Dementia

What it is

Dementia is the umbrella term for progressive loss of memory, reasoning and daily function severe enough to interfere with life; Alzheimer's disease causes most cases, with vascular, Lewy body and frontotemporal forms making up much of the rest. Around 40 percent of cases are thought to be delayable through blood pressure, hearing, education, exercise and social contact. Coverage swings between hopeful drug and lifestyle studies, most of them observational, and the hard economics of care.

This week · An observational study linking two to three cups of coffee a day to lower dementia risk was widely reported; it shows association, not cause.

Written by the Alivewire editors from the coverage below, 4d ago. Not medical advice; how the ratings work.