Latest news with #Alzheimer's
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Forget anti-ageing hacks. Scientist shares 4 simple tips on how to live past 100 years
Eat five different colors every day Move every single day and mix it up Prioritize sleep Always learn something new Living to 100 might seem like a distant dream, but for behavioral neuroscientist Stacy Andersen, it's a life goal backed by science. As co-director of the New England Centenarian Study, she's spent decades studying people who not only live long but also thrive well into their 90s and 100s. From chatting with sprightly centenarians over breakfast to observing their day-to-day routines, Andersen has found that living long isn't about chasing the fountain of youth — it's about making consistent, intentional an interview with Business Insider, she shared four daily habits Andersen personally follows, inspired by her years of research into the world's healthiest elders:Andersen makes it a point to eat fruits and vegetables in at least five different colors daily. This ensures she gets a wide variety of nutrients while keeping meals visually fun and balanced. Her diet consists of legumes, lean meats, nuts, and olive oil which is linked to better heart health, reduced inflammation, and longer life movement is a non-negotiable for Andersen. Whether she's hiking with her dog or running on a treadmill, staying active is key. Many of the centenarians she's studied walk daily, garden, or keep busy with household chores, simple forms of exercise that keep the body and mind a solid eight hours of sleep is another habit Andersen sticks to. But more than the number of hours, she believes consistency is crucial. Waking up refreshed and ready for the day is the real indicator of good sleep quality. She also shared that there's a deeper benefit — during sleep, the brain clears away harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, essentially giving your mind a nightly recently took up sailing, not just for fun, but to challenge her brain and body. She encourages everyone to pursue a new skill, whether it's painting, music, or a new sport. It's about engaging your brain in unfamiliar ways, which helps strengthen neural pathways and promotes long-term brain health.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Forget anti-ageing hacks. Scientist shares 4 simple tips on how to live past 100 years
Living to 100 might seem like a distant dream, but for behavioral neuroscientist Stacy Andersen, it's a life goal backed by science. As co-director of the New England Centenarian Study, she's spent decades studying people who not only live long but also thrive well into their 90s and 100s. From chatting with sprightly centenarians over breakfast to observing their day-to-day routines, Andersen has found that living long isn't about chasing the fountain of youth — it's about making consistent, intentional choices. In an interview with Business Insider, she shared four daily habits Andersen personally follows, inspired by her years of research into the world's healthiest elders: Eat five different colors every day Andersen makes it a point to eat fruits and vegetables in at least five different colors daily. This ensures she gets a wide variety of nutrients while keeping meals visually fun and balanced. Her diet consists of legumes, lean meats, nuts, and olive oil which is linked to better heart health, reduced inflammation, and longer life spans. Move every single day and mix it up Daily movement is a non-negotiable for Andersen. Whether she's hiking with her dog or running on a treadmill, staying active is key. Many of the centenarians she's studied walk daily, garden, or keep busy with household chores, simple forms of exercise that keep the body and mind sharp. Prioritize sleep Getting a solid eight hours of sleep is another habit Andersen sticks to. But more than the number of hours, she believes consistency is crucial. Waking up refreshed and ready for the day is the real indicator of good sleep quality. She also shared that there's a deeper benefit — during sleep, the brain clears away harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, essentially giving your mind a nightly cleanse. Always learn something new Andersen recently took up sailing, not just for fun, but to challenge her brain and body. She encourages everyone to pursue a new skill, whether it's painting, music, or a new sport. It's about engaging your brain in unfamiliar ways, which helps strengthen neural pathways and promotes long-term brain health.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Drogheda Alzheimer's takes another step toward creating a dementia-inclusive community
Drogheda's Alzheimer's at Tredagh Lodge is focused on providing vital care for people living with Alzheimer's and dementia, working with each person to ensure they feel comfortable and supported and their individual needs are met. Certificates were recently presented to local businesses and organisations, bringing the total number of individuals who have participated to over 30, representing 25 businesses and groups in Drogheda. Chair of Drogheda Alzheimer's (Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre), Gerry Leydon, together with committee members Aileen Murphy, Ann Shortt, and Noel Heeney, presented certificates to those who took part. The nine businesses represented included: Paddy Dwyer's and Owen Fox's on Shop Street; John Hurley Bros; Wool Works and Superpharm on West Street; Peter Street Pharmacy; Abacas School; and Tanya Adair and Siobhan from Louth Local Development. The latest workshop follows the launch of the initiative last summer and the first training workshop held in September 2024. The initiative remains focused on increasing dementia awareness through ongoing training and education. It continues to make strides in Drogheda toward becoming a community where individuals with dementia are understood, respected, and supported. Another event will be planned for September, and Drogheda's Tredagh Lodge has encouraged new businesses and organisations to take part. The charity has also asked other existing participants to expand their involvement. The group is also actively working on plans to hold its first Sporting Memories event on July, 5 working with Drogheda United. The Sporting Memories initiative is a community-based program designed to support individuals living with dementia through the shared joy of reminiscing about sports. By recalling memorable sporting events, participants can reconnect with their past, fostering a sense of identity and community engagement. Details on this event will be made available soon.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Common condition plaguing 1 in 6 Brits ‘increases the risk of deadly dementia'
FROM diabetes to high blood pressure, several health conditions have been linked to dementia over the years. And now there's new evidence for another one to be added to the list - as scientists have found depression increases the risk of the mind-robbing disease in both mid and later life. 1 The potential links between depression and dementia include chronic inflammation Credit: Getty Previous studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. But there's been a lot of debate about when depression matters most, whether it's depression that starts in midlife - in your 40s or 50s, or depression that appears later in life - in your 60s or beyond. The new research, led by Jacob Brain and Maha Alshahrani from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, University of Adelaide and the Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin University in Australia, brings together all the existing evidence and adds new analysis to examine this timing in more detail. Mr Brain said: "Our study shows that depression is linked to an increased risk of dementia in both midlife and late life. "This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health. "Public health efforts need to place greater emphasis on preventative brain health, including scaling up access to effective mental health care." The research team gathered and reviewed all the best available data from systematic reviews with meta-analyses (a statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to provide a more reliable overall estimate), that had already looked at the link between depression and dementia. They then went a step further by extracting and re-analysing data from the individual studies within those reviews, plus they added in newer studies that were missed in the earlier work. Mr Brain added: 'We specifically focused on the timing of when depression was measured, whether it was measured in midlife or in later life, and calculated how much it increased the risk of developing dementia. "This essentially allowed us to provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of how depression at different life stages is linked to dementia risk.' There are many treatments available on the NHS to help with low mood and depression The potential links between depression and dementia are complex and may include chronic inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, vascular changes, alterations to neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter imbalances. Shared genetic and behavioural related changes may also increase the risks. In Autumn 2022 it was found about 16 per cent of adults (around one in six) in Great Britain experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Depression can also be a symptom of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, which can cause mood changes. The challenges of living with dementia, such as memory loss and difficulty with daily tasks, can also contribute to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Dementia affects over 57 million people globally. There's currently no cure, so identifying and treating the factors to reduce the risk, such as depression, should be an important public health priority, stress the researchers.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sleep disorders increase dementia risk
People who experience sleep disorders are at greater risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia, new research has found. The study, conducted by researchers at Cardiff University, found that diagnoses of sleep disorder made people up to twice as likely to develop a neurodegenerative disease in the 15 years that followed. The peer-reviewed study used data from more than a million electronic health records. "This increased risk was occurring independently of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with sleep disorders almost 'compensating' for low genetic risk," said Prof Valentina Escott-Price, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Call for danger warnings to rugby parents over dementia fears I love dad to bits - but being his carer has broken me The researchers examined data from three biobanks – facilities that store biological samples and are used for health research – from which they were "able to obtain accurate, timestamped records of when people experienced sleep disorders". The team analysed those who had been diagnosed with one of more sleep disorder, grouping them into those associated with "circadian rhythm" – or body clock – such as sleepwalking and narcolepsy, and "non-organic" sleep disorders not linked to a known psychological condition, including generalised insomnia and nightmares. The key findings were: Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders were associated with an increased risk of dementia in the 10 to 15 years that followed. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders increased the risk of Alzheimer's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased the risk of vascular dementia in the 5 to 10 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased risk of Parkinson's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Dr Emily Simmonds, bioinformatician at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, said the study aimed to "understand the complicated relationship between sleep and dementia". She said: "People living with dementia often experience sleep problems, but there is not yet enough evidence to say for sure whether poor sleep increases risk of dementia. "Our results are compelling, indicating a clear increased risk of neurodegenerative disease following a sleep disorder." Prof Escott-Price, also from Cardiff University, said that while further investigation is needed the research "points towards sleep disorders as a risk factor for these conditions". Future research will examine whether improving sleep through the use of medication leads to a reduction in risk.
