Memory

Newsbriefs: Shingles and memory issues; regularly drinking coffee or tea; cold snaps raise heart attacks; high blood pressure and AD

Nov 25, 2024 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

Shingles and Memory Issues A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests that shingles may increase the risk of subjective cognitive decline (defined as self-reported memory issues). Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. In later life, VZV … Read More

Drug Approvals and Research Advances Improve Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment

Oct 29, 2024 · Rochelle Nataloni · Heart Health

This year has seen significant advances in understanding, preventing, and treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD), offering hope and new avenues for managing this challenging condition. This is excellent news for all seniors and perhaps more so for older women, given that women are disproportionately affected by this disease. Of the 6.9 … Read More

Confabulation: Benign Memory Mix-Ups or Early Signs of Cognitive Impairment?

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Memory is imperfect. Certain information may be harder to recall at one time or another. Details can become fuzzy, and at times, a memory can become jumbled by events and information that are either fictitious or borrowed from other memories. Mixing up memories or inserting imaginary events or circumstances into … Read More

Drug May Prevent Migraine Pain Before Headache Starts

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

A medication called ubrogepant may help people avoid or greatly minimize headache symptoms and experience fewer limitations on their daily activities if the drug is taken when the first signs of a migraine develop, according to a study published recently in the journal Neurology. Ubrogepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide … Read More

Can Planting Trees Protect Against Dementia and Other Diseases?

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Numerous studies in recent years have underscored the mental health benefits of spending more time in nature, whether it’s a park, the beach, or other natural area. Additionally, in a study presented recently at the annual conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, researchers found that people living in … Read More

Research Suggests Shingles May Raise the Risk of Memory Problems Later in Life

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Shingles, a virus that causes an uncomfortable rash and may trigger long-term nerve pain, may also raise the risk of memory problems later on. Researchers with the Mass General Brigham health-care system found that even a single episode of shingles can raise the risk of cognitive impairment by up to … Read More

Making and Losing Memories

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Q: Is it true that acquiring new information means having to lose older memories and knowledge? How can you hang on to certain memories while also continuing to learn? A: Learning and memory are dynamic functions, challenging the brain to manage massive amounts of information every day. As you suggest, … Read More

Mild cognitive impairment

Oct 29, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Q: I’ve been told that I have mild cognitive impairment. Does that mean I will get dementia? A: Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI for short, refers to the very early stages of cognitive impairment, where you may notice the occasional memory lapse or poor judgment call. While MCI can be … Read More

Newsbriefs: Dementia; Kratom Alert; Double Mastectomy; AREDS2 Formula Benefits

Oct 29, 2024 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

PD Dementia Less Common Than Previously Thought Research has suggested that about 80 percent of people who have Parkinson’s disease (PD) develop dementia within 15 to 20 years of being diagnosed with PD. But a new study (Neurology, Aug. 7) indicates that the risk of dementia may be lower than … Read More

Frontline: Cervical cancer; Beetroot juice and heart health; Body fat and muscle strength

Sep 25, 2024 · Rochelle Nataloni · Heart Health

Simpler Screening Detects More Cervical Cancer, Precancerous Lesions Scientists have developed a new, more effective cervical cancer screening method. The WID-qCIN test detects epigenetic changes in cells, significantly improving early cancer detection. Epigenetic changes in cells refer to alterations that can be influenced by factors such as environment, lifestyle, and … Read More