https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/514703/feed This condition – which robs people of their memory, their ability to think and make decisions – affects more than 55 million worldwide. Here’s where you’ll learn what you can do about dementia, from changing your lifestyle to lower your risk of getting it to spotting the warning signs in older people. Discover the latest news on potential drugs to treat, even cure, the disease, and the best ways to manage it. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 100th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. When this series launched, my mother was still by my side. My first column explored what looking after her taught me about dementia. Now, as I write this 100th piece, I reflect on what dementia taught me about the nature of care itself. Before she was diagnosed with dementia – but likely as her memory began to fray – my mother was admitted to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 99th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Will using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preserve a woman’s brain health and protect her from dementia or not? The debate continues. Various studies have looked at the effects of menopause and hormone treatment on the brain – and dementia risk. Some have suggested that HRT has no impact on brain health in older women, and that it has a neutral... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 98th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Dementia news is almost relentlessly grim – a steady drumbeat of rising cases and elusive cures. More bad news came in 2025, when semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 drug celebrated for treating diabetes, obesity and various other conditions, failed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. The setback prompted semaglutide’s developer, Novo Nordisk, to pull the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 97th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. The seeds of dementia may be sown long before our first birthday – or even before we are born. New research shows that while risks such as high blood pressure and cholesterol compound over decades, early sugar exposure can harm the brain before we take our first breath. A study by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) published in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 96th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. A quiet heartbreak is unfolding behind the closed doors of dementia care, one that few carers dare to speak about openly: the ebb of physical intimacy. A tentative question posted to an online dementia carer support group sparked a flurry of moving responses. That question: “I really don’t know how to approach this subject, but I’m wondering who is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364807/how-navigate-sex-and-intimacy-when-dementia-changes-relationship https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364807/how-navigate-sex-and-intimacy-when-dementia-changes-relationship Sun, 23 Aug 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales At 66, Canny Chan laced up her first pair of ballet shoes, chasing a childhood dream to dance like a prima ballerina. Two years later, the Hong Kong retiree can effortlessly glide through basic routines and move gracefully to music – a proud physical feat in itself. But what most surprised her was not her improved flexibility; it was the sudden sharpness of her mind. She never imagined that the dance form would help her think and feel better, too. “Not only has my overall physical form and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364245/how-ballet-helps-these-seniors-keep-their-bodies-and-brains-feeling-young https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364245/how-ballet-helps-these-seniors-keep-their-bodies-and-brains-feeling-young Wed, 19 Aug 2026 03:00:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is a global ageing disease for which scientists worldwide are seeking a cure or prevention, while trying to develop drugs to delay or slow the onset of symptoms. Dementia is so prevalent – nearly one in 10 Hongkongers over 60 suffers from it – that groundbreaking progress on either front could be a public health event with socio-economic implications, including a longer life expectancy, not to mention the life-changing impact on patients and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3364029/hong-kong-researchers-join-vital-race-against-alzheimers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3364029/hong-kong-researchers-join-vital-race-against-alzheimers Sat, 15 Aug 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 95th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Mrs Lee noticed it first in a grocery list. Her husband, a retired lawyer who once commanded a courtroom and remembered legal cases for years, began writing the same items two or three times on the list: bread, eggs, soap, eggs, butter, bread. At first, she ignored it – do we not all get scatty with age? Perhaps her husband was distracted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363243/how-well-does-your-country-approach-alzheimers-support-new-tool-reveals-all https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363243/how-well-does-your-country-approach-alzheimers-support-new-tool-reveals-all Sun, 09 Aug 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 94th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Staying out of the hospital is one of the quiet secrets of “super-agers”, older adults whose memories remain as sharp as people decades younger. While strong bones protect us from fall-related fractures that trigger age-accelerating hospital stays, their connection to brain health runs much deeper than mere physical protection. This deeper connection... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361692/why-your-bones-could-be-key-better-brain-health-and-becoming-super-ager https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361692/why-your-bones-could-be-key-better-brain-health-and-becoming-super-ager Sun, 26 Jul 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson What does an extreme endurance runner carry in their grab bag? For many, the essential items include energy gels, blister bandages, extra socks and a GPS watch. But for Larry Grogin, a 71-year-old chiropractor and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner from the US state of New Jersey, it was a selection of acupuncture needles and Chinese herbs. He would self-administer these nightly during his recent feat: running a marathon every day for 100 days to raise money for Parkinson’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360534/how-71-year-old-parkinsons-ran-100-marathons-100-days-help-tcm https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360534/how-71-year-old-parkinsons-ran-100-marathons-100-days-help-tcm Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:00:48 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 93rd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Can your diet help override the early biological warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease? A new study says yes. Following more than 1,800 adults for up to 15 years, researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden discovered that eating a low-inflammation diet can lower dementia risk by 29 per cent – even in people who already test positive for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360062/low-inflammation-diet-can-cut-dementia-risk-almost-30-new-study-says-heres-how https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360062/low-inflammation-diet-can-cut-dementia-risk-almost-30-new-study-says-heres-how Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Charles Ng Charles Ng A profound demographic and economic shift is sweeping through Asia, quietly rewriting the rules of national development. The traditional paradigm of treating population ageing as a passive fiscal burden is being dismantled as Beijing makes the “silver economy” and proactive ageing strategies the pillars of national security and economic growth. China’s population aged 60 and above reached 320 million last year, accounting for 23 per cent of its citizenry. This is projected to climb to 400... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359770/how-hong-kong-can-lead-longevity-medicine-silver-economy-grows https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359770/how-hong-kong-can-lead-longevity-medicine-silver-economy-grows Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 92nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Perhaps it is because the symptoms of dementia generally only manifest late in life that we are inclined to think of the condition as a problem of old age. But exposure to risks that may trigger it starts years, often decades, before the first memory lapse. The idea that we should start taking steps to prevent dementia in midlife – when we reach our... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3358437/why-dementia-prevention-should-start-your-40s-well-memory-loss-begins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3358437/why-dementia-prevention-should-start-your-40s-well-memory-loss-begins Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:15:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 91st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope What we put on our plates does far more than fuel our bodies – it affects our heart health, inflammation levels, hormone regulation, blood pressure, sleep quality and mood. Each of these elements is a major risk factor for dementia. Dr Helen Macpherson, an associate professor at Deakin University’s Faculty of Health in Australia, rates diet an 8.5 out... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3357104/how-ultra-processed-foods-increase-your-dementia-risk-and-healthy-items-avoid https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3357104/how-ultra-processed-foods-increase-your-dementia-risk-and-healthy-items-avoid Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:56:32 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang To head off a public health crisis, China is stepping up efforts to find new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. As its population ages, the country already has more cases of these neurodegenerative diseases than anywhere else in the world and their prevalence is rising faster than the global average. Cases of Parkinson’s disease in China are forecast to rise from 3.6 million in 2024 to 10.5 million in 2050, while the number of people in China with dementia is projected... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:37:04 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 90th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope Not long ago, Dr Kevin Tran, founder of The Phoenix Community for carriers of the APOE4 gene – the “Alzheimer’s gene” – like himself, noted that we need to look after our brain as if it were the only car we would ever own. We must tend to its bodywork, provide regular maintenance and keep up with services so that it runs for as long as we need it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355311/car-your-brains-mileage-matters-unlike-car-you-can-wind-it-back https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355311/car-your-brains-mileage-matters-unlike-car-you-can-wind-it-back Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 89th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope A recent study published by researchers at Harvard University found that people with higher optimism scores were less likely to develop dementia. The cheerfully named study – “The Bright Side of Life: Optimism and Risk of Dementia” – followed 9,000 older adults over 14 years from 2006 to 2020, conducting assessments every four years. Researchers found... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353652/being-optimistic-can-lower-dementia-risk-15-harvard-study-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353652/being-optimistic-can-lower-dementia-risk-15-harvard-study-finds Sun, 17 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 88th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I have lost count of the number of times somebody has said to me, during a conversation on dementia, “Oh, it runs in my family.” Like red hair. Or long fingers. The only type of Alzheimer’s disease that really does is familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). It is caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk Sun, 03 May 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Christel Krueger stared in awe at a mother hippopotamus and its offspring sleeping on a sandbar through the thick glass and murky water of their enclosure at the Berlin Zoo. Krueger, 86, and her daughter were on a specialised zoo tour in March for people with dementia that was organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta. On the tour with Krueger, Ingrid Barkow watched from her wheelchair as the elephants roamed their habitat,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 87th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. One morning, in the last year of her life, my mother – in the later stages of dementia – offered to make me a cup of tea. She turned the kettle on and then described what she was doing. “There are four stages to making a mug of tea,” she told me. “I talk myself through them so that I remember: tea bag in cup, hot water, milk, then sugar.” Her delight... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:14:16 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The patient initially came to see Dr Mark Supiano in 2017 because her family was concerned about her short-term memory loss. While taking her history and vital signs, Supiano, a geriatrician at the University of Utah, in the United States, saw that her blood pressure was 148/86: above normal despite her taking two medications intended to lower it. “Clearly that was too high,” he says. Several factors could have contributed to the high reading, including the anti-inflammatory drug the 78-year-old... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349632/how-hypertensions-links-dementia-make-blood-pressure-control-even-more-important https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349632/how-hypertensions-links-dementia-make-blood-pressure-control-even-more-important Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 86th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I was startled by a comment from a friend recently: she told me that she almost never uses the internet. I work, cook, shop and walk listening to podcasts. I read the news online each morning. I use the internet to research, find supper recipes, search for new books to read and download the latest episodes of favourite radio shows. The trace of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348949/why-internet-use-can-actually-lower-your-dementia-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348949/why-internet-use-can-actually-lower-your-dementia-risk Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, has grown to more than 50 million globally. Scientists around the world continue to seek a cure for the disease, while working to develop drugs that can delay the onset of symptoms and slow its progression. Early diagnosis, allowing careful plans to be made for the treatment and care of sufferers, is essential. Many people are unaware they have the disease. But screening has been expensive and invasive. A... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3348884/hong-kongs-world-first-alzheimers-blood-test-will-strengthen-citys-healthcare https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3348884/hong-kongs-world-first-alzheimers-blood-test-will-strengthen-citys-healthcare Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 85th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. As an erratic sleeper, I worry when I see a headline such as this recent one from Science News: “Poor sleep may account for a large share of dementia cases.” That headline topped an article about a recent study of older adults in the US. It found that about 13 per cent of dementia cases may have roots in insomnia, and that poor sleep may be as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347263/how-poor-sleep-can-increase-dementia-risk-and-what-know-about-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347263/how-poor-sleep-can-increase-dementia-risk-and-what-know-about-links Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 84th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I did not recognise the signs of dementia developing in mum – the changes in her walking, her frequent need to urinate, her difficulty in swallowing – until quite late. Looking back, I see how they developed one after another. Nearly 80 per cent of all dementias are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The hallmark of this is the abnormal deposit of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Megan Worthy still recalls singing in a choir in the Australian capital, Canberra, as she was growing up. Now, as a rare form of early-onset dementia chips away at her vision and other brain functions, the 58-year-old is transported back to her musical youth as she and her daughter, Bronte, sing together with other people with neurological conditions in an Amsterdam concert hall, the Concertgebouw. “It’s pretty brutal,” Worthy said of her rare neurological condition. “I’m starting to lose... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:07:17 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 83rd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Doing “brain training” tests can make me a bit nervous. The anxiety triggers silly mistakes, and then “poor” results make me more anxious – especially when they are dementia tests. What if I fail, or my score points to a suboptimal brain response? I am also suspicious of them: how could an online test measure brain response accurately, and – even more... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344094/what-best-brain-training-test-reduce-dementia-risk-study-examines-various-types https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344094/what-best-brain-training-test-reduce-dementia-risk-study-examines-various-types Sun, 22 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 dpa dpa Having a brew may be more ‌beneficial than the immediate comfort it offers, experts suggested after a new study linked drinking tea and coffee with a reduced risk of dementia. Those who drink caffeinated versions ‍of these hot drinks also have better mental skills than people who do not, the large new study found. Researchers pinpointed the number of cups each day linked to reduced dementia risk. Experts from Harvard University examined data on 131,000 health workers in the United States, who... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:15:10 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 82nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Should we eat a high-fat or low-fat diet for health? This debate has shaped health advice for decades, says Emily Sonestedt of Lund University in Sweden. Sonestedt is the senior author of a study that observed that high-fat dairy products – specifically fermented options like cheese and high-fat cream – were associated with a lower risk of dementia in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:14:30 +0000 dpa dpa Ageing has arguably always been a puzzle. There is the 82-year-old part-time farmer down the road who remains light on his feet, while his 60-something accountant neighbour gets short of breath walking from car to office. According ‍to a team of scientists at Vanderbilt University in the US state of Tennessee, “superagers” such as the farmer could have an innate advantage over the prematurely old, at least when it comes to cognition. According to the university, those in their 80s with brain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service In a retirement home in Dallas, Texas, Theresa Steward is skydiving. The 74-year-old American squeals and yelps as the ground rushes up and snow-capped mountains slide past. Her body lurches forward, and she grabs at the air to steady herself. After landing safely, she appears relieved but exhilarated. Steward’s experience was conducted in virtual reality (VR), with a headset that took her on a wild adventure from indoors. “I’m glad I experienced that because I never would do skydiving,” Steward... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 81st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. My mother often used to wonder whether she was on a ship. As we gazed across the lawn at home, she would ask, “Am I on a ship?” Sometimes it was her first question when she woke in the morning. “Is this my cabin?” she would ask as she looked around her. “I used to share it with somebody. I wonder where she’s gone.” Or: “Will we dock soon?” I used to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:15:16 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Neurologist Sun Bomin’s mother led him to believe that Alzheimer’s disease might not be incurable after all. On January 21, Sun released a short video on China’s Yitiao.tv platform and an article detailing what he said was the world’s first effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease using the high-intensity FUS procedure. His mother, who appeared in the video but was not named, is aged in her nineties and had been suffering from the progressive brain disorder for around eight years. According to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Let us be clear: the primary reason to be vaccinated against shingles – a virus that causes a painful rash – is that two jabs provide at least 90 per cent protection against a painful, blistering disease that a third of people in America will suffer in their lifetimes, and a similar number in Hong Kong. It can cause lingering nerve pain and other nasty long-term consequences. Meanwhile, the most important reason for older adults to be vaccinated against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340363/hidden-benefits-common-vaccines-including-reduced-dementia-and-heart-risks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340363/hidden-benefits-common-vaccines-including-reduced-dementia-and-heart-risks Mon, 19 Jan 2026 04:44:38 +0000 Dicky Chow,Jessie Zhang,Curtis Lam Dicky Chow,Jessie Zhang,Curtis Lam Looking back at 2025, the city made meaningful strides in supporting its retirees. The government expanded the Elderly Health Care Voucher and Community Care Service Voucher schemes, and invested HK$2 billion (US$256.47 million) in an elderly and rehabilitation technology fund. It also announced 30 measures for the silver economy and formed the Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies to improve cross-bureau coordination. These efforts helped launch the long-awaited Q-Mark Silver Scheme,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339782/year-hong-kong-must-resolve-rewrite-script-retirement https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339782/year-hong-kong-must-resolve-rewrite-script-retirement Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A partnership between China’s SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals and Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Monday has revived hopes for treating Alzheimer’s disease, which affects some 55 million people worldwide and could cost the global economy US$2.8 trillion by 2030. The deal, worth nearly US$1.7 billion, grants Novartis exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise SciNeuro’s antibody candidates to develop drugs for the progressive brain disease. SciNeuro’s novel amyloid beta targeted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339691/chinas-scineuro-novartis-sign-us17-billion-licensing-deal-develop-alzheimers-drugs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339691/chinas-scineuro-novartis-sign-us17-billion-licensing-deal-develop-alzheimers-drugs Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:11:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 80th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. You might have heard of “brain drain” in the context of talented and well-educated people leaving their own country to seek advancement in another. You may not have heard about the brain drains in your head. These are glymphatic channels, microscopic pathways that are part of the brain’s cleaning network, through which cerebrospinal fluid flows,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339532/singaporean-dementia-study-links-alzheimers-clogged-brain-drains-what-are-they https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339532/singaporean-dementia-study-links-alzheimers-clogged-brain-drains-what-are-they Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:54:45 +0000 Sunika Joshi Sunika Joshi With more than one in three Hongkongers estimated to be 65 or older by 2050, the city must decide whether to spend the coming years improving an overburdened healthcare system or to entirely transform the structure to address the silent epidemic of mental health crises among the elderly. Hong Kong is expected to have the world’s oldest population by 2050. While longevity is a remarkable indication of good health and an excellent medical system, it also comes with challenges beyond those of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The new year is a time when many try to take up new, good habits and commit to improving health and wellness. But resolutions, lofty as they may be, can turn daunting quickly with all the advice and sometimes contradicting information coming at you from news reports, advertisers, influencers, friends and even politicians. But they do not have to be. This year, experts mostly say to keep it simple. As 2026 arrives, here is what you can skip, what you should pay attention to and how to get... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338104/6-health-and-wellness-tips-2026-keep-things-simple-sleep-and-move-more https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338104/6-health-and-wellness-tips-2026-keep-things-simple-sleep-and-move-more Thu, 01 Jan 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 79th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. As the new year approaches, four doctors with a special interest in brain health describe the best ways to start safeguarding brain health now to prevent or delay the onset of dementia later. They also share the steps they are taking now to protect their own brain health. Just move Dr David Ward is a research fellow in ageing and geriatric medicine at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337816/how-can-you-protect-your-brain-health-move-brush-regularly-check-your-blood-pressure https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337816/how-can-you-protect-your-brain-health-move-brush-regularly-check-your-blood-pressure Mon, 29 Dec 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Health and wellness are areas of huge interest to people globally as they seek to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Understandably, these topics resonated strongly with Post readers in 2025. Most popular was a story in our “Decoding dementia” series about a neurologist who uses five simple tests of cognitive function – including drawing a clock – to help gauge the health of a patient’s brain. Stories about weight loss also struck a chord in 2025, including one on how resistance training... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337287/7-top-health-and-wellness-stories-2025-weight-loss-fitness-old-age https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337287/7-top-health-and-wellness-stories-2025-weight-loss-fitness-old-age Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan The holiday season is upon us with its late nights, parties and almost always too much to eat and drink. While we might wait until the New Year to worry about the weight that is piling on, a more immediate concern after consuming so much rich food and alcohol is bloating and its inevitable relief: passing wind. Overeating overloads your gut, trapping gas from food breakdown and swallowed air; alcohol slows digestion further. Big meals stretch the stomach, which slows down the speed at which it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337058/need-pass-gas-after-eating-how-taking-short-walk-boosts-digestion https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337058/need-pass-gas-after-eating-how-taking-short-walk-boosts-digestion Sun, 21 Dec 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 78th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I am listening to music as I write this: “Out of My Head” by First Aid Kit. It is an appropriate track, given the title of this series and the piece of writing I am working on. Recently, researchers from the school of public health and preventive medicine at Monash University in Australia published a study that found people who had a habit of always... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336147/listening-music-can-lower-dementia-risk-nearly-40-new-study-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336147/listening-music-can-lower-dementia-risk-nearly-40-new-study-says Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Chinese medical experts have created an ultra-efficient stem cell approach to Parkinson’s disease, raising prospects for treatment for a condition for which there is no known cure. Parkinson’s disease is often referred to as a “movement disorder”. Its symptoms are caused by the brain failing to generate enough dopamine, due to the death or impairment of the neurons responsible for producing the chemical. While researchers around the world are exploring stem cell therapies to replenish lost... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3335179/chinese-scientists-develop-promising-stem-cell-therapy-parkinsons-disease https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3335179/chinese-scientists-develop-promising-stem-cell-therapy-parkinsons-disease Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 77th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Thousands of scientific studies confirm the benefits of walking, one of the most extensively researched forms of physical activity due to its accessibility and broad health impacts. We know it is good for us: the contemporary puzzle is how, and how much, walking is best. New research shows that we do not need to take as many steps as previously... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334503/how-many-steps-walk-minimum-brain-health-decline-according-new-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334503/how-many-steps-walk-minimum-brain-health-decline-according-new-study Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:15:18 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have mounted a search for an elderly man with dementia who went missing in Tuen Mun after having lunch with his family. Police said Leung Woon-yew, 87, lived in Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun. He was last seen at around 11am on Sunday in Shan King Estate on Shek Pai Tau Road. The Post learned Leung had lunch with his family at about 1pm near King Lai House at the estate and was expected to return home afterwards. Leung is described as being about 1.7 metres (5 feet 7 inches) tall,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333977/hong-kong-police-search-missing-elderly-man-87-dementia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333977/hong-kong-police-search-missing-elderly-man-87-dementia Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:25:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 76th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. A new approach to ageing developed in Australia could influence how older people are supported – at home, in the community, by policymakers and through technology. It could even have the potential to reduce dementia risk in older populations. Intrinsic Capacity, as it is called, takes a holistic view of health, a more complete picture of overall... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332758/what-intrinsic-capacity-approach-ageing-and-how-can-it-help-cut-dementia-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332758/what-intrinsic-capacity-approach-ageing-and-how-can-it-help-cut-dementia-risk Mon, 17 Nov 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Former Hongkonger Michelle Hale was 14 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin. Untreated, it causes high blood sugar levels, which can cause organ damage and increase the risks of seizures, heart disease and strokes. Treatment requires a daily regimen of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is not fully understood, but it is an autoimmune disease that seems to start with a genetic predisposition. An environmental trigger, possibly a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332423/woman-shares-diabetes-journey-raise-awareness-inspire-others-live-full-life https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332423/woman-shares-diabetes-journey-raise-awareness-inspire-others-live-full-life Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Ritu Hemnani Ritu Hemnani For thousands of Hong Kong professionals with ageing parents overseas, caregiving is not a daily routine, but a long-distance act of love, logistics and emotional labour. Angela Kaur Baura, a counsellor-in-training, made a quiet vow at her father’s bedside during what was meant to be a celebration of his and her mother’s 50th wedding anniversary. When he died suddenly, that promise – to care for her mother – became her compass. In the eight months since, she has shuttled between Hong Kong and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331488/caring-elderly-parent-afar-free-hong-kong-group-therapy-helping-people-cope https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331488/caring-elderly-parent-afar-free-hong-kong-group-therapy-helping-people-cope Wed, 05 Nov 2025 03:00:14 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 75th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Purpose is defined as a sense of resolve or determination. My mother’s frequent and treatment-resistant episodes of depression eroded hers. Apathetic, she lost all her verve for life. “I am inert,” she told me once when I texted to ask how she was. It was the perfect description; depression robbed her of motivation, drive and a sense of purpose. I... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331329/how-having-strong-sense-purpose-especially-retirement-can-reduce-dementia-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331329/how-having-strong-sense-purpose-especially-retirement-can-reduce-dementia-risk Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:15:08 +0000