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.

New Alzheimer's guidelines focus on risk, not diagnosis, in healthy adults

Researchers from the International Working Group recommend categorizing biomarker-positive, cognitively normal individuals as "at risk" for Alzheimer's to avoid unnecessary diagnoses and emphasize preventive care.

4 Nov 2024

UT Dallas researchers awarded $3.7 million NIH grant for brain aging study

Two researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) have received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand their study of brain structure, function and cognition across time through the use of powerful high-resolution imaging.

4 Nov 2024

New model sheds light on APOE4's role in Alzheimer's pathology

In healthy brains, immune cells called microglia patrol for damage, clearing away debris and harmful proteins. But in the presence of the APOE4 protein - the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease - the same cells cause harmful inflammation and clumps of misfolded proteins, according to a new study by scientists at Gladstone Institutes.

4 Nov 2024

Grant awarded to build a portable PET scanner for early Alzheimer's detection

Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have received a five-year $6.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to build a portable, high-resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner that can detect the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.

4 Nov 2024

SpaceX CRS-31 supports heart health, neurodegeneration, and student science

More than 25 payloads sponsored by the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory, including technology demonstrations, in-space manufacturing, student experiments, and multiple projects funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), are bound for the orbiting outpost.

4 Nov 2024

Researchers achieve accurate EV analysis to detect brain disease

Brain disorders like Parkinson's (PD) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD) start to develop in patients much earlier than when their first clinical symptoms appear. Treating patients at these early stages could slow or even stop their disease, but there is currently no way to diagnose brain disorders at those pre-symptomatic stages.

3 Nov 2024

International experts propose revised Alzheimer's disease definitions

Today, Prof. Howard Feldman presented revised diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) Conference in Madrid on behalf of the International Working Group (IWG).

1 Nov 2024

Polypharmacy linked to negative health outcomes in older adults with Alzheimer's

Polypharmacy, commonly defined as taking five or more medications daily, is a significant health care concern impacting over 30% of older adults.

1 Nov 2024

Research uncovers new mechanism in protein aggregation linked to Parkinson's disease

A team of researchers at Kumamoto University has uncovered a groundbreaking mechanism in the formation of harmful protein aggregates that lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease.

1 Nov 2024

Glaucoma medication may help prevent Alzheimer's-related tau build-up

A drug commonly used to treat glaucoma has been shown in zebrafish and mice to protect against the build-up in the brain of the protein tau, which causes various forms of dementia and is implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

1 Nov 2024

Innovative approach boosts spatial memory using VR and brain stimulation

EPFL researchers have combined virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation and advanced brain imaging techniques to improve spatial navigation in healthy participants. The study is a first step in addressing dementia in an aging population without medication or surgery.

1 Nov 2024

Targeting necroptosis could halt nerve cell loss in Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive loss of nerve cells leading to a decline in memory and cognition.

1 Nov 2024

Brain actively engages with immune system to maintain health

The brain constantly engages in dialogue with the body's immune system. Such communication appears aimed at ensuring a delicate balance between defending against injury and infection and guarding healthy tissue.

1 Nov 2024

NIH grant funds study to understand how chemical exposure impacts Alzheimer’s risk

To better understand how day-to-day exposures to chemicals earlier in life can contribute to conditions like Alzheimer's disease later on, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, University of California San Francisco, and Emory University received an $11 million National Institutes of Health grant

30 Oct 2024

Exercise linked to lower mortality risk in dementia patients

Physical activity of any intensity after a diagnosis of dementia is associated with around a 30% lower risk of death, finds research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

30 Oct 2024

Positive aging expectations linked to better cognitive perception

Getting older brings certain expectations, from gray hair and wrinkles to more bouts of forgetfulness. While these beliefs may seem harmless, whether a person views these changes in a positive or negative light may influence how they perceive their cognitive abilities, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Nursing.

29 Oct 2024

Inside the Alzheimer's Association: Dr. Heather Snyder on Driving Research and Collaboration

Heather Snyder discusses the Alzheimer's Association's research initiatives, breakthroughs in diagnostics, and the importance of collaboration in dementia care.

28 Oct 2024

Scientists uncover "superspreader" fibrils driving Alzheimer's Disease

The treatment of dementia disorders such as Alzheimer's is still one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. In the course of neurodegenerative diseases, certain proteins such as the amyloid β protein accumulate in the brain. They are suspected of being linked to the development of the disease, which is why they are considered a promising target for therapeutic approaches.

28 Oct 2024

Wayne State University researcher secures $2.3 million for Alzheimer's studies

A Wayne State University School of Medicine faculty member has been awarded a total of $2.3 million by the National Institute on Aging of the National institutes of Health for two new, concurrent projects that both address questions related to Alzheimer's disease, a progressive, age-related degenerative brain disease characterized by memory problems, impaired judgment, cognitive issues and changes in personality.

26 Oct 2024

MHRA greenlights donanemab for early stage Alzheimer’s disease

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 23 October 2024, approved a license for the medicine donanemab (Kisunla) for use in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, following a thorough review of the benefits and risks.

26 Oct 2024