Memory Archive

Most older adults experience occasional "senior moments" when they forget names, misplace objects, or have difficulty following conversations. While these types of memory issues may come and go, it's when they become more frequent or severe or if new problems emerge that signals a potential issue. A doctor can help determine if underlying issues may be causing memory problems and whether further neuropsychological evaluation is needed.

Denial is a natural response at times when you're unable or unwilling to face the facts. As a defense mechanism, it can be helpful or harmful. Here's how to spot it in yourself and others, and how to move from denial toward meaningful change.

Recently published research suggests that a daily multivitamin may improve memory enough such that it can function as if you were three years younger. We take a closer look at the study.

Trauma can register within our bodies on a cellular level. What that means — and how best to heal from serious traumas — is the focus of somatic therapy, a newer form of mental health counseling that highlights how deeply painful experiences affect us and can be addressed through mind-body approaches.

Scientists don't fully understand what causes some people to get Alzheimer's and others not. Age is the most significant risk factor, but genetics also plays a role. Alzheimer's has no cure, so the focus is on prevention and slowing the disease's progress once the biological changes are detected or when someone has early symptoms. Research has found that paying attention to certain factors may help, no matter a person's age or family history. These include exercise, diet, hearing and vision, blood pressure, and mind-stimulating activities.

A 2023 study suggests that some brain changes in people with obesity appear similar to those that occur in people with Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia.

A 2023 study suggests regular exercise improves symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress more effectively than sedentary behavior.

In a 2023 study of more than 28,000 older adults, those who reported socializing the most frequently lived the longest, compared with people who said they didn't socialize.