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.

Blows to head may affect the brain's white matter and cognition even without concussion

New research suggests that even in the absence of a concussion, blows to the head during a single season of football or ice hockey may affect the brain's white matter and cognition, or memory and thinking abilities. The study is published in the December 11, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. White matter is brain tissue that plays an important role in the speed of nerve signals.

12 Dec 2013

Elevated BACE1 activity in mild cognitive impairment could be early indicator of AD, says study

The critical enzyme beta-secretase1 (BACE1) is known to be elevated in brains with sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD). Scientists have now found increased levels of BACE1 in brains with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), suggesting that BACE1 activity is important for conversion of mild cognitive impairment to AD and may be an early indicator of AD.

12 Dec 2013

Researchers identify variations in gene that doubles risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

A team led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified variations in a gene that doubles a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.

12 Dec 2013

Study finds that people with COPD twice likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, memory loss

A recent Mayo Clinic study found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are about twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) -- and chances are that it will include memory loss. The study was recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

12 Dec 2013

AlzeCure deploys Vortex tool to develop novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease

Dotmatics, a leading provider of scientific informatics solutions and services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, announced today that the research foundation AlzeCure, has deployed and integrated the data visualization and analysis tool Vortex. AlzeCure is a novel innovative drug discovery unit that will use Vortex to help in the quest to discover and develop novel therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

11 Dec 2013

Prana Biotechnology provides update on IMAGINE PBT2 trial for Alzheimer’s disease

Prana Biotechnology, a developer of best-in-class treatments for neurodegenerative disease, today provided an update of its IMAGINE Alzheimer’s Disease Extension trial.

11 Dec 2013

Otsuka, Lundbeck to develop investigational vaccine candidate for Alzheimer's disease

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) today announced that they will further expand their collaboration to include the development of Lu AF20513, an investigational vaccine candidate for Alzheimer's disease.

11 Dec 2013

Merck provides update on MK-8931 investigational oral therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today provided an update on the development program for MK-8931, a novel investigational oral β-amyloid precursor protein site-cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor.

11 Dec 2013

Avanir Pharmaceuticals' AVP-923 phase II trial fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that PRIME, its phase II clinical trial of the investigational drug AVP-923 (dextromethorphan / quinidine) for the treatment of central neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint.

10 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 10, 2103

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how health law advocates are developing new messaging strategies.

10 Dec 2013

Researchers use popular music to help severely brain-injured patients recall personal memories

In the first study of its kind, two researchers have used popular music to help severely brain-injured patients recall personal memories. Amee Baird and Séverine Samson outline the results and conclusions of their pioneering research in the recent issue of the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.

10 Dec 2013

European study investigates high blood pressure drug for treating Alzheimer's patients

An extensive European study is currently investigating whether a drug used to treat high blood pressure may also help patients with Alzheimer's disease. The EU is investing almost 6 million euros on the project, in which Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital are responsible for Sweden's contribution.

10 Dec 2013

Researchers develop new technique to cure human diseases caused by misfolded protein molecules

A team led by a longtime Oregon Health & Science University researcher has demonstrated in mice what could be a revolutionary new technique to cure a wide range of human diseases - from cystic fibrosis to cataracts to Alzheimer's disease - that are caused by "misfolded" protein molecules.

9 Dec 2013

TAU researchers discover gene that may predict human responses to specific antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, but they don't work for everyone. What's more, patients must often try several different SSRI medications, each with a different set of side effects, before finding one that is effective.

9 Dec 2013

UCI MIND researchers receive grant to develop and study patient-derived stem cell lines

Researchers at UC Irvine's Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders have received a two-year, $600,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop and study patient-derived stem cell lines.

9 Dec 2013

Prana completes treatment phase of IMAGINE Alzheimer’s Disease clinical trial

Prana Biotechnology, a developer of best-in-class treatments for neurodegenerative disease, today announced the completion of the treatment phase of its IMAGINE Alzheimer’s Disease clinical trial.

9 Dec 2013

Children with epilepsy at higher risk for mood and behavior disorders

Children with epilepsy are at high risk for depression, anxiety, and behavioral functioning disorders. Mood and behavior are known to change or improve in children following epilepsy surgery, but research is inconsistent concerning the extent of the change.

9 Dec 2013

Heptares starts HTL9936 Phase 1 study for improving cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients

Heptares Therapeutics, the leading GPCR structure-guided drug discovery and development company, announces that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical study of HTL9936, the first fully selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist to enter clinical development. HTL9936 is an orally available, small molecule drug candidate discovered using the Heptares GPCR structure-based drug design platform.

9 Dec 2013

NYSCF, PersonalGenomes.org partner to identify genetic contributions to disease development

Today, the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute and PersonalGenomes.org announced a partnership to identify genetic and environmental contributions to trait and disease development. Cell lines generated by NYSCF will complement genomic data and medical histories contributed by participants in the Harvard Personal Genome Project, creating a unique and powerful resource to help researchers identify causes of disease.

9 Dec 2013

Penn researchers identify protein that could clear Alzheimer's plaques

The body is structured to ensure that any invading organisms have a tough time reaching the brain, an organ obviously critical to survival. Known as the blood-brain barrier, cells that line the brain and spinal cord are tightly packed, making it difficult for anything besides very small molecules to cross from the bloodstream into the central nervous system. While beneficial, this blockade also stands in the way of delivering drugs intended to treat neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's.

9 Dec 2013

Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Blows to head may affect the brain's white matter and cognition even without concussion

Elevated BACE1 activity in mild cognitive impairment could be early indicator of AD, says study

Researchers identify variations in gene that doubles risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

Study finds that people with COPD twice likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, memory loss

AlzeCure deploys Vortex tool to develop novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease

Prana Biotechnology provides update on IMAGINE PBT2 trial for Alzheimer’s disease

Otsuka, Lundbeck to develop investigational vaccine candidate for Alzheimer's disease

Merck provides update on MK-8931 investigational oral therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

Avanir Pharmaceuticals' AVP-923 phase II trial fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

First Edition: December 10, 2103

Researchers use popular music to help severely brain-injured patients recall personal memories

European study investigates high blood pressure drug for treating Alzheimer's patients

Researchers develop new technique to cure human diseases caused by misfolded protein molecules

TAU researchers discover gene that may predict human responses to specific antidepressants

UCI MIND researchers receive grant to develop and study patient-derived stem cell lines

Prana completes treatment phase of IMAGINE Alzheimer’s Disease clinical trial

Children with epilepsy at higher risk for mood and behavior disorders

Heptares starts HTL9936 Phase 1 study for improving cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients

NYSCF, PersonalGenomes.org partner to identify genetic contributions to disease development

Penn researchers identify protein that could clear Alzheimer's plaques

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