An ICU Nurse’s Wisdom for Family Caregivers
By
Courtney Graetzer
| June 14th, 2024
The floor nurse had just told me that my new patient – let’s call her Marie – would not stop screaming. Marie landed in…
‘I’m Worried I Have Early Signs of Dementia. My Doctor Isn’t Taking Me Seriously’
By
Simon Spichak, MSc
| June 12th, 2024
One reader recently wrote to us concerned that they have Alzheimer’s. “My memory has gotten a lot worse,” this Being Patient reader commented. “I…
Neurologists: Brain Plasticity Is Key to Dementia Prevention—Here’s How to Boost It
By
Saskia Sivananthan and Laura Middleton
| May 30th, 2024
Walk 10,000 steps a day, cut back alcohol, get better sleep at night, stay socially active — we’re told that changes like these can…
APOE4 Jacks Alzheimer’s Risk. This Gene Could Be an Antidote
By
Simon Spichak, MSc
| May 28th, 2024
While many genes can affect your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, most have a very small effect. The most common gene linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s…
Why Do So Many More Women Than Men Have Alzheimer’s? A Neuroscientist Explains
By
Deborah Kan and Katy Koop
| May 17th, 2024
Two thirds of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are women. Research shows that the Alzheimer’s biomarker tau protein accumulates differently and more quickly in women’s…
How Many Dementia Cases Are Actually… Liver Disease?
By
Ashwin Dhanda
| May 2nd, 2024
A recent study of US veterans found that 10% of those diagnosed with dementia actually had a liver condition called hepatic encephalopathy — a…
After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis, Helping Others Became Her Elixir
By
Katy Koop
| May 1st, 2024
When Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel was first diagnosed with amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI) and had to leave her role as a pastor in…
Long COVID-19’s Cognitive Impacts Include Drops in IQ Scores
By
Ziyad Al-Aly
| April 5th, 2024
From the very early days of the pandemic, brain fog emerged as a significant health condition that many experience after COVID-19. Brain fog is…
Dr. Ifrah Zawar on Epilepsy, Seizures, and Dementia, a Chicken-and-Egg Relationship
By
Katy Koop
| March 26th, 2024
People living with Alzheimer’s disease also live with a higher risk of seizures. And that can make things complicated for doctors: Seizures are sometimes…
Sonde Health’s David Liu: What Can Your Voice Reveal About Your Health?
By
Katy Koop
| March 22nd, 2024
Brain health researchers are exploring new ways to leverage cutting-edge technology in the diagnosis of diseases like Alzheimer’s. One emerging field of study is…
Carrying Alzheimer’s Drugs Into the Brain on Waves of Sound
By
Simon Spichak, MSc
| March 20th, 2024
In the last three years, amyloid plaque-busting drugs Aduhelm (now discontinued) and Leqembi have been approved by the FDA for treating patients in the…
Could Your Smartphone Tell You’re Developing Cognitive Impairment?
By
Simon Spichak, MSc
| March 13th, 2024
About 89 million Americans use smartwatches and other fitness trackers to measure their fitness levels, sleep, and weight. Soon, there will be apps that…
5 Science-backed Ways to Manage Menopause Brain Fog
By
Suzanne Zuppello
| March 11th, 2024
The signs of menopause can be subtle, and easy to attribute to other causes. That hazy, discombobulated feeling — the forgetfulness, the trouble staying…
Hormone Therapy, Menopause, and Depression: Here’s What the Science Says
By
Ciara McCabe
| March 11th, 2024
A growing number of women are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to alleviate distressing symptoms of the menopause – including hot flushes, bladder…
How Biden’s and Trump’s Aging Brains Factor Into the 2024 Race
By
Jeff Inglis
| March 8th, 2024
The leading contenders in the 2024 presidential election are two of the three oldest people ever to serve as president. President Joe Biden is…