Alzheimer's

Fish, Flaxseed May Lower Alzheimer's Risk

Omega-3-Rich Diet May Protect Aging Brains, Study Suggests By Salynn Boyles Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD May 2, 2012 -- Early research suggests that eating fatty fish, nuts, and other foo...

Any Exercise May Cut Alzheimer's Risk at Any Age

Simple Household Chores, Active Lifestyle May Lower Alzheimer's Risk By Denise Mann Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD April 18, 2012 -- Daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's...

Drug May Help Diagnose Alzheimer's Earlier

Florbetaben May Aid in Diagnosis of People With Memory Loss By Charlene Laino Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD April 15, 2012 -- An experimental drug called florbetaben may help doctors diagnos...

Longer Use of Alzheimer’s Drug May Help Patients

Continued Treatment With Aricept Shows Some Merit By Denise Mann Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD March 7, 2012 -- The Alzheimer’s drug Aricept helps people with early to moderate signs of...

1 in 7 People With Alzheimer’s Lives Alone

New Report Paints Grim Picture; Disease to Cost $200 Billion in U.S. This Year By Denise Mann Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD March 8, 2012 -- One in seven people with Alzheimer’s disease li...

Ten Health Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life

Medical Author: Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MDMedical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD That we live in what can seem like an oversexed society is difficult to dispute given the extensive, sometimes exploitative media attention given to ...

Overeating May Raise Risk for Memory Problems

Study: Eating More Than 2,100 Calories a Day May Place Seniors at Higher Risk By Denise Mann Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Feb. 12, 2012 -- Overeating may double your risk of developing memo...

New Alzheimer’s Guidelines May Confuse Diagnosis

Analysis: Saying Patients Have ‘Mild Cognitive Impairment’ Instead of Early Alzheimer’s May Complicate Treatment By Rita Rubin Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 7, 2012 -- New Alzhe...

Senior Moment or Something Worse? Yes/No Test May Tell

Test Can Help Identify People at High Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease By Denise Mann Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 3, 2012 -- When are “senior moments” just a normal part of health...

Health Highlights: Jan. 17, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:U.S. National Alzheimer's Plan Under DevelopmentThe first National Alzheimer's Plan to improve prevention and treatment of the disease by 2025 is b...

Same Genes Key to Early & Late-Onset Alzheimer's: Study

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- People who develop Alzheimer's disease late in life may have the same gene mutations linked to the inherited, early onset form of the condition, according to a new study. Researchers from Washington University Sch...

Signs of Alzheimer's May Show Up Years Before Symptoms

Study: Signs of Disease Seen in Brains of People Who Don't Have Alzheimer's Yet By Denise MannWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 1, 2012 -- Amyloid protein plaques in the brain are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Now, new re...

Signs of Alzheimer’s May Show Up Years Before Symptoms

Study: Signs of Disease Seen in Brains of People Who Don’t Have Alzheimer’s Yet By Denise Mann Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 1, 2012 -- Amyloid protein plaques in the brain are a ...

Antidepressants Might Raise Fall Risk in Nursing Homes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18 -- Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with an increased risk of falls in nursing home residents with dementia, a new study finds.Researchers in the Netherlands ana...

Exercise May Help Those at Higher Risk for Alzheimer's: Study

MONDAY, Jan. 9 -- A new study finds that an active lifestyle may help protect against Alzheimer's-related brain changes in people who have a well-known genetic risk factor. This factor is the e4 allele (version) of the apolipoprotein...

Memory Loss May Occur as Early as 40s

Study Shows Age-Related Mental Declines Well Before 60th Birthday By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Jan. 5, 2012 -- Age-related memory loss is widely believed to begin around the age of 60, but new research suggest...

Clue to Alzheimer's Disease Found in Spinal Fluid

Protein Fragments in Spinal Fluid May Predict Alzheimer's a Decade Before Diagnosis By Brenda Goodman, MA Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 3, 2012 -- Measuring protein fragments in spi...

Know the Signs of Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28 -- Knowing the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease is important because it may lead to an early diagnosis, experts say.According to the Alzheimer's Association, early diagnosis enables patients to:Plan ahead for t...

'Silent Strokes' Linked to Memory Loss in Elderly: Study

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 -- In some cases, memory loss among the elderly may be due to so-called "silent strokes," new research suggests.Such strokes, which may not cause any noticeable symptoms, result in small pockets of dead brain cells,...

Diet Patterns Linked With Brain Health

People With Diets High in Vitamins B, C, D, E, and Omega-3s Had Less Brain Shrinkage, Higher Scores on Thinking Tests By Kathleen DohenyWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Dec. 28, 2011 -- Eating a diet rich in certain vitamins and om...

Brain Scans Spot Alzheimer’s Changes Years Before Symptoms

Study: People With Brain Shrinkage in Key Areas Are More Likely to Develop Memory Loss, Other Alzheimer’s Symptoms By Brenda Goodman, MA Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Dec. 21, 2011 -- Re...

Risk for Dementia Rises When Diabetes, Depression Meet: Study

MONDAY, Dec. 5 -- When people with type 2 diabetes also struggle with depression, their odds for a third worrisome condition -- dementia -- goes up markedly, a new study suggests.Specifically, patients with type 2 diabetes are twice...

Eating Fish May Be Good for Brain Health

Study Shows That People Who Eat Fish Regularly May Have a Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease By Charlene Laino Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Nov. 30, 2011 (Chicago) -- Older people who ea...

Lower Weight May Be Early Alzheimer’s Sign

Changes in Weight May Occur Before Symptoms Even Show By Salynn Boyles Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Nov. 21, 2011 -- Being overweight in middle age is now recognized as a risk factor fo...

Hearing Loss Far More Common Than Expected

MONDAY, Nov. 14 -- Hearing loss affects about one-fifth of Americans aged 12 and older, a far higher number than previously believed, researchers report.They examined data from people whose hearing was tested during National Health a...

Study: Blood Test Detects Early Alzheimer's

Experimental Test Checks for Signs of Plaque in Brain By Charlene Laino Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD July 21, 2011 (Paris) -- Australian researchers report they're a step closer to deve...

Key Challenges for Fighting Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Association Says Insufficient Funding and Inadequate Treatment Are Among the Challenges By Bill Hendrick Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Nov. 8, 2011 -- The Alzheimer's Assoc...

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

In Alzheimer’s disease, nerve cells in the brain die gradually. This makes it increasingly difficult for your brain’s signals to be sent properly. Alzheimer’s disease symptoms may be hard to recognize at first.1 You may assume that symptom...

Alzheimer's Diagnosis

What Tests Are Used to Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease? In spite of the fact that it is so common, Alzheimer's disease often goes unrecognized or is misdiagnosed in its early stages. Many doctors and nurses, patients, and family members mistakenl...

Taking Care of Someone with Alzheimer's

Do You Realize How Much You Do? Your role as caregiver to a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease can be very involved. You help maintain the quality of life for your spouse, parent, family member, or friend with Alzheimer'...