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AAN

·February 25, 2026·6 min read

Smoking Linked to Lower Parkinson’s Risk but Higher Mortality

A neurological trade-off. New research finds currently smoking is linked to lower Parkinson's risk, but quitting remains the only way to lower your overall risk of death.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 13, 2026·9 min read

Lifelong Learning Linked to 5-Year Delay in Alzheimer’s Onset

Can a library card delay dementia? A new study shows that reading, writing, and lifelong learning can push back Alzheimer’s symptoms by five years, building a "cognitive reserve" that defies brain aging.

Neuroscience

·December 17, 2025·6 min read

Dairy Consumption Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

A large 25-year study found that people who ate more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream had a lower risk of developing dementia, though the results only show an association—not proof of protection. Participants who consumed the highest amounts of high-fat cheese had a 13% lower dementia risk overall and a 29% lower risk of vascular dementia.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 29, 2025·6 min read

The Way You Drive Might Signal Mild Cognitive Impairment

Researchers found that long-term driving behavior can reveal early signs of cognitive decline years before clinical diagnosis. Older adults who later developed impairment showed gradual reductions in trip frequency, night driving, and route variety compared to cognitively healthy peers.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 24, 2025·8 min read

One in Two Americans Have Neurological Disorders

A comprehensive national analysis shows that over 180 million Americans—more than half the U.S. population—are living with a neurological disease or disorder. These conditions span the lifespan, from neurodevelopmental disorders to migraines to age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·November 12, 2025·5 min read

Low Income, Vision Loss, and Isolation Drive Dementia Risk

A new study reveals that people with lower incomes and those from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups carry a higher burden of modifiable dementia risk factors. Vision loss and social isolation were among the most significant contributors for those living below the poverty line, suggesting that better access to healthcare and community support could have major protective effects.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 23, 2025·7 min read

Poor Oral Health Linked to Brain Damage Markers

A new study finds that older adults with gum disease are more likely to show signs of white matter damage in the brain — a change tied to memory decline, balance issues, and higher stroke risk. MRI scans revealed that participants with gum disease had significantly more white matter hyperintensities than those without, even after accounting for age and other health factors.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 27, 2025·6 min read

Skin-to-Skin Contact Boosts Brain Development

Very preterm infants who received more skin-to-skin contact during their hospital stay showed stronger development in brain regions tied to stress and emotional regulation. Brain scans revealed that longer skin-to-skin sessions were linked to changes in white matter pathways that support attention, memory, and emotional health.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 7, 2025·6 min read

Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Faster Cognitive Decline

A large study of nearly 13,000 adults found that consuming high levels of certain artificial sweeteners is linked to faster declines in memory and thinking over eight years. The effect was particularly strong in people with diabetes and those under 60. Some sweeteners, like aspartame and saccharin, were strongly associated with decline, while tagatose was not.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 26, 2025·3 min read

Neighborhood Disadvantage Linked to Alzheimer’s Biomarkers and Inflammation

Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by elevating biomarkers associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration. A long-term study of 334 older adults found higher levels of tau and YKL-40, biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s and brain inflammation, in people from less advantaged areas.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 19, 2025·4 min read

Brain Age Gap May Predict Cognitive Decline

A new study reveals that the brain age gap—the difference between a brain’s biological age and chronological age—may influence how risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure affect cognitive function. Using machine learning to analyze brain scans from over 1,400 older adults, researchers found that a greater brain age gap was linked to poorer thinking and memory skills.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 8, 2025·4 min read

Ultra Processed Foods May Accelerate Parkinson’s Brain Changes

A large new study shows that consuming high amounts of ultra processed foods may be linked to early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers tracked over 42,000 adults for up to 26 years, finding that those eating 11 or more daily servings of ultra processed foods were 2.5 times more likely to show multiple prodromal Parkinson’s symptoms.