Category Archives: Brain Function

In dementia patients, social isolation may be tackled with assistive technology, like wearable GPS or mobile apps. Assistive technology is a product or gadget used for improving a person’s quality of life. Examples of assistive devices include an alarm clock or a television remote control. Any type or form of technology that improves the completion ...click here to read more

Heart medications may help treat Alzheimer’s disease by reducing plaque buildup in the brain’s blood vessels. Researcher Prof. Magnus Grenegård explained, “You should be careful not to draw any major conclusions from experimental studies, but we have certainly identified an interesting approach worth taking further.” The study revealed how the protein beta-amyloid sticks to the ...click here to read more

A new approach to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) therapy may help improve memory and modify disease progression. Senior study author Dr. Michela Gallagher explained, “In the case of early aMCI, it has been suggested that the increased hippocampal activation may serve a beneficial function by recruiting additional neural resources to compensate for those that ...click here to read more

In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, eating problems can be quite common. Eating problems in Alzheimer’s disease increase the risk for malnutrition and can worsen other health conditions the patient may already have. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, patients may forget to eat or they may even develop difficulties eating, but one thing is for certain: proper ...click here to read more

Sleeping problems in dementia are quite common, and without proper sleep symptoms related to dementia can worsen greatly. Some patients sleep during the day and are wide awake at night as a result. Others may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some patients may wander throughout the night or get confused, which can lead ...click here to read more

PTSD-related nightmare treatment may be effective with blood pressure drugs. For the study, the researchers investigated 12 prazosin studies, of which four were randomized controlled trials. Principal investigator of the study Simon Kung explained, “The studies showed the drug was well-tolerated and can take effect rapidly, within days to weeks, and some patients reported a ...click here to read more

Dementia is an umbrella term for memory loss, but there are actually many different types of dementia. For example, it can be vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia. But, dementia can also be reversible or irreversible. Reversible dementia refers to types of dementia that can be partially or completely cured through treatment and proper management by ...click here to read more

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may develop in elderly who have had serious falls. Lead author Nimali Jayasinghe explained, “Anyone who goes through an accident in which they feel their life may be in danger or they could get physically harmed can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms.” The patients were assessed using the Post-Traumatic Stress Scale, ...click here to read more

Lewy body dementia can be distinguished from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease by comparing clinical profiles. The study compared 21 patients with Lewy body dementia to 21 Alzheimer’s patients and 21 Parkinson’s disease patients. Patients were matched based on age, gender, education, race, cognitive impairment, and physical impairment, and were compared based on cognitive, functional, ...click here to read more

A new study suggests that feeling lonely could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that seniors with elevated levels of amyloid proteins – a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease –often feel loneliness more often than individuals with lower amyloid count. Lead researcher Dr. Nancy Donovan explained, “For people who have high levels ...click here to read more

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the intermediate stage between cognitive impairment associated with normal aging and dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Problems with memory, thinking, language, and judgment that occur in MCI are greater than those experienced in normal aging. In MCI, family and friends may notice cognitive changes and you, as well, may recognize that ...click here to read more

Dementia risk may increase with general anesthesia exposure in elderly patients. The risk of developing dementia is 35 percent higher in those seniors who were exposed to general anesthesia. Other studies have found that post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) can progress into dementia several years later. The study found that some anesthetics could promote inflammation of ...click here to read more

You know the feeling of waking up the next day when you haven’t had a good night’s rest. You’re tired, your energy is low, and all you can think about is getting back to bed. If this is a regular occurrence for you, you could be putting your health at risk in the long run. ...click here to read more

Alzheimer’s disease risk may be lowered by treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The study followed 837 people with mild cognitive impairment which can progress into Alzheimer’s disease. Of the group, 414 participants had at least on vascular risk factor. Participants completed blood testing and medical history questionnaires, along with other tests measuring ...click here to read more