Alzheimer's Disease Archive

A 2024 study suggests that older adults who fall for financial scams may have brain changes associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Decreased concentration is often a normal part of aging as the brain's ability to function efficiently gradually declines. People who struggle with concentration when performing tasks can try strategies like avoiding multitasking, taking scheduled breaks, and removing distractions. Other lifestyle behaviors may also affect concentration and should be examined, such as sleep, medication, and caffeine intake. Activities like meditating, reading, and learning a new skill also can help improve mental focus.

Leg pain may be caused by deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Left untreated, the clot may break off, travel to the lungs, and cause blockage in a lung artery, known as pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be life threatening. Diagnosis of DVT and PE may include a review of symptoms, a D-dimer blood test, a leg ultrasound, or a chest CT scan. Both conditions are most often treated with direct-acting oral anticoagulants.

Eating high amounts of processed red meat each day may increase the risk for future cognitive decline and dementia. Switching out processed red meat for nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy, chicken, or fish also may lower the risk.

Many people worry about occasional memory lapses that occur as they get older. To cope, it helps to talk to a doctor and also reduce stress by following healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating. Using strategies to help retain information is also important. Examples include placing keys in a designated spot, taking medication at the same time each day, and using notebooks-not just memory-to organize and store information for fast retrieval.

People may choke on their own saliva when talking quickly, laughing, or turning their head. Other causes include postnasal drip or dry mouth, which medications may trigger. Certain health conditions can also affect swallowing.

Sudden memory lapses could be natural aspects of aging or early signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). With MCI, memory loss is noticeable but usually does not impede the ability to carry out daily functions. A screening test from a doctor or more advanced testing (such as brain MRI or PET scans) from a neurologist can help identify potential cognitive problems so people can seek appropriate treatment.