Mind & Mood Archive

Heavy snoring and sleep apnea may be linked to early declines in memory and thinking, according to a new study published online April 15, 2015, by the journal Neurology. The research also suggests that treating sleep apnea with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may delay the declines.

For the study, researchers reviewed the medical histories for 2,470 people ages 55 to 90 and categorized them as free of memory and thinking problems, in early stages of mild cognitive impairment, or with Alzheimer's disease. For each category, the researchers compared people without sleep apnea, people with untreated sleep apnea, and people with sleep apnea who had used CPAP machines to aid breathing as they slept.

A mini mental status exam or a thorough cognitive assessment can give you answers and may improve your qualify of life.

Women are at greater risk for dementia. Joining clinical trials can help to speed the development of promising drugs.

Over time, most people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (a decline in thinking skills) also experience behavioral changes, such as depression and agitation. Which comes first? A study published online by Neurology on Jan. 14, 2015, suggests that psychological and behavioral changes can begin before people develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Researchers evaluated the daily functioning, memory and thinking skills, and psychological and behavioral symptoms of about 2,400 people, ages 50 and older, who had no evidence of cognitive decline. The study also suggests that a pattern of depressive symptoms may occur in older adults, unrelated to cognitive decline. The takeaway? "Depressive symptoms can occur in older adults for many reasons. If you are experiencing mood or cognitive changes that last for more than a few weeks, it's a good idea to bring this up with your doctor or consult a mental health specialist to help sort out possible causes," says Dr. Nancy Donovan, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. 

Regular physical activity helps keep your heart, lungs, and muscles in shape and can stave off the effects of aging. In much the same way, exercising your brain can help keep your mind sharp and your memory intact. Here are two ways to activate your brain.

Keep busy and engaged

The MacArthur Foundation Study on Successful Aging, a long-term study of aging in America, found that education level was the strongest predictor of mental capacity as people aged. The more education, the more likely an individual was to maintain his or her memory and thinking skills. Other research has shown that people who held jobs that involved complex work, such as speaking to, instructing, or negotiating with others, had a lower risk of memory loss (dementia) than people whose jobs were less intellectually demanding.

Researchers from the biotechnology company Biogen have reported that a new drug reduced the amount of amyloid plaques—the brain deposits associated with dementia—and slowed cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer's disease. They presented the report March 20, 2015, at the International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases in Nice, France.

The researchers studied 166 people ages 50 to 90 who had been diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or one of four different doses of the drug aducanumab—an antibody that attaches to amyloid deposits and turns the immune system on them.

Ask these questions to get to the root of the problem.

Do you think you've been having more memory slips than usual lately? Annoying but essentially harmless age-related memory impairment is common, but pinpointing the cause isn't easy. Start by considering common and often reversible causes of memory problems. This could lead to a more productive discussion with your physician.

"Anyone concerned about memory should talk with a doctor for further evaluation," says Dr. David Hsu, a geriatric psychiatrist with the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Having an honest discussion about memory and getting tested may help open up discussions about other areas of health too."

Harvard researchers Joshua Hartshorne and Laura Germine have added to the growing body of research indicating that, in some respects, our cognitive function is improving, not declining, as we age. Their report, published online March 15, 2015, by Psychological Science, indicates that our vocabulary skills keep improving past retirement age.

The researchers wanted to understand how and when reasoning and memory change over the life span as a basis for distinguishing normal from abnormal aging. They recruited 48,000 volunteers of all ages and had them complete online tests that measured brain processing speed, memory, emotional intelligence, and vocabulary.

Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, as the 17th-century poet William Congreve wrote. In fact, music might soothe your heart by relaxing your arteries, a small study hints.

Researchers measured arterial stiffness in 20 healthy young adults before and after they listened to 30 minutes of classical music, rock music, or nothing (as a control). They used a technique called carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). This measures the time it takes for the pulse to travel to the carotid artery in the neck versus the femoral artery in the leg. Longer pulse times suggest stiffer arteries, which translates to a higher risk of cardiovascular problems. Higher "wave reflections" (another measure of artery health) are also linked to heart disease risk.

Stay well when caring for a loved one by maintaining your physical and emotional health. Caring for yourself means you'll be able to care for another.