“Quest Introduces First-To-Market Consumer-Initiated Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Assessment on questhealth.com,” said the July press release. For $399, you can now get a blood test that didn’t need the FDA’s approval and doesn’t require a doctor’s visit. Should you?
Can’t remember that movie star’s name? You’re not alone. Memory declines as people get older. Here’s the latest on studies testing diet, drugs, or other measures to slow that cognitive decline...and, ideally, ward off dementia.
One in four people aged 65 to 74—and half of those 75 and older—have some degree of hearing loss. Yet less than one in five adults who need hearing aids actually wear them. That may soon change. On October 17, it became legal to sell hearing aids without a prescription. Here’s what to know about hearing loss, hearing aids, and what may protect your hearing.
The COSMOS-Mind trial was funded by the National Institute on Aging to see if cocoa flavanols or multivitamins could help people stay mentally sharp as they age.
A healthy diet may help your mind stay sharp as you age.
Researchers followed nearly 50,000 women from 1984 to 2014. Cognitive decline was measured by asking participants if they had difficulty remembering recent events, following spoken instructions, remembering things from one second to the next, finding their way around familiar streets, and more.
Could eating healthy protein foods lower your risk of memory loss?
Researchers tracked roughly 77,000 people for 20 years. They measured “subjective cognitive decline” by asking questions like “Do you have more trouble than usual remembering recent events?” and “Do you have trouble finding your way around familiar streets?”
The risk of cognitive decline was 38 percent lower for every 3 servings per week of beans the people ate. It was 14 percent lower for every 3 weekly servings of skinless chicken and 7 percent lower for every 3 weekly servings of fish. In contrast, the risk was 16 percent higher for every 3 weekly servings of hot dogs.
Though the scientists “adjusted” for education, income, exercise, family history of dementia, and more, something else could explain the link between healthy proteins and memory.
Researchers followed 1,903 older people—the average age was 80—for seven years.
Of the 457 who were later diagnosed with dementia, those who initially reported more mental activity—like reading, writing letters, doing puzzles, and playing cards or board games—were diagnosed at an average age of 94, while those who were less mentally active were diagnosed at age 89.
