Can a simple smell test reveal if you’ll get Alzheimer’s?
Scientists believe that the brain changes behind Alzheimer’s disease start at least 10 years before memory problems set in. But right now there is no easy-to-administer diagnostic test to detect early signs of the brain-wasting illness.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston say they may have discovered a noninvasive way to predict if you’ll get Alzheimer’s.
… Read MoreHere’s one of the biggest scandals in modern medicine: As many as 30% of the 5.3 million Americans told by doctors they have Alzheimer’s disease don’t actually have it.1
This means about 1.6 million people think they have an incurable, deadly disease that is destroying their brain…when in reality they may have an easily treatable condition from which they can make a full recovery.
… Read MoreThere’s one thing seniors fear more than anything else: Loss of independence.
One study found that older Americans are more terrified of not being able to care for themselves than they are of death.1 And unless you live in a big city, the ability to drive can be vital for independent living. That’s why many seniors hang onto their license for as long as they possibly can.
… Read MoreA substance in red wine may be the key to healthy brain aging, according to a new study.
Resveratrol is a compound in red wine, red grapes, pomegranates, raspberries, and chocolate. It supports a strong blood-brain barrier, say Georgetown University researchers.1 This is an important factor in stopping potentially harmful immune molecules from reaching the brain and wreaking havoc.
Historically, it was thought that age-related brain fog came from “resident” brain immune cells.
… Read MoreToxic chemicals are all around us. It’s impossible to avoid them. They are in virtually all household products that have plastic. They are in carpeting, furniture, and fabrics that are fire retardant. They are in most of our food. They are in much of our drinking water and in the air we breathe.
What do they do to us? There is a growing body of evidence that five common chemicals hurt our brains.
… Read MoreA new study shows that vitamin B12 can prevent age-related memory loss.1
Scientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden followed more than 500 people over 50. Subjects had annual brain MRIs, cognitive function screenings, and vitamin B12 tests for nine years.
Researchers discovered that people with sufficient B12 suffered less memory loss and brain mass deterioration than those who were short on the vitamin.
… Read More