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Dementia

Dementia
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.
Ultra-processed foods, from instant noodles and breakfast cereals to bread, contain colourants, flavour enhancers and preservatives that can be detrimental to gut health and indirectly lead to a decline in cognitive health. Experts explain how and share which foods to avoid. Photo: Dickson Lee
Wellness

How ultra-processed foods increase dementia risk, and ‘healthy’ items to avoid

From instant noodles to soft drinks, UPFs set people up for chronic diseases that raise the risk of developing dementia, experts say.

Science

Biomedicine | China steps up Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s drug push, looks to TCM

Wellness

Like a car, your brain’s mileage matters. Unlike a car, you can wind it back

Wellness

Being optimistic can lower dementia risk by 15%, Harvard study finds

Experts explain why optimism is beneficial for brain health and how to cultivate a more positive mindset.

A Harvard University study found that people with higher optimism scores were less likely to develop dementia. One way to become more optimistic is to surround yourself with like-minded people. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

1 in 4 people are ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ carriers like Chris Hemsworth. What to do

APOE4 comes with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but the 25 per cent of people who have it can lower that risk with lifestyle changes.

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Wellness

How a zoo’s sights, sounds and smells can benefit people with dementia

Tour programmes at Berlin Zoo for people with dementia are helping them feel part of society and even jogging happy childhood memories.

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Wellness

How cooking can help lower your dementia risk – even just 1 meal a week

Experts say the processes involved in cooking, from grocery shopping to following recipes, can all have a positive impact on brain health.

A recent study suggests that cooking at home, even once a week, lowers a person’s dementia risk. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

Hypertension’s link to dementia calls for stronger blood pressure control

Links between dementia and hypertension are reasons to keep blood pressure under tighter control – sooner rather than later.

Wellness

Why internet use can actually lower your risk of dementia

While excessive screen time can harm young brains, a study finds that using the internet wisely can boost cognitive health in older adults.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

This breakthrough in screening marks another step in Hong Kong’s broader moves to identify and tackle health problems early.

Professor Nancy Ip, president of HKUST, attends the press conference for the launch of the project to screen 6,000 elderly people for Alzheimer’s disease, at HKUST in Sai Kung on March 23. Photo: Dickson Lee
Wellness

Can poor sleep lead to dementia? What you need to know about the links

Studies link poor-quality sleep to dementia types like Alzheimer’s disease, but experts explain why the picture might be more complex.

A recent study found that about 13 per cent of dementia cases may have roots in insomnia, and that poor sleep may be as significant a dementia risk factor as hearing loss and hypertension. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

The early signs of dementia you need to look for in loved ones and yourself

Verbal tests don’t always pick up Alzheimer’s disease. Falls, problems swallowing, bladder issues and other symptoms can be better signs.

The Netherlands

Singing circle in Amsterdam offers benefits to dementia patients

Scientists are studying the potential benefits of music for people with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

Wellness

What is the best brain training test to reduce dementia risk?

Study finds speed-based brain training better than memory or reasoning training in reducing risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

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In a study on whether specific types of cognitive training could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, the group that undertook speed training improved the most, in areas including safer driving, improved mood and more self-confidence. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

Can drinking tea and coffee reduce dementia risk? Yes, according to a study

A study conducted over 43 years suggests drinking two to three daily coffees, or one to two cups of tea, for a reduced risk of dementia.

Coffee and food from Mason Pocket, Hong Kong. A new study shows that moderate tea and coffee intake may lower dementia risk. Photo: Instagram/kwanheiting
Wellness

How much fat you should eat a day and why your brain needs it

Fat is vital, but it must be the right sort. Experts explain why that is, what the best foods to eat are, and how many grams you should eat.

Wellness

How do superagers stay so young? Genes can play a key role, study suggests

People in their 80s with high brain function are far less likely to carry the APOE4 gene than those showing mental decline, research finds.

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Wellness

Skydiving? It’s just another day for these retirement home residents

From skydiving to gardening, VR experiences offered to residents of US retirement homes are having positive effects on their quality of life.

An elderly retirement home resident engages in a VR experience. Texas-based tech company Mynd Immersive offers its Great American Elderverse - a VR platform that that blends entertainment with physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy - in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across 10 US states. Photo: Instagram/myndimmersive
Wellness

When dementia steals the right words, the ‘wrong’ ones speak volumes

Experts say dementia patients often lose the ability to communicate, but the metaphors they use can help carers better understand them.

Science

A mother’s mind appears restored: might ultrasound be a cure for Alzheimer’s?

After treatment for a separate condition, a Chinese neurologist noticed improvements in cognition.

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Wellness

The hidden benefits of common vaccines, including reduced dementia, heart risks

Flu, RSV, shingles, Covid and other vaccines have ‘off-target’ benefits for older adults, making them ‘key tools’ for healthy ageing.

Various studies around the world have linked jabs for influenza, shingles, RSV and more to a lowered risk of diseases associated with ageing, prompting further research into what doctors call “off-target” benefits. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | This year, Hong Kong must resolve to rewrite the script for retirement

Any long-term solution requires a re-imagination of retirement – beyond the outdated view of retirees as passive welfare recipients.

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Elderly people do their morning exercises in Fanling on August 17, 2025. Photo: Eugene Lee
Made in China 2025

Novartis, SciNeuro deal offers hope for 55 million suffering from Alzheimer’s

SciNeuro’s anti-amyloid programme is one of the firm’s key strategic research and development priorities to target the brain disease.

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Wellness

Singaporean dementia study links Alzheimer’s to clogged ‘brain drains’

Blocked glymphatic channels, part of the brain’s waste-cleaning network, could be an early Alzheimer’s marker, Singaporean researchers find.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong’s ageing population needs purpose, not just medical care

Too many among the city’s ageing population struggle on their own due to stigmas around mental health and a lack of targeted policies.

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An elderly woman at Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin in October 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse
Wellness

6 health and wellness tips for 2026 – keep things simple, sleep, move more

Experts reveal what simple health habits you should develop in 2026, from prioritising sleep to walking more to skipping wellness fads.

Hikers at Dragon’s Back trail in Shek O, Hong Kong. Research shows walking is great for physical and mental health. Photo: Eugene Lee
Wellness

Experts’ tips on safeguarding your brain health – one is being social

Maintaining good oral hygiene, regular exercise and increasing your social interactions can help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

Wellness

7 of the most popular health and wellness stories from 2025

Body transformations, scientific breakthroughs and weight-loss journeys are among your most-read health and wellness stories this year.

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