One out of every eight strokes is preceded by a “warning stroke,” which is a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke, according to research published in journal Neurology®.
“These results illustrate the need for better risk assessment tools for preventing strokes before they occur,” said study author Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, of the University [...]

Those pesky graying hairs that tend to crop up with age really are signs of stress, reveals a new report in the June 12 issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication.
Researchers have discovered that the kind of “genotoxic stress” that does damage to DNA depletes the melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) within hair follicles that [...]

New research may lead to important early testing for the debilitating disease.
Scientists have made a significant step forward in developing a test to help diagnose the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease sooner and more accurately by measuring two biomarkers—tau and beta-amyloid proteins—in cerebrospinal fluid. In a new report, researchers from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging [...]

Oral vitamin D supplements at a dose of at least 400 international units per day are associated with a reduced risk of bone fractures in older adults, according to results of a meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
“The anti-fracture benefits of vitamin D have been questioned by several recent trials, leading to uncertainty [...]

Participating in certain mental activities, like reading magazines or crafting in middle age or later in life, may delay or prevent

Beta-alanine (BA), a dietary supplement widely used by athletes and body builders, has been proven to increase the fitness levels of a group of elderly men and women. The research, published in BioMed Central’s open access Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, suggests that BA supplementation improves muscle endurance in the elderly.
The research [...]

An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s disease, and UC Irvine scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans.
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, lowered levels of a protein called phosphorylated tau that leads to the development of tangles, one of two brain lesions [...]

A majority of Parkinson’s disease patients had insufficient levels of vitamin D in a new study from Emory University School of Medicine.
The fraction of Parkinson’s patients with vitamin D insufficiency, 55 percent, was significantly more than patients with Alzheimer’s disease (41 percent) or healthy elderly people (36 percent).
The results are published in the Archives of [...]

People with more B12 had six times less brain shrinkage
Vitamin B12, a nutrient found in meat, fish and milk, may protect against brain volume loss in older people, according to a study published in the journal  Neurology®.
For the study, 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87 underwent brain scans, memory testing and physical [...]

Researchers link cocoa flavanols to improved brain blood flow
Cocoa flavanols, the unique compounds found naturally in cocoa, may increase blood flow to the brain, according to new research published in the Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment journal. The researchers suggest that long-term improvements in brain blood flow could impact cognitive behavior, offering future potential for debilitating [...]