Poor Vision and Hearing Loss Lead to Cognitive Decline
An increasing number of studies have suggested that compromised sensory function – vision loss and/or poor hearing, for example – is associated with a decline in cognitive abilities and increased dementia risk. The possible reason? When the brain must struggle with tasks like reading and...
Sense of Smell Linked to Dementia Risk
According to a long-term study involving nearly 3,000 adults between the ages of 57 and 85, seniors who cannot identify at least four out of five common odors are more than twice as likely to develop dementia within five years as those with a normal...
Diabetes Weakens Bones in Seniors
Although older adults with type 2 diabetes are more likely than their peers without the condition to have normal or higher-than-normal bone density, a new study suggests they are actually at increased risk for fractures. The study was conducted by researchers at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute...
3 Daily Servings of Protein = Stronger Seniors
Older adults are at higher risk for muscle loss leading to frailty and in increased risk for falls and mobility problems. One way to reduce muscle loss as you age is to get enough protein in your diet, and according to researchers at the McGill...
Less Sleep, Higher Dementia Risk?
People who get less REM sleep may have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who get enough deep sleep, suggests a study published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Sleep disturbances are known to play a role in dementia, but little...
Have a Fear of Falling? Tai Chi May Help
According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the “leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans,” and the problem appears to be getting worse. One study found that self-reported falls among adults aged 65 or older increased from around 28 percent...
Can Algorithms Identify High-Risk Alzheimer’s Patients?
Researchers might more precisely test possible drugs for treating Alzheimer’s if they study groups of people living with similar types of cognitive impairment, according to findings reported in the journal Scientific Reports. “Everyone thinks Alzheimer’s is one disease, but it’s not,” stated P. Murali Doraiswamy, director...
Gum Disease Linked to Cancer Risk in Older Women
A study involving more than 65,000 postmenopausal women in the United States suggests a history of gum disease, also called periodontal disease, increases the risk for certain types of cancer. Results of the study, which was conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB),...