just about healthy lifestyle choices, but also a good draw in the genetic lottery.

A new study from Northwestern University offers hope to Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. If researchers there are correct, their new small-molecule NU-9 drug may be able to stop the disease long before it begins ruining lives.

New research has found that the loss of social memory – recognizing friends and family – in Alzheimer's disease (AD) could come down to specific structures around brain cells. And targeting this delicate scaffolding may potentially prevent this heartbreaking stage in cognitive decline.

Even brief, friendly interactions can lift the emotional weight of dementia caregiving, with new research showing that connections, especially casual ones, offer powerful protection against loneliness and isolation.

Listening to or playing music later in life could do more than lift your spirits – it might also help keep your mind sharp. A large study has found that older adults who regularly engage with music have significantly lower rates of cognitive decline.