Author: Eef Hogervorst, Professor of Biological Psychology, Loughborough University

Researchers are investigating whether HRT affects dementia risk, but the evidence does not yet establish that it offers protection. Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock A study has raised a question that many women would understandably want answered: could hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protect against dementia? The research found that women who had used HRT were less likely to receive […]

New Africa/Shutterstock.com Not all physical activity is equal when it comes to protecting the brain from dementia. Where and why we move may matter more than most people realise. A large new review of studies published in The Lancet Public Health found that leisure-time physical activity – such as sport, dancing or going to the […]

Billion Photos/Shutterstock For millions of people around the world, pollen season means weeks of sneezing, itchy eyes and a blocked or runny nose. The timing varies depending on where you live and which plants are in flower, but grass pollen is one of the most common triggers. Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, […]

Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock Hormone therapy is widely used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats. But scientists have long debated whether it affects dementia risk. A new study adds another piece to this puzzle. It suggests that an Alzheimer’s biomarker may help identify which women are more vulnerable to dementia with certain […]

Angel Gruber/Shutterstock Air pollution has long been linked to heart and lung disease. But a large US study suggests it may also raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia. Researchers tracked nearly 28 million older adults over six years nationwide. They found that those exposed to higher levels of […]

Barillo_Images/Shutterstock.com Scientists have found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day may significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia, but drinking more won’t help protect your brain any further. A major study tracked 131,821 American nurses and health professionals for up to 43 years, starting when they were in their early 40s. […]

CandyRetriever/Shutterstock We may not need to completely overhaul our lives to live healthier for longer, according to a large UK-based study. This is welcome news, particularly as many people will already have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. The recent study followed around 590,000 people in the UK, with an average age of 64, over an […]