Binge drinking increases the risk of cognitive decline in older adults – Researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, suggesting a link between binge drinking in older adults and the risk of developing dementia. The work is supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care in the South West Peninsula (NIHR PenCLAHRC).
Stress link to Alzheimer’s goes under the spotlight — A new ?1.5 million study to find role of stress in development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – Chronic stress is being investigated in a new Alzheimer’s Society funded research project as a risk factor for developing dementia. It is part of a ?1.5 million package of six grants being given by the charity fighting to find a cause, cure and way to prevent the disease.
Role of omega-3 in preventing cognitive decline in older people questioned — Elderly warned that taking fish oil pills ‘does not prevent brain decline’ – Older people who take omega-3 fish oil supplements are probably not reducing their chances of losing cognitive function. Based on the available data from studies lasting up to 3.5 years, the researchers concluded that the supplements offered no benefits for cognitive health over placebo capsules or margarines, but that longer term effects are worth investigating.
Task Force Examines Evidence to Update Hormone Therapy Recommendations – Evidence of significant adverse events led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to issue recommendations against using estrogen plus progestin in 2002 and estrogen alone in 2005 to prevent chronic conditions.
Violence puts wear and tear on kids’ DNA — Exposure to Violence During Childhood is Associated with Telomere Erosion from 5 to 10 Years of Age – Children who have experienced violence might really be older than their years. The DNA of 10-year-olds who experienced violence in their young lives has been found to show wear and tear normally associated with aging, a Duke University study has found.
Being bilingual wards off symptoms of dementia — speaking more than one language may translate to better mental health – New study examines how being bilingual can offer protection from the symptoms of dementia, and also suggests that the increasing diversity in our world populations may have an unexpected positive impact on the resiliency of the adult brain.
Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids linked to brain health — A Diet Rich in Fish May Help the Aging Brain – A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Research: Differential risk of death in older nursing home residents prescribed specific antipsychotic medications: Population-based cohort study – Nursing home residents over the age of 65 who take certain antipsychotic medication for dementia are at an increased risk of death, suggests a research paper published in BMJ. Haloperidol had double the risk of mortality amongst other drugs for the condition, say researchers.
Smoking associated with more rapid cognitive decline in men – Smoking in men appears to be associated with more rapid cognitive decline or mental decline. Smoking is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for dementia in the elderly and the number of dementia cases worldwide, estimated at 36 million in 2010, is on the rise and is projected to double every 20 years.
2-arm blood pressure check indicator for risk from heart disease or death – Doctors ‘should check blood pressure on both arms’ – Measuring blood pressure in both the right and left arm may be an effective way of catching a silent but serious disease of the blood vessels – peripheral artery disease. So, next time you get your blood pressure checked, ask your health provider to take measurements on both arms.
Cognitive decline can begin as early as age 45, warn experts — Research: Timing of onset of cognitive decline: Results from Whitehall II prospective cohort study – The brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension skills (cognitive function) can start to deteriorate from age 45. But, previous research suggests that cognitive decline does not begin before the age of 60, but this view is not universally accepted.
Cognitive Decline in Patients with Parkinson Disease Associated With Certain Patterns of Brain Volume Decreases – Patients with Parkinson disease-related dementia appear to have increased brain atrophy in the hippocampal, temporal and parietal lobes and decreased prefrontal cortex volume compared to patients with Parkinson disease without dementia.
