Summary: A new study found that abnormally high levels of HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), often referred to as ‘good cholesterol’, may increase the risk of dementia in older adults. This large-scale study, part of the ASPREE project, observed over 18,668 participants, noting that those with very high HDL-C levels had a 27% higher risk of … Read more
Summary: Researchers revealed that certain personality traits, such as conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect, can reduce the likelihood of a dementia diagnosis. This comprehensive analysis involved over 44,000 people, with 1,703 developing dementia. Surprisingly, the researchers found no correlation between these protective personality traits and brain pathology in deceased individuals, suggesting these traits may enhance … Read more
Summary: Researchers discovered that hearing loss in older adults is associated with specific brain changes, potentially increasing dementia risk. Using hearing tests and MRI, the study, identified microstructural differences in brain regions responsible for auditory processing, speech, and executive function in those with hearing impairment. Principal investigator Linda K. McEvoy emphasizes that these changes might … Read more
Bruce Willis is navigating his cognitive decline with grace, his daughter says. The actor was diagnosed in 2022 with aphasia, a disorder that affects memory and communication, and he retired before his condition progressed to frontotemporal dementia. While gone from the spotlight, Willis is reportedly hanging in there — and is still a die-hard dad. … Read more
Summary: Research suggests a high-sugar diet, commonly associated with obesity, leads to insulin resistance in the brain and may heighten the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The study reveals that this insulin resistance impairs glial cells’ ability to clear neuronal debris, a crucial process for preventing neurodegeneration. By studying fruit flies, which share physiological … Read more
Summary: A mere 1% reduction in deep sleep yearly for those above 60 translates to a 27% higher dementia risk. Monitoring 346 participants over 60 from the Framingham Heart Study, the research observed declining deep sleep patterns and found 52 dementia cases in 17 years. The importance of deep sleep lies in its potential role … Read more
Summary: Research suggests that by 2040, the number of people living with dementia could reach 1.7 million, marking a significant increase of over 40% from previous projections. While data up until 2010 indicated a decline in dementia incidence in high-income countries, the trend started reversing after 2008. Furthermore, the study sheds light on an increasing … Read more
Summary: Older individuals with elevated triglyceride levels might be at a reduced risk for dementia. Researchers studied over 18,000 seniors without prior dementia diagnoses, monitoring them for six years. Those with higher triglyceride concentrations exhibited a decreased dementia incidence compared to those with lower levels. The link doesn’t confirm that triglycerides prevent dementia, but they … Read more
“Moonlighting” creator Glenn Gordon Caron has shared an update on Bruce Willis’ health this week, telling the New York Post that the actor is “not totally verbal” amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia. Caron, a friend of the 68-year-old actor, explained that Willis still knows who he is during his visits but noted some changes … Read more
Lee died in February. We celebrated his life the Saturday before Father’s Day. I should have been grieving. Instead, I was taking delivery of flowers and preparing brisket for the get-together after the service. I was hugging siblings and grandchildren and neighbors. I was emailing old colleagues and setting up Zoom links for distant friends. … Read more