For Some, Trouble Tracking Finances Could Be Sign of Dementia

WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2019 -- If someone you know is struggling to keep track of their finances as they age, early dementia might be the culprit.

That's the conclusion of researchers who tested 243 adults, aged 55 to 90, on their financial skills and performed brain scans to assess the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

It's Never Too Late for New Brain Cells

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 -- New research delivers fresh hope for everyone who struggles with a fading memory: Neurons continue to form well into old age, even in people with mental impairments or Alzheimer's disease.

"We found that there was active neurogenesis [new neurons forming] in the hippocampus of older adults well into their 90s," said study author Orly Lazarov, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

High LDL Cholesterol Tied to Early-Onset Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 -- Here's another reason to keep your cholesterol under control: New research suggests that LDL, or "bad," cholesterol may play a role in the development of early-onset Alzheimer's.

A rare form of the disease that occurs before the age of 65, early-onset Alzheimer's has previously been linked to a gene mutation involved in how the body processes fats and cholesterol. But that mutation only accounts for a small percentage of cases, the scientists noted.

Newly Discovered Illness May Cause Nearly 1 in 5 Dementias, Experts Say

TUESDAY, April 30, 2019 -- Elderly adults commonly have memory and thinking problems that look a lot like Alzheimer's disease, but they might really be suffering from a different form of dementia.

That's according to an international panel of experts who are giving the disease a name for the first time, and detailing what's known about it so far.

Even a Little More Exercise Might Help Your Brain Stay Young

FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 -- Alzheimer's and dementia are not an inevitable part of normal aging, and a little exercise might help keep them at bay, a new study suggests.

The researchers found that every hour of light exercise on top of recommended weekly levels of more intense activity reduced brain aging by about a year.