Weight lifting and other forms of resistance training may help older women with early signs of cognitive decline, such as memory loss, slow that decline and perhaps stave off dementia. These results are based on a small proof-of-concept study reported April 26, 2012 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study was conducted by a research team led by Teresa Liu-Ambrose of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility at Vancouver Coastal Health  Other investigators were from the University of British Columbia.

People who have trouble sleeping may be at higher risk of developing memory problems and developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

In a small study of cognitively normal people, frequent nighttime waking or lying awake at night was linked to development of the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to lead author, Yo-El Ju, M.D., MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Scheduled for a colonoscopy? Ask your physician to play Mozart while she’s peering through that endoscope, and she may do a better job of detecting potentially cancerous polyps in your colon and rectum, called adenomas. Colonic polyps are common precursors to colon cancer. Adenomas are a type of polyp that may develop into invasive colorectal cancer. Adenocarcinoma of the colon is the most common form of colorectal cancer.

A popular bodybuilding supplement does not live up to its labels’ promises of improved muscle strength and endurance, said two unrelated groups of researchers this summer. The supplement, arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG), is widely marketed as a strength-enhancer to weight lifters and bodybuilders. For example, AAKG is supposed to “extend muscle pump, enhance muscle growth, and get rock-hard muscles.” Evidence from these two studies, however, suggests that AAKG may actually decrease performance and have no effect on blood flow.

People with Parkinson’s Disease appear to have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, according to findings from a meta-analysis (a "study of studies") reported in the June 7 print issue of Neurology.

People who have a “mini stroke” appear to be at twice the risk of later having a heart attack. For people who have a mini stroke before 60 years of age, the risk of heart attack is up 15 times greater.