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.

Salk Institute's ShortStop revolutionizes genetic search

Proteins sustain life as we know it, serving many important structural and functional roles throughout the body. But these large molecules have cast a long shadow over a smaller subclass of proteins called microproteins.

1 Aug 2025

Bacteria use amyloids as molecular armor against predators

Amyloids are perhaps best known as a key driver of Alzheimer's disease.

30 Jul 2025

Antiviral treatment shows no benefit for early Alzheimer’s patients

The idea that herpes infections trigger or contribute to Alzheimer's disease has been gaining favor among some scientists, raising hope that herpes treatments could slow progression of Alzheimer's symptoms among patients.

30 Jul 2025

Moderate coffee and tea habits linked to sharper thinking in seniors

Moderate coffee intake and both moderate and high tea consumption are associated with a slower decline in fluid intelligence among older adults over nearly a decade. High coffee intake, however, is linked to a faster decline in cognitive function.

28 Jul 2025

Largest genetic study confirms biological basis of stuttering

The largest genetic analysis of stuttering has demonstrated a clear genetic basis for the speech disorder, highlighting neurological pathways of risk.

28 Jul 2025

UCSF discovery points to new strategies for Alzheimer's treatment

UCSF scientists have discovered how microglia engulf and break down amyloid beta, a protein that builds up in Alzheimer's, with devastating consequences for the brain.

28 Jul 2025

New research shows neurogenesis slows in early adulthood, impacting memory

Age often brings a gradual decline in the ability to learn new things and retain memories. This phenomenon, often associated with the elderly, is linked to the brain's deteriorating capacity to generate new neurons-a process that primarily occurs in the hippocampus -as neural stem cells (NSCs) divide and mature. Recent research suggests this decline begins much earlier in life than previously thought, potentially starting in early adulthood.

25 Jul 2025

Mathematics offers new clues in the fight against Alzheimer's

Mathematics may not be the first thing people associate with Alzheimer's disease research. But for Pedro Maia, an assistant professor of mathematics and data science at The University of Texas at Arlington, analyzing how different parts of the brain interact like a network is revealing new insights into one of the world's most devastating brain disorders.

24 Jul 2025

Intranasal insulin safely and effectively reaches key memory regions of the brain

A groundbreaking brain imaging study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine confirms a vital step toward new Alzheimer's disease treatments: Intranasal insulin, delivered via a simple nasal spray, safely and effectively reaches key memory regions of the brain in older adults.

23 Jul 2025

Can one drug do it all? Reviewing the expanding clinical universe of GLP-1 agonists

Landmark trials have shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes and weight loss, also provide significant benefits for cardiovascular, kidney, liver, joint, and sleep-related diseases. These effects extend beyond weight loss, suggesting anti-inflammatory mechanisms with broad potential for managing chronic diseases.

22 Jul 2025

GLP-1 receptor agonists linked to lower dementia risk in type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, likely trump the widely prescribed metformin for curbing dementia risk in people with the condition, finds the largest study of its kind, published in the open access journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.

22 Jul 2025

Dual cancer drugs restore memory and rewire brain cells in Alzheimer’s mouse models

Researchers identified a combination of two existing cancer drugs, letrozole and irinotecan, that reversed Alzheimer’s disease-related changes in brain cell networks and improved memory in mouse models. The study supports a multi-cell-type, network-correcting strategy as a promising path for future Alzheimer’s treatments.

22 Jul 2025

Mitochondrial protein misfolding found to kill pancreatic cells in type 2 diabetes

Aging-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes, are associated with defects in protein synthesis and folding.

22 Jul 2025

Combination of two cancer drugs could treat the most common form of dementia

A study comparing the gene expression signature of Alzheimer's disease with those elicited by 1,300 approved drugs found a combination of two cancer medications that could treat the most common form of dementia.

21 Jul 2025

Heart-healthy habits can improve overall physical and psychological well-being

A new study from Emory University reveals that maintaining optimal cardiovascular health can significantly improve overall physical and psychological well-being.

18 Jul 2025

New machine learning model revolutionizes protein simulations

An international team led by Einstein Professor Cecilia Clementi in the Department of Physics at Freie Universität Berlin introduces a breakthrough in protein simulation.

18 Jul 2025

Understanding brain activity during sleep to detect early neurological changes

"Complex processes are going on in the brain when we sleep," says Dr Karolina Armonaitė, a neuroscientist from Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. According to her, a more precise understanding of what happens in different areas of the cerebral cortex during sleep can help diagnose sleep disorders and neurological diseases more accurately.

18 Jul 2025