Aging

Doctors use lasers and retinoic acid to treat skin damage. Scientists have now uncovered a common mechanism that links both, paving the way for new treatments. What links laser and retinoic acid treatment for sun damage? Skin damage, in the form of dark spots and wrinkles, naturally occurs as we age. Ultraviolet light from the

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A new study investigates the effect of leading a healthful lifestyle on people who have a genetic predisposition to developing dementia. Leading a healthful lifestyle can offset the genetic risk of dementia, according to a new study. Elżbieta Kuźma, Ph.D., and David Llewellyn, Ph.D., from the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom,

New research suggests that having a family history of Alzheimer’s may impair cognition throughout a person’s lifetime, but it also identifies factors that could offset these adverse effects. The findings may enable people at risk to take active measures for delaying or even preventing this form of dementia. Having a first-degree relative, such as a

As women get older, they tend to have less sex. They may also find it less enjoyable than before. So far, studies have explained these tendencies by pointing the finger at physiological changes during and after menopause. What are the other factors? What prevents a woman from having sex or enjoying sex later in life?

The buildup of defective tau proteins is a prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The faulty proteins form tangles that disrupt brain function and kill nerve cells, or neurons. Experiments in human cell cultures reveal a mechanism through which scientists can regulate defective tau protein levels. Now, scientists have identified a molecule that

Large-scale research suggests that drinking alcohol in older age may lower mortality risk. However, the scientists are cautious about potential biases in their own research and say that more research is necessary. Does moderate drinking in older age have any health benefits? A new study investigates. The debate around the potential health benefits of alcohol

The hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease and some forms of dementia include Lewy bodies, toxic aggregates that form in the brain and disrupt neural circuits. Researchers from Osaka University in Japan are now testing a new preventive therapy in a preliminary mouse study. Researchers from Japan are testing out a new therapeutic approach for the prevention

In this Spotlight, we introduce the glymphatic system: the brain’s dedicated waste clearance system. Now implicated in various conditions, it is high time that we became acquainted. Astroglia (illustrated above) play a pivotal role in the brain’s trash collection service. Many of us are relatively familiar with the lymphatic system; it performs a number of

New research shows that a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease accurately detected levels of beta-amyloid protein in all stages of the condition, approaching “a level of accuracy that is usable in routine clinical care around the world.” Doctors could soon use a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. The brain changes that lead to the

Researchers reveal a marker and new testing tool of frontotemporal dementia that may help distinguish this condition from Alzheimer’s disease. ‘Moral emotions’ are ones that prompt us to do good and contribute to pro-social behavior and cooperation. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a less common form of dementia than Alzheimer’s. Sometimes called Pick’s disease or frontal

A recent study concludes that social interaction might be more than just a pleasant pastime; it might help doctors predict an individual’s risk of cognitive decline and, perhaps, dementia. How does social interaction influence cognitive decline? Cognitive decline refers to a general reduction in mental abilities over time. It affects many people as they age

It is natural for a person’s memory and thinking abilities, or cognitive function, to wane as they age — even if they are in good health. However, the rate of cognitive decline can speed up if they experience heart attack or angina, according to new research. Cognitive decline may speed up after a heart attack

Researchers have designed a brain aging model to investigate the factors that contribute to cognitive decline, borrowing principles from precision medicine. How can we tackle cognitive decline? Cognitive decline affects a person’s ability to focus, remember, and make decisions. Its severity can range from mild to severe, and it may lead to dementia, in the

A large study concludes that atrial fibrillation does, indeed, raise the risk of dementia even in people who did not have a stroke and that anticoagulants may reduce this risk. An irregular heartbeat may be a sign of A-fib, which may, in turn, raise dementia risk. Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a condition in which the

New research examines the relationship between trends in physical activity levels over time and mortality risk among adults in middle age and older. The findings suggest that it is never too late to start exercising, as becoming more active may lengthen lifespan “regardless of past activity levels.” Becoming physically active can legthen the lifespan of

Electrostimulation of the vagus nerve may be key to reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to findings that scientists presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Madrid, Spain. Electrostimulation of the vagus nerve may help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. This research gives hope that there may be a new way

Researchers have found that nilvadipine, a drug that doctors regularly use to treat hypertension, may help people with Alzheimer’s disease by increasing blood flow to the brain. New research suggests that a high blood pressure drug may slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. This progressive

For many years, specialists believed that people who studied more and kept their brains more active had lower dementia risk. Some recent studies have contradicted this idea. So how is education linked to the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease, if at all? Another study suggests that there is no link between a person’s level of education

Millions of people die prematurely each year due to noncommunicable diseases, some of the most common of which are cardiovascular diseases. New research from Harvard suggests that three tried and tested interventions could prevent many of those deaths if implemented through global policies. Three global interventions could prevent millions of deaths over the next couple

There are two major stumbling blocks to developing effective drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases that destroy the brain. The first is overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and the second is delivering the drug to a precise location and ensuring that it does not spread to the rest of the brain. New research finds a

Evidence indicates that following a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, and cereals, can bring many health benefits, including protection against cardiovascular and metabolic problems. Now, a study also presents a link between this diet and a lower risk of depression later in life. New research finds a link between Mediterranean-style diets and a

New research identifies changes in the neurochemistry and anatomy of the brain that occur decades before people experience any symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain changes may occur decades before people experience Alzheimer’s symptoms, accumulating evidence suggests. The fact that more than 35 million people are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease has led some experts to

The results of a new study suggest that virtual reality could make life easier for people with dementia. The authors conclude that virtual reality helped the participants recall memories and contributed to an improvement in patients’ relationships with caregivers. Could virtual reality enhance the lives of people with dementia? Dementia is an umbrella term for

Research in mice now shows that a specific cell death mechanism can lead to rheumatoid arthritis. Stopping this mechanism could help prevent this condition from developing, the authors argue. Researchers uncover a key cellular mechanism involved in RA that has potential therapeutic implications. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized mainly by pain

A new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease has successfully passed the first phase of testing in humans. Preclinical studies had already shown that the drug could improve memory and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in older mice. A potential treatment for Alzheimer’s moves a step closer. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf,

Sticking to a plant-rich diet that can reduce high blood pressure may also lower the risk of heart failure in people under the age of 75. The DASH diet is rich in fruit, vegetables, and fish, as well as poultry and nuts. This was the conclusion of a study that a team at Wake Forest