Cognitive Dysfunction
Could a Daily Multivitamin Help You Stay Sharp?
A common multivitamin may provide some protection against cognitive decline as we age. Findings from the COSMOS study were published last year in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. This year th…
Conflicting Results from Anti-Alzheimer’s Trea…
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease (AD)..."About 1 in 9 people age 65 and older (10.7%) has Alzheimer's." It is a crisis! That's why effecti…
Show 1374: Marvelous Medicinal Mushrooms
This week, we talk with 4th-generation herbalist, research scientist and mycologist, Dr. Christopher Hobbs. He extolls the benefits of mushrooms not only as nutritious foods, but also as important com…
Could Exercise Save Your Brain?
There are a couple of health problems that everyone dreads. A diagnosis of cancer is most unwelcome. Neurological conditions run a close second, though. If a doctor diagnoses Parkinson's disease or AL…
Do Older People Improve Their Memories with Exer…
Exercise can make your muscles stronger. Research indicates that people who stay active may also improve their memories. Most of the relevant research considers physical activity such as walking, runn…
Should You Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?
Vitamins were among the most exciting discoveries of the early 20th century. Since then, however, doctors have been expressing a lot of skepticism about the value of taking vitamin supplements. Last y…
Can You Avoid Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfuncti…
When you are told you need surgery, there is a lot to think about. What kind of surgery, and what is the recovery like? Will you need to spend time in the hospital? You need to know the risks and bene…
Show 1366: How a Pharmacist Helps Doctors with D…
In this week’s interview, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist explains why taking an older person off a medication might be just as important as putting them on one. In fact, since prescriptions …
How to Eat to Maintain Your Brain
If you are an older person who wants to maintain your brain, you should be very careful about what you eat. You may feel that lifestyle changes after age 65 couldn't make much difference for your heal…
Personalized Approach Can Lower Risk for Dementi…
Alzheimer disease and other types of dementia are among the most common and feared conditions of older people. According to the CDC, nearly six million American currently suffer from on of these disor…
Show 1364: Staying Sharp Through Better Hearing
This week’s interviews focus on the benefits of better hearing. Dr. Frank Lin describes the results of the ACHIEVE study, in which some participants got a very significant delay in the onset of cogn…
Can a Mediterranean-Style Diet Protect Your Brai…
How can you protect cognitive function as you age? In countries like Spain and Greece, people who follow a traditional Mediterranean diet appear less likely to develop dementia. New research from Euro…
Will Your Diet Help You Avoid Dementia?
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, olive oil and fish is good for the heart. Might it also be good for the brain? Analyses show that following a diet loaded with plants might help some of…
Reduce Your Risk of Dementia with Physical Activ…
Older people who would like to stay sharp can take one simple step: keep moving! Research from Rush University Medical Center suggests that physical activity can reduce elders' risk of dementia ( Neu…
Calculating the Burden of Dementia in Dollars an…
Dementia takes a devastating toll on people’s ability to organize, learn or even manage ordinary activities of daily life. It often places a huge strain on family members, both physically and emotio…
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners a Healthy Choice?
When people hear that sugar-sweetened beverages pose health hazards, some respond by switching to diet soft drinks. That certainly seems reasonable, but evidence now suggests it might not be the best…
Can Your Medicine Cause Confusion or Memory Loss…
Have you ever experienced trouble finding the right word? What about forgetting someone’s name you should know? How about having a hard time finding your car at the supermarket or airport? Most of t…
How to Delay Dementia with a Mediterranean-Style…
Could a Mediterranean-style diet help preserve cognitive function in older individuals? Studies from around the world suggest that people following such a regimen may be able to delay dementia. Based …
Adult Education Courses Help Seniors Reduce thei…
There is a popular saying “Use it or lose it!” Does it apply to your brain? A new study of approximately 280,000 volunteers in the UK Biobank suggests that it does. People who participate frequent…
Could Research in Mice Change How We Look at Alz…
A study in mice suggests that the usual way neuroscientists look at Alzheimer disease might be wrong. What's more, recent research suggests that a supplement available without a prescription might off…
Soccer Players Putting Their Brains in Danger
Soccer is normally considered a safe sport, relatively speaking. Compared to football players, for example, soccer players are thought to be less vulnerable to head injury. When concussions occur in s…
Can You See Alzheimer Disease with Retina Scan?
Technology allows for non-invasive imaging of the retina. Now, such a retina scan may allow eye doctors to diagnose Alzheimer disease (see below). If doctors could diagnose neurological dysfunction ea…
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Risk of Alzheimer…
Most vitamins must come from our food (or supplements) because we don't make them ourselves. Vitamin D is an exception, because our skin makes the precursor to this hormone when we expose ourselves to…
There Is Science to Support Cocoa for Brain Heal…
Most people think of chocolate as a modern indulgence. But chocolate got its start thousands of years ago in Southern Mexico. The pre-Olmec cultures treasured the cacao bean, which they fermented for …
Could Sunshine Be Responsible for Keeping the Br…
Sunlight is an essential component of life on earth. Beyond photosynthesis and the food chain that proceeds from it, human beings also seem to benefit from sun exposure. We need time in the sun to mak…
Show 1341: Lessons Learned from Long Illness
You may not have thought much about long illness, but chances are you know someone who is suffering with one. The CDC estimates that some chronic condition afflicts as many as one in six American adul…
Is Donanemab a Breakthrough Against Alzheimer…
The news from Eli Lilly about its experimental Alzheimer's drug donanemab was upbeat. Some might say the headlines were downright euphoric: The company's headline on May 3, 2023 stated: "Lilly's Donan…
Do Blueberries Help Older People with Memory?
Could blueberries help improve blood pressure and cognitive function in older people? Researchers have been considering this question for years. The latest study suggests that wild blueberries may imp…
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Improves Memory in Mi…
An edible mushroom, called Lion’s Mane for its unusual appearance, has a reputation for improving heart health, modulating the immune system, easing depression and fighting cancer. In China, folklor…
Can Cinnamon Make You Smarter?
Cinnamon is more than a spice that makes apple or pumpkin pie tasty. Research in animals and humans suggests that it may help control blood sugar spikes after meals. It also appears to help lower trig…
How Can You Keep Your Brain Healthy?
Are there ways to keep your brain healthy as well as your body? A study from the UK shows physical activity that's part of daily life can make a big difference. Short Bursts of Vigorous Activity Benef…
Will Flu Shots Protect You from Alzheimer Diseas…
Influenza virtually disappeared from the southern and northern hemisphere between 2020 and 2021. That is attributed to the multiple strategies implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19. They includ…
Show 1298: The Health Benefits of Tart Cherries …
In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, we talk with two scientists who have been studying how eating cherries affects our physiology. Both are experts in sports medicine who have done some…
Brain Changes from COVID Affect Memory!
Long COVID continues to cause a lot of misery. Previous research hinted at brain shrinkage after infection. That may occur even if people experience only mild symptoms! Now, radiologists report that M…
What Are the Health Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols?
Do you think of chocolate as a sinful snack or a healthy bite? Chocolate candy itself probably should be considered sinful. It usually contains too much sugar to count as health food. The cocoa flavan…
Show 1318: Challenging Dogma About Alzheimer Dis…
Examining the Basis of Neuroscience Dogma: This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, our guests discuss the evidence supporting widely accepted ideas about Alzheimer disease and depression. N…
Do Corticosteroids Like Prednisone Shrink the Br…
Can cortisone-type drugs (corticosteroids, aka glucocorticoids) have a negative impact on the brain? That is an issue that was recently considered in an article published in BMJ Open, Aug. 30, 2022. T…
Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?
Do you wear a FitBit or a fancy watch? What about a lower-tech pedometer? Step counters are popular because they give us feedback on how many steps we have taken in a day. Even if the common goal of 1…
Do ADHD Drugs Help People with Alzheimer Disease…
Most of the medications currently used to treat Alzheimer disease work by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter is important, but it certainly is not the only chemical br…
Will COVID-19 Increase the Risk for Later Dement…
Scientists have been concerned that COVID-19 could predispose older individuals to later dementia. Now, an epidemiological study has shown that Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and stroke are inde…