Category Archives: Mental Health

Higher levels of mental and physical well-being are seen among older adults using computers and cellphones. Seniors have been adopting technology as a means of connecting with others and it seems that their newfound use of technology is offering up great benefits for their mental health in return. Researcher Tamara Sims explained, “Using tech to ...click here to read more

Physical activity improves psychological well-being and reduces the risk of heart attack in older adults. Lead author of the study Julia Boehm explained, “Researchers have long studied how physical activity can lead to improved mood and feelings of well-being, however, less well understood is whether being happy and optimistic might actually encourage a person to ...click here to read more

Atrial fibrillation raises the risk of dementia, according to research findings. The study also found that atrial fibrillation patients taking warfarin (the blood thinner) to reduce their risk of stroke were more likely to develop dementia, compared to patients who used this medication for other conditions. The researchers looked at over 6,000 patients on warfarin ...click here to read more

Stress is one thing most of us face in our hectic lives. But post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) is a disease of intense mental anguish from the kind of life or death trauma faced by soldiers in combat, a car crash, serious injury, sudden death of a loved one, or sexual violence. Trauma to this degree ...click here to read more

Lewy body dementia (LBD) may often be misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, according to research findings. Howard I. Hurtig, chair at the department of neurology, Pennsylvania Hospital warned, “While the symptoms of LBD may be similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, the treatment strategy is more challenging because fewer medications can be used safely. I cannot ...click here to read more

In dementia patients, depressive symptoms may be reduced with high-intensity exercise and group activities. Author of the dissertation Gustaf Boström explained, “Unfortunately, depression is common among older people, especially in people with dementia. Treatment with antidepressant drugs is often ineffective in older people and people with dementia. In addition, the risk of drug-related side effects ...click here to read more

Delirium after cardiac surgery is linked to prolonged loss of cognitive function. The findings of the study suggest that interventions to prevent delirium in advance of surgery could help cardiac patients avoid long-term cognitive consequences. Co-lead author Jane Saczynski explained, “Our findings now suggest that postoperative delirium, once thought of as an acute, transient cognitive ...click here to read more

Sleeping problems in dementia are quite common, and without proper sleep symptoms related to dementia can worsen greatly. Some patients sleep during the day and are wide awake at night as a result. Others may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some patients may wander throughout the night or get confused, which can lead ...click here to read more

Dementia is an umbrella term for memory loss, but there are actually many different types of dementia. For example, it can be vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia. But, dementia can also be reversible or irreversible. Reversible dementia refers to types of dementia that can be partially or completely cured through treatment and proper management by ...click here to read more

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may develop in elderly who have had serious falls. Lead author Nimali Jayasinghe explained, “Anyone who goes through an accident in which they feel their life may be in danger or they could get physically harmed can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms.” The patients were assessed using the Post-Traumatic Stress Scale, ...click here to read more

Dementia risk may increase with general anesthesia exposure in elderly patients. The risk of developing dementia is 35 percent higher in those seniors who were exposed to general anesthesia. Other studies have found that post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) can progress into dementia several years later. The study found that some anesthetics could promote inflammation of ...click here to read more

In Alzheimer’s disease, mental deterioration in women is faster, compared to men. The researchers found that women performed significantly worse on cognitive tests, compared to men with Alzheimer’s disease. The most significant differences were seen in verbal skills between female and male patients with Alzheimer’s. Lead researcher Keith Laws said, “Unlike mental decline associated with ...click here to read more

Higher dementia risk is linked to higher blood sugar levels, even among people with no diabetes. In the study, blood sugar levels averaged over a five-year period were associated with greater risks of developing dementia in over 2,000 older adults over 65. Patients without diabetes had an 18 percent higher risk of dementia if their ...click here to read more

Dementia is often mistaken for being a part of the normal aging process, but just because you are aging doesn’t mean you will develop dementia. The belief that dementia in old age is inevitable stems from the fact that many older adults experience cognitive decline. As we age, we may notice that we forget where ...click here to read more