Alzheimer's
Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named 2026 Australian of the Year
As the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag, Katherine Bennell–Pegg hopes to inspire the next generation to look at the sky and dream big.
- Natassia Chrysanthos
Latest
Not much is known about why women develop dementia. That’s about to change
Women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men, yet they are not often the focus of research. Australian researchers are now joining a global study with the aim of cutting that number by half.
- Sarah Berry
Is ‘inflammageing’ part of getting older? Here’s what the experts say
It’s associated with a range of health problems linked with ageing, but why do some people get it and others don’t? And is there anything you can do to prevent it? Here’s what the experts say.
- Richard Sima
Brain scan to detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear in world first
A world-first brain scanning technique could identify signs of Alzheimer’s disease long before symptoms appear.
- Laura Donnelly
This kind of sleep is essential for a healthy brain. Missing out can be devastating
Sleep is about more than feeling energised the following day – certain types of sleep help your brain “clean” and “heal itself”.
- Mohana Ravindranath
Shingles-dementia link gives weight to a ‘heretical’ theory
The shingles vaccine seems to give some protection against dementia. But why?
- Liam Mannix
Gene Hackman’s wife died later than originally thought, authorities say
Betsy Arakawa had scheduled a medical appointment, then cancelled it two days before, saying that she needed to take care of her husband.
- Julia Jacobs and Annie Aguiar
What your mouth has to do with your risk of dementia
New research suggests that our oral microbiome might predict cognitive decline before symptoms start.
- Sarah Berry
‘A privilege’: What 15-year-old Charlie and other young carers want you to know
There are more than 390,000 carers under 25 in Australia, but their work often goes unnoticed, and advocates say more support is needed.
- Lauren Ironmonger
- Opinion
- Ageing
Want to know how you’ll die? Increasingly, the chances are it will be dementia
In 1974, there were just 338 deaths attributed to dementia. By 2023 that number had seen a near 5000 per cent increase.
- Shane Wright