Subtle changes in thinking and memory may appear before, or in conjunction with, the development of amyloid plaques.
Older mice given anti-inflammatory medication were better able to learn new tasks and became almost as adept at learning as mice half their age.
A synthesized small-molecule drug blocks the TGF-beta receptor in astrocytes and traverses the blood-brain barrier in mice. When administered, the drug lowered receptor activity to that seen in younger mice and reduced inflammation. The aged mice were able to navigate mazes and learn spatial tasks as well as younger mice.
Combining aerobic exercise with the heart-healthy DASH diet improved the ability to think, recall, and make decisions in older people who experienced cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment.
Gait disorders and slowed walking speeds may be useful indicators of future cognitive decline.
For those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, participating in aerobic exercise several times a week may slow neurodegeneration. Aerobic exercise reduced hippocampal atrophy in those with MCI.
Adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, have greater pupil dilation when taking cognitive tests than their cognitively normal peers. Task-evoked pupillary response may be a cost-effective, and low invasive screening test for those at genetic risk for Alzheimer's before the symptoms of the disease take hold.
A modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet can modulate the gut microbiome and metabolites associated with improvements in Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
Older adults with mild cognitive impairment who practiced mindful meditation for 20 minutes a day were more likely to have an understanding of the underlying concepts of mindfulness. The study demonstrates memory impairments associated with MCI do not preclude learning mindfulness skills.
Middle-aged and older people who stay mentally active have a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.
Short pulses of pink noise played during slow-wave sleep can help improve memory consolidation for those with mild cognitive impairment.
A small scale pilot study reveals adults with mild cognitive impairment may have improved brain function and memory when they switch to a high-fat, low-carb diet.
