Alzheimer’s Disease :: Early Alzheimer’s disease program focuses on support, enrichment

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people experience mild memory loss and confusion. These challenges are significant, but people often maintain much of their normal capability and spirit. Now, a specialized support group program is being formed at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center to help patients learn how to live with the disease and to help family members grieve and adjust.

Obesity :: Does being overweight in old age cause memory problems?

While obesity has been shown to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, being overweight in old age does not lead to memory problems, according to a study published September 19, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Menopause :: Less than one-third of women aware of landmark hormone therapy study

Despite the huge publicity generated by a 2002 study on the potential dangers of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women, new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that only 29 percent of women surveyed knew about the study two years later.

Dementia :: Antidepressant shows early promise in treating agitation and psychotic symptoms of dementia

Researchers have found surprising evidence that an antidepressant (citalopram) may perform as well as a commonly prescribed antipsychotic (risperidone) in the alleviation of severe agitation and psychotic symptoms of dementia. Researchers also found that the antidepressant was associated with “significantly lower” adverse side effects.