Polypharmacy — when more than one drug is prescribed at a time — is an even bigger problem in hospitals and care homes, where the average patient is given at least seven different drugs a day. A recent UK government review has revealed that drugs like dementia medication are prescribed inappropriately in 80 per cent of cases and are often given to patients as a chemical cosh to keep them quiet! As if that is not alarming enough, the question has now risen whether many of these over-prescribed drugs could be the real culprit behind diseases associated with ageing.

Recently, Australian researchers teamed up with the Arts Health Institute (AHI), an organization that trains "humour practitioners" who specialize in working with the elderly. They conducted a study in more than 35 assisted living facilities to test humour therapy in subjects with dementia and agitation. After 12 weeks, researchers found that humour therapy reduced agitation by 20 per cent, on average. This is a remarkable outcome because it's about the same result seen in the use of antipsychotic drugs... Adding the fact that the side effects of these drugs include stroke and death, there's no argument that humour therapy might be the better option.

US researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital gave hearing tests to nearly 640 dementia-free subjects, aged 36 to 90, between 1990 and 1994. They then followed the development of dementia in the same subjects until 2008. The results showed a clear link between hearing loss and the risk of developing dementia, as well as Alzheimer's disease. In subjects with severe hearing loss, the risk of age- related cognitive decline was even bigger.

The brain naturally has high levels of carnosine, but previous studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have very low levels of this important di-peptide. Carnosine has powerful antioxidant properties, which help protect against free radical damage and glycaemic stress that can lead to inflammation and cell damage. Its anti-ageing properties extend far beyond the brain and it has been used to reduce wrinkles and make skin smoother. So, if you're a meat-eater, your brain may be benefiting from your diet. And if you're a vegetarian, you could be at risk for cognitive decline because you're not getting any carnosine in your diet.

The recent ‘groundbreaking’ Oxford study involved 168 volunteers all with brain shrinkage associated with 'mild cognitive impairment'(MCI, associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Participants were divided into either a treatment group who were given a high dose of B vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12) or a control group who were given a placebo.

A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (JAD) suggests that individuals with a high daily intake of antioxidant-rich fruit and veg also demonstrate higher cognitive performance.

Previous studies have shown that while antioxidants from food have a positive impact on your brain and can prevent cognitive decline, supplements do not appear to offer the same benefits.

It seems your brain is too smart to settle for second best, and the key for optimal brain health is FOOD based, and can likely not be duplicated by supplements alone.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati recently presented their findings, that a daily supplement of chromium picolinate helps increase brain activity in older people experiencing early memory decline, at the 19th annual meeting of the American Neuropsychiatric Association. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans showed that a daily dose of 1,000 micrograms led to greater activation in various parts of the brain.

Omega-3 fatty acids (present in high amounts in oily fish and avocados) have been linked to a wide-range of health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and certain cancers, good development of a baby during pregnancy, joint health, and improved behaviour and mood. Now US researchers have discovered that an increased intake of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may boost the production of a protein known to destroy the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

According to the latest research findings, adhering to a Mediterranean diet could allow sufferers of Alzheimer's disease to live longer than patients who eat a more traditional Western diet...

High levels of folate and other B vitamins (most notably B-6 and B-12) have been shown to lower homocysteine as well as the risk of cognitive decline...