Weight loss is usually considered a good thing, unexpected and extreme weight loss can be a sign of something in your body going very wrong. There could be some underlying issues that are causing your body to pull weight and nutrition from your muscles and body fat to keep you going. As you grow old, your limbs grow weaker, and same for your muscles, so you do lose some weight as you age, but losing a lot of it too quickly could be a sign of something much worse, Dementia. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open 2025 Cardiometabolic Trajectories Preceding Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals, has identified potential early indicators of dementia, including significant weight loss and specific digestive changes, appearing years before noticeable cognitive decline.

The study showed that people who later got dementia had their Body Mass Index, or BMI, go down faster than those who stayed healthy. BMI is a way to see if someone's weight is healthy for their height. This drop in BMI started happening many years before they were told they had dementia, sometimes as early as 11 years ago. Also, these people often started with a lower BMI to begin with. So, even though everyone's weight might change a little as they get older, the people who developed dementia had a much bigger and faster weight loss.

What Are Some Other Indicators Of Dementia?

Along with their BMI, the size of their waist also changed. People who ended up with dementia had smaller waist sizes, and this difference was noticeable about 10 years before they were diagnosed. This means that their bodies were changing in ways that showed up long before they or their doctors noticed any problems. So, not only was there weight loss, but also a loss of abdominal fat. This measurement is important because fat around the waist can be related to other health issues.

The study also found changes in their blood. Specifically, the "good" cholesterol, called HDL, went up in people who developed dementia. This increase happened about five years before they were diagnosed. It's tricky because HDL is usually seen as a good thing for your heart. But in this case, it seems like it might be a sign of changes happening in the brain. Scientists are still trying to understand why this happens.

Weight Loss Doesn’t Cause Dementia, Dementia Causes Weight Loss

When we see that people with dementia lose weight, it's easy to think that the weight loss is what caused dementia. But experts think it's the other way around. They call this "reverse causation." This means that the brain changes that cause dementia also cause people to lose weight. The brain changes can affect things like appetite, how the body uses food, and how people go about their daily lives. For example, people might forget to eat, have trouble making meals, or move around less.

While the study revealed a lot about different indicators of dementia and bodily changes, there are many limitations to the study. Everyone loses some weight as they get older. So, it's hard to know when weight loss is just a normal part of aging and when it's a sign of dementia. The study found that people with dementia lost weight faster, but it's still tricky to tell the difference in everyday life. Doctors need to look at other things, like memory tests, to figure out if someone's weight loss is a cause for concern.

If someone is losing weight without trying, and they're also having problems with their memory or thinking, it's important to talk to a doctor. It's not just about the weight loss; it's about the whole picture.

Changes in voice pitch, volume or clarity in older adults could be an early warning sign of cognitive decline, according to a new analysis.

The study, published in the Journal of Voice, found that older adults who experienced a decline in voice quality had a higher risk of cognitive impairment or dementia than those without a voice disorder.

Voice Disorders And Higher Dementia Risk

The study tracked the health of more than 833,000 older Americans. Researchers found that people with a voice disorder had a 58% higher risk of cognitive impairment or dementia than those without voice problems.

The risk was even higher among people who had both a voice disorder and hearing loss, a well-recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Who Should Worry?

Also read: Brain Health After 40: How Diabetes, Menopause And Early Detection Affect Dementia Risk | World Alzheimer’s Day

A brief episode of hoarseness does not mean that a person is developing dementia.

However, persistent or noticeable changes in the voice, particularly when accompanied by hearing loss, may warrant a medical evaluation and, where appropriate, an assessment of cognitive health.

“We found the strongest link with dementia among patients experiencing a voice disorder and hearing loss,” said study author Dr. Robert Sataloff, a professor and chair at Drexel University’s College of Medicine.

“Importantly, we found that those with a voice disorder and no hearing loss were at greater risk than patients who experience hearing loss only. It may be valuable for many of these patients to talk with an otolaryngologist who can arrange a cognitive assessment to help patients develop an appropriate care plan.”

Why Voice Changes Can Signal Cognitive Decline?

Read More: Muscle Loss In Middle Age May Signal Dementia Risk, Study Finds

The researchers speculate that voice disorders may contribute to cognitive decline by limiting social interaction, which can also be affected by hearing loss.

People who have difficulty speaking or hearing may avoid social gatherings or group activities because they feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about their limitations. However, social engagement can help keep the ageing brain active by providing ongoing mental stimulation.

“If you have a voice disorder that impacts how your voice sounds or if it’s painful when you attempt to talk or sing, it’s only natural to participate less often in brain-supporting social or other engaging activities,” Dr. Sataloff said.

Speaking less may mean less social and cognitive stimulation, which could potentially contribute to dementia risk. However, the researchers also noted another possibility: changes in the brain associated with dementia could themselves contribute to voice problems. However, this has not been directly studied.

Voice Problems Can Have Treatable Causes

Most people with voice disorders will not go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Voice changes can have several other causes, including thyroid problems and cysts on the vocal cords, some of which can be treated effectively.

Speech therapists can also help people with impaired speech communicate more effectively and confidently.

Seeking medical attention for persistent voice changes can therefore help identify treatable causes and determine whether further evaluation, including a cognitive assessment, is needed.

As the 2026-27 flu season begins in the US, doctors are reminding people that influenza can cause more than just cough, fever and a runny nose. Symptoms can come on suddenly and affect the entire body, with some patients also developing gastrointestinal symptoms.

During the 2025-2026 flu season, influenza caused at least 32 million illnesses, 390,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths in the US, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the World Health Organization, from February through August 2026, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses circulated across regions. Influenza A viruses predominated in most regions, while influenza B dominated in Northern and Western Africa, North America and Eastern Asia.

While it is too early to know what the season ahead will look like, knowing the range of flu symptoms can help people recognize the infection. These include the classic symptoms of sudden fever, chills, body aches and extreme fatigue, as well as vomiting and diarrhea in some children.

Flu Symptoms Can Come On Suddenly

Also read: WHO Sets 2027 Flu Vaccine Strains; US States Can Now Order Free COVID Shots For Kids

Influenza commonly affects the nose, throat and lungs, but its symptoms can be widespread.

The most common symptoms include:

• Fever

• Chills

• Body aches

• Extreme fatigue

• Headache

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Cough

Family physician Carlos Galindo at Texas Health Family Care said fever, chills and body aches are the classic flu combination. People may also develop a sore throat, runny nose and headache, according to the American Medical Association.

Unlike the gradual tiredness that can accompany a cold, flu-related fatigue can be intense.

Galindo described it as significant lethargy and malaise, with some patients feeling completely drained.

Watch For Severe Body Aches And Fatigue

One of the key features doctors want people to recognize is how quickly influenza can make someone feel unwell.

Family physician Christopher Zipp of Atlantic Health in Morristown, New Jersey, said flu symptoms can develop over just a few hours, with fever, chills and body aches appearing suddenly.

However, flu symptoms can overlap with those of other respiratory infections, so symptoms alone cannot always confirm that someone has influenza.

Read More: Fall Vaccines 2026: US Doctors Issue COVID, Flu And RSV Jab Guidance

Children Can Have Vomiting And Diarrhea

Flu symptoms can also differ between children and adults. While fever, chills, body aches and respiratory symptoms are common, children may also develop gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

These symptoms can occur alongside cough, sore throat or other signs of respiratory infection.

When Can Flu Become Serious?

For most people, influenza is an unpleasant but temporary illness. However, it can sometimes lead to complications such as pneumonia and hospitalization, particularly in people with underlying health conditions.

Symptoms that become severe or worsen rather than improve warrant medical attention, especially among people at higher risk of complications.

In the US, many flu cases are seen between January and March, although influenza can circulate outside the peak season as well.

Doctors generally recommend flu vaccination around September or October to build protection before activity increases. It takes about two weeks for the body to develop protection after vaccination. Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce flu-related doctor visits by about 40% to 60%.

A mammogram is routinely used to detect early signs of breast cancer, but the imaging test may also provide clues about a woman’s cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death among women. Yet, experts say heart disease in women can be overlooked because symptoms and risk factors may differ from the patterns traditionally associated with men.

Why Heart Disease Can Be Missed In Women

Prof Rob Galloway of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, writing in the Daily Mail, highlighted the need to identify cardiovascular disease in women earlier.

Citing a 2021 The Lancet study, he noted that women with cardiovascular disease remain “understudied, under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.”

Galloway said he regularly sees women, particularly those in their 60s, arriving in emergency care with heart attacks after earlier symptoms were attributed to less serious causes.

“If that had been recognized, she could have been admitted, and if needed, had a stent (a mesh tube) inserted to open the artery before it was blocked,” he wrote.

“The truth is doctors are not as good as we should be at recognizing heart disease in women, or understanding their risk,” he added.

Also read: New Breast Cancer Guidelines Recommend Mammograms Every Two Years for Women

Heart Attack Symptoms May Look Different In Women

Women may experience heart attacks differently, with symptoms such as breathlessness, nausea, fatigue, or back, neck and jaw pain. Galloway also highlighted female-specific risk factors, which include:

• Preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes
• Premature menopause
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

He said these factors are not always routinely included when assessing a woman’s long-term cardiovascular risk.

What Can A Mammogram Reveal About Heart Risk?

Read More: World Heart Day: You Feel Healthy. But Plaque May Already Be Building In Your Arteries In Your 20s

Prof Galloway suggested that routine breast screening could potentially offer another opportunity to identify cardiovascular risk.

When blood vessels are damaged, calcium can accumulate in their walls. Mammograms can sometimes detect calcium deposits in the arteries of the breast, known as breast arterial calcification (BAC).

BAC is different from calcium buildup in the coronary arteries, but its presence has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Some radiologists may therefore flag the finding to the treating doctor.

Could AI Detect Heart Risk From Mammograms?

Prof Galloway also discussed the potential role of artificial intelligence in identifying and measuring breast arterial calcification.

A European Heart Journal study used AI to assess mammograms from over 123,500 US women. Compared with no calcification, mild breast arterial calcification was linked to a 30% higher cardiovascular event risk, moderate to 75–80% higher risk, and severe to roughly three times higher risk.

The association persisted even after researchers accounted for established cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

Could Mammograms Become A Cardiovascular Screening Tool?

Prof Galloway said that the potential advantage is that the mammogram has already been performed for breast screening. If arterial calcification is identified, that information could potentially be included with the screening result and prompt a broader cardiovascular risk assessment.

Depending on the woman's overall risk, doctors could then consider measures such as more intensive management of blood pressure or cholesterol.

A coronary artery calcium scan is another way to assess calcium buildup in the arteries supplying the heart. It uses a CT scan to detect and measure coronary artery calcium and can help inform cardiovascular risk assessment in appropriate patients.