Wives, Daughters Shoulder Most of Alzheimer's Care Burden

TUESDAY, May 9, 2017 -- When it comes to the daily care of Americans with dementia, most of the responsibility is still falling on family members, according to a new report.

And women handle the lion's share of that responsibility, said Nicholas Bott, a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University, in California.

Thin People Not More Prone to Alzheimer's, Study Finds

TUESDAY, May 9, 2017 -- A study of nearly 100,000 people overturns the notion that being thin somehow raises a person's odds for Alzheimer's disease.

Instead, the Danish research suggests, people with early stage Alzheimer's disease can have less appetite and lose weight. So, it's the illness that may be causing the thinness, not the other way around.

'Silent' Seizures Tied to Alzheimer's Symptoms

TUESDAY, May 2, 2017 -- Undetected or "silent" seizures may contribute to some symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, such as confusion, a small study suggests.

The seizures occur in the hippocampus -- a part of the brain involved in the consolidation of memories. Researchers suspect that treating these seizures could help manage Alzheimer's or possibly slow it down.

A Healthy Middle-Aged Heart May Protect Your Brain Later

TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 -- Healthy aging of the brain relies on the health of your heart and blood vessels when you're younger, a new study reports.

People with risk factors for heart disease and stroke in middle age are more likely to have elevated levels of amyloid, a sticky protein known to clump together and form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, the researchers said.

Past Psychiatric Ills Don't Raise Alzheimer's Risk: Study

MONDAY, April 10, 2017 -- Having a mental health disorder doesn't mean a person will develop Alzheimer's disease later in like, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined long-term data from nearly 60,000 people in Finland with and without Alzheimer's disease.

Xanax, Valium May Boost Pneumonia Risk in Alzheimer's Patients

MONDAY, April 10, 2017 -- Alzheimer's patients given sedatives such as Valium or Xanax may have an increased risk for pneumonia, a new study warns.

People with Alzheimer's disease are often given these drugs, called benzodiazepines, over the long term, the researchers said.