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We've reported before that heavy drinking is tied to an increased risk for developing dementia. A Harvard-led study published online Sept. 27, 2019, by JAMA Network Open suggests that the risk is even worse if you have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Researchers analyzed the data of more than 3,000 dementia-free adults (average age 78, some with MCI) who reported their alcohol use and underwent psychological testing for six years. People with MCI who drank heavily (more than 14 drinks per week) had a 72% higher risk for dementia than people who drank less than one drink per week. However, people without MCI who drank moderately (seven to 14 drinks per week) didn't appear to have an increased risk for dementia, and even seemed to have a 37% lower risk for dementia compared with people who consumed less than one drink per week. The bottom line: "Our results suggest that moderation is the healthiest approach if you drink. And if you have mild cognitive impairment, you may want to reconsider drinking alcohol at all," says Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, a study author and researcher with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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These tips can help you recall the details from past events and learn from them.

Does this sound familiar? You can't recall the name of someone you met before. Or you forget the time-saving shortcut from a previous car trip. Or you repeatedly make the same silly mistake doing a once-familiar task.

It's frustrating when you can't recall certain past details. You may chalk it up to "senior moments." But, the actual problem is a breakdown in your episodic memory, the brain's largest and most complex memory system.

In the journals

Over-the-counter pain medicines that contain caffeine can be effective at stopping some headaches. But drinking a large amount of caffeinated beverages might actually trigger a headache for some people with migraines, according to a study published in the August 2019 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Researchers recruited almost 100 people with migraines who suffered from fewer than 15 headaches per month. For six weeks, they recorded the timing and characteristics of each migraine and their intake of caffeinated beverages.

Your money might be better spent on something else.

During the winter months, you've likely seen ads for products that claim to give your immune system a boost to help you ward off colds and the flu. But can something in a bottle, whether a vitamin formulation or probiotic, really rev up your immune system to help you stay healthy?

"Unfortunately, the reality is that those kinds of products aren't really offering you any benefit," says Michael Starnbach, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School. "There's no evidence that they help in fighting disease."

Semantic memory is your store of factual knowledge and the meanings of words. It also helps you recall nonverbal concepts and relationships between words and concepts. And while some aspects of memory may decline with age, semantic memory does not.

News briefs

Want something simple to boost your health? Try looking on the bright side. A large observational study published online Sept. 27, 2019, by JAMA Network Open tied optimism to fewer heart attacks and a lower risk for premature death. Researchers combed through 15 studies that included almost 230,000 people who were followed for an average of 14 years. Being optimistic was associated with a 35% lower risk for cardiovascular events and a 14% lower risk for an early death, compared with being pessimistic. The findings don't prove that seeing the glass half-full causes better health, but many other studies have reported similar findings. "Optimistic people may have healthier habits, such as regular exercise and healthy diets; and they may be better at regulating their emotions in stressful situations, which could also contribute to lower levels of inflammation. But we need more research to confirm it," says Dr. Laura Kubzansky, a study author and co-director of the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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It's not clear that supplements are effective, but some evidence is encouraging.

Some people are wary of taking antidepressants to treat their mild or moderate depression. They may not want to deal with the hassle of prescriptions, the costs, the potential side effects (such as sexual dysfunction), or the worry that medication treatment could mean an endless commitment.

Research we're watching

Having a dog often means taking daily walks, a habit that helps stave off heart disease. But that might not be the only reason dog owners have healthier hearts, according to a new study.

The nearly 1,800 participants had no history of heart disease in 2013 when the study began. Researchers scored them based on the American Heart Association's "Life's Simple 7" factors: body mass index, diet, physical activity, smoking status, blood pressure, blood sugar, and total cholesterol. Then they compared the scores of people who owned any pet to those who did not own pets, as well as the scores of dog owners with owners of any pet or no pet.

Research we're watching

People with a positive outlook on life seem to be less likely to experience serious heart-related problems, according to a review published Sept. 27 by JAMA Network Open.

The study pooled findings from 15 studies involving a total of more than 220,000 people. After a follow-up period lasting an average of nearly 14 years, researchers found that optimism was associated with a 35% lower risk of angina, heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes. That benefit held even when they considered studies that took into account depression, physical activity, and other possible confounding factors.

Even if dementia runs in your family, smart lifestyle changes can help you improve your chances of staying ahead of it.

There are many things you can change about your life, but unfortunately, your genes are not among them. For better or worse, you are dealt a specific genetic hand when you are born. But that does not mean you are defenseless.

Take dementia, for example. If this cognitive disorder runs in your family, new research suggests there are ways to perhaps avoid the same fate.