Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

RSS

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.

Early bilateral oophorectomy linked to increased Alzheimer's disease risk

Women with early bilateral oophorectomy face higher Alzheimer's risk, especially with APOE4 allele; education and hormone therapy may offer resilience.

9 Dec 2024

Neighborhood disadvantage found to affect blood pressure and cognition

New research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with higher blood pressure and lower cognitive scores, even among people who do not have an existing diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.

6 Dec 2024

Reimagining axons with the pearls-on-a-string model

In a provocative new study, scientists challenge a fundamental tenet in neuroscience about the shape of axons -- the long, thin filaments radiating from nerve cells that transmit electrical signals from cell to cell – and propose a new model for understanding how information is transmitted in the brain.

6 Dec 2024

New computational pipeline identifies key biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have developed a novel computational pipeline designed to identify protein biomarkers associated with complex diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

6 Dec 2024

Early ovarian removal and APOE4 increase Alzheimer's risk in women

New research published by a team of researchers from the University of Toronto in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Alberta has found that women who have had both ovaries surgically removed before the age of 50 and carry a variant of the apolipoprotein gene, the APOE4 allele, are at high risk of late-life Alzheimer disease (AD). Use of hormone therapy mitigates this risk.

5 Dec 2024

Scientists link proteins to Alzheimer’s through cutting-edge genetic method

Researchers have developed MR-SPI, a novel method integrated with AlphaFold3, to identify causal protein biomarkers and predict their 3D structural changes in Alzheimer’s disease. This breakthrough offers insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

5 Dec 2024

Ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate restores protein balance and targets Alzheimer’s-linked aggregates

Scientists identify β-hydroxybutyrate as a key regulator of protein solubility, offering a novel pathway to combat neurodegeneration in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.

4 Dec 2024

Alzheimer's genetic risk studies undermined by systemic biases

Recent research in Nature Genetics reveals pervasive biases in GWAX studies using parental history of Alzheimer’s, highlighting potential misdirection in genetic associations and disease risk predictions. A novel GSUB method identifies false signals stemming from confounding factors like survival bias and socioeconomic status.

4 Dec 2024

Glyphosate exposure linked to lasting brain inflammation

The human brain is an incredibly adaptable organ, often able to heal itself even from significant trauma.

4 Dec 2024

Spider brain studies lead to breakthrough in understanding human brain diseases

Researchers from Saint Michael's College and the University of Vermont have made a groundbreaking new discovery that provides a better understanding of how Alzheimer's disease develops in the human brain.

4 Dec 2024

Behavioral chaos in Alzheimer’s disease mice decoded by machine learning

Researchers use machine learning to identify behavioral disruptions in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, highlighting a potential therapeutic target in fibrinogen-microglia interactions.

3 Dec 2024

Lifestyle choices and cognitive health linked to future dementia risk

The risk of developing dementia later in life is strongly predicted by a person's cognitive ability, functional limitations and physical health as many as 20 years before onset of the illness, according to a new RAND report.

3 Dec 2024

Skeletal muscle loss linked to increased risk of dementia

Skeletal muscle loss is a risk factor for developing dementia, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

3 Dec 2024

Research sheds light on how mutated PSEN2 accelerates familial Alzheimer's disease progression

Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating condition that slowly robs people of their memory and cognitive abilities, affecting millions of people worldwide.

3 Dec 2024

Ketone metabolism redefines protein quality control in aging brains

Ketone bodies, produced by the body to provide fuel during fasting, have roles in regulating cellular processes and aging mechanisms beyond energy production. Research at the Buck Institute shows that ketone bodies can best be understood as powerful signaling metabolites affecting brain function in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

3 Dec 2024

Study highlights the critical role of TLR7 in sex-biased Alzheimer’s-related demyelination

Inhibiting an immune signaling protein called TLR7 may help preserve the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers in the brain during both Alzheimer's disease and ordinary aging, suggests a study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

2 Dec 2024

Visceral fat found to contribute to Alzheimer's disease development

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fat to the abnormal proteins in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

2 Dec 2024

TRiC mutations found to cause developmental brain malformations in children

In 1992, Judith Frydman, PhD, discovered a molecular complex with an essential purpose in all of our cells: folding proteins correctly.

27 Nov 2024

Research shows "Alzheimer's in a dish" model can accelerate drug discovery

A decade ago, researchers introduced a new model for studying Alzheimer's disease. Known as "Alzheimer's in a dish," the model uses cultures of mature brain cells suspended in a gel to recapitulate what takes place in the human brain over 10 to 13 years in just six weeks.

27 Nov 2024