Selected Press Hits & Interviews
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Inside The Brain of Dr. Lisa Mosconi
August 12, 2021 | By Virginie Dolata
ELLE International, ELLE India, ELLE Argentina, ELLE Bulgaria, ELLE Indonesia, ELLE Norway, ELLE Germany.
Talking about menopause can be taboo for some, but not for the Italian-American neuroscientist, Dr Lisa Mosconi. After 20 years of research, and a painful family experience, she realised how menopause can affect the female brain, with a potential link to Alzheimer’s disease. In her latest book, she shares her knowledge, and some advice, making it a must-read for all women. Because “Brain health is women’s health!”
We Need To Know How Menopause Changes The Brain
July 20, 2021 | By Kim Tingley
During menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, her ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, bringing an end to her natural childbearing years. But those hormones also regulate how the brain functions, and the brain governs their release — meaning that menopause is a neurological process as well. “What we found in women and not in men is that the brain changes quite a lot,” Dr. Mosconi says. “The transition of menopause really leads to a whole remodeling.” Read more here.
The Surprising Good News on How Menopause Changes Your Brain
June 14, 2021. | By Sumathi Reddy
Menopause changes women’s brains—but many of the changes are temporary, and the brain eventually compensates for some of them, according to new research. […] “Our study suggests that the brain has the ability to find a new normal after menopause in most women,” said Lisa Mosconi, lead author of the study. Read more here.
New Intelligence on How the Female Brain Works
March 9, 2020 | By Sumathi Reddy
Lisa Mosconi, author of ‘The XX Brain,’ breaks down new discoveries science is making about the ways women can optimize cognitive health. Read more here.
The History of Female Brain Studies Reveal a Lot
March 22, 2020
Lisa Mosconi’s new book “The XX Brain” provides a fresh take on the study of sex differences in brains by focusing on hormones. While it is exciting to learn about studies that promise to enhance women’s health, the historical quest to document sex differences in brains was founded on the premise that women’s brains are inherently inferior to men’s. Read more here.
The best foods for brain health
December 9, 2020 | By Michael Merschel
It's easy to see the connection between an unhealthy diet and an expanding waistline. The connection between food and brain health can be harder to get your mind around. But experts agree. Eating right is essential for brain health. From its very architecture to its ability to perform, every aspect of the brain calls for proper food. Read more here.
Battle of the Brain! Do Men or Women Have the Healthier Brain?
November 20, 2020 | By Paula Spencer Scott
Women’s brains really are different from men’s. Now that neurological research is being done on both men and women, we know that there are subtle differences in biochemistry and wiring but without big effects on behavior or intellect, says neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D. These biological differences in brains aren’t better or worse, but they do contribute to sex-specific health risks and vulnerabilities. Read more here.
‘Brain Food’ is real.
Here’s what to feed your kids to help their gray matter grow.
July 9, 2020 | By Jason Bittel
Everybody’s heard that eating carrots can help improve eyesight, or that calcium-rich milk is good for your teeth and bones. But what about the brain? “From a neuroscientist’s perspective, food is really fundamentally important for brain health, because our brains literally run on nutrients,” says Lisa Mosconi, director of the Weill Cornell Women’s Brain Initiative and author of Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power. Brains need different nutrients as they age, and early childhood is a particularly critical time for brain growth, development, and health. Read more here.
Higher rates of Alzheimer’s in women explained?
June 26, 2020 | By Pauline Anderson
Loss of estrogen related to menopause may explain why women are much more likely than men to develop Alzheimer disease (AD), new research suggests. In a study of more than 120 participants, menopausal status was the main factor contributing to higher beta amyloid (Aβ) levels, lower glucose metabolism, and lower gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) in women. Read more here.
Alzheimer's May Develop Differently in Women
— Brain changes appear years earlier in women than in men, imaging shows.
June 24, 2020 | By June George
Women developed Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes earlier than men, a cross-sectional imaging study showed. Compared with their male counterparts, cognitively normal middle-age women showed higher beta-amyloid loads, lower glucose metabolism, and lower gray and white matter volumes, said Lisa Mosconi, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and colleagues. Menopause was the strongest predictor of Alzheimer's brain changes, they reported in Neurology. Read more here.
Alzheimer's risk is higher for women: 3 diet tips to boost brain health
June 18, 2020 | By A. Pawlowski
It’s common to think about eating for a healthy heart or gut, but the same food-as-medicine principles also apply to the brain. That’s especially important to know for women, who make up two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases. What they eat now — in their 20s, 30s and beyond — could help prevent dementia decades later. […] Diet can have a real daily impact. Follow this link to read more.
Could the menopause trigger Alzheimer’s? This scientist says yes.
June 3, 2020 | By Damian Withworth
Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi thinks a decline in oestrogen may be linked to dementia in women. Lifestyle changes can help, she explains. Read more here.
A Neuroscientist’s Prescription for a Brain in Menopause
May 27, 2020 | By Paula Spencer Scott
For a birthday girl worried what the advancing postmenopausal years are doing to her mind — yes, that would be me — the chance that very day to talk to a leading neuroscientist who studies women in midlife and beyond proved a happy coincidence. And a galvanizing one. To read more, click on this link, and this.
NPR: The Biology of Sex
Many of us were taught biological sex is a question of female or male, XX or XY ... but it's far more complicated. This hour, TED speakers explore what determines our sex. Guests on the show include artist Emily Quinn, journalist Molly Webster, neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, and structural biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu. To listen to the interview online, use this link.
Why More Women Than Men Get Alzheimer's
April 17, 2020 | By Sarah Elizabeth Adler
Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, whose new book The XX Brain instantly topped best seller lists, became interested in women's brain health because of her own family history. Born and raised in Italy, her grandmother and her grandmother's two sisters died of Alzheimer's disease, while their brother, who lived to the same age, did not develop the disease. In this Q&A, she talks about the book, how hormones affect brain health and the steps women can take to benefit their brains in midlife and beyond.
Menopause Predisposes a Fifth of Women to Alzheimer's. Why?
April 15, 2020 |. By Jena Pincott
Getting older is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Research indicates that being female is a close second. Why? Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women’s Brain Initiative and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Center at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, might know. She has analyzed thousands of positron-emission tomography (PET) scans of patients entering menopause and has seen how their brain metabolism changes over time. Read more here.
The History of Female Brain Studies Reveal a Lot
March 23rd, 2020 | By Kimberly Hamlin, Ph.D.
"Lisa Mosconi’s new book “The XX Brain” provides a fresh take on the study of sex differences in brains by focusing on hormones. While it is exciting to learn about studies that promise to enhance women’s health, the historical quest to document sex differences in brains was founded on the premise that women’s brains are inherently inferior to men’s. [...] As we know all too well, the quest to find sex differences in brains has political as well as scientific implications." Link to article.
How Menopause Affects Your Brain
April 14, 2020 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
There are many misconceptions and myths about menopause. One of the myths we are working hard to dispel is the notion that menopause affects women only physically. For those who still insist on using menopause as a cute punch line to a sexist joke (likely told by someone who has never experienced a night sweat), it’s important to clarify that the menopausal ebb in estrogens doesn’t just leave women fighting hot flashes, but also has us courting more serious issues such as a weakened memory and sometimes, cognitive decline. Herein, I discuss the most common “brain symptoms” of menopause -- what they are, why we get them, and how to manage them. Read more here.
Little Life Hacks To Support A Healthy Female Brain
March 15th, 2020 | By Jess Cording
Men and women’s bodies are different in so many ways, so why aren’t there more health resources to help women navigate the hormonal shifts and other unique factors that impact their mood, cognitive function, and energy levels? Dr. Lisa Mosconi, PhD, who is the Director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College, was frustrated by the lack of accessible information. For example, research has shown that women are far more likely than men to suffer from anxiety, depression, migraines, brain injuries, strokes and Alzheimer's disease, but how best to empower women to nurture the health of their brain and know which questions to ask and which tests to request to monitor their brain health? Read more here.
The leading expert on women's brains says they are more likely to get Alzheimer's
March 12, 2020 | By Anthony DiFlorio / Video by Richie Hertzberg
Dr. Lisa Mosconi has been thinking about thinking for quite some time—in fact, since she was just a child. A native Italian, she studied neuroscience and nuclear medicine at the University of Florence and NYU before joining Weill Cornell School of Medicine. Since 2018, she has been director of the Women’s Brain Initiative […]. Mosconi’s latest book, The XX Brain, sets out to detail the groundbreaking findings of her groundbreaking research into the comparatively-under-studied world of women's brains, including their cognitive distinctions from men’s brains, beginning at conception and continuing throughout the aging process. Watch the interview here.
Stop Believing These Myths About Women’s Brains [Editor’s pick]
March 11th, 2020 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Of the estimated 5.7 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, about two-thirds are women. The threat of the disease is significant: Women in their sixties are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s over the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer. But, as Lisa Mosconi, director of the Brain Health Initiative, writes in her recently released book, “The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease,” while “breast cancer is clearly identified as a women’s health issue, Alzheimer’s is not.” In the following excerpt from the book, which hit shelves March 10, Mosconi talks about some of the myths associated with Alzheimer’s — and why the differences between men and women’s brains matter. Read the article here.
Here’s What Women Should Eat to Maintain a Healthy Brain
March 11, 2020 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Adopting a brain-healthy diet is a powerful tool in maximizing cognitive health and helping prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, says neuroscientist and nutritionist Dr. Lisa Mosconi. What’s more, it may even ward off common ailments that affect many women, from slow metabolism to insomnia and depression. Based on results from rigorous research in women, here are 8 steps to take, which are designed to maximize the intake of nutrients to keep the female brain young and energized, while also supporting the microbiome, protecting the heart, and reducing menopause symptoms.
New Intelligence on How the Female Brain Works
March 9th, 2020 | By Sumathi Reddy
Lisa Mosconi, author of ‘The XX Brain,’ breaks down new discoveries science is making about the ways women can optimize cognitive health. Lisa Mosconi, a neuroscientist and director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, focuses her research on what she says is one of the most under-researched, underdiagnosed and underrated fields in medicine: the female brain and women’s brain health. Link is here.
The truth about the link between Alzheimer's and the menopause
January 26, 2020 | By Maria Lally
As new research suggests that dementia can be triggered in women during hormonal changes, Maria Lally reports on how HRT is key to an all-round healthier brain. [..] Lisa Mosconi, who is currently studying the link between declining oestrogen levels during the menopause and dementia, says that the overwhelming number of female dementia patients isn’t down to women living longer. But rather that Alzheimer’s may be triggered during hormonal changes that take place during the perimenopause, which are the years leading up to the menopause. The article is here.
In her book "Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power" (Avery), Lisa Mosconi, a neuroscientist and integrative nutritionist, and the associate director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, writes about the dietary needs of the brain, and about approaching cognitive health through nutrition. Read the excerpt here, and don't miss Dr. Mosconi talking "brain food" on "CBS Sunday Morning" November 24!
This Is My Brain Stumbling Into Menopause
November 8th, 2019 | By Deborah Copaken
Two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s patients are women. Why? It has often been posited that this is because women live longer than men, giving the disease more time to set in. But Lisa Mosconi, [..] who directs Weill Cornell Medicine’s Women’s Brain Initiative, wasn’t buying it, even as audience members and some researchers at various scientific conferences she attended begged to differ. […] Mosconi is in the nascent stages of a research project exploring another theory: Alzheimer’s might be triggered in women years before any signs of the disease appear, during perimenopause, the period of transition into menopause. Read the story here.
Neuroscientist studies possible link between Alzheimer’s and menopause
NBC’s Maria Shriver talks with neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, who is devoted to her research on Alzheimer’s, the brain and menopause. Mosconi says her studies are personal, as several women in her family have been diagnosed with the disease. She shares her findings with Maria for the 3rd hour of TODAY — right here.
How To Supercharge Your Brain
November 1, 2019 | By Meghan Rabbitt
Your mind is built for speed, not a slow wind-down, contrary to popular belief. Oh, and for productivity…and flexibility…and resourcefulness too. Instead of leaving yours in a comfortable gear, use the WH manual to hack it and turn on your supercharged mode, so you can do everything stronger, faster, and smarter. Welcome to the new rules of engagement. Read the story here.
Lifestyle changes improved cognition in people at risk for Alzheimers, study shows
October 30, 2019 | By Sandee LaMotte, CNN
A new study finds personalized lifestyle interventions not only stopped cognitive decline in people at risk for Alzheimer's, but actually increased their memory and thinking skills within 18 months. "Our data actually shows cognitive improvement," said neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson, founder of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center. This is the first study in a real-world clinic setting showing individualized clinical management may improve cognitive function and also reduce Alzheimer's and cardiovascular risk.
The Link Between Diet, Exercise and Alzheimer’s
October 30, 2019 | By Sumathi Reddy
A new study finds that lifestyle changes can improve cognition. In his 40s and a self-described fitness nut, Stephen Chambers doesn’t seem like someone who would be worrying about Alzheimer’s. But when his father was diagnosed with the disease about five years ago, he went to the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic in New york City to find out what he could do. Read the full story here.
7 Brain Foods A Neuroscientist Wants You To Eat Every Day
July 23, 2019 | By Kells McPhillips
“When I reach for my fork and chow down, rarely (um, never) do I consider which parts of my body I’m about to nourish. My tastebuds take the wheel and I barely acknowledge that all my organs—from my skin to my liver—are reacting to the macronutrients I’ve put on my plate. Lisa Mosconi, PhD, neuroscientist and author of Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power, argues that when it comes to eating well, the organ you use to think should be top priority”. Read the article here.
Is There A Link Between Menopause and Alzheimer’s?
June 10, 2019 | By Deborah Copaken
[…] I immediately Googled “memory loss menopause,” and 13.8 million hits appeared on my screen. Was memory loss an inevitable byproduct of menopause? And if so, why? I started digging. And that’s when I stumbled upon a recent Op-Ed in the New York Times by neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi, who is studying the link between menopause and Alzheimer’s. So on a warm spring day, just after the artichoke incident, I biked from my home in Brooklyn to Mosconi’s office at Weill Cornell. Read the story here.
Can You Go Vegan Without Burning Out Your Brain?
December 3, 2018 | By Erin Bunch
“… while most downsides about veganism have been largely debunked (yes, you can get enough protein!), there’s one concern I still have: Will such a restrictive diet mess with my brain health? Rather than going down an Internet rabbit hole, I decided to throw this question to experts to unpack. Do you lose any brain-boosting nutrients by going vegan?” The article is here.
The neuroscientist’s rule book for preventing dementia
May 21, 2019 | By Olivia Hartland-Robbins
Half of UK adults are unable to identify any of the key risk factors for dementia, let alone how to keep your brain fit and healthy. Dr Lisa Mosconi reveals what you need to know. A new generation of studies has begun to identify which nutrients are particularly helpful in enabling our brains to to their maximum capacity, as well as protecting them as we age,’ says Mosconi. These are some of the key proven ways she suggests we can keep our brains well as we get older.
Can What We Eat Affect How We Feel?
March 28, 2019 | By Richard Schiffman
The field of nutritional psychiatry attempts to apply what science is learning about the impact of nutrition on the brain and mental health. The irony […] is that most Americans are overfed in calories yet starved of the vital array of micronutrients that our brains need, many of which are found in common plant foods. Read the article here.
The High-Stakes Allure of an Anti-Alzheimer’s Diet
March 21, 2019 | By Nicola Twilley and Cynthia Graber
Can changing what you eat prevent Alzheimer’s? For Lisa Mosconi and her colleague Richard Isaacson at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, the first of its kind in the United States and still one of only a few in the world, the answer to has involved a shift in approach: from cure to prevention. Over the past decade, observational studies have revealed patterns that seem to link Alzheimer’s with exercise, sleep, cognitive stimulation, and, especially, diet. Read the story here.
The Link Between Menopause and Alzheimer’s
February 18, 2019 | Sumathi Reddy
Women make up nearly two-thirds of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S., in part because they live longer than men. Now, researchers are exploring whether hormonal changes related to menopause affect the development of the disease. Read the article here.
The Alarming Link Between Menopause and Dementia
February 26, 2019 | By Stephanie Thurrott
Turns out that more than a woman’s ability to reproduce is affected when she goes through menopause. Two out of three people affected by Alzheimer’s disease are women and scientists are now investigating a possible link between menopause and dementia. Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College, is studying the link between declining estrogen levels in menopause and cognitive problems. Read the article here.
How the evidence stacks up for preventing Alzheimer’s disease
July 18, 2018 | by Emily Sohn
Alzheimer’s disease has long been considered an inevitable consequence of aging that is exacerbated by a genetic predisposition. Increasingly, however, it is thought to be influenced by modifiable lifestyle behaviors that might enable a person’s risk of developing the condition to be controlled. But even as evidence to support this idea has accumulated over the past decade, the research community has been slow to adopt the idea. Read my interview here.
Food for thought: the smart way to better brain health
October 13, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
A brain-healthy diet optimizes your capacity for keeping a healthy, sharp and active brain over a lifetime – while reducing the risk of developing age-related cognitive impairments and dementia. As individuals and as a society, we must refocus attention on how our food choices shape our brains, as surely as they shape the rest of us. Read my op-ed here.
Menopause May Play A Major Factor in Alzheimer's, How to Protect yourself
June 25, 2018
There is growing research that shows that as women's hormone levels go down during menopause, their risk goes up for those damaging amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer's. TODAY’s Maria Shriver speaks with Lisa Mosconi, author of “Brain Food,” on how women can work to protect their brain health. (Created by TODAY with our sponsor AARP). Watch the story here.
Should women in their 40s take hormones for brain health?
June 25, 2018 | By A. Pawlowsky
Hormone changes during menopause mean women lose a “crucially important” layer of protection, some experts say. “Alzheimer’s doesn’t turn on in your brain when you’re 80 years old. Alzheimer’s begins when we’re 40 or 50 years old. It’s not bad enough that you get symptoms, but the process starts in mid-life, which is exactly when women go through menopause,” Mosconi told TODAY.
Op-ed: The Menopause-Alzheimer’s Connection
April 18, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
In the next three minutes, three people will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Two of them will be women. There are 5.7 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. By 2050, there will probably be as many as 14 million, and twice as many women as men will have the disease. And yet research into “women’s health” remains largely focused on reproductive fitness and breast cancer. We need to be paying much more attention to the most important aspect of any woman’s future: her ability to think, to recall, to imagine — her brain. Read my op-ed here.
For Your Patients-Alzheimer's Imaging: The Case for Amyloid PET Scans in Practice
August 16, 2018 | By Lizette Borreli
Would results from a positron tomography scan — either positive or negative for amyloid-beta — change the diagnosis and treatment for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? A new study designed to evaluate the use of amyloid PET as a diagnostic tool in daily clinical practice answers yes to both scenarios. Though PET imaging is the bread and butter of my work and research, I advocate for caution. Read my thoughts on the crucial issue of qualified disclosure here.
Mediterranean diet may slow development of Alzheimer’s disease
May 15, 2018 | By Sharon Reynolds
A research team led by Dr. Lisa Mosconi from Weill Cornell Medicine found differences in brain imaging scans between people who reported eating a Mediterranean diet and those who ate a standard Western diet. The researchers estimate that there may be as much as a three-and-a-half-year delay in progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who have eaten a Mediterranean diet for many years, rather than a standard Western diet. Research that involves larger and more diverse groups of people over longer periods of time is needed to confirm these findings.
Mediterranean diet delays Alzheimer’s for three extra years
May 2, 2018 | By Alice Klein
Following a Mediterranean diet can help delay Alzheimer’s disease – and perhaps even prevent it altogether, brain imaging suggests. Population studies have found that people who eat a Mediterranean diet – mostly plants, fish and olive oil and limited red meat, sugar and processed food – tend to be less prone to Alzheimer’s disease. Brain imaging studies from Dr. Mosconi's team provide clues on what happens to your brain if you follow a Mediterranean vs. Western diet.
Brain Food: How Our Meals Are Shaping Our Brains
May 2, 2018 | By Mariana Plata
With the new wave of mindful eating, I feel like we're getting a step closer to eliminate the "diet culture" that is constantly sending us messages that our bodies aren't enough, how we need to comply with certain beauty standards, and restrict ourselves from certain meals because they affect the way we look. An important shift needs to be made in the latter: we should pay attention to the way food makes us feel, not to the way it makes us look. This is why it was so refreshing to stumble across Dr. Lisa Mosconi's new book "Brain Food: The Surprising Power of Eating for Cognitive Power".
Nature’s Bounty: Saving the Brain with Food
April 30, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Researchers have long praised the Mediterranean diet for promoting brain health as well as overall physical health. In fact, as famously heart-healthy as the diet is, it also benefits the brain. A large body of scientific literature, my own work included, shows that people who closely follow a Mediterranean diet are not only less likely to develop health issues like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease but also to have a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease as they age. Read my op-ed here.
Of All The Organs, This One Suffers Most From A Poor Diet
April 9, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Of all the organs in your body, your brain is the one who suffers most from a poor diet. From its very architecture to its ability to perform, every aspect of the brain calls for proper food. Day after day, the foods we eat are broken down into nutrients, taken up into the bloodstream, and carried up into the brain. Once there, they replenish depleted storage, activate cellular reactions, and finally, become the very fabric of our brains. Consider that the next time you reach for a brownie: Its ingredients will actually become part of your brain. Read the article here.
The Food That Helps Battle Depression
April 2, 2018 | By Elizabeth Bernstein
You’re feeling depressed. What have you been eating? Psychiatrists and therapists don’t often ask this question. But a growing body of research over the past decade shows that a healthy diet—high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and unprocessed lean red meat—can prevent depression. And an unhealthy diet—high in processed and refined foods—increases the risk for the disease in everyone, including children and teens. Read my thoughts here.
A few more words on Alzheimer's prevention: Tap water? Caviar? Twinkies?
March 30, 2018 | By Robin Acbarian
Last week, I heard Mosconi speak at an event organized by former California First Lady Maria Shriver, who founded the Women's Alzheimer's Movement, which is focused on discovering why two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women. Mosconi has just published her first book, "Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power," a guide to the latest research on the links between nutrition and brain health. (This book will make caviar lovers very happy; Twinkie lovers, not so much.). Read the article here.
How to avoid losing your mind to Alzheimer's or dementia. Hint: Start now, says Maria Shriver
March 30, 2018 | By Robin Acbarian
"Research has shown that some food will help us age gracefully and keep our mental faculties intact, whereas others increase the risk of dementia substantially," said Mosconi, author of "Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power." "In the same way that we save for retirement," she said, "we should really start to eat for retirement." (Farewell, Snickers. It was fun while it lasted.) The brain has different dietary needs than the body. "If you eat right for your brain," Mosconi said, "you are eating right for your body, but not necessarily the other way around." Read more here.
The road to Alzheimer’s disease is lined with processed foods
March 23, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Dementia haunts the United States. There’s no one without a personal story about how dementia has touched someone they care for. It’s an epidemic that’s already underway—but we don’t recognize it as such. The popular conception of Alzheimer’s is as an inevitable outcome of aging, bad genes, or both. From a scientist’s perspective, it’s important to remind everyone that we all once believed the same thing about cancer. But just a few days ago, doctors around the world have been considerably shaken up by the breaking news linking cancer to processed foods. In a large-scale study, researchers found that a 10% increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods led to a 12% increase in overall cancer events. Read the article here.
Revealed: 13 ways to prevent dementia according to a neuroscientist
March 23, 2018 | By Olivia Hartland-Robbins
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the UK's leading cause of death, say the WHO. Around 850,000 people are now said to be living with dementia in the UK. That number is expected to grow significantly over the next several decades. But there is plenty of research to suggest small lifestyle changes could help. Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi describes simple dietary changes you can make. Read the article here.
These Are The Best & Worst Foods For A Child's Brain
Mar 20, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
The Best & Worst Foods For A Child's Brain is a topic dear to my heart. The first three years of a child’s life are especially critical for brain development: during this window of time, a child figures out how to think, learn, behave, and explore, setting the stage for a fully formed set of cognitive skills.
Based on many years of neuroscience research on my part (for adults) and peer-reviewed research from my colleagues: for your child’s brain as for your own, food plays a critical role. Your little one needs the most nutrient-dense foods that you can get your hands on. Read the article here.
The Healthy Woman's Guide to Eating Carbs (Which Doesn't Involve Cutting Them)
Mar 18, 2018 | By Lesley Rotchford
There's so much confusion about carbs these days. Popular eating plans like the Keto diet and Paleo diet claim that ditching them is the key to gaining muscle, losing weight, and revving energy. But active women and elite athletes are increasingly turning to plant-based diets, which are naturally higher in healthy carbs, to power their performance. So once and for all, what's the full story? Read our interesting discussion here.
The Top 5 Brain-Boosting Foods You Should Be Eating
March 12, 2018 | By Jess Cording, Women at Forbes
A well-fed brain is one of your greatest assets when it comes to your career. Creating work you’re proud of, thinking with a clear head, and communicating effectively are crucial to carving out your path and building your network. Not surprisingly, diet plays a starring role. In her new book, Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power (Avery/ Penguin Random House), Dr. Lisa Mosconi, PhD, INHC, Associate Director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, highlights the connection between diet and brain function and shares approachable, actionable tips to put that research into practice. Read the interview here.
A Neuroscientist Explains What Cutting Carbs Can Do to Your Brain
March 10, 2018 | By Dacy Knight
With each passing month, certain foods and fad diets come in and out of favor. One food that's been on the "bad" list for a while is bread—more specifically, gluten. Today, as many as 1 in 3 Americans avoids gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—thereby eliminating grains and cereals from the diet. Is gluten really that bad? And what happens to your brain when you cut carbs from the diet? Read the article here.
How My Childhood in Italy Informed My Passion for Neurology and Nutrition
March 7, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Like many Italians, my memories of my family and childhood are inseparable from memories of food. As a scientist, a nutritionist, and especially as a new mom, I think a lot about what makes us who we are, what shapes who we become, and the unlikely role of the kitchen at the heart of it. Read the article here.
Is Cutting Carbs Bad For Your Brain? A Neuroscientist Explains
March 6, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Of all aspects of lifestyle, perhaps none is as important as diet. The latest research (including my own work) shows over and over that following a healthy diet is powerfully preventive against brain aging and dementia. However, there is a surprisingly wide controversy over exactly what constitutes a "healthy diet." Herein, I discuss why you shouldn't fear carbs for brain health.
It's not just in the genes: the foods that can help and harm your brain
February 12, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Our diet has a huge effect on our brain and our mental wellbeing, even protecting against dementia. So, what should be on the menu? Read my op-ed here.
February 3, 2018 | By Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Very detailed piece about the best foods for the brain. Read the interview and an extract from my book, Brain Food, in the February 3rd edition of The Times (London).
How Diet and Exercise Can Reduce Alzheimer's Risk
January 24, 2018 | By Erin Billups, NY1 News
In her report last week, Health Reporter Erin Billups explained that researchers believe menopause may be a major cause of Alzheimer's disease, which may explain why women outnumber men two to one in diagnosis. Now there's work underway aimed at lowering everyone's risk for the disease. Dr. Lisa Mosconi, featured in the related piece on Alzheimer’s about its potential link to menopause, says women in their 40s and 50s should begin eating foods rich in phytoestrogens. Watch the story here.
New study examines possible Menopause-Alzheimer's link
January 17, 2018 | By Erin Billups, NY1 News
Recent research is confirming that Alzheimer's is actually not a disease of old age - changes in the brain leading to memory loss and other problems begins when adults hit their 40s and 50s. Now scientists may have found one cause of Alzheimer's, particularly in women. Health Reporter Erin Billups explains. Watch the story here.
How to Make Your Coffee Infinitely Healthier
December 21, 2017 | By Noah Lehava, Le Coveteur
"You probably figure your daily requisite mug of caffeine was perfect all on its glorious own. But what if we told you that with a few ~enhancements~ you can make your morning coffee a whole lot more effective? As in, brain-unlocking and de-fogging, free-radical fighting, and antioxidant-loaded benefits. With a few small tweaks to your current order and some simple additions, your coffee can become an important part of your healthy eating routine. We asked Dr. Lisa Mosconi, author of BRAIN FOOD: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power, to break down the best ways to amplify the health benefits of a cup of coffee."
Menopause can cause changes in brain linked to Alzheimer's
October 11, 2017 | By Amy Wallace, United Press International
A recent study found that menopause causes metabolic changes in the brain that can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in women. Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million Americans, including one-third of Americans over 85 years old. Women are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease more often than men. The study, by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Arizona Health Sciences, was published Tuesday in Plos One.
Menopause Triggers Metabolic Brain Changes Linked to Alzheimer's
October 12, 2017 | By Megan Brooks, Medscape
"Our findings show that the loss of estrogen in menopause doesn't just diminish fertility. This study suggests there may be a critical window of opportunity, when women are in their 40s and 50s, to detect metabolic signs of higher Alzheimer's risk and apply strategies to reduce that risk," Lisa Mosconi, PhD, associate director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, said in a news release. Read the article here.
Menopause triggers metabolic changes in brain that may promote Alzheimer's
October 10, 2017 Science Daily
Menopause causes metabolic changes in the brain that may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a team from Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Arizona Health Sciences has shown in new research. Read the article here.
Obstructive sleep apnea linked to higher Alzheimer's risk
November 10, 2017 | By Maria Cohut
A new study has demonstrated that older adults who experience obstructive sleep apnea may be at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. This is because they exhibit higher levels of amyloid beta, the chief component of the amyloid plaques that characterize the disease.
Psychology Today: No Known Expiration Date
January 10, 2016 | By Hara Hestroff Marano, Psychology Today
So impressed with Hara Hestroff Marano's take on our research in Psychology Today. Drawing on swiftly evolving insights into how the brain ages, scientists bet that memory loss can be not only delayed but, at least in its early stages, stopped in its tracks. And the critical tools turn out to be appetizingly low-tech.
Treating Sleep Apnea May Ward Off Memory Decline
April 15, 2015 | By Nicholas Bakalar
Breathing problems during sleep may be linked to early mental decline and Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. But treating apnea with a continuous positive airway pressure machine can significantly delay the onset of cognitive problems. In a group of 2,470 people, average age 73, researchers gathered information on the incidence of sleep apnea, a breathing disorder marked by interrupted breathing and snoring, and the incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Parents with Alzheimer's may be passing abnormal brain changes to kids
February 13, 2014 | CBS News
Patients with Alzheimer's may be passing abnormalities on to their children. Learn more about our research on Alzheimer's risk and prevention. “Studies show that by the time people come in for a diagnosis, there may be a large amount of irreversible brain damage already present. This is why it is ideal that we find signs of the disease in high-risk people before symptoms occur,” study author Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a psychiatry professor at the New York University Langone Medical Center, said in a statement."
Two parents with alzheimer's disease? Disease may show up decades early on brain scans
February 12, 2014 | American Academy of Neurology
People who are dementia-free but have two parents with Alzheimer’s disease may show signs of the disease on brain scans decades before symptoms appear, according to a new study. “Studies show that by the time people come in for a diagnosis, there may be a large amount of irreversible brain damage already present,” said study author Lisa Mosconi, PhD, with the New York University School of Medicine in New York. “This is why it is ideal that we find signs of the disease in high-risk people before symptoms occur.”
2 Parents With Alzheimer's, Higher Risk of This?
February 12, 2014 | By Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Our new study shows that middle-aged adults who are unfortunate enough to have both parents suffer from Alzheimer's disease may face yet another worry: an increased risk of early, Alzheimer's-related brain changes. Read the article here.
Alzheimer’s Could Be Detected Decades Earlier In Children Of Sufferers
February 13, 2014 | Huffington Post
“Studies show that by the time people come in for a diagnosis, there may be a large amount of irreversible brain damage already present,” said researcher Lisa Mosconi of the New York University School of Medicine. “This is why it is ideal that we find signs of the disease in high-risk people before symptoms occur.”
Having 2 Parents With Alzheimer's May Raise Risk of Early Brain Changes
February 12, 2014
Middle-aged adults who are unfortunate enough to have both parents suffer from Alzheimer's disease may face yet another worry: an increased risk of early, Alzheimer's-related brain changes. In a new study, researchers found that of more than 50 healthy adults, those with two parents affected by Alzheimer's were more likely to show certain abnormalities in brain scans.
Where did you get those eyes and that brain?
November 16, 2010 | by Staff reporter, Medical Daily
A family history of Alzheimer's disease significantly increases the risk for developing this disorder, but a new study in Biological Psychiatry suggests that which of your parents has the disease is very important. "Our data indicate that adult children of mothers with Alzheimer's may be at increased risk for developing the disease," explained Dr. Lisa Mosconi, the first author on the study. Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, added: "This study is very important because we are just beginning to understand the epigenetic control of particular genes. In theory, some day, one might develop a medication that reduces the risks associated with a maternal history of Alzheimer's disease."
Reuters: Brain scans show signs of early Alzheimer's
March 15, 2010 | By Julie Steenhuysen, Reuters
People with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease often have clumps of a toxic protein in their brains even though they are perfectly healthy, researchers said on Monday. “The hope is to one day be able to diagnose very clearly the Alzheimer’s disease process before any symptoms occur, when the brain is still healthy. Then the treatments would have the best chance of success,” said Lisa Mosconi of New York University Langone Medical Center, whose study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More here.
Alzheimer's risk rises if your mother was a sufferer
November 25, 2010 | By Jenny Hope, Daily Mail
The Daily Mail wrote a piece on our research on maternal history of Alzheimer's. Anyone whose mother had Alzheimer’s could be at greater risk of developing it than if their father had the disease, warn researchers. Those with a family history of Alzheimer’s are known to be at significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with the illness themselves.
Mom's Alzheimer's May Raise Kid's Risk
July 31, 2008 | CBS News
If your mother had late-onset Alzheimer's disease, you may be more likely to undergo brain metabolism changes that might lead to Alzheimer's, a new study shows. But that doesn't mean that Alzheimer's disease is definitely in your future, notes researcher Lisa Mosconi, PhD. Her advice: "If you're at risk of Alzheimer's because your mother had the disease, you need to make sure that you take special care of your health" to try to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. Here's a look at Mosconi's findings -- presented in Chicago at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2008 -- and reaction from experts.
Moms With Alzheimer's May Pass on Risk to Kids
July 30, 2008 | By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
People whose mothers have had Alzheimer's disease may be predisposed to the mind-robbing condition, a new study finds. The link may be a dysfunction in how the brain handles sugar -- something that's probably genetic and starts years before symptoms of Alzheimer's appear, researchers say. "Overall, these findings show that their brains are not working properly to start with, and the metabolic impairment gets worse over time," explained lead researcher Lisa Mosconi, a research assistant professor of psychiatry at the Center for Brain Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
PET shows potential in identifying the earliest stages of dementia
March 06, 2008 | by Charles Bankhead, MedPage Today
PET imaging with the glucose analog 18F-FDG distinguished different forms of dementia and separated them from mild cognitive impairment with greater than 90% accuracy, according to results of a multicenter trial. Automated scan interpretation recognized FDG uptake patterns specific for early-stage Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D., of New York University, and colleagues, reported in the March issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. "The present study demonstrates the feasibility of using 18F-FDG PET in the differential diagnosis of the major neurodegenerative disorders, including mild and moderate-to-severe dementia patients, and in the characterization of [mild cognitive impairment] across multiple sites," the authors said.
Alzheimer's May Be Detected Early by Brain Scans, Studies Show
June 19, 2008
Brain scans can detect Alzheimer's disease in people who don't have symptoms, suggesting that early diagnosis may become more common for the elderly, according to studies presented at a medical conference today. The PET scan trial was the first to show that analyzing the brain's use of energy can forecast the development of the disease, said Lisa Mosconi, a research scientist at the New York University School of Medicine, who led the study. Many of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's aren't diagnosed until the disease is in an advanced stage, the Alzheimer's association said.
Study Results of
GAMMAGARD S/D and
GAMMAGARD LIQUID in Patients
with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's
Disease Announced
April 17, 2008 | PRNewswire-First Call
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) announced results of a six-month, placebo-controlled Phase II study of 24 patients treated with GAMMAGARD S/D and GAMMAGARD LIQUID [Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV)] for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease today at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Chicago.
Brain Scan Technique Spots Alzheimer’s
March 26, 2008 | By Salynn Boyles, WebMD
A computer-assisted imaging technique that measures sugar metabolism within a critical area of the brain could hold the key to the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Researchers say that the technique was accurate 94% of the time in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias in a newly reported study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. "Because the incidence of Alzheimer's and related disorders is expected to increase dramatically as the baby boomer generation ages, accurate diagnosis is extremely important -- particularly at the early and mild stages of dementia when lifestyle changes and therapeutic interventions would be most effective," Mosconi says. Read more here.
Moms With Alzheimer's May Pass on Risk to Kids
July 30, 2007
People whose mothers have had Alzheimer's disease may be predisposed to the mind-robbing condition, a new study finds.
The link may be a dysfunction in how the brain handles sugar -- something that's probably genetic and starts years before symptoms of Alzheimer's appear, researchers say. "Overall, these findings show that their brains are not working properly to start with, and the metabolic impairment gets worse over time," explained lead researcher Lisa Mosconi, a research assistant professor of psychiatry at the Center for Brain Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
New scan predicts Alzheimer's years before symptoms - study
June 20, 2005
Scientists may soon be able to scan for Alzheimer's disease years before the onset of symptoms using a computer program that measures metabolic activity in the brain, researchers revealed here. 'This is the first demonstration that reduced metabolic activity in the hippocampus may be used to predict future Alzheimer's disease,' said Lisa Mosconi of New York University's School of Medicine, who led the research and developed the technology.
Alzheimer's risk may be cut
June 20, 2005 | By John Fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Middle-aged sons and daughters of people with Alzheimer's disease may be able to reduce their risk of getting the disorder through lifestyle measures such as exercise, avoiding gum disease, moderate alcohol consumption and drinking fruit and vegetable juice, according to new research. Taken as a whole, the research suggests that even though family history may predispose a person to developing Alzheimer's, various behaviors -- if started early enough in life -- may help preserve cognitive function and delay the onset of the disease.
Scientists find early signs of Alzheimer's
June 20, 2005 | Associated Press
A subtle change in a memory-making brain region seems to predict who will get Alzheimer's disease nine years before symptoms appear, scientists reported on Sunday.
The finding is part of a wave of research aimed at early detection of the deadly dementia -- and one day perhaps even preventing it. Researchers scanned the brains of middle- aged and older people while they were still healthy. They discovered that lower energy usage in a part of the brain called the hippocampus correctly signaled who would get Alzheimer's or a related memory impairment 85 percent of the time.
Studies show ways to predict, prevent
Alzheimer's
June 20, 2005 | ABC News
Painless brain scans and simple blood tests may offer ways to predict who has the highest risk of Alzheimer's disease, and it may be possible to lower risks by drinking juice daily, researchers said.
Key to predicting Alzheimer's?
June 20, 2005 | By Jaime Holguin, CBS/AP
A subtle change in a memory-making brain region seems to predict who will get Alzheimer's disease nine years before symptoms appear, scientists reported. The finding is part of a wave of research aimed at early detection of the deadly dementia — and one day perhaps even Researchers scanned the brains of middle-aged and older people while they were still healthy. They discovered that lower energy usage in a part of the brain called the hippocampus correctly signaled who would get Alzheimer's or a related memory impairment 85 percent of the time. "It's exciting that we can even talk about prevention," said William Thies, scientific director of the Alzheimer's Association. He noted that just 10 years ago there was hardly any research into that possibility.