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Dementia Counselling

counselling for people affected by dementia

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds
  • Post author:Jurgen Schwarz
  • Post published:18 February 2026

Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers.  Get the details from this Guardian article “Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds“.

News

  • Dementia deaths among women at highest level in five years
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    13 July 2026
    The Alzheimer’s Society has reported that dementia deaths among women is at its highest level in five years. In 2025, the number of women who died… Read more: Dementia deaths among women at highest level in five years
  • Breakthrough £90,000 Alzheimer’s drugs unlikely to benefit patients, report suggests
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    29 April 2026
    Influential analysis has concluded that “breakthrough” Alzheimer’s drugs are unlikely to benefit patients. Read the BBC article “Breakthrough £90,000 Alzheimer’s drugs unlikely to benefit patients, report… Read more: Breakthrough £90,000 Alzheimer’s drugs unlikely to benefit patients, report suggests
  • Hospital delirium linked to later dementia risk in healthy adults 
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    30 March 2026
    Older adults who develop delirium during a hospital admission face a substantially higher risk of dementia in later years, even if they had no prior health… Read more: Hospital delirium linked to later dementia risk in healthy adults 
  • Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    18 February 2026
    Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers.  Get the details from this Guardian article “Reading and writing… Read more: Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds
  • Challenge your brain (even on the train)
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    22 January 2026
    The article “Challenge your brain (even on the train)” by Alzheimer’s Research UK looks into the benefits of regularly challenging one’s brain. Read the full article… Read more: Challenge your brain (even on the train)
  • ‘Caring was the most difficult time of my life’
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    27 November 2025
    This BBC News article ‘Caring was the most difficult time of my life‘ talks about the struggles some carers face.
  • Fans with Alzheimer’s lead out England for charity
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    14 October 2025
    Two Bristol football fans have led out the England men’s team at Wembley ahead of a friendly against Wales in aid of an Alzheimer’s charity. Read… Read more: Fans with Alzheimer’s lead out England for charity
  • Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial finds
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    17 September 2025
    Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial finds. Test detects memory problems linked to Alzheimer’s long before typical diagnosis, raising possibility of… Read more: Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial finds
  • Bird watching is therapy for those with dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    24 August 2025
    A birdwatching group is helping people with dementia and their loved ones to find therapy in the great outdoors. Here is the full BBC article “Bird… Read more: Bird watching is therapy for those with dementia
  • Kids and dementia patients enjoy ‘smiles and love’
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    20 July 2025
    Dementia patients have partnered with primary school pupils in south-east London in a project to assuage loneliness and improve cognitive function. Read details of this BBC… Read more: Kids and dementia patients enjoy ‘smiles and love’
  • Signs of dementia or normal forgetfulness? How to tell the difference
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    26 May 2025
    Bianca Nogrady writes “Some memory lapses are nothing to worry about, but getting help for early warning signs can reduce the risk of them progressing”. She… Read more: Signs of dementia or normal forgetfulness? How to tell the difference
  • Amid all the warnings about a ‘dementia tsunami’, here are the things you should know
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    11 April 2025
    When we dig into new research we see why all the alarming headlines are written, but also that science is bringing new hope. Read more in… Read more: Amid all the warnings about a ‘dementia tsunami’, here are the things you should know
  • When is the correct time to diagnose dementia?
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    28 March 2025
    Pin-prick blood tests that detect possible precursors of Alzheimer’s disease are becoming available – but is it right to label people who will never develop the… Read more: When is the correct time to diagnose dementia?
  • Exercising throughout life could prevent dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    18 February 2025
    People who exercise throughout their lives have a better chance of avoiding dementia – even if they show signs of diseases like Alzheimer’s, finds a new… Read more: Exercising throughout life could prevent dementia
  • Tens of thousands of UK dementia patients to be enrolled in clinical trials
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    1 January 2025
    Tens of thousands of UK dementia patients are to be enrolled in clinical trials designed to dramatically speed up the hunt for a cure. Read the… Read more: Tens of thousands of UK dementia patients to be enrolled in clinical trials
  • Lowering risk of dementia with physical fitness
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    21 November 2024
    A Swedish research team found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with a decreased dementia risk, as outlined in this Guardian article. 
  • According to a recent study almost half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    7 October 2024
    A Guardian article outlines how this can be achieved by addressing and modifying various risk factors beginning in childhood and continuing throughout life, as the Lancet commission… Read more: According to a recent study almost half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed
  • A new study looks at the genetics of Alzheimer’s
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    27 August 2024
    This Guardian article suggests that having two copies of a gene variant does not only increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but is a cause of it.… Read more: A new study looks at the genetics of Alzheimer’s
  • Will this brutally honest look at dementia finally get us talking or will we turn away?
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    15 April 2024
    The latest advert by the Alzheimer’s Society is being discussed in an Observer article. According to the writer, the advert by the Alzheimer’s Society is shocking,… Read more: Will this brutally honest look at dementia finally get us talking or will we turn away?
  • Risk factors for faster aging in the brain revealed in new study
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    29 March 2024
    Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford have used data from UK Biobank participants to reveal that diabetes, traffic-related air… Read more: Risk factors for faster aging in the brain revealed in new study
  • Alzheimer’s can pass between humans in rare medical accidents, suggests study
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    19 February 2024
    Alzheimer’s can pass between humans in rare medical accidents, suggests study as explained in this Guardian article. Handful of patients who received human growth hormone from… Read more: Alzheimer’s can pass between humans in rare medical accidents, suggests study
  • Hope amid the hell of being a dementia carer
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    27 January 2024
    Fanny Johnston’s moving account of caring for her father resonates with readers, as these comments show.
  • “My father had dementia and I was his caregiver. Here’s what I wish I had known”
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    12 December 2023
    Cynthia Dearborn shares her insights in a Guardian article “My father had dementia and I was his caregiver. Here’s what I wish I had known.”
  • Blood tests for Alzheimer’s on the horizon
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    12 November 2023
    A new project called the “Blood Biomarker Challenge” pilots new blood tests in the NHS, as explained in this news item in The Independent “Alzheimer’s breakthrough… Read more: Blood tests for Alzheimer’s on the horizon
  • 11 Key Factors Behind Dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    25 October 2023
    A Guardian article, “Dementia risk study finds 11 key factors behind condition” explains what risk factors scientists have identified and how they use them to predict… Read more: 11 Key Factors Behind Dementia
  • Strong coffee could prevent Alzheimer’s
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    25 October 2023
    An article “How strong coffee could prevent Alzheimer’s – even if it is in an espresso martini” is published in the Independent. It reports about new… Read more: Strong coffee could prevent Alzheimer’s
  • Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    13 July 2023
    This review and analysis by various researchers looks into Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia.
  • Another new Alzheimer’s drug on the horizon
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    13 July 2023
    Details of this new drug that slows the progression of the disease has been found, the BBCs health and science correspondent explains in this article New… Read more: Another new Alzheimer’s drug on the horizon
  • Effects on carers for people with dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    8 May 2023
    A Guardian article “‘Part of you dies as well’: the toll of caring for loved ones with dementia” describes how a new drug could slow the… Read more: Effects on carers for people with dementia
  • Dementia Explained by the WHO (World Health Organization)
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    19 March 2023
    The World Health Organization has published an article on dementia. General facts, treatment and care, risk factors and prevention and self care are looked at in… Read more: Dementia Explained by the WHO (World Health Organization)
  • Is your lifestyle increasing your risk of dementia?
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    26 January 2023
    Recent research by the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric care suggests important lifestyle factors may be more important than age in determining our cognitive ability. See the… Read more: Is your lifestyle increasing your risk of dementia?
  • Patterns of lifespan weight gain/loss may predict dementia risk
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    28 December 2022
    Researchers from Boston University have been looking into the connection between changes in BMI (body mass index) over one’s life and a person’s risk of dementia.… Read more: Patterns of lifespan weight gain/loss may predict dementia risk
  • The long awaited results of the new dementia drug have been presented
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    1 December 2022
    At the annual ‘Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease’ meeting in San Francisco, the progress of the latest research has been made public. The attention was particularly… Read more: The long awaited results of the new dementia drug have been presented
  • The Basics about Dementia
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    14 November 2022
    The WHO (World Health Organisation) has put together a comprehensive factsheet concerning dementia. It can be used as a starting point to find out more about… Read more: The Basics about Dementia
  • Our choice of food might not impact on our dementia risk
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    30 October 2022
    A new study of the American Academy of Neurology has found that the Mediterranean diet is not linked to a reduced risk of dementia. So diet… Read more: Our choice of food might not impact on our dementia risk
  • Possible link between taking multiple medications and dementia diagnosis
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    18 October 2022
    Science Daily has just published an article “Study explores link between people taking multiple medications and dementia diagnosis”. The artile describes research being undertaken by the… Read more: Possible link between taking multiple medications and dementia diagnosis
  • Distressing news about the effects a recent dementia diagnosis has on some people
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    5 October 2022
    A Guardian article “People with recent dementia diagnosis found to have higher suicide risk” summarises some recent research.
  • New Hope for People with Dementia and their Families
    by Jurgen Schwarz
    5 October 2022
    A BBC article “Alzheimer’s-slowing drug labelled historic” describes trial results of a drug appearing to slow Alzheimer’s disease.
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