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Anthea Rowan

This is the 69th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
When you hear the word copper, you may think of the malleable reddish-orange metal used in electrical wiring, plumbing, construction and jewellery that tends to turn your skin green.
But you may not be as familiar with dietary copper, an essential trace element. The body needs it in small amounts to function properly.
Hong Kong-based functional nutritionist Beth Wright refers to it as one of the “Goldilocks” nutrients. Other “Goldilocks” nutrients include iron, zinc, vitamin D, sodium, calcium, selenium and iodine.
“Just like Goldilocks’ porridge, when it comes to copper, we need it ‘just right’,” she says: not too little, not too much.
Maintaining this delicate balance, known as copper homeostasis, is something our bodies work incredibly hard to do, she adds.

I encountered copper as a nutrient recently; it is listed as an ingredient on the back of a supplement I take to slow macular degeneration. The supplement contains just enough copper to counter the deficiency that could result from the zinc supplementation in the same formula, because the two micronutrients compete for absorption in our intestines.
Copper has recently come under the spotlight because of the role it might play in brain health. A recent study by a team at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University in China found a link between eating more copper-rich foods and better memory and concentration.
Older studies have found the same thing: that copper, even the tiniest traces of it, might be important for brain health.
Dr Puja Agarwal, a researcher at Rush University Medical Centre in the US city of Chicago, who presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference last month in Toronto, Canada, has conducted several studies examining the role of copper in brain health, particularly concerning cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
In a study that examined the brains of 657 deceased participants, Agarwal found that higher levels of copper in the brain were associated with slower cognitive decline later in life.

Significantly, elevated brain copper levels were linked to fewer amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which are signature hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
That could be because copper may help protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases by regulating certain proteins involved in brain function. Proteins running rogue cause the toxic build-up that can lead to Alzheimer’s.
Copper is an essential mineral and is considered one of the key nutrients that help enzymes do their jobs effectively, Agarwal says.
Copper is, for example, involved in energy and iron metabolism. It also activates neuropeptides and is involved in the production of neurotransmitters, both of which transmit chemical messages in the brain and the rest of the body. Therefore, in balance, copper plays a key role in supporting cognitive health and is crucial for memory, learning and overall cognitive function.
It also has antioxidant properties, which might help to protect the brain from the degeneration that comes with Alzheimer’s.

Copper is also key in creating myelin, the protective layer around nerve fibres. This helps nerve signals travel efficiently, improving communication between brain cells.
In short, copper supports brain health by helping with cell communication, protecting against damage, and aiding in essential processes for maintaining brain structure and function.
It is, as Wright observes, an unsung hero.
“It’s a key player in critical processes like brain function, building connective tissues, and supporting blood health. Our bodies can’t produce it, so we must get it from our diet.”
And it is not just a brain powerhouse, she says.
“Imagine your body as a construction site. When wounded, copper helps lay new foundations, promotes new blood vessel formation and even has antimicrobial properties.
“It is also the oxygen carrier. Iron is the star, but … without copper, iron can’t be properly incorporated into haemoglobin.”

That is why you could suffer with anaemia – a low red blood cell count – that had nothing to do with iron and everything to do with copper.
“Copper deficiency can cause anaemia that doesn’t respond to iron supplements alone,” Wright says.
It is also important for the immune system and plays a role in collagen and elastin formation.
Deficiency in healthy people is rare. It can, however, occur if a person suffers from malabsorption disorders – their gut cannot extract the necessary copper – and after bariatric surgery.
A modern risk to consider is the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists that are used to counter diabetes and aid in weight loss, particularly by stemming the appetite.
As Wright says, “dramatically reduced food intake can lower essential micronutrient consumption, potentially including copper”.
Symptoms of deficiency include tiredness, frequent infections, neurological issues such as numbness or difficulty walking, and a case of anaemia that does not respond to iron supplementation.

Too much is usually not a problem caused by diet but rather by supplementation. This is why copper supplementation should only be undertaken under medical guidance after having specific blood tests to check levels. Too much may cause gastrointestinal upset, liver damage and even neurological symptoms.
Foods rich in copper include shellfish, organ meat (especially beef liver), nuts, dark chocolate and mushrooms (especially shiitake). The recommended daily intake of copper, says Agarwal, is 900 micrograms.
A slice of beef liver would give you four times that, but if you are a vegetarian or dislike liver, a half cup of shiitake mushrooms and a small handful of cashew nuts would yield more than enough.
Our bodies maintain copper balance through a sophisticated network. Absorbed in the small intestine, it travels to the liver, where it is incorporated into proteins for transport. Excess is excreted through bile.
“This is why dietary copper rarely causes toxicity – the body adjusts absorption and excretion,” Wright says.
Her comments, though, and her reference to Goldilocks’ “just right” should remind us of the imperatives of a good diet, which will provide our body with most of what it needs in the right amounts without relying on supplements.
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Wellness

How copper could improve brain health, fight Alzheimer’s, and aid memory and concentration

Copper is a key player in brain function, building connective tissues and supporting blood health. Our bodies cannot produce it, so we must get it from our diet, sometimes from supplements. Photo: Shutterstock 

Beth Wright refers to copper as one of the “Goldilocks” nutrients. Photo: Beth Wright

Dr Puja Agarwal has conducted several studies examining the role of copper in brain health. Photo: Alyce Henson/Rush University Medical Centre

An illustration of neurons in a brain with Alzheimer’s disease and amyloid plaques. Elevated brain copper levels are linked to fewer amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Photo: Shutterstock

Symptoms of copper deficiency include tiredness, frequent infections and neurological issues. Photo: Shutterstock

Shiitake mushrooms are a good source of copper. Photo: Shutterstock

Brain scan predicts dementia risk by reading brain’s ‘hidden ageing clock’

Scientists examine brain scan images in a laboratory. A new MRI tool called DunedinPACNI has been unveiled that can predict dementia risk and ageing through brain scans. Photo: Shutterstock

The DunedinPACNI uses an MRI-based tool like this MRI machine to read the brain’s “hidden ageing clock”. Photo: Shutterstock

Tests like DunedinPACNI could revolutionise the approach to dementia diagnosis. Photo: Shutterstock

If a person’s DunedinPACNI results suggest they are at risk for later poor health, they could make lifestyle changes that could prevent or delay its onset, such as taking up yoga. Photo: Shutterstock

DunedinPACNI can be used to “help motivate people to adopt healthier habits and lifestyle choices that reduce their risk for later diseases”, like exercising more. Photo: Shutterstock 

What is creatine? Experts on its health benefits for both body and brain

Experts discuss how creatine, which can be taken as a supplement, can boost brain health, support women’s wellness and enhance sports recovery. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong-based functional nutritionist Beth Wright. Photo: Beth Wright

Matthew Taylor, an assistant professor in the department of dietetics and nutrition at the University of Kansas, led a study exploring the effects of creatine on the brain. Photo: University of Kansas

Building strength in the large muscles – the thigh muscles especially – has been linked to better cognitive function. Photo: Shutterstock

In those who do regular strength training, creatine has been shown to increase lean body mass. Photo: Shutterstock

Unmarried people have lower risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

There are many health benefits to being in a happy marriage, but a new study from Florida State University found that unmarried people are less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Previous studies have found that married men and married women live longer than singletons. Photo: Shutterstock 

Writer Anthea Rowan with her husband on their wedding day, 36 years ago. Photo: Anthea Rowan

While being married can sometimes mean a better social life, there is also a risk that older married individuals have a smaller social network. Photo: Shutterstock

Florida State University postdoctoral researcher Selin Karakose says divorce can lead to greater happiness and life satisfaction if the marriage has been unhappy, and that widowed individuals may experience an increase in friends after losing a spouse. Photo: Shutterstock

In many Asian joint-family systems in which multiple generations often live together, dementia symptoms are less likely to go unnoticed, Zaidi says. Photo: Shutterstock

Swollen, puffy face? You might have ‘moon face’. Experts explain, share how to reduce it

“Moon face” or “cortisol face”, a condition in which the face appears swollen and puffy, is a health concern that has been popping up online. Photo: Instagram/mamamiaaus

The most common cause of moon face is long-term use of corticosteroid medications. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Decoding dementia

How caring for a parent with dementia taught me about symptoms, prevention and why seeking out the latest research is so important

Author Anthea Rowan (right) with her mother.

Author Anthea Rowan (right) with her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Anthea with her mother. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Studies suggest that regular exercise lowers the risk of cognitive decline by 35 per cent. Photo: Getty Images

Staying active can help prevent or delay the onset of dementia, studies suggest. Photo: Shutterstock

Why should you have a brain scan to test for dementia when there’s no cure? Knowing can help you delay its onset, neurologist says

It can be daunting to get a brain scan to test for signs of dementia, but a neurologist behind new research reveals the advantages of knowing early. Photo: Shutterstock

New research has found that dementia can be detected as early as nine years before symptoms manifest, and this could have significant implications for treatment. Photo: Shutterstock

Timothy Rittman, the neurologist who led the dementia research at Cambridge University. Photo: Cambridge University

A brain scan showing signs of dementia. Photo: Getty Images

Lizzie Perry, founder of This is Dementia, with her father, who was diagnosed with the disease at 58. Photo: This is Dementia

The approval in the US of a new drug that slows the onset of Alzheimer’s makes Rittman hopeful about the future of dementia treatment. Photo: Cambridge University

Why women are more likely to have dementia than men as they age, and how exercise and engagement can help lower your risk

Women may be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s than men for a number of reasons: biological, societal or cultural. Experts suggest exercise and social engagement can help offset the risk. Photo: Getty Images

The spread of tau – the protein that clumps into the telltale tangles of dementia – may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Shutterstock

Female twins with a male co-twin were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than female twins with a female co-twin. Photo: Shutterstock

Prenatal care and monitoring pregnant women’s health is key, as it may impact cognition and dementia risk in later life. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking regular exercise is key for women – and men – to reduce the risk of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

How high or low blood pressure increases the risk of dementia, and why it’s never too late, or early, to adopt a healthy lifestyle to manage it

Having blood pressure that is too high or too low has been linked to a higher risk of dementia, but it’s never too late to start living a healthy lifestyle that will help maintain optimal blood pressure. Photo: Shutterstock


An optimal blood pressure reading, easily measured with a home device, is around 120/80. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Ruth Peters was lead author of a study looking at the links between blood pressure and dementia. Photo: Dr Ruth Peters

It’s never too late, or too early, to start thinking about brain health and living a healthy lifestyle. Photo: Shutterstock

Problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes may result from damage caused by impaired blood flow to the brain – which may be brought on by high blood pressure. Photo: Shutterstock

6 dementia fighting tips from Dr Sanjay Gupta and Marc Milstein, experts on brain health – walk, talk, read, learn, relax, and eat and drink properly

We can protect ourselves against the risk of dementia with some simple lifestyle practices. Exercising (above), eating a good diet, drinking less alcohol, socialising, reading more and trying new things all help keep the brain sharp, say brain experts including Dr Sanjay Gupta. Photo: Shutterstock 

The cover of one of Dr Sanjay Gupta’s book. Photo: Simon & Schuster

The cover of Marc Milstein’s book. Photo: Marc Milstein

Drink alcohol mindfully and ask yourself why you are having that drink. Photo: Shutterstock

Learning new things creates new brain cell connections and helps keep your mind sharp. Photo: Shutterstock

Reading is good for brain health. Try to read a wide range of book styles, and join a book club to discuss with others what you are reading. Photo: Shutterstock

During sleep, our brains are restored and repaired, so relaxing is important if we’re going to get those seven hours of quality sleep. Photo: Shutterstock

Relationships keep us engaged, interested and interesting, and may help prevent dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Like a light switch’: how sundowning syndrome affects dementia sufferers – and their carers; what it is and tips for how to cope

A person with dementia may experience “sundowning” syndrome - towards the end of the day they become more agitated, confused, panicked, resistant to instruction and restless. This affects their carers, too. Photo: Shutterstock

A person in bed, unable to sleep. Conservative estimates suggest about 20 per cent of dementia patients experience sundowning at some point.

Trey Todd is a neuroscientist at the University of Wyoming. Photo: Trey Todd

Sundowning was coined in 1987 by Lois Evans of Penn Nursing at Pennsylvania University. Photo: University of Pennsylvania

The pineal gland in our brain produces melatonin, which is what helps prompt us to sleep and awaken. In a broken system it is disrupted. Melatonin supplements might help fight sundowning. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking a patient with sundowning syndrome for a walk at a consistent time each day, morning or evening, may alleviate symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

Getting out into the daylight early in the day is good for our sleep patterns, whether we have dementia or not. Photo: Shutterstock

Healthy marriage, healthy mind? Dementia risk lower for people married a long time, studies show; expert suggests why

Research suggests that people who have stayed married for a long time have a lower risk for dementia because they feel less lonely, are more likely to eat well and exercise more, and are more cognitively engaged. Photo: Shutterstock

Vegard Skirbekk is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Photo: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Anthea Rowan’s parents on their wedding day. Photo: courtesy of Anthea Rowan

A long-time married partner represents a security that provides a buffer against stressors. Photo: Shutterstock

Anthea Rowan and her husband on their wedding day. Photo: courtesy of Anthea Rowan

If you live with a partner long term, you are more likely to develop healthy daily patterns, to eat well and exercise more. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Dementia village’ that’s the first of its kind helps residents live normal lives, has a restaurant, theatre and supermarket – and no one wears a white coat

Residents are free to live their lives as they like at the world’s first “dementia village”, The Hogeweyk in The Netherlands. Photo: The Hogeweyk

The Hogeweyk, a “dementia villlage” in the Netherlands, provides care and a familiar and safe environment in which people with dementia live while retaining their own identity and autonomy as much as possible. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Jannette Spiering is the senior managing adviser and co-founder at The Hogeweyk in the Netherlands, which offers “humanising care for people with dementia”. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Residents relax around the fountain in the theatre square at The Hogeweyk. Photo: The Hogeweyk 

Residents of The Hogeweyk respond positively to their increased autonomy. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Residents at the healthcare facility take part in a painting class. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Hearing loss dramatically raises the risk of dementia, so why are so many people in midlife doing nothing to prevent it? A test is easy to arrange

Hearing loss has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline,  say experts, who recommend testing for preventable hearing problems (above).  Photo: Getty Images

Alison Huang, a senior research associate at the Cochlear Centre at Johns Hopkins, in the US, says hearing loss makes the brain work harder to process sounds. Photo: Johns Hopkins

Jiang Fan from the School of Public Health at China’s Shandong University. Photo: Shandong University

Checking your hearing in midlife is crucial, and can help you stave off cognitive deterioration. Photo: Shutterstock

Can HRT reduce dementia risk? New hormone replacement therapy studies say yes, upending 2002 reports

HRT use has been linked to better cognition, blood flow and brain size and a reduction in all neurodegenerative disease in recent studies. Photo: Shutterstock

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) use has been linked to better cognition, blood flow and brain size and a reduction in dementia and other neurodegenerative disease in recent studies. Photo: Shutterstock

If HRT is started after the age of 65, brain cells will have already been deprived of oestrogen for many years. This could mean there is a decline in neuronal connections – the brain’s messaging system. Photo: Shutterstock

HRT was found to be most effective when introduced early in menopause, says Anne Marie Minihane, director of the UK’s Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing at the University of East Anglia. Photo: University of East Anglia

Dr Andrea Kwakowsky from at the University of Galway in Ireland believes the “critical period” for starting HRT is within five years of menopause. Photo: University of Galway

How can you prevent dementia? Free brain health online tool teaches the risks and gives essential tips on avoiding it

The new free “Think Brain Health Check-in” online tool from Alzheimer’s Research UK doesn’t test your memory but checks how well you’re looking after your brain and gives tips to help prevent dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Susan Mitchell is head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK. Photo: Dr Susan Mitchell

The Think Brain Health Check-in asks how often you challenge your brain - and then highlights why challenging your brain is key to staving off dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Getting a good night’s sleep every night is one way to lower the risk of developing dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Up to 40 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented if people were mindful of the risk factors for the illness and made lifestyle changes to prevent them. Photo: Shutterstock

Can lack of sleep raise dementia risk? Yes, studies say – but with one exception

Having only five hours of sleep a night can increase dementia risk by 30 per cent for adults over 50, one study says. Photo: Shutterstock

One tip to overcome insomnia is to avoid clock-watching. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking a warm shower or bath in the hour or so before bed may help you fall asleep – and stay asleep. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Roger Wong of the department of public health and preventive medicine at the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University. Photo: Roger Wong

Sleep aids can heighten dementia risk, Wong says. Photo: Shutterstock

Can’t sleep? Try getting up and engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, like reading or making jam. Photo: Shutterstock

Dementia and ACB scores: how common prescription and over-the-counter drugs raise the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline

Certain common drugs, including antihistamines, antacids, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines, can disrupt the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, dubbed the “memory molecule” increasing the risk of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

The writer, Anthea Rowan, with her mother. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Taking medications that block the action of acetylcholine can lead to memory loss, problems with spatial awareness, and cognitive decline. Photo: Shutterstock

Studies have found that anticholinergic drugs carried “significant’ dementia risk” for the over-65s. Photo: Shutterstock

Doctors need to be mindful of the risks posed by anticholinergic drugs, especially to an already at-risk population: the over 65s. Photo: Shutterstock

How to safeguard your ageing brain: build ‘cognitive reserve’ with mental and physical exercise, and stay active and socially engaged

The phrase ‘use it or lose it’ is not just a hypothesis, it’s a basic biological fact that holds as true for our brains as our muscles or bones. Photo:
Shutterstock

Our brains, like our muscles need regular use to stay healthy and flexible, say experts, and keeping our brains active builds our ‘cognitive reserve’, helping us to stave off dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Geriatric psychiatrist Dr David Merrill recommends the active pursuit of activities that keep the brain sharp to stave off dementia. Photo: Dr David Merrill

Dorina Cadar says cultural and social engagement, reading, doing crossword puzzles, visiting art galleries, clubs and cinemas, and volunteering all increase our cognitive reserve. Photo: Dorina Cadar

Visiting an art gallery or doing something new and different are good ways to build up cognitive reserve. Photo: Shutterstock 

How yoga benefits dementia patients: new study uncovers brain-health boosts, supporting earlier research

Yoga has health benefits including better brain neuroplasticity, improved sleep quality, and more robust cardiorespiratory fitness, all of which help people experiencing cognitive decline or dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Diana Karamacoska is a research support programme fellow in healthy ageing and dementia at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University. Photo: Courtesy of Diana Karamacoska

Yoga could be helpful in managing brain inflammation, particularly with its mindfulness component. Photo: Shutterstock

Wendy Du is the founder of Shan Studios in Hong Kong. Photo: Wendy Du/Shan Studios

Du has maintained a daily yoga practice for 10 years. Photo: Courtesy of Shan Studios

5 nutrients good for brain health that can delay dementia, or prevent it, and foods to eat with a high concentration of them

Research has identified some key nutrients we need in our diets to maintain good cognitive function and delay or prevent the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Eating healthy isn’t just good for our bodies, it’s good for our brains, too. Photo: Shutterstock

Zahinoor Ismail, of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. Photo: University of Calgary

Kale with pine nuts is a dish high in magnesium, and so good for brain function. Photo: Shutterstock

Oatmeal, and other wholegrain foods such as brown rice and quinoa, are rich in magnesium. Photo: Shutterstock

Mackerel is a fish that is especially high in magnesium. Photo: Shutterstock

Why you have to keep smiling at a dementia patient – you’ll feel better and it could evoke a positive response

A smile can bring a smile in return from a dementia patient, and may make them more amenable to your requests. Photo: Shutterstock

Author Anthea Rowan with her mother, who suffered from dementia. As a carer you’ve got to keep smiling, an expert on the condition tells her - and it’s not for the reason you might think. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Timothy Kwok, professor of geriatric medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Director of the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing. Photo: Timothy Kwok

Dementia sufferers cannot be reasoned with, and their emotions can run the gamut from highly positive to negative in the course of a day. Photo: Shutterstock

Many dementia sufferers end up in residential care homes because caring for them is difficult and time-consuming – especially for family members with jobs. Photo: Shutterstock

The living room at Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, in Hong Kong. Photo: Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing

‘An attack by aliens’: how to deal with a dementia patient’s delusions – experts’ tips for carers

Carers often find it challenging to calm a dementia patient down when they suffer from paranoia, hallucinations and delusions. Experts offer advice on what to do. Photo: Shutterstock

It can be heartbreaking for a carer, especially if they are a family member, when a dementia patient cannot recognise them. Photo: Shutterstock

Disinhibition, poor control or restraint over emotions or actions, is common in patients with advanced dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Fiona Kumfor is a neuropsychologist at the University of Sydney in Australia. Photo: Fiona Kumfor

When a dementia patient cannot remember where they put something, they might jump to the conclusion that it has been stolen. Photo: Shutterstock

Dementia begins in the memory centres, the hippocampus and the medial temporal lobe, then moves to other parts of the brain like the temporal lobes and then into the frontal lobe and the parietal lobes. Photo: Shutterstock

Sometimes dementia patients lose the ability to recognise loved ones’ faces, and so they may say they have never met them before. Photo: Shutterstock

Timothy Kwok is a professor of geriatric medicine at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Timothy Kwok

Unravelling 2 Alzheimer’s markers: what are amyloid plaques and tau tangles, how do they form and what do they do to the brain?

“Sepia galactic storms”: the rust coloured clumps are the stained amyloid plaques, the little black squiggles are the tau tangles. Photo: Andrew Lee

Amyloid plaques and tau tangles found in Alzheimer’s sufferers’ brains are caused by build-ups of proteins that block electrical messages. 
Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Andrew Lees, author of “The Silent Plague”, is a professor of neurology at the National Hospital in London and University College London. Photo: Dr Andrew Lees

Lee’s image of “sepia galactic storms”: the rust-coloured clumps are stained amyloid plaques, the little black squiggles are tau tangles. Photo: Andrew Lee

Two neurons: a healthy one and one with Alzheimer’s disease – with tangles and disintegration of the microtubules. Photo: Shutterstock

Daniele Vigolo and his team were able to monitor the change from liquid to solid in “fused in sarcoma” proteins, and study their internal structure. Photo: Daniele Vigolo

5 Alzheimer’s experts’ lifestyle advice on avoiding and delaying the onset of the most common form of dementia

Lifestyle tips for avoiding or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, include staying active and socially engaged. Photo: Shutterstock

Keep your brain active throughout your lifetime – particularly by learning new skills as you age. Photo: Shutterstock 

Regular physical activity – even having a daily walk – can help delay the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Andrew Lees is professor of neurology at the National Hospital in London, and University College London. Photo: Dr Andrew Lees

Professor Timothy Kwok is professor of geriatric medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. 

Professor Craig Ritchie is professor of the psychiatry of ageing at the University of Edinburgh. Photo: Professor Craig Ritchie

Dr David Merrill is an adult and geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Brain Health Centre at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in California. Photo: courtesy of David Merrill

David Robinson is a consultant geriatrician at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. Photo: David Robinson

At risk for Alzheimer’s disease? 2 new blood tests could detect it early – here’s how they do it

New blood tests developed in Hong Kong and the US deliver an easier, less invasive and more cost-effective way to detect Alzheimer’s disease early. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Amy Fu is on the Cognitact team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Photo: Professor Amy Fu

Previously, Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis relied on costly MRI scans. Photo: Shutterstock

Simulated results of Quest’s AD Detect Test for Alzheimer’s Disease. Photo: Quest

The author, Anthea Rowan, pictured with her late mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Courtesy of Anthea Rowan

Excess belly fat linked to higher dementia risk, research shows. Experts explain, and advise how to shrink your waist to protect your brain

Having excess belly fat increases the risk of suffering from dementia, especially for women, according to recent research. Experts explain the link and give tips on how to shrink your waist to prevent your brain shrinking. Photo: Shutterstock

How copper could improve brain health, fight Alzheimer’s, and aid memory and concentration

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Copper helps support cognitive functions that can help prevent Alzheimer’s, experts say, with food sources including shellfish and mushrooms

Copper helps support cognitive functions that can help prevent Alzheimer’s, experts say, with food sources including shellfish and mushrooms