Cognitive fitness Archive

Dementia poses many challenges, both for people struggling with it and for those close to them. Understanding common behaviors and learning to handle situations that arise can help families and caregivers.

A long-running study found that closely following the MIND Diet was linked with significantly slower age-related brain changes, including 20% less shrinkage in grey matter—equivalent to slowing brain aging by 2.5 years. However, it’s not known if these changes translate to better brain function.

More than 30% of adults over 70 have amyloid or tau (proteins implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease) in their brains yet have no apparent cognitive problems. This may indicate greater cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to compensate for damage.

Neurogenesis is the birth of new nerve cells, called neurons, in the brain. The ability to grow new neurons appears more prominent in super-agers, people 80 and older whose thinking and memory skills are as sharp as adults who are decades younger.

The glymphatic system serves as the brain’s cleanup crew. It promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain during deep sleep, flushing away amyloid and other proteins that can lead to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and Lewy body dementia.

Aging and a family history can increase the risk for a stroke, but women can lower it by managing factors that are under their control-such as diet, exercise, blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes.

Tingling, leg weakness, and voice changes can be alarming. Learn how doctors sort out these symptoms and when Parkinson's disease may be suspected.

When tremors progress from a mild nuisance to disrupting daily life, specific therapies may offer relief and help steady your movements.

Encephalitis, or brain inflammation, can cause symptoms ranging from mild, flu‑like illness to life‑threatening confusion and coma. Causes, recovery, and urgent treatments vary by virus.

A Harvard study of over 159,000 people found that following any of six healthy diets-especially the DASH diet-was linked to significantly better cognitive function in later life, with the strongest benefits seen in those who were following a healthy diet in middle age.