Experiencing daytime sleepiness is something that is usually perceived as a minor inconvenience, but for older adults, it could be an early warning sign of Dementia. This neurodegenerative disease leads to the progressive decline of brain cells. This eventually

affects memory, cognition, and personality, making everyday tasks more difficult. As one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders across the world, dementia poses a significant health threat to ageing populations.

Is Dementia Linked To Poor Sleep?

For this study, researchers followed 445 older adults (average age 76) over three years, aiming to determine whether poor sleep could increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which often leads to dementia. At the start, none of the participants had MCI, but by the end of the study, 36 individuals had developed the condition.

The researchers discovered that participants with poor sleep were more likely to develop MCI compared to those who slept well. However, when depression symptoms were taken into account, the link between poor sleep and MCI became less pronounced, suggesting that while sleep issues are a concern, mental health also plays a key role in dementia risk.

To assess sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used, evaluating factors such as sleep duration, disturbances, and daytime alertness. Among these, "daytime dysfunction"—defined as excessive sleepiness and low energy during the day—was most strongly associated with an increased risk of MCI. Those experiencing daytime dysfunction were more than three times as likely to develop MCI as those who didn’t report such symptoms.

There are many types of dementia:

Dementia is not a specific disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is an overall term that describes a decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. People with dementia often have symptoms like trouble remembering, thinking, or making everyday decisions. These symptoms tend to get worse over time.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and it mostly affects the elderly. Each form of dementia has a different cause. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal ageing. An estimated 6.7 million older adults have Alzheimer's disease in the United States. That number is expected to double by 2060, as per data from the CDC.

In 2022, 3.8% of men and 4.2% women in US were diagnosed with dementia. The percentage of people increase with age from 1.7% for those aged 65-74 to 13.1% for those aged 85 and older. Alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80% of all dementia cases and it is most prevalent in California, Florida, and Texas, as these states have the highest number of people.

Content creator and model Nara Smith recently revealed that her two-year-old daughter, Whimsy Lou, was diagnosed with cancer late last year. She shared the emotionally difficult journey her family faced over the past several months.

Nara is a South African-German model and influencer based in the United States. She is known for her short cooking videos in which she prepares meals from scratch, wearing extravagant and elegant outfits.

Nara Smith's Daughter Whimsy Diagnosed With Cancer

Smith said she and her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, took their daughter to the emergency room when they noticed “something suspicious” on her.

She said that although doctors were initially unsure of the cause, a visit to the pediatrician led to an urgent referral to a children's hospital. After undergoing X-rays, ultrasounds, and a biopsy, Whimsy was diagnosed with cancer. The influencer did not disclose the type of cancer her daughter has.

According to Smith, doctors informed the family that the cancer had already spread and that chemotherapy needed to begin immediately.

At the time, Nara was postpartum after welcoming her youngest child, Fawnie. She said that the diagnosis is one of the most challenging experiences her family has faced as she was caring for her other children and balancing work commitments.

She said spending time with other families in the hospital and connecting with parents through online communities helped ease the sense of isolation that often accompanies a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Also read: Lethal Weapon Star Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis; What Is It & Why Early Detection Matters?

Cancer In Young Children

Although cancer is relatively rare in children, it remains one of the leading causes of disease-related deaths among children worldwide.

Unlike many adult cancers, childhood cancers are usually not linked to lifestyle factors. Instead, they often develop because of genetic changes in cells that occur early in life.

The most common cancers diagnosed in children include:

• Leukemia (blood cancer)

• Brain and spinal cord tumors

• Lymphomas

• Neuroblastoma

• Wilms tumor (kidney cancer)

• Bone cancers

Early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment results, making it important for parents to seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.

Studies About Childhood Cancer

Although childhood cancer is uncommon, it remains a major global health concern. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years develop cancer every year, making it one of the leading causes of disease-related death among children and adolescents worldwide.

A large international study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2025 analysed 16,821 childhood cancer cases from 47 population-based cancer registries across 23 countries.

For leukemia, the most common childhood cancer, three-year survival ranged from just over 30% in some regions to nearly 90% in others.

The study also supports the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which aims to increase the global survival rate for children with cancer to at least 60% by 2030.

Veteran actor Danny Glover recently shared that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for a few years now. The 79-year-old actor shared that he has been diagnosed for several years and is gradually adapting to the changes brought on by the progressive brain disorder.

Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

In an interview on The Today Show, which aired recently, the Emmy-winning star explained that he was diagnosed after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022. He also spoke about his experience of living with the disease.

Sharing that his movements, speech and memory have slowed, Danny Glover said, “I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing. However, the support of his family, who he said, “have got my back”, was getting him through.

Glover also spoke about his diagnosis with People, in which he said he was still not able accept his new reality completely. He said that he was “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it”.

He said, “There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I’ll never forget.”

Even though Danny said that he has a hard time accepting the disease sometimes, he added, “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues.”

Also read: Doctors Day: From Burnout To Work Anxiety, The Mental Health Struggle Doctors Rarely Talk About

What Is Alzheimer's?

Here are the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

The symptoms often develop slowly and become more noticeable over the years. Common early signs include:

• Frequent memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information

• Difficulty finding the right words during conversations

• Confusion about time or familiar places

• Trouble planning or solving routine problems

• Misplacing belongings and being unable to retrace steps

• Changes in mood, personality or behaviour

• Poor judgment and reduced decision-making ability

As the disease progresses, individuals may struggle to recognize loved ones, communicate effectively, and carry out daily activities independently.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, several medications can help manage symptoms or slow the disease progression in some patients, particularly when treatment begins early.

Early Detection Matters

Public figures like Danny Glover speaking openly about Alzheimer's can help reduce stigma that comes with the disease. It can encourage people experiencing memory problems to seek medical evaluation sooner. Early diagnosis can help patients and families seek treatment, plan for future care, and receive emotional and practical support.

Glover's announcement has once again brought global attention to a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and underscores the need for greater awareness and caregiver support.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has once again claimed that US President Donald Trump is "suffering from dementia," an allegation the White House has strongly denied.

Speaking to CNN, Pritzker said Trump is "a different man" than he was a decade ago.

Pritzker Questions Trump's Mental Fitness

"Look, the man is continually suffering from dementia," Pritzker said. "I don't think he really understands what he's saying."

He added that Trump often makes statements without fully thinking them through.

"This is a man who has threatened to jail the mayor of Chicago, the governor of Illinois. He regularly threatens to go after people and, indeed, has used the Department of Justice to go after people," Pritzker said.

According to Pritzker, Trump has "concepts in his head" that he tends to blurt out without careful consideration.

He also urged people to compare Trump's public appearances from 2015 and 2016 with his recent speeches and press conferences.

Read: Dangerous Heat Dome To Grip Eastern US, Canada, Putting Over 220 Million Lives At Risk: How To Stay Safe

"I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," Pritzker said.

However, Pritzker acknowledged that he is not medically qualified to diagnose the president.

'I'm Not a Doctor,' Pritzker, while criticizing what he described as Trump's increasingly disjointed speech patterns.

He said the way Trump "puts words and sentences together... they are almost divergent in the same sentences."

Read More: ‘Sea Or See?’ Donald Trump's Remark Sparks Fresh Cognitive Health Speculation

Trump's Health Under Scrutiny

Trump, who became the oldest US president in history after turning 80 this year, has faced growing public scrutiny over his health.

Recent public appearances have prompted speculation after observers noted swollen ankles, bruising on his hands, verbal slips and occasional episodes in which he appeared drowsy during meetings and international summits.

Some physicians have also publicly expressed concerns about the president's physical and cognitive health, although none have diagnosed him with dementia.

Also read: Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

New Book Makes Fresh Claims

A recently released book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, claims the president's medical condition is among the administration's most closely guarded subjects.

Written by The New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman and investigative reporter Jonathan Swan, the book is based on more than 1,000 interviews conducted over three years.

According to the authors, Trump now prefers shorter public appearances, seated events and staying close to the White House, unlike his extensive travel schedule during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The book also describes Trump as more of a "homebody" during his second term and claims staff members observed that he was sleeping less while spending early morning hours watching television, speaking on the phone and posting on Truth Social.

White House Rejects Allegations

The White House dismissed the claims made in the book.

"President Trump's sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden's serious mental and physical decline from the American people," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Mail.

"President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises."

Trump Says He Is in 'Excellent Health'

Meanwhile, Trump has also repeatedly rejected allegations of cognitive decline or other serious health issues.

His most recent annual physical examination concluded that he is "in excellent health."