Slow Walking Speed May Be a Sign of Approaching Alzheimer’s Disease. In a recent study, researchers found an association between slow walking speed and the presence of amyloid in key regions of the brain involved in motor function. The development of amyloid plaques in the brain is thought to trigger the disruption and destruction of…

After adjusting for depressive symptoms, individuals with high anxiety appear to have a greater risk for dementia later in life. Researchers used data from the Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging, a multi-decade study that has followed twins who were separated early in life. They found when only one twin (either identical or fraternal) had…

Women who complain of poor memory may be at an increased risk for dementia later in life. In a recent study, researchers found that older women who had memory complaints at the start of the data collection period had a 70% greater risk of being diagnosed with a memory and thinking disorder nearly twenty years…

If you wake up several times per night, then you are more likely to be in a bad mood the following day. Researchers assessed the mood of 62 men and women over three consecutive days. Each night participants had either a normal bedtime with forced awakenings or a later bedtime with uninterrupted sleep. By the…

Employees in offices with enhanced ventilation systems and low levels of chemical air pollutants appear to outperform workers from offices with inferior air quality. The researchers also found the average performance scores of these employees fell as carbon dioxide levels increased to levels that commonly occur in indoor settings. Lead author Dr. Joseph Allen comments,…

A new report finds that individuals with psoriasis may be at a greater risk for depression. Psoriasis is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that affects 3-4% of Americans. It causes patches of thick, red skin, and silvery scales, usually on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of feet. Investigators found that…

An analysis of data concerning more than 5,200 primary school students reveals that kids exposed to secondhand smoke while in the womb and/or at a young age have a greater risk for behavioral problems, especially emotional and conduct disorders. Study leader Dr. Isabella Annesi-Maesano wrties, “Our data indicate that passive smoking, in addition to the…

Some aspects of attractiveness are common and may even be programmed into our genes. However, a new study finds that individuals can have wide-ranging definitions of attractiveness. The authors of the study published in the journal Current Biology write, “We estimate that an individual’s aesthetic preferences for faces agree about 50 percent, and disagree about…

A report published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests that smartphones can damage romantic relationships and lead to greater levels of depression. The research focused on “phubbing,” or “partner phone snubbing,” a term given to those who use or are distracted by their cellphones while in the presence of a partner. Researcher Dr.…

Having a high-demand job that regularly places a lot of stress on an individual can result in a similar number of poor health outcomes as can regular exposure to secondhand smoke. Study author Dr. Joel Goh writes, “Unless and until companies and governments more rigorously measure and intervene to reduce harmful workplace stressors, efforts to…