Alzheimer's Archive

A 2025 study of over 5,600 women and men followed for over 30 years found that following a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and improve cognitive function. The effect is strongest in people who carry two copies of the Alzheimer's risk gene APOE4.

A 2025 study suggested that consuming larger amounts of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and xylitol may be linked to faster declines in memory and thinking skills.

The vast majority of older adults would want to know if they're in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and would want a blood test to learn for certain, according to a 2025 poll. Advances in testing and treatment may fuel this desire for knowledge. There are pros and cons to knowing this information. People with an early Alzheimer's diagnosis can plan ahead, seek support, and may feel motivated to maintain their health. But the diagnosis may jeopardize their job or insurance coverage, as well as trigger anxiety or depression.

A 2025 study suggests that women who score highly on a brain health measurement incorporating physical, lifestyle, social, and emotional factors face lower stroke odds.

A 2025 study suggests that sleeping nine or more hours nightly is associated with worse cognitive performance, an effect that's stronger among people with symptoms of depression.

There are currently nine trials of vaccines for Alzheimer's disease under way. All of them are in people with mild Alzheimer's or with the pre-Alzheimer's condition called mild cognitive impairment. All of the vaccines are designed to encourage the immune system to remove protein deposits from the brain. Most experimental vaccines are given by injection; one being tested at Harvard Medical School uses a nasal spray. It will be several years before we know if any of them will work.

A 2025 study suggested that getting the shingles vaccine can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, especially among women.

Menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, called vasomotor symptoms, are linked in research to higher odds of dementia and cardiovascular disease. But studies don't necessarily account for other health and lifestyle factors that influence brain and heart health. Women who are physically active and have a lower body mass index are less likely to become cognitively impaired. Disrupted sleep, which is common for women with vasomotor symptoms, may also contribute to cardiovascular and cognitive problems.

In a 2025 study, people with the healthiest diets and trimmest bellies at midlife had better brain connections and skills decades later, compared with people who ate the worst diets and had the most belly fat.