Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. AD is the most common cause of dementia among older people, but it is not a normal part of aging. Dementia refers to a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life and activities. AD starts in a region of the brain that affects recent memory, then gradually spreads to other parts of the brain. Although treatment can slow the progression of AD and help manage its symptoms in some people, currently there is no cure for this devastating disease.

Novel imaging method used to map glycosylation patterns linked with Alzheimer’s disease

Using new methodology, University of Kentucky researchers have mapped the variations in sugar chains attached to brain proteins from deceased healthy individuals or individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

15 Dec 2021

"Supermere" discovery may offer clues to earlier diagnoses and treatment of several diseases

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered a nanoparticle released from cells, called a "supermere," which contains enzymes, proteins and RNA associated with multiple cancers, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and even COVID-19.

14 Dec 2021

Wartime trauma hits close to home for scholar of dementia

Oanh Meyer was a postdoctoral fellow studying the experiences of caregivers for those with dementia in 2012 when her research took a very personal turn.

13 Dec 2021

Rare population of toxic senescent cells in the brain could be a target for Alzheimer's treatment

For the first time, scientists have identified a rare population of potentially toxic senescent cells in human brains that can serve as a target for a new Alzheimer's disease treatment.

11 Dec 2021

Study reveals the role of intracellular receptor PQBP1 in response to Tau protein

Just as a home security system can alert a homeowner to the presence of an intruder, a protein called polyglutamine binding protein-1 (PQBP1) found in brain cells can alert the body to the presence of "intruding" viruses like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

9 Dec 2021

Scientists determine structure of the molecule associated with ALS for the first time

Scientists have determined for the first time the structure of the molecule associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple other neurodegenerative diseases.

9 Dec 2021

Research reveals a common cause for seizures and memory problems in epilepsy

Damage to a part of the brain that regulates hyperactivity can contribute to both memory problems and seizures in the most common form of epilepsy, according to research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

7 Dec 2021

New self-administered test can find the early subtle signs of dementia sooner

Many people experience forgetfulness as they age, but it's often difficult to tell if these memory issues are a normal part of aging or a sign of something more serious

7 Dec 2021

Study reveals the effects of cannabis use on oral microbiome and brain health

More and more states are legalizing marijuana, but little is known about how long-term cannabis use affects the microbes in the oral cavity, known as the oral microbiome.

6 Dec 2021

Researchers discover clearest evidence to date of how memories form

In a discovery that could one day benefit people suffering from traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia, UT Southwestern researchers have identified the characteristics of more than 100 memory-sensitive neurons that play a central role in how memories are recalled in the brain.

6 Dec 2021

UC San Diego participates in the expansion of Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative

After a decade of pioneering research, the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research will see a major expansion.

6 Dec 2021

Cataract surgery associated with lower risk of dementia

Cataracts affect most older adults at risk for dementia, and now researchers are finding strong evidence that cataract surgery is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.

6 Dec 2021

Review: Diagnostic radiologists at higher risk of burnout

A review co-authored by Dr. Bradley Spieler, Vice-Chair of Scholarly Activity and Research in the Department of Radiology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, and Dr. Neil Baum, of Tulane's Department of Urology, reports that although burnout affects more than 50% of health care workers, diagnostic radiologists are at even higher risk.

4 Dec 2021