Newsweek

  Migraines—searing headaches that feel like a hammer to the inside of the skull—can strike anyone, but they predominantly affect women, who are up to four times more likely than men to get them. What causes them, and why they impact women more, remains unclear, but a pair of new studies adds urgency to the need to find better methods of treatment.   One new study published Tuesday in the journal The BMJ found that women who get migraines are also more likely to develop heart conditions like heart attacks and strokes, and are also slightly more likely to die from them compared to women who do not regularly get migraines.   The researchers looked at data of 115,51 women between the ages of 25 to 42 who were part of the Nurses’ Health Study II. The women were then followed for 22 years, and the researchers looked for whether they experienced heart complications. About 15% of the women in the study reported having migraines, and these women were 50% more likely to ha...

  Misplacing your car keys, calling your neighbor by the wrong name or forgetting to buy bread at the grocery store are common memory lapses. But with age, forgetfulness happens more often, and it’s easy to begin questioning what’s normal — like if it’s a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.   Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which is a term to describe the loss of cognitive functioning. Over time, Alzheimer’s can lead to an inability to carry out daily activities, such as getting dressed, having conversations.   If someone you care about is experiencing signs of Alzheimer's, knowing the signs of each stage can help you assist in managing the disease.   “There's no cure for Alzheimer's,” explains David Wolk, MD, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, “but there are medications that can keep the symptoms from getting worse for a period of time.”   Remember, Alzheimer’s affects everyone differently. The timing and severity may be di...