Recent Blog Articles

Dupuytren's contracture of the hand

Why play? Early games build bonds and brain

Moving from couch to 5K

How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

Tick season is expanding: Protect yourself against Lyme disease

What? Another medical form to fill out?

How do trees and green spaces enhance our health?

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do

Harvard Health Ad Watch: New drug, old song, clever tagline

Concussion in children: What to know and do

Alzheimer's Disease Archive

Mind & Mood

Drinking both coffee and tea linked to lower risks for stroke and dementia

Published February 1, 2022

A study published Nov. 16, 2021, in PLOS Medicine found that drinking two to three cups of coffee as well as two to three cups of tea per day was associated with substantially lower risks for dementia and stroke, compared with drinking no coffee or tea.

Mind & Mood

Shield your brain from decline

Published February 1, 2022

The acronym SHIELD sums up the habits that may help ward off cognitive decline. SHIELD stands for sleeping at least seven hours per night, handling stress, interacting with friends, exercising daily, learning new things, and eating a healthy diet. Ideally, one should incorporate all of these healthy lifestyle habits into each day. If that feels overwhelming, doctors advise focusing on a different healthy habit per day, until it’s possible to practice all of the habits every day.

Mind & Mood

Turning up the volume on brain health

Published January 1, 2022

While hearing loss and dementia seem to be connected, doctors don’t know if hearing loss causes cognitive decline. It may be that an unknown common factor causes both problems. But regardless of whether hearing loss may be an early indicator of dementia or a risk factor for the condition, it should be treated. Improving hearing can improve the ability to connect with others and quality of life.

Mind & Mood

Eye diseases linked to a higher risk of dementia

Published January 1, 2022

People who get age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetes-related eye disease may have a higher risk for dementia. Having more than one eye condition may further increase the risk.

Mind & Mood

Tooth loss associated with cognitive impairment, dementia

Published January 1, 2022

A review published Oct. 22, 2021, in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine found that people with more tooth loss had, on average, a 48% greater risk for developing cognitive impairment, compared with people who had less tooth loss.

Mind & Mood

How much sleep keeps cognitive decline at bay?

Published December 1, 2021

Sleeping six hours or less is associated with impaired cognition, mostly in memory, as well as an increase in the protein that can form brain plaque. Sleeping nine hours or more is also linked to cognitive problems, especially in decision making.

Mind & Mood

Exposure to traffic noise linked to higher dementia risk

Published December 1, 2021

A decade or more of high exposure to traffic noise may increase dementia risk.

Exercise & Fitness

Working out your brain

Published December 1, 2021

Cardio exercise has been convincingly linked to less cognitive decline and may even improve cognitive functioning. Research suggests it can strengthen the heart, promote arterial health, improve blood flow to the brain, fight inflammation, and increase key chemicals that promote new brain cell growth. The type of exercise does not matter, but cardio that is both physically challenging and offers mental stimulation is ideal.

Mind & Mood

Too much coffee may raise dementia risk

Published November 1, 2021

Drinking coffee daily can provide a welcomed mental jolt for many people. But new research suggests regular coffee drinkers should stop at five or six cups per day, as drinking more may increase their risk for dementia.

Mind & Mood

Can friends who listen help protect your memory and thinking skills?

Published November 1, 2021

A study published online Aug. 16, 2021, by JAMA Network Open suggests that older adults with good listeners in their lives have better thinking skills—despite decreases in brain volume—compared with people who don’t have good listeners in their lives.

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Recent Blog Articles

Dupuytren's contracture of the hand

Why play? Early games build bonds and brain

Moving from couch to 5K

How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

Tick season is expanding: Protect yourself against Lyme disease

What? Another medical form to fill out?

How do trees and green spaces enhance our health?

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do

Harvard Health Ad Watch: New drug, old song, clever tagline

Concussion in children: What to know and do

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