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.

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid holds promise against familial frontotemporal dementia

A drug already approved for people with cancer shows early potential as a therapy for a common form of dementia, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

1 Jun 2011

Many patients receive an incorrect dementia diagnosis: Lund study

Many patients receive an incorrect dementia diagnosis. This is shown by a study carried out by neuropathology researchers in Lund, Sweden.

31 May 2011

Study finds novel site within MS4A gene cluster, confirms presence of SNP linked with Alzheimer's

Recently the number of genes known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease has increased from four to eight, including the MS4A gene cluster on chromosome 11.

31 May 2011

Small noncoding RNA spurs Alzheimer's development

Researchers pinpoint a small RNA that spurs cells to manufacture a particular splice variant of a key neuronal protein, potentially promoting Alzheimer's disease or other types of neurodegeneration.

31 May 2011

Stress does not appear to increase risk of developing multiple sclerosis

Contrary to earlier reports, a new study finds that stress does not appear to increase a person's risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The research is published in the May 31, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

31 May 2011

Stem cell pluripotency depends on E-cadherin molecule

Researchers of the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have discovered what enables embryonic stem cells to differentiate into diverse cell types and thus to be pluripotent. This pluripotency depends on a specific molecule - E-cadherin - hitherto primarily known for its role in mediating cell-cell adhesion as a kind of "intracellular glue".

27 May 2011

Karolinska researchers study four siblings affected by early-onset Alzheimer's disease

Four siblings in a family affected by early-onset Alzheimer's have been studied by a group of researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. This has been a unique opportunity to make comparative studies and to monitor the development of the disease over a prolonged period of time.

27 May 2011

NILVAD consortium awarded €6 million grant to develop new Alzheimer's disease treatment

An international research consortium led by Trinity College Dublin that aims to develop a new Alzheimer's disease treatment has just been selected for grant funding of €6 million by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

27 May 2011

Lactate shuttle also exists in human tumors

Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have shed new light on the longstanding conundrum about what makes a tumor grow-and how to make it stop. Interestingly, cancer cells accelerate the aging of nearby connective tissue cells to cause inflammation, which ultimately provides "fuel" for the tumor to grow and even metastasize.

27 May 2011

Researchers find mechanism of action for cancer-killing peptides

Researchers from Aalto University have found the mechanism of action for cancer-cell-killing peptides. This breakthrough is expected to lead to better medication, in particular better treatments for leukemia, skin cancer, and infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria.

27 May 2011

Naturally occurring plant alkaloids could help prevent, delay memory loss linked with Alzheimer's

A family of naturally occurring plant compounds could help prevent or delay memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

27 May 2011

Study: Stress may trigger Alzheimer's disease

Stress promotes neuropathological changes that are also seen in Alzheimer's disease. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich have discovered that the increased release of stress hormones in rats leads to generation of abnormally phosphorylated tau protein in the brain and ultimately, memory loss.

27 May 2011

Recycling protein molecules could lead to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease

The formation of abnormal strands of protein called amyloid fibrils - associated with two dozen diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to type-2 diabetes - may not be permanent and irreversible as previously thought, scientists are reporting in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

26 May 2011

Non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation shows promise in controlling seizures

Medications are the mainstay of treatment for epilepsy, but for a considerable number of patients - estimated to be as many as 1 million in the U.S. - drugs don't work. These patients suffer from a type of epilepsy known as refractory or drug-resistant epilepsy, in which drugs can't control their seizures.

26 May 2011

Study to examine whether red wine component could help reduce concussions in pro boxers

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers are engaging the help of professional boxers and trainers to study whether a component in red wine and grapes could help reduce the short- and long-term effects of concussions.

26 May 2011

Elan, Proteostasis create innovative drug discovery initiative for neurodegenerative disorders

Proteostasis Therapeutics and Elan Corporation today announced a strategic business relationship to advance Proteostasis' platform for the discovery and development of disease-modifying, small molecule drugs and diagnostics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and a broad array of dementia-related diseases including Alzheimer's.

25 May 2011

Leukemia protein plays a role in Alzheimer's disease

After decades of studying the pathological process that wipes out large volumes of memory, scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research discovered a molecule called c-Abl that has a known role in leukemia also has a hand in Alzheimer's disease.

25 May 2011

New data on why aging brain is less resilient and less capable of learning from life experiences

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have published new data on why the aging brain is less resilient and less capable of learning from life experiences. The findings provide further insight into the cognitive decline associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study is published in the May 25 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

25 May 2011

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Johns Hopkins University bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions.

24 May 2011

Israel President announces launch of new international centre for brain research

On the opening of the ILSI Biomed Israel 2011 week, President Peres has announced the launch of a new international centre in Israel, set to conduct brain research and to promote the neuro-technology field.

24 May 2011

Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid holds promise against familial frontotemporal dementia

Many patients receive an incorrect dementia diagnosis: Lund study

Study finds novel site within MS4A gene cluster, confirms presence of SNP linked with Alzheimer's

Small noncoding RNA spurs Alzheimer's development

Stress does not appear to increase risk of developing multiple sclerosis

Stem cell pluripotency depends on E-cadherin molecule

Karolinska researchers study four siblings affected by early-onset Alzheimer's disease

NILVAD consortium awarded €6 million grant to develop new Alzheimer's disease treatment

Lactate shuttle also exists in human tumors

Researchers find mechanism of action for cancer-killing peptides

Naturally occurring plant alkaloids could help prevent, delay memory loss linked with Alzheimer's

Study: Stress may trigger Alzheimer's disease

Recycling protein molecules could lead to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease

Non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation shows promise in controlling seizures

Study to examine whether red wine component could help reduce concussions in pro boxers

Elan, Proteostasis create innovative drug discovery initiative for neurodegenerative disorders

Leukemia protein plays a role in Alzheimer's disease

New data on why aging brain is less resilient and less capable of learning from life experiences

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Israel President announces launch of new international centre for brain research

Aneuro: A Year of Neuroscience in Review eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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