Fox's Kilmeade Decries Ethnic Mixing of 'Pure' Yanks

(NEWSER) - Brian Kilmeade of Fox and Friends has "sincerely apologized" for saying Americans might not be as vigorous as Scandinavians because they're not as "pure." It "was not my intention to offend anyone," Kilmeade said on the air yesterday. Several people demanded an apology after Kilmeade said that a Scandivian study finding that married couples are less likely to develop dementia probably didn't apply to Americans, who marry other "ethnicities" and other "species." More»

Frontotemporal dementia strikes early and fast

(NEWSER) - A little-known form of dementia can turn sufferers into completely different people, leaving spouses and children struggling to cope with someone who's still there in body but not in mind. Frontotemporal dementia bears some similarities to Alzheimer's—but it can hit patients who are younger and it develops faster. The New York Times tells a tragic and touching story of one couple brought to the brink of divorce before Michael French was diagnosed with the disorder; now, Ruth French has devoted her life to caring for a man who can no longer speak. More»

Sufferers expected to double by 2030, triple by 2050

(NEWSER) - The number of dementia sufferers will likely skyrocket in the coming decades, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. Today there are 35.6 million people with dementia, and that number is expected to nearly double to 65.7 million by 2030—and more than triple by 2050. "We need to increase our capacity to detect dementia early and to provide the necessary health and social care," says a WHO official. More»

And slow walkers may be at higher risk for dementia: study

(NEWSER) - If you're a slow walker or someone with a weak handshake, it may not bode well for your future. A new study finds that those who walk slowly may be more likely to develop dementia later in life, the BBC reports. Researchers looked at brain scans, walking speeds, and grip strength for 2,410 people aged, on average, 62 years. Eleven years later, 34 of them had developed dementia, and researchers found the risk was higher in those who had a slower pace. More»

But she intends to keep coaching

(NEWSER) - Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s type early onset dementia, she revealed in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel last night, but she intends to keep her gig as head coach of Tennessee’s Lady Vols. “There’s not going to be any pity party, and I’ll make sure of that,” she said when she broke the news to her players today. She plans to manage her illness with medication and mental exercise like nightly puzzles, while leaning on her "outstanding coaching staff" when necessary. More»