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.

Millions of aging Americans are facing dementia by themselves

Sociologist Elena Portacolone was taken aback. Many of the older adults in San Francisco she visited at home for a research project were confused when she came to the door. They'd forgotten the appointment or couldn't remember speaking to her.

15 Oct 2024

Semaglutide enhances cognitive abilities and reduces Alzheimer’s pathology in mice and human brain models

Researchers find that Semaglutide improves cognitive function and reduces amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease models, while restoring oxytocin levels in both mice and human brain organoids.

14 Oct 2024

Boost your heart, save your brain: How better heart health fights dementia

Research highlights the strong connection between heart and brain health, showing that improving cardiovascular health can help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. It underscores the shared biological mechanisms that link cardiac diseases to neurological impairment.

13 Oct 2024

Indiana University scientists pioneer oculomics research with NIH support

Indiana University scientists with expertise in optometry and artificial intelligence are among the first three groups of researchers to receive support from a new program from the National Institutes of Health supporting the emerging field of "oculomics," which uses the eye as a lens on diseases that affect the whole body.

12 Oct 2024

Understanding the surprising link between HDL cholesterol quality and Alzheimer's risk

Higher levels of HDL-C - known as the "good cholesterol" - have been shown to correlate with heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease.

12 Oct 2024

JRC releases a new CRM to aid the fight against beta-thalassemia

Our blood is a window to our health. Doctors examine biomarkers in our blood to determine our health status.

12 Oct 2024

Breakthrough in mirror molecule synthesis opens doors for drug discovery

A University of Texas at Dallas chemist and his colleagues have developed a new chemical reaction that will allow researchers to synthesize selectively the left-handed or right-handed versions of "mirror molecules" found in nature and assess them for potential use against cancer, infection, depression, inflammation and a host of other conditions.

10 Oct 2024

Understanding the mysterious cells in the brain's visual cortex

Imagine yourself sometime in the far future aboard a routine rocket to Mars. Someone just spilled their drink. Without gravity, it collects in floating blobs that ripple right before your eyes. Now freeze.

10 Oct 2024

Three common cardiovascular diseases linked to cognitive impairment and dementia risk

Three common cardiovascular diseases in adults - heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease - are linked to cognitive impairment and increased risk of dementia, according to "Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health," a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published today in the Association's journal, Stroke.

10 Oct 2024

The role of geroscience in understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

For more than 30 years, researchers have identified and quantified genetic and lifestyle factors for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other dementias. Despite extensive research, the fundamental mechanisms behind these neurodegenerative diseases are still not fully understood, and effective management of AD is taking longer than expected.

10 Oct 2024

Could heparin offer new hope in the fight against dementia?

Heparin therapy delays Alzheimer's diagnosis by one to two years, offering potential insights into new protective treatments. Large-scale health records show a promising association between the anticoagulant and delayed dementia onset.

10 Oct 2024

Pitt researchers validate comprehensive blood test for Alzheimer's biomarkers

University of Pittsburgh scientists independently validated a new blood test platform that can simultaneously measure more than a hundred biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

9 Oct 2024

Transposable elements found to be dysregulated in Alzheimer's brains, revealing potential targets for therapy

Study reveals widespread dysregulation of transposable elements (TEs) in aging human brains with Alzheimer's disease, using advanced techniques like CRISPR interference to identify TE-related risk genes.

9 Oct 2024

Collaborative efforts essential for tackling dementia in Africa

Dementia is becoming a major public health issue in Africa as its population ages.

9 Oct 2024

Study reviews BNMs' role in understanding brain disorders

A research team from the International Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, has recently published a comprehensive review in the journal Health Data Science on the application of Brain Network Models (BNMs) in the medical field.

8 Oct 2024

GLP-1 drugs protect brain health by improving neurovascular function and reducing inflammation

Research highlights how GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve brain health by targeting the neurovascular unit, linking metabolic health to cognitive function. It suggests potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

7 Oct 2024

New study confirms brain's waste-clearance pathways in humans

Scientists have long theorized about a network of pathways in the brain that are believed to clear metabolic proteins that would otherwise build up and potentially lead to Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. But they had never definitively revealed this network in people - until now.

7 Oct 2024