Mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI, also known as incipient dementia, or isolated memory impairment) is a diagnosis given to individuals who have cognitive impairments beyond that expected for their age and education, but that do not interfere significantly with their daily activities. It is considered to be the boundary or transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.

Anxiety can damage brain and increases Alzheimer’s disease risk

Anxiety can damage brain — Accelerate conversion to Alzheimer’s for those with mild cognitive impairment – People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of converting to Alzheimer’s disease within a few years, but a new study warns the risk increases significantly if they suffer from anxiety.

High good and low bad cholesterol levels healthy for brain

High good and low bad cholesterol levels are healthy for the brain, too – High levels of “good” cholesterol and low levels of “bad” cholesterol are correlated with lower levels of the amyloid plaque deposition in the brain that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, UC Davis researchers have found.

Concussions may be related to Alzheimer’s disease

Are concussions related to Alzheimer’s disease? – A history of concussion involving at least a momentary loss of consciousness may be related to the buildup of Alzheimer’s-associated plaques in the brain, revealed by researchers in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Caffeine may reduce mild cognitive impairment

Caffeine may block inflammation linked to mild cognitive impairment – Recent studies have linked caffeine consumption to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and a new University of Illinois study may be able to explain how this happens. Researchers have discovered a novel signal that activates the brain-based inflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and caffeine appears to block its activity.

Exercise improves memory and thinking after stroke

Exercise improves memory, thinking after stroke, study finds – Just six months of exercise can improve memory, language, thinking and judgment problems by almost 50 per cent. Toronto researchers found that the proportion of stroke patients with at least mild cognitive impairment dropped from 66 per cent to 37 per cent during a research study on the impact of exercise on the brain.

New study to find role of stress in development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

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.

Cognitive decline linked to brain volume decreases in parkinson’s disease patients

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.

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may have lower BMI

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may be more likely to have lower BMI – People in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI). A new study examined 506 people with advanced brain imaging techniques and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid to look for biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, which can be present years before the first symptoms begin.

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