Every week, a group of dancers meets in Chicago. Together, they follow a series of movements under the guidance of an instructor. They flex, and reach, and point as Carly Liegel, community engagement program coordinator for the Joffrey Ballet, leads them through a series of movements with their arms and then their legs. But these… read on > read on >
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Exercise and Cognitive Training Slow Thinking Declines. Vitamin D? Not So Much
As older people start to lose some of their mental abilities, regular exercise might slow the progression to dementia, a new study indicates. With five months of physical activity, the mental ability of seniors with so-called mild cognitive impairment improved significantly, researchers in Canada report. They also found that computerized training to improve memory added… read on > read on >
Bite Your Nails or Pick at Your Skin? A New Study Has a Solution for That
If you just can’t stop biting your nails, picking at your skin or pulling out a hank of hair, especially when you’re stressed out, here’s something to try that just might work. Instead of nibbling, picking or pulling, simply touch your skin gently, such as by lightly rubbing the fingertips, palm or back of arm,… read on > read on >
Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer’s Away
Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers’ brain health. Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researchers. Their findings were presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference,… read on > read on >
While 8 in 10 Seniors See Wisdom of Dementia Screening, Few Have Been Tested: Poll
Most older adults think that screening for dementia is a good idea, according to a new poll on aging. But few actually take that step. Only about 20% of those aged 65 to 80 had a screening test in the past year to see if their memory and thinking abilities have started to decline, according… read on > read on >
European Man May Be 6th Person to Be ‘Cured’ of HIV
It’s rare for someone with HIV to go into remission and be considered “cured,” but a European man may be the sixth to do so. First diagnosed with HIV in 1990, the man had been taking antiretroviral drugs since 2005 and received a stem cell transplant two years ago to treat a rare type of… read on > read on >
Link Seen Between Inflammation, Alzheimer’s
Researchers around the world are working to tease out the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now, a new study points to so-called systemic inflammation. British researchers found that inflammation — activation of the body’s innate immune system — is associated with a small but statistically significant later risk of dementia. They… read on > read on >
Black Patients More Likely to Trust Medical Videos When Black Doctor, Patient Is in It
The need to increase racial diversity among U.S. health care providers is important for many reasons. Among them, Black patients are more likely to believe Black physicians or patients than sources who are white, new research finds. The race of the presenter in videos about prostate cancer did not appear to make a difference to… read on > read on >
Constipation May Be a Marker for Dementia Risk
Chronic constipation may not only be an indicator of gut health, but a potential warning sign of thinking declines, a preliminary study suggests. Researchers found that among more than 110,000 middle-aged and older U.S. adults, those who were chronically constipated — fewer than three bowel movements a week — also showed signs of an “older”… read on > read on >
Could Your Genes Guard You From the Symptoms of COVID Infection?
In the world of COVID-19 infections, the majority of patients develop symptoms, while about one-fifth mysteriously don’t develop a cough, sore throat or other tell-tale signs of illness. Now, new research finds that these symptom-free super-dodgers are more than twice as likely as others to carry a genetic mutation that seems to obliterate COVID-19. “The… read on > read on >