Dementia

America is facing an invisible economic tax due to the lack of infrastructure supporting an aging population. The financial strain widens wealth disparities, forcing those with fewer resources to shoulder major caregiving burdens by sacrificing income and savings. Specialized care is extremely costly, with median costs for assisted living exceeding $74,000 annually.

Experts have identified quitting smoking and reducing salt intake as key factors in preventing dementia. The article highlights these lifestyle changes as crucial for warding off the condition.

Avoiding smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure in midlife can delay dementia onset by 12.6 years, according to a 26-year study of 12,000 adults. Participants who avoided all three risks gained significantly more dementia-free years compared to those who experienced all three, with incremental benefits from avoiding one or two risks.

A study has identified three things to avoid for potentially gaining 13 additional years without dementia. The findings suggest that avoiding certain factors may help reduce dementia risk and extend dementia-free lifespan.

Emma, wife of Bruce Willis, openly discusses her guilt over celebrating her 50th birthday while he battles dementia. The article highlights her emotional honesty about the conflict of joy during his health struggle.

An 82-year-old woman from Charlotte with dementia is reported missing, prompting a Silver Alert. She was last known to be driving toward Rowan County.

Carla Romagnano, in her 60s, cares for her 84-year-old mother in Idaho after her mother's dementia diagnosis and a femur-breaking fall in 2022. She balances her bookkeeping job with caregiving, manages her mother's 24-hour care needs, and copes with the emotional burden after her father's unexpected death in 2022.

Midlife cognitive slip-ups may indicate dementia years before other symptoms emerge, offering a 14-year early detection window. Brain exercises suggested by Dr. Adrian Owen could help delay cognitive decline.

A study published in Neurology found that lower sugar intake during pregnancy and early childhood may reduce dementia risk by up to 23% later in life. Researchers analyzed UK health records of over 64,000 people born before and after WWII sugar rationing ended in 1953, finding those with limited sugar exposure developed dementia 2.6 years later on average. The study notes an association but does not prove causation.

Experts highlight a concerning increase in Huntington's disease, characterized as a mix between dementia and motor neurone disease, with thousands unaware of their condition.

A person's mother has fallen victim to an Elon Musk scam, giving gift cards and money after believing she is communicating with him via AI videos. She has dementia and a legal guardian, and the family struggles to convince her it's a scam without damaging their relationship. The user seeks insights from others who have experienced the scam's resolution.

Experts have found that excessive sugar consumption may increase the risk of dementia. High sugar intake is linked to a higher likelihood of developing dementia, highlighting a potential health concern.

A study of 65,000 U.K. Biobank participants found that lower sugar consumption in utero and before age 2 correlated with reduced dementia risk later in life. The research linked these findings to historical data following the end of World War II sugar rationing.

South Korean scientists have discovered how the brain removes waste, solving a 250-year-old mystery linked to dementia and other brain disorders. The study, published in Cell, was led by Dr. Koh.

The article discusses a shift in approaches to dementia over nine years, highlighted by a 2024 Alzheimer Association International Conference in London and the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative's efforts to build an innovation ecosystem for ending Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists suggest that ideal daily meal times may help reduce the risk of dementia. The study highlights the potential impact of meal timing on cognitive health.

Scientists suggest that ideal daily meal times may reduce the risk of dementia.

Studies have linked ultra-processed foods to depression, anxiety, and dementia. Columnist Helen Thomson examines the strength of evidence connecting these foods to long-term brain health effects.

Restricting eating to a nine-hour window may help combat dementia, according to a study. The approach, known as time-restricted eating, is suggested as a potential strategy to reduce dementia risk.

A common medication used to treat bipolar disorder and depression may have potential in fighting dementia, according to the article title. The focus is on repurposing existing psychiatric drugs for neurodegenerative conditions.

Cristina Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade County Public Schools graduate, co-founded Mind&Melody, a nonprofit providing over 16,000 interactive music sessions for individuals with neurological and developmental conditions across Florida, New Mexico, and New York. The organization engages participants through live music activities in healthcare and community settings, expanding beyond hospitals to include memory care and schools.

An 82-year-old person with dementia who went missing in Danville was located after police tracked a device. The search initially failed, but the tracking device provided the location needed to find the individual.

Jessica Chalk has cared for her mother, who has early-onset dementia, for 10 years. The mother's symptoms, including memory loss and difficulty with daily tasks, led to a dementia diagnosis after four years of testing. Jessica manages her mother's care, the family business For Keeps, and a new baby, describing the experience as the hardest part of her life.

A 61-year-old man with dementia, Thomas Charles Hughes, has gone missing in Christian County, Kentucky. Police are seeking information on his whereabouts and have provided a non-emergency contact number.

A study suggests that being married may increase an individual's risk of dementia by up to 70%. Researchers propose several theories to explain how close relationships could negatively impact brain health, though the exact mechanisms are not detailed in the article.

The New York Times explored terminal lucidity in dementia patients, a phenomenon where cognitive abilities briefly return before death. The article also notes a rise in mild autism cases and a link between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Spouses of people with dementia have a higher risk of developing dementia themselves, according to a study of nearly 1 million married individuals in Taiwan. Both husbands and wives showed increased risk compared to unexposed spouses.

A study suggests potential benefits of weed for dementia patients, highlighting a major step in treatment advancements. Over 7 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s, with numbers projected to nearly double by 2060.

Dementia patients may experience a sudden return of memory and personality shortly before death. This phenomenon is described as an incredible occurrence linked to the end-of-life stage.

Dementia patients experience sudden recovery of memory and personality shortly before death. This phenomenon is described as an incredible occurrence linked to the end-of-life stage.

Alison George and her sisters care for their mother with late-stage dementia, incurring over $389,000 in care costs since 2021. They spent $45,000 converting a guest house for her care, and their parents lacked long-term care insurance despite working their entire lives.

An Arizona fire department is honoring 14-year-old Royal Cothrun for helping an elderly woman with dementia during a heatwave. Cothrun encountered Theresa Morgan struggling in 103F heat and assisted her, preventing potential harm.

An Arizona teen, Royal Cothrun, was honored by a Gilbert fire department for assisting an elderly woman with dementia during a heatwave. The 14-year-old encountered Theresa Morgan struggling in 103F heat and helped her amid the extreme conditions.

Breathing toxic air in U.S. cities is linked to severe health effects including permanent organ damage, cancer, and dementia. The article details the minute-by-minute impact of air pollution on the body.

The World Health Organization has updated its dementia guidance, introducing a new risk factor, advising against certain supplements, and emphasizing the importance of addressing hearing loss. The article highlights key changes in recommendations for dementia prevention and management.

The author describes caring for their mother, Roberta, as she progressed through dementia, highlighting the emotional toll of watching her lose memories and relationships. Key moments include Roberta forgetting family members and the author becoming her primary caretaker.

Viral posts claim that statins, a drug used to lower cholesterol, are contributing to a dementia epidemic. DW Fact Check investigated and found these claims to be false based on scientific evidence.

A simple blood test may predict the risk of developing dementia up to 10 years before diagnosis. The test could help identify individuals at higher risk, potentially allowing for early interventions.

The WHO reports that 45% of dementia cases could be prevented, with over 57 million people worldwide currently living with dementia and nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually.

Agitation in advanced dementia, affecting nearly half of those nearing the end of life, is challenging to manage and distressing for patients and caregivers. A study suggests medical cannabis may help alleviate this symptom.