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.

Scientists discover how a 'sociable' protein can hold clues about Alzheimer's origin

An international team of scientists led by the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, have found how the ECSIT protein dictates the behavior of proteins linked to the energy activity in mitochondria, which is largely affected in Alzheimer's disease.

16 Dec 2020

Microglial surveillance helps prevent seizure activity in the brain

An important part of the brain's immune system, cells called microglia constantly extend and retract "branches" from their cell body to survey their environment.

14 Dec 2020

New clue to protect neurons and encourage their growth found

Many neurodegenerative conditions, from glaucoma to Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by injury to axons - the long, slender projections that conduct electrical impulses from one nerve cell to another, facilitating cellular communications. Injury to axons often leads to neuronal impairment and cell death.

14 Dec 2020

Genetic differences play a vital role in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

The two clinically used methods for detecting amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease do not give unambiguous results, with the risk of incorrect or delayed care interventions.

11 Dec 2020

Melatonin and its metabolites promote the formation of long-term memories

Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan show that melatonin and its metabolites promote the formation of long-term memories in mice and protect against cognitive decline.

10 Dec 2020

Testing memory over four weeks could help identify the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease

New research suggests testing people's memory over four weeks could identify who is at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease before it has developed.

10 Dec 2020

Study connects specific foods to later-in-life cognitive acuity

The foods we eat may have a direct impact on our cognitive acuity in our later years. This is the key finding of an Iowa State University research study spotlighted in an article published in the November 2020 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

10 Dec 2020

Scientists shed light on how neurons form long-term memories

On a late summer day in 1953, a young man who would soon be known as patient H.M. underwent experimental surgery. In an attempt to treat his debilitating seizures, a surgeon removed portions of his brain, including part of a structure called the hippocampus. The seizures stopped.

9 Dec 2020

Measuring a tau fragment in plasma can help predict future cognitive decline in elderly people

Today, a clinician can order a blood test to check a patient's cholesterol or hemoglobin A1c levels -- biomarkers that help predict an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, respectively. But despite decades of advances in the understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a blood test for predicting its risk remains elusive.

9 Dec 2020

WHO highlights leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide from 2000 to 2019

Noncommunicable diseases now make up 7 of the world's top 10 causes of death, according to WHO's 2019 Global Health Estimates, published today.

9 Dec 2020

Mice study identifies action mechanism of a promising drug against Alzheimer's disease

A study conducted on mice published in the journal Geroscience has identified the action mechanism of a promising compound against Alzheimer's disease, developed by the team of Medical Chemistry and Pharmacology at the University of Barcelona.

9 Dec 2020

Study reveals new biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease causing a rapid loss of motor function, which usually results in a serious condition with early death within a few years.

9 Dec 2020

Head injuries and long sleep deprivation can affect neurogenerative processes

Scientists from the School of Biomedicine of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) with colleagues from Italy, Spain, Romania, and Sweden suggest a way to protect the brain and minimize neurodegenerative processes after concussion head injuries in the presence of extensive previous sleep deprivation.

9 Dec 2020

Study sheds new light on how brain encodes time and place into memories

Two studies led by UT Southwestern researchers shed new light on how the brain encodes time and place into memories. The findings, published recently in PNAS and Science, not only add to the body of fundamental research on memory but could eventually provide the basis for new treatments to combat memory loss from conditions such as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease.

8 Dec 2020

Researchers identify new gene variants that modify the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, affecting almost 44 million people worldwide.

8 Dec 2020

Researchers use advanced methods to investigate structure and interactions of proteins

Michael Gross, professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and of immunology and internal medicine at the School of Medicine, and his team are experts in footprinting proteins -- that is, using advanced methods for investigating the structure and interactions of proteins within larger molecules.

8 Dec 2020

RNA mutations within common bacterium linked to invasive meningococcal disease

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have come one step closer toward understanding why some people become seriously ill or die from a common bacterium that leaves most people unharmed.

7 Dec 2020

COVID-19 crisis increases burden of dementia caregivers

Caregivers of people with dementia and milder forms of neurocognitive disorder bear a heavy burden.

7 Dec 2020

Novel form of tau in spinal fluid indicates the stage of Alzheimer’s disease

A novel form of an Alzheimer's protein found in the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord indicates what stage of the disease a person is in, and tracks with tangles of tau protein in the brain, according to a study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

7 Dec 2020

New biomarker of Alzheimer's may lead to enhanced diagnostic methods

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine, Missouri, have identified a novel form of an Alzheimer’s protein in the spinal fluid of patients.

7 Dec 2020

Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists discover how a 'sociable' protein can hold clues about Alzheimer's origin

Microglial surveillance helps prevent seizure activity in the brain

New clue to protect neurons and encourage their growth found

Genetic differences play a vital role in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Melatonin and its metabolites promote the formation of long-term memories

Testing memory over four weeks could help identify the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease

Study connects specific foods to later-in-life cognitive acuity

Scientists shed light on how neurons form long-term memories

Measuring a tau fragment in plasma can help predict future cognitive decline in elderly people

WHO highlights leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide from 2000 to 2019

Mice study identifies action mechanism of a promising drug against Alzheimer's disease

Study reveals new biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Head injuries and long sleep deprivation can affect neurogenerative processes

Study sheds new light on how brain encodes time and place into memories

Researchers identify new gene variants that modify the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Researchers use advanced methods to investigate structure and interactions of proteins

RNA mutations within common bacterium linked to invasive meningococcal disease

COVID-19 crisis increases burden of dementia caregivers

Novel form of tau in spinal fluid indicates the stage of Alzheimer’s disease

New biomarker of Alzheimer's may lead to enhanced diagnostic methods

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