Viruses, Infections & Disease, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 20, 2014

Self-Administered Test Helps Spot Early Alzheimer's

Dr. Douglas Scharre is a neurologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Identifying early signs of cognitive impairment in patients who have Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other cognitive problems may now be as simple as having them...

Jan 27, 2014

Pesticide DDT Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

Exposure to the pesticide DDT, which was banned in the United States in the 1970s but is still found in the environment, may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. People with Alzheimer's disease in the study had levels of a DDT byproduct, called DDE, in their...

Mar 5, 2014

Alzheimer's May Contribute to More Deaths Than Thought

Alzheimer's disease may be the third major cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer, according to a new study in the journal Neurology. The study shows that the number of deaths caused by Alzheimer's is five to six times higher than what the Centers for Disease...

Mar 19, 2014

Protective Brain Molecule May Stave Off Alzheimer's

Scientists have long wondered why some people develop Alzheimer's disease while others have healthy brains throughout their lifetime. Now, new research identifies a molecule that protects brain cells from the stress of aging, which may stave off neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers found that people who experience early cognitive decline appear to...

Apr 14, 2014

Alzheimer's Gene Has Greater Effect on Women

Women with a certain gene are more likely than men with the same gene to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. In the study, healthy older women with the gene, called ApoE4, were 81 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's diseaseor mild cognitive impairment (a condition that can lead...

Oct 1, 2014

Neuroticism and Long-Time Stress Linked to Alzheimer's in Women

Women who feel anxious, moody and distressed for significant amounts of time during middle age may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, a new study suggests. In the study, researchers followed 800 women over 38 years. At the study's start, their average age was...

Nov 4, 2014

'Car Talk' Host's Death: How Does Alzheimer's Disease Kill?

Tom Magliozzi, one of the hosts of the National Public Radio show Car Talk, died yesterday (Nov. 3) from complications of Alzheimer's disease, according to news reports. But how does Alzheimer's disease kill? Alzheimer's is perhaps best known for its effects on memory, but the condition is a progressive brain...

Nov 26, 2014

Many People with Dementia May Go Unscreened, Untreated

The majority of people with dementia in the United States may have never seen a doctor about their memory and thinking problems, according to a new study of older adults. The researchers found that 55 percent of patients screened for dementia as part of the University of Michigan Health and...

Jan 26, 2015

Widely Used Drugs Tied to Greater Dementia Risk for Seniors

People over age 65 who frequently take over-the-counter sleep aids and certain other commonly used drugs may be increasing their risk of dementia, new findings show. In the study, the researchers looked at drugs that have anticholinergic effects, meaning they block a neurotransmittercalled acetylcholine. Many drugs fall into this class,...

Jan 29, 2015

People with Dementia May Have Hidden Talents, Strange Case Shows

A 60-year-old businessman lost his job and much of his personality to dementia. But despite his mentally debilitating condition, he learned to play the saxophone for the first time in his life, and played exceptionally well, according to a new report of his case. The Korean man, called J.K. in...

Mar 24, 2015

'MIND' Your Diet, and Protect Against Alzheimer's

If you want to protect your mind, be mindful of what you eat. Doctors say that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean meats that includes a little wine can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The researchers have aptly named their diet the MIND diet — it...

Apr 8, 2015

Arts and Crafts Activities May Stave Off Dementia

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at pottery or knitting, a new study suggests that doing so might be good for your health. Middle-age and older adults who do arts and crafts activities and socialize may reduce their risk of the thinking and memory problems that can lead...

Apr 9, 2015

Being Too Slim at Midlife May Boost Dementia Risk

Being too thin in middle age might be bad for brain health later in life, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people who were underweight in their 40s, 50s and 60s were 34 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia up to 15 years later, compared with similarly...

Apr 15, 2015

Diabetes and Depression May Increase Risk of Dementia

Adults who have either depression or type 2 diabetes may have an increased risk of developing dementia, and the risk may be even higher for people who have both conditions, according to a new study. In the study, researchers examined the risk of dementia in more than 2.4 million people...

Jun 12, 2015

Exercising Mind and Body May Not Protect Against Alzheimer's

Some studies have linked doing brainy puzzles and physical exercise with a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, or with staving off the cognitive decline associated with the disease. But now, new research suggests otherwise. The latest study on the topic found that staying physically and mentally fit may help...