Blood Test Predicts Long-Term Cognitive Function After Cardiac Arrest

Summary: A new study suggests that measuring neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels 48 hours after a cardiac arrest can accurately predict a survivor’s long-term cognitive health. Researchers compared NfL to…

Financial Decline Accelerates Brain Aging

Summary: A new study reveals a direct link between poor financial well-being and accelerated cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. Researchers found that significant financial deterioration is associated with…

Social Isolation Directly Speeds Up Cognitive Decline

Summary: Social isolation has a direct causal impact on how quickly cognitive function declines in later life, independent of whether someone feels lonely. By analyzing more than 137,000 cognitive tests…

The Way You Drive Might Signal Mild Cognitive Impairment

Summary: 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,…

How to keep dementia from robbing your loved ones of their sense of personhood – tips for caregivers

Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. There are over 6 million people living with dementia in the U.S. and 57 million globally. These figures will only increase…

More Americans meet criteria for high blood pressure under new guidelines

Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure – a condition called hypertension. Hypertension is the No. 1 risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In addition, hypertension increases…

Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Faster Cognitive Decline

Summary: 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…

Older adults with dementia misjudge their financial skills – which may make them more vulnerable to fraud, new research finds

Older adults diagnosed with dementia lose their ability to assess how well they manage their finances, according to a recent study I co-authored in The Gerontologist. In comparison, people of…

Chronic stress contributes to cognitive decline and dementia risk – 2 healthy-aging experts explain what you can do about it

The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought. For instance, a 2025 study that tracked a large sample of American adults…

‘Grit’ and relentless perseverance can take a toll on brain health − particularly for people facing social stresses like racism

For many people, grit – the perseverance and passion for long-term goals – is a virtue. It is also a key ingredient in overcoming challenges, achieving success and maintaining resilience.…