Articles tagged with Alzheimer Disease
Two rare genetic variants, NOTCH3 and TREM2, linked to Alzheimer's disease have been discovered. The NOTCH3 variant is more frequent in Ashkenazi Jews and may lead to a diagnostic test for AD in this population.
A new study evaluates the effectiveness of three home-based assessment methods to monitor cognitive function and decline in participants over 75. The results show that all approaches are feasible but with varying degrees of success, and suggest potential improvements in participant retention rates and reduced costs.
A new 'pulsing' ultrasound technique has been developed to improve drug delivery to the brains of mice, opening up new possibilities for treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. By using shorter-wave pulses, researchers were able to deliver drugs effectively without causing tissue damage or side effects.
A recent study discovered amyloid plaques in the brains of stranded dolphins in Florida and Massachusetts, similar to those found in humans with Alzheimer's disease. The presence of these plaques, along with an environmental toxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, highlights the potential risks of toxic exposures in marine environments.
A study found that patients with type 2 diabetes who are untreated develop signs of Alzheimer's disease 1.6 times faster than those without diabetes. Medication for diabetes may be keeping Alzheimer's away.
A new study explores the connection between poor sleep and Alzheimer's disease, revealing that sleep helps clear excess amyloid beta and tau proteins from the brain. Disruption of slow-wave sleep can cause a significant increase in these protein levels, suggesting that sleep plays a crucial role in preventing Alzheimer's development.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that the pathological tau protein in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has a unique 3D structure compared to Alzheimer's disease. The discovery was made possible by cryogenic electron microscopy and may lead to the development of novel diagnostic agents and treatments for CTE.
The University of Arizona Health Sciences has received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a unique training program for a diverse pool of scientists, addressing the nation's Alzheimer's research needs. The AZ-TRADD program aims to cultivate expertise-diverse teams to develop therapeutics and treatments.
Researchers found a potential predictor of (future) Alzheimer's disease in eye fluid, linking low amyloid-β and tau protein levels to lower cognitive scores. The study suggests that proteins in the eye may be accessible for an affordable test to predict future AD.
Researchers found that a unique combination of light and sound improved cognitive and memory impairments similar to those seen in Alzheimer's patients. The treatment also greatly reduced amyloid plaques in the brains of mice, clearing large swaths of critical brain areas.
Researchers found that a blood-clotting protein called thrombin can degrade nerves, but nerve-supporting glial cells like Schwann cells block its effects. This discovery could have implications for diseases such as ALS, MS, and Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that individuals with second- and third-degree relatives who have had Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease. Having one first-degree relative and one second-degree relative increases risk by 21 times, while having four first-degree relatives increases risk nearly 15 times.
A recent study from University of Eastern Finland reveals that persons with Alzheimer's disease have approximately 30% higher risk of head injuries. Falls are the most common cause of these injuries, which can lead to shortened life expectancy and loss of daily activities.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that loss of blood vessels in the retina may signal Alzheimer's disease, even before cognitive symptoms appear. The study used non-invasive technology to analyze retinal blood vessels and detected differences between people with Alzheimer's and those with healthy brains.
Researchers have discovered that a new imaging device can detect signs of Alzheimer's disease in just seconds. The study used optical coherence tomography angiography to analyze the retinas of patients and found altered small blood vessels indicative of the disease.
Researchers found an early atrophy of amygdala and hippocampus in Alzheimer's patients at age 40, differing from normal aging process. Studying biomarkers revealed certain structures shrink before dementia appears.
A recent study published in The BMJ found that long-term use of oral hormone therapy is associated with a small increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women. Women who used hormone therapy for over 10 years had an increased risk, especially those diagnosed at age 60 or older.
A diet rich in green tea and carrot compounds reversed Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice, supporting the idea that plant-based supplements might offer protection against dementia. Combination therapy is suggested as a potential approach to treating the disease.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Health will investigate deep brain stimulation as a potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease, building on previous studies that showed significant improvements in cognitive function in young nonhuman primates. The five-year study aims to determine if DBS can improve memory and counteract...
Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered that an existing therapy used to treat Alzheimer's disease may also be effective for patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a type of dementia that destroys language. The study found that individuals with PPA exhibit the same loss of cholinergic neurons and axons in the fo...
Researchers found people with sleep apnea had 4.5% higher levels of tau in the entorhinal cortex, an area critical for memory and navigation. The study suggests a possible link between sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease biomarker tau accumulation.
Analysis of genetic data from over 94,000 individuals has revealed five new risk genes for Alzheimer's disease and confirmed 20 known others. The study also implicated a genetic link to tau binding proteins and suggested that therapies developed for early-onset disease could be applied to late-onset Alzheimer's.
A study published in Science Advances found that deeper sleep is crucial for the brain's waste removal system, known as the glymphatic system. The researchers observed that mice administered a combination of anesthetics exhibited slow and steady brain activity similar to deep non-REM sleep, which is optimal for glymphatic function.
A Swedish study of 800 women found that those with a high level of mental and physical activities had a lower risk of developing dementia. Mental activities included reading, playing instruments, singing in a choir, and gardening, while physical activity ranged from light walking to regular intense exercise.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover sterubin, a potent neuroprotective compound in Yerba santa, which may help counteract aging's effects on the brain. The study suggests that sterubin could be a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered an enzyme and biochemical pathway that can be inhibited in Alzheimer's disease to decrease amyloid production. This target is also found in anti-cancer therapies, highlighting the potential for a disease-modifying pill.
A study of 1,625 brain tissue samples found Hispanic-American patients with Alzheimer's disease lived an average of 12 years from symptom onset, compared to 9 and 8 years for non-Hispanic whites and African-Americans. The research also identified subtle differences in the severity of Alzheimer's-related protein clumps among ethnoracial...
Scientists at the University of Virginia Health System identified a potential explanation for the death of specific brain cells seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The discovery suggests that naturally occurring gene variation, called 'somatic mosaicism,' may be responsible for this selective vulnerability.
A new study suggests that impaired mitophagy, the process of removing defective mitochondria from brain cells, is a key contributor to Alzheimer's disease. By boosting mitophagy, researchers were able to slow down the accumulation of toxic proteins and reverse cognitive deficits in animal models.
A study from Cornell University has identified the culprit behind decreased blood flow in the brain of people with Alzheimer's: white blood cells stuck to the inside of capillaries. This blockage leads to decreased blood flow in multiple downstream vessels, impacting cognitive function.
A team of researchers has identified a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease by suppressing the activity of a signaling molecule called eEF2K. This approach may improve protein synthesis capacity and alleviate cognitive and synaptic impairments associated with the disease.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center found impaired insulin signaling in the brain negatively affects cognition, mood, and metabolism in Alzheimer's disease. The study used a novel mouse model to demonstrate the impact of disrupting insulin and IGF1 receptors on learning, memory, and mood.
Researchers found that exercise increases brain levels of irisin, a hormone linked to improved memory and reduced Alzheimer's risk. Studies in mice suggest that irisin can protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline and may even help prevent or treat dementia.
A nationwide clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of lifestyle interventions on brain health and cognitive function in older adults. The U.S. POINTER study, funded by a $35 million grant, will compare two lifestyle interventions focusing on healthy diet, physical activity, and social challenges.
Researchers studied Syrian hamster brain changes during hibernation and found that phosphorylated tau, a protein implicated in AD, is rapidly reversed upon waking. Hibernating animals show high levels of long-chain ceramides, which may help protect neurons from oxidative damage.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discover that a blood-clotting protein called fibrinogen destroys connections between neurons in the brain, resulting in cognitive decline. This finding offers an alternative explanation for memory loss and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
A study examining nearly 300 clinically normal adults found that women showed more tau deposits in the brain than men, associated with greater Aβ plaque deposits, supporting potential reasons for differences in AD risk between men and women. The findings may be limited by the study population's age and demographic characteristics.
A team of researchers has created the largest dataset of its type ever, mapping the relative levels of over 5,825 distinct proteins across six regions of the brain. The study reveals new molecular targets for Alzheimer's disease and identifies changes in the cerebellum that may protect it from damage caused by the disease.
Scientists create new process to remove phenolic compounds from olives, making them more palatable without destroying beneficial compounds. The method uses Amberlite macroporous resin and recovers intact olive phenolics for high-value ingredients.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have created a new model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, which points to molecular causes and potential treatments. The model, reported in Cell Reports, removes a major obstacle for scientists seeking to understand the disease.
Researchers used machine learning to identify clusters of relationships in medical data that could predict Alzheimer's disease, including cardiovascular health and immune system response. This approach may lead to earlier diagnosis and better prognosis with new blood tests.
Researchers at Iowa State University discovered a link between the satiety hormone Cholecystokinin and reduced Alzheimer's disease risk, with higher levels associated with a 65% decrease in cognitive impairment. The study suggests that dietary factors may play a role in preventing or slowing disease progression.
The Alzheimer's Association has awarded funding for the SPRINT MIND 2.0 Study, which aims to investigate intensive blood pressure treatment and its impact on reducing dementia risk. The study will continue to follow up trial participants with two years of additional assessment.
A recent grant award of $5.9 million will focus on identifying sex-specific mechanisms driving Alzheimer's disease and developing novel therapeutics for women and men. The study, led by Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton, seeks to define biochemical pathways leading to sex differences in the disease.
Researchers have found a potential therapeutic pathway for Alzheimer's disease by targeting the regulation of critical cholesterol in neurons. Cholesteryl esters were identified as regulators of tau protein, which accumulates in abnormal aggregates that cause neuronal malfunction and death.
A new study finds that sleep deprivation increases tau levels in the brain, a key protein associated with neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease. The researchers suggest optimizing the sleep-wake cycle as a potential treatment target to prevent Alzheimer's.
A 58-year-old female patient with advanced Alzheimer's disease showed significant improvement in brain metabolism and symptoms after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patient reported increased energy, mood, and cognitive function, and experienced reduced anxiety and disorientation.
A recent study published in Science has found that sleep deprivation increases levels of the key Alzheimer's protein tau, leading to accelerated brain damage and dementia. In mice and people, researchers discovered that disrupted sleep causes tau tangles to spread through the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that Hispanic patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease are less impaired on cognitive tests compared to non-Hispanic patients. The study suggests greater small blood vessel disease and increased amyloid angiopathy in Hispanic patients, highlighting the need for culturally adapted diagnostic protocols.
Researchers identify Porphyromonas gingivalis as a key driver of Alzheimer's disease pathology and demonstrate potential for small molecule inhibitors to block the pathogen. The discovery paves the way for Cortexyme's lead compound COR388, which shows promising results in preclinical experiments.
Researchers identified Porphyromonas gingivalis as a bacterial pathogen driving Alzheimer's disease pathology in the brains of patients. The study found that Pg infection led to increased production of amyloid beta and neuroinflammation.
Researchers at University at Buffalo discovered that correcting synaptic dysfunctions in the brain involved in memory loss could reverse memory decline in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. By targeting epigenetic enzymes, they restored glutamate receptor expression and function, leading to dramatic cognitive improvement.
A new study found that people with Alzheimer's disease who used antiepileptic drugs had more accumulated hospital days compared to those without. The study, published in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association, suggests a potential risk-benefit ratio for antiepileptic drug use in older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at DZNE and HIH developed a blood test that detects neurofilament, a protein found in the blood, which accumulates long before clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The test accurately reflects the course of the disease and predicts future developments.
A new blood test reliably detects signs of brain damage in people with Alzheimer's disease, even before symptoms of confusion and memory loss arise. The test may also identify neurodegeneration in other brain diseases, injuries, and conditions such as multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury.
Researchers have made significant progress towards developing a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, with sensitive assays able to detect smaller amounts of peptides that form when amyloid breaks down. A reliable blood test could aid in diagnosis and help identify participants for clinical trials, potentially leading to better treatments.
Research suggests that frailty makes older adults more susceptible to Alzheimer's dementia, regardless of brain changes. The study found a significant association between frailty and cognitive decline, suggesting that maintaining function and independence may help reduce dementia risk.
Researchers found that genetically engineered protein 3K3A-APC protects against Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice by reducing amyloid-β toxin accumulation and inflammation. The study suggests 3K3A-APC as an alternative therapy for early stage Alzheimer's disease.
A new USC study found that blood-brain barrier breakdown is an early driver of dementia, with leaky capillaries in the brain signaling cognitive impairment before hallmark toxic proteins appear. The study suggests new targets for drugs to slow down or prevent dementia's onset.
Researchers developed new chromenone-based derivatives with potent AChE and BChE inhibitory activity. These dual inhibitors may be effective in treating neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease.