Dementia
How fruit and veg may reduce risk of cognitive decline
A new study that followed 80,000 middle-aged people for more than 20 years has found that those who consumed the most flavonoids significantly reduce the risk of experiencing early signs of cognitive… Audio
Struggling to hear in noisy settings? It could be dementia
Do you struggle to hear people or keep up with conversations when there's noise around? A new study of 80,000 adults over the age of 60 links this to dementia risk. Epidemiologist and study author… Audio
How can we reduce the soaring rate of dementia in New Zealand?
Currently, 70,000 New Zealanders have dementia. That's set to rise to 170,000 by 2050. Auckland psychiatrist Dr Etuini Ma'u is the co-author of a University of Auckland study that shows the potential… Audio
How a hot bath mimics the benefits of exercise
Research out of Coventry University shows that regularly soaking in a hot tub - or sitting in a sauna - can mimic many of the health benefits of exercise. PhD candidate Charles Steward is with us to… Audio
Dementia explained with Rhonda Preston-Jones
More than 70,000 people in New Zealand live with dementia, and by 2050 that figure is expected to rise to 170,000. Audio
What near-death experiences reveal about life and beyond
Professor Bruce Greyson is the world's leading expert on near-death experiences. His search for answers is chronicled in his new book After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about… Audio
The secret to living to well into your 90s (or older)
Dr Claudia Kawas is searching for the secrets to living a longer and healthier life. Kawas and her team have been running a major study of ageing California residents for more than two decades. She… Audio
Wanted - a high profile dementia sufferer to come out of the shadows
Support for people with dementia is reaching few of them - yet four in five New Zealanders have some connection to the disease. Dementia sufferers need a champion. Audio
Covid-19: One in five patients diagnosed with a mental illness
Research out of Oxford University shows than one in five Covid-19 patients have gone on to be diagnosed with a mental illness within three months of testing positive, with anxiety, insomnia, and… Audio
Kirsten Johnson: Dick Johnson is Dead
Cinematographer and director Kirsten Johnson was afraid of losing her father to dementia, so she got in first, killing him off in imaginative and comical ways in her new film Dick Johnson is Dead. Video, Audio
Brain researchers strapped for cash after funding pulled
As dementia numbers soar and a cure remains elusive, one of the key organisations leading research into prevention and treatment is under threat. Audio
Men doing hard physical labour at higher risk of dementia
New research from the University of Copenhagen has found that men in jobs with hard physical work have a 55% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those doing sedentary work. Associate… Audio
Diabetes drug-dementia link, and could Covid cause Parkinson's?
Science commentator Malvindar Singh-Bains joins Kathryn to look at how a common diabetes drug could be linked to slower cognitive decline and lower the dementia risk in Type-2 diabetics. She also… Audio
Covid-19's effect on the brain, hearing loss and dementia link
Science commentator Malvindar Singh-Bains joins Kathryn to look at the number of Covid patients that have experienced neurological issues, and how that could grow as the pandemic progresses… Audio
Low-carb diet could stave off brain degeneration
A study out of Stony Brook University has found cognitive ageing starts earlier than expected. That's the bad news. The good news is that it looks like this process can be prevented - or even reversed… Audio
Study on rabbits reveals the secret to living a longer life
In 1978, a seemingly straightforward experiment involving New Zealand rabbits discovered that kindness made the difference between a heart attack and a healthy heart. It's called the 'rabbit effect'… Audio
A good blood supply is good for memory
Science commentator Malvindar Singh-Bains joins Kathryn to talk about how memory performance and other cognitive abilities benefit from a good blood supply to the brain. A recent study suggests that… Audio
An optimistic partner is good for your health - new study
If you're in a long-term relationship, your partner's outlook can have a big impact on how long and how well you live, according to a new study by researchers at Michigan State University. It turns… Audio
Unlocking new secrets of the brain in Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s
Science correspondent Malvindar Singh-Bains joins Kathryn to talk about how the human brain is the final frontier of medical research: You can replace a kidney, a lung, a liver, even a heart, but it… Audio
How old is your brain?
Science correspondent Malvindar Singh-Bains joins Kathryn to discuss whether your brain is aging faster than you. Machine-learning tools can be used in combination with MRI data to predict how well… Audio