Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging – a geriatrician explains how they can start planning

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in February 2025. Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s and depended on Arakawa as his…

Low Income, Vision Loss, and Isolation Drive Dementia Risk

Summary: 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…

Stress Undermines Brain Circulation, Increases Dementia Risk

Summary: Researchers found that a rare class of neurons—type-one nNOS neurons—plays a central role in regulating brain blood flow and coordinating neural activity in mice. Removing these stress-vulnerable cells caused…

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…

Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia

Over the past two centuries, vaccines have been critical for preventing infectious diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccination prevents between 3 million and 5 million deaths annually from…

The aftermath of floods, hurricanes and other disasters can be hardest on older rural Americans – here’s how families and neighbors can help

Hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather do not distinguish between urban and rural boundaries. But when a disaster strikes, there are big differences in how well people are able to…

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…