Anxiety Archive

In May 2025, the FDA approved the first blood test to detect the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The test looks for several proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. About 80% of the time, the blood test is either highly positive or highly negative, a result that's accurate more than 90% of the time. Doctors expect that the test will soon be covered by insurance. If that happens, the test will become the standard of care for people ages 55 and older with Alzheimer's signs or symptoms.

There are currently nine trials of vaccines for Alzheimer's disease under way. All of them are in people with mild Alzheimer's or with the pre-Alzheimer's condition called mild cognitive impairment. All of the vaccines are designed to encourage the immune system to remove protein deposits from the brain. Most experimental vaccines are given by injection; one being tested at Harvard Medical School uses a nasal spray. It will be several years before we know if any of them will work.

In a 2025 study, people with the healthiest diets and trimmest bellies at midlife had better brain connections and skills decades later, compared with people who ate the worst diets and had the most belly fat.

While many health symptoms resolve quickly on their own, others linger and make people wonder if they need to see a doctor. Symptoms that warrant a doctor's visit include drawn-out cold symptoms such as fatigue, cough, and low-grade fever; a fever lasting more than four days; unexpected symptoms when starting a new medication or after surgery; certain digestive problems; and new or worsening mental health issues.

A 2025 study suggested that getting the shingles vaccine can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, especially among women.

Mindfulness might help improve attention and memory. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the present moment, including thoughts, feelings, and all information coming in from the senses, such as sights, sounds, and smells. Many studies have shown that mindfulness helps people improve well-being, concentrate, engage more effectively in daily activities, and pay more attention. Attention is the most crucial factor when it comes to memory; whatever someone pays attention to is what he or she remembers.

Doctors are optimistic that artificial intelligence (A.I.) will one day play a role in curing and preventing Alzheimer's disease. One example of A.I.'s application is its use in helping scientists learn how certain molecules might cause Alzheimer's.

A 2025 study found that the shingles vaccine reduced the risk of developing dementia by 20%. The study supports (but doesn't absolutely prove) the theory that infections may be one cause of Alzheimer's disease and possibly other forms of dementia.

A 2025 study found that chronic stress is associated with higher stroke risks among women under 50, but not in men.