Dementia: How to prevent cognitive decline

Physical activity, nutrition and cognitively stimulating activities are all known to be good ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. And older adults at risk can access a variety of lifestyle services to that end, including diet regimes and exercises for their body and mind.

Late-life exercise shows rejuvenating effects on cellular level

When 2-year old mice were studied after two months of progressive weighted wheel running, despite having no prior training, it was determined that they were the epigenetic age of mice eight weeks younger than sedentary mice of the same age.

Does diet influence cervical cancer risk?

Unfortunately, the standard Western diet — quick and convenient, yet high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats — is both pro-inflammatory and relatively lacking in antioxidants, compared with the “Mediterranean diet” which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy oils. Results from an observational study following 300,000 women point to an association between consuming more fruits and vegetables and a reduced risk of cervical cancer.

Long-term use of blood pressure drugs may cause kidney damage, study suggests

New kidney research is raising concerns that long-term use of ACE inhibitors and other drugs commonly prescribed to treat high-blood pressure and heart failure could be contributing to kidney damage.

Exercise alters brain chemistry to protect aging synapses

When elderly people stay active, their brains have more of a class of proteins that enhances the connections between neurons to maintain healthy cognition, a new study has found.

Researchers urge: ‘Prescribe aspirin based on benefit-to-risk not age’

Recent guidelines have restricted aspirin use in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease to patients under 70, and more recent guidance to patients under 60. Yet, the risks of heart attacks and strokes increase markedly with age. Researchers urge that to do the most good for the most patients in primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes, health care providers should make individual clinical judgments about prescribing aspirin on a case-by-case basis and based on benefit-to-risk not age.

Academic education can positively affect aging of the brain

The benefits of good education and lifelong learning extend into old age. The initial findings of a long-term study show that certain degenerative processes are reduced in the brains of academics. Their brains are better able to compensate age-related cognitive and neural limitations.

Reduce frailty to lower dementia

Reducing frailty in older adults could be an effective strategy to prevent dementia, according to a large scale new study.