Most couples promise to love each other in sickness and in health when reciting marriage vows. Now, simply saying those words may lead to better health. Numerous studies have extolled the benefits of marriage on overall morbidity and mortality, but a recent study reports that mental health may, in fact, be preserved, in married people.

More than 25 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for most of the cases. With an aging population, the number of dementia cases is expected to exceed 80 million by 2040. Read more →

Many occupations can make you feel like you are losing your mind, but new evidence suggests that long working hours may actually lead to cognitive decline. Notably, cognitive impairment in midlife is already established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. A new report from the Whitehall II Study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds that long working hours in midlife are associated with a decline of cognitive function, and possibly dementia. Read more →

Many epidemiological and observational studies have reported that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the elderly. To date, there have been no clinical trials to support these claims, and there are just as many studies that report conflicting results. In a recent issue of Neurology, study authors reported that heavy NSAID use was actually associated with an increased risk for dementia. Read more →

The metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, impaired levels of blood cholesterol, altered glucose metabolism or insulin resistance, and obesity. These risk factors together increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Now, a new study concludes that women with metabolic syndrome are also at an increased risk for dementia and cognitive dysfunction. Read more →

Before you agree with the recent JAMA report that Ginkgo biloba did not prevent dementia, you may want to consider how the study was conducted and whether or not the conclusion researchers made was legitimate.

The study was a large-scale clinical trial on the effectiveness of Ginkgo in reducing the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Six medical centers participated with 3069 volunteers 75 years or older. Of the total number of volunteers, 2587 had no cognitive disorders and 482 had mild cognitive impairment. The volunteers were tracked for a median of 6 years and used either a placebo or 120 mg ginkgo extract twice daily. Read more →

As the population of the United States ages, the incidence and prevalence of age-related disorders, including dementia, are on the rise. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, affects more than 5 million Americans and leads to disability and, often, long-term care placement. For years, research has focused on ways to treat and prevent this devastating disease, and Ginkgo biloba extract has been in the spotlight. But now, a large study puts an end to the debate and declares that Ginkgo is not effective in preventing dementia in older adults. Read more →