Imagine being able to plug a few brain images into a machine, and then being able to say “yes” or “no” that this individual has dementia. Well, this is what a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital recently set out to achieve using a type of...
Dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. In addition to the more familiar cognitive symptoms such as memory loss and language difficulties, dementia can also encompass non-cognitive symptoms such as agitation, anxiety,...
How many of you have spoken with your loved ones about what type of care you would like to receive if you became seriously ill or injured or unable to say what you want? Advance care planning involves arranging with friends and family about what care you would like to...
How often do you say hi to your neighbours? Because doing so, might help you – and them -live a little longer. An American study published earlier this year, set out to examine whether neighbourhood dynamics influenced the health of Chinese Americans who lived by...
How do we measure an individual persons’ quality of life? Two new consumer experience and quality of life assessment tools, designed to improve standards and transparency in aged care, are to be rolled out nationally this year. A team of researchers at Flinders...
The dementia world has been stirred by a recent paper reporting the drug Lecanemab’s effect on slowing cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s Disease[1]. In Alzheimer's disease, two key proteins – tau and amyloid beta – build up into tangles and plaques,...
The same genes that send people to the bathroom with gut issues, may be involved in brain health. Previous observational studies have suggested a relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease and gastrointestinal tract disorders. However, it has been unclear what underpins...
Just under a third of Australians volunteer[1]. Volunteering benefits both the individual as well as the community. However, people become involved in volunteering for different reasons. A recent Australian study looked at the motivations and meaning behind...
There have been multiple reports of patients experiencing difficulties with their cognition after recovering from COVID-19[1]. Pneumonia has also previously been associated with the risk of a new diagnosis of dementia. However, a recent study has shown that adults who...
Many of us have that older uncle who falls asleep on the couch after lunch. It is largely innocuous, sometimes amusing, and most certainly common in older age. However, new research suggests that extensive daytime napping could mean something more[1]. Some of us may...