Anxiety Archive

At some point, most older adults experience the occasional "senior moment" where they misplace an everyday object, lose their train of thought during a conversation, or forget why they walked into a room. Memory lapses like this are part of normal aging, but the problem can be exacerbated by issues like depression, stress, poor sleep, and medication side effects. If these episodes become so frequent or substantial that they interfere with a person's daily life or safety, it's time to see a doctor.

Some scientists believe that microbes might play a part in Alzheimer's disease development. They say it could be that certain viruses or bacteria that infect the brain aren't completely eradicated by the immune system, which leads to neuroinflammation and brain cell death. It could also be that microbes trigger the release of protein deposits-amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles-which kill neurons, further increase neuroinflammation, and lead to more neuron death.

A 2024 study of 10,000 people (average age 67) who answered questions about resilience every other year for 12 years found that people with more resilience were much less likely to die in the next decade, compared with people with less resilience.

In the US, supplements are not tested in the way prescription medicines are, and their manufacturers can make claims about their abilities that may or may not be true. But there are some rules supplement makers must follow, and the FDA's plan to revamp its regulation of dietary supplements is a step toward improving consumer protection.

The experience of sexual violence may have later effects on both physical and emotional health. Being aware of these possibilities can help you identify and respond to them promptly.

Most hospitals have chaplains who can provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families during challenging medical situations, such as impending heart surgery, a worsening bout of heart failure, or cardiac arrest. Spiritual care, which has been linked to improved health outcomes, encompasses but does not necessarily include formal religious practices. It aims to help people explore sources of comfort and hope while coping with the challenge of a diagnosis.

Migraine can carry a certain stigma that unfairly marks individuals with the condition. A 2024 study suggested that such stigma might be tied to increased disability and reduced quality of life for people struggling with this debilitating disease. To cope with migraine stigma, it helps to talk to a psychologist or join a migraine support group, educate loved ones, and talk to one's boss regarding accommodations needed to cope with migraine on the job.

A study of more than 121,000 people without dementia (ages 40 to 70) found that those who ate the most flavonoid-rich foods-six servings per day-had a 28% lower risk of developing dementia over the following nine years, compared to those who ate the least.