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Potential target for age-related cognitive decline identified
Posted by on February 7, 2013
As the elderly age, their ability to concentrate, reason, and recall facts tends to decline in part because their brains generate fewer new neurons than they did when they were younger. Now, researchers have discovered a molecule that accumulates with age and inhibits the formation of new neurons. The finding might help scientists design therapies to prevent age-related cognitive decline. (read more)
Number of people with Alzheimer's disease in U.S. may triple by 2050
Posted by on February 6, 2013
The number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. is expected to triple in the next 40 years, according to a new study. (read more)
Green tea and red wine extracts interrupt Alzheimer's disease pathway in cells
Posted by on February 5, 2013
Natural chemicals found in green tea and red wine may disrupt a key step of the Alzheimer's disease pathway, according to new research. (read more)
Vitamin D, omega-3 may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's
Posted by on February 5, 2013
A team of academic researchers has pinpointed how vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids may enhance the immune system's ability to clear the brain of amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. In a small pilot study, the scientists identified key genes and signaling networks regulated by vitamin D3 and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that may help control inflammation… (read more)
Damaged blood vessels loaded with amyloid worsen cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on February 4, 2013
A team of researchers has discovered that amyloid peptides are harmful to the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood in Alzheimer's disease -- thus accelerating cognitive decline by limiting oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. In their animal studies, the investigators reveal how amyloid-B accumulates in blood vessels and how such accumulation and damage might be ultimately prevented. (read more)
Treatment to prevent Alzheimer's disease moves a step closer
Posted by on February 1, 2013
A new drug to prevent the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease could enter clinical trials in a few years’ time, according to scientists. (read more)
Dementia: Cerebrolysin shows promise
Posted by on January 31, 2013
Dementia patients may benefit from a promising new treatment called Cerebrolysin, according to the results of a systematic review. The authors brought together the most up-to-date evidence on Cerebrolysin as a treatment for vascular dementia. (read more)
Cardiac disease linked to higher risk of mental impairment
Posted by on January 28, 2013
Cardiac disease is associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment such as problems with language, thinking and judgment -- particularly among women with heart disease, a new study shows. (read more)
Guidelines for brain amyloid imaging in Alzheimer's
Posted by on January 28, 2013
To provide guidance for physicians, individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's, and the public, experts have published the first criteria for the appropriate use of this imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of people with suspected Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Exercise can slow onset of Alzheimer's memory loss: Scientists identify link
Posted by on January 24, 2013
Keeping active can slow down the progression of memory loss in people with Alzheimer’s disease, a study has shown. Medical researchers have identified a stress hormone produced during moderate exercise that may protect the brain from memory changes related to the disease. (read more)
First brain pacemaker implanted to treat Alzheimer’s
Posted by on January 23, 2013
During a five-hour surgery last October at Kathy Sanford became the first Alzheimer’s patient in the United States to have a pacemaker implanted in her brain. She is the first of up to 10 patients who will be enrolled in a new FDA-approved study. (read more)
Less tau reduces seizures and sudden death in severe epilepsy
Posted by on January 22, 2013
Deleting or reducing expression of a gene that carries the code for tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, can prevent seizures in a severe type of epilepsy linked to sudden death, said researchers. (read more)
Concussion-related abnormal brain proteins in retired NFL players
Posted by on January 22, 2013
For the first time, researchers have used a brain-imaging tool to identify the abnormal tau proteins associated with sports concussion in five retired National Football League players who are still living. Previously, confirmation of the presence of this protein could only be established by an autopsy. Follow-up studies will help determine the impact and usefulness of identifying these proteins early. (read more)
How the brain copes with multi tasking alters with age
Posted by on January 17, 2013
The pattern of blood flow in the prefrontal cortex in the brains alters with age during multi-tasking, finds a new study. Increased blood volume, measured using oxygenated haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) increased at the start of multitasking in all age groups. But to perform the same tasks, healthy older people had a higher and more sustained increase in Oxy-Hb than younger people. (read more)
Tracing the impact of amyloid beta in mild cognitive impairment
Posted by on January 16, 2013
The amount of amyloid ² (A²) in the brains of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is contributing to early memory loss, and increases with severity of symptoms, finds a new study. The non-invasive study which used 18F-florbetaben to find A² plaques in brain scans to also show that in MCI the affect of A² on memory loss is independent of other aspects of mental decline. (read more)
Transmission of tangles in Alzheimer's mice provides more authentic model of tau pathology
Posted by on January 15, 2013
By using synthetic fibrils made from pure recombinant protein, researchers have provided the first direct and compelling evidence that tau fibrils alone are entirely sufficient to recruit and convert soluble tau within cells into pathological clumps in neurons, followed by transmission of tau pathology to other inter-connected brain regions from a single injection site in an animal model of tau brain… (read more)
Major step toward an Alzheimer's vaccine
Posted by on January 15, 2013
Medical researchers have discovered a way to stimulate the brain's natural defense mechanisms in people with Alzheimer's disease. This major breakthrough opens the door to the development of a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and a vaccine to prevent the illness. (read more)
Early surgical menopause linked to declines in memory and thinking skills
Posted by on January 14, 2013
Women who undergo surgical menopause at an earlier age may have an increased risk of decline in memory and thinking skills, according to a new study. Early surgical menopause is the removal of both ovaries before natural menopause and often accompanies a hysterectomy. (read more)
Passive smoking increases risk of severe dementia, according to study in China
Posted by on January 9, 2013
Scientists have found a link between passive smoking and syndromes of dementia. The study of nearly 6,000 people in five provinces in China reveals that people exposed to passive smoking have a significantly increased risk of severe dementia syndromes. (read more)
Can blood pressure drugs reduce the risk of dementia?
Posted by on January 7, 2013
People taking the blood pressure drugs called beta blockers may be less likely to have changes in the brain that can be signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, according to a new study. (read more)
Detrimental effect of obesity on lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on January 7, 2013
Researchers have recently used a neurodegeneration model of Alzheimer's disease to provide experimental evidence of the relationship between obesity and disorders linked to the tau protein. This research corroborates the theory that metabolic anomalies contribute massively to the development of dementia. (read more)
Late-life depression associated with prevalent mild cognitive impairment, increased risk of dementia
Posted by on December 31, 2012
Depression in a group of U.S. Medicare recipients ages 65 years and older appears to be associated with prevalent mild cognitive impairment and an increased risk of dementia. (read more)
New MRI method may help diagnose dementia
Posted by on December 26, 2012
A new way to use MRI scans may help determine whether dementia is Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, according to new research. (read more)
Removing protein 'garbage' in nerve cells may help control 2 neurodegenerative diseases
Posted by on December 20, 2012
A group of neuroscientists say they have new evidence that challenges scientific dogma involving two fatal neurodegenerative diseases -- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia -- and, in the process, have uncovered a possible therapeutic target as a novel strategy to treat both disorders. (read more)
Scientists establish link between inflammatory process and progression of Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on December 19, 2012
Researchers have shown that a well-known inflammatory process plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease. This process, which results in the mature production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine called interleukin-1 beta and is involved in the body's defense against infection, has also been established as a clinical target for rheumatoid arthritis. The finding points to the possibility that drugs… (read more)
Neurons die in Alzheimer's because of faulty cell cycle control before plaques and tangles appear
Posted by on December 17, 2012
The two infamous proteins, amyloid-beta and tau, that characterize advanced Alzheimer's disease, start healthy neurons on road to cell death long before appearance of deadly plaques and tangles by working together to reactivate supposedly blocked cell cycle in brain cells, according to new research. (read more)
Worries about dementia: How hospitalization affects the elderly
Posted by on December 17, 2012
Older people often worry about dementia and while some risks are known, for example alcoholism or stroke, the effects of illness are less clear. New research looks at illness requiring hospitalization and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) and finds that infection or severe sepsis, neurological dysfunction, such as delirium, or acute dialysis are all independently associated with an increased… (read more)
Even the smallest stroke can damage brain tissue and impair cognitive function
Posted by on December 16, 2012
Blocking a single tiny blood vessel in the brain can harm neural tissue and even alter behavior, a new study in animals has shown. But these consequences can be mitigated by a drug already in use, suggesting treatment that could slow the progress of dementia associated with cumulative damage to miniscule blood vessels that feed brain cells. (read more)
Better understanding of the cause of Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on December 14, 2012
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 35 million people worldwide. It is generally assumed that the clumping of beta-amyloid protein causes neuronal loss in patients. Medication focuses on reducing beta-amyloid 42, one of the most common proteins and the most harmful. Researchers in the Netherlands are refining the current approach. (read more)
Alzheimer's biomarkers inhibited in animal model by targeting astrocytes
Posted by on December 11, 2012
Researchers have published an article which provides direct evidence that activated astrocytes could play a harmful role in Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Alzheimer's breakthrough? Drug intended for diabetes appears to restore memory in Alzheimer’s brain cells
Posted by on December 11, 2012
Medical researchers have discovered a drug intended for diabetes appears to restore memory in Alzheimer's brain cells. (read more)
Combining diagnostic tests more accurate at predicting Alzheimer's
Posted by on December 11, 2012
Employing a combination of imaging and biomarker tests improves the ability of doctors to predict Alzheimer's in patients with mild cognitive impairment, according to researchers. (read more)
Feeling lonely linked to increased risk of dementia in later life
Posted by on December 10, 2012
Feeling lonely, as distinct from being/living alone, is linked to an increased risk of developing dementia in later life, indicates new research. (read more)
ApoE is an ideal target for halting progression of Alzheimer's disease, scientists say
Posted by on December 5, 2012
Despite researchers' best efforts, no drug exists that can slow, halt or reverse the onslaught of Alzheimer's disease. A progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's has stolen the memories and livelihoods of millions -- leaving patients and their families struggling to cope with the disease's devastating consequences. But today, scientists propose a new research avenue that has the… (read more)
Standardized road test results differ from older adults' natural driving
Posted by on December 5, 2012
If you're thinking that little old lady driving 35 miles per hour in the passing lane shouldn't be behind the wheel, you may be right. Studies have shown that our driving abilities decline with age, and for those with cognitive issues such as dementia, it can be even worse. However, researchers also found differences between the results of standardized road tests and older adults' natural driving… (read more)
In U.S. first, surgeons implant brain 'pacemaker' for Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on December 5, 2012
Researchers have surgically implanted a pacemaker-like device into the brain of a patient in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the first such operation in the United States. The device, which provides deep brain stimulation and has been used in thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease, is seen as a possible means of boosting memory and reversing cognitive decline. (read more)
Method developed by Finnish researchers targets diagnosis of early Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on December 4, 2012
A software tool called PredictAD developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland promises to enable earlier diagnosis of the disease on the basis of patient measurements and large databases. Alzheimer's disease currently takes on average 20 months to diagnose in Europe. VTT has shown that the new method could allow as many as half of patients to get a diagnosis approximately a year earlier. (read more)
New target for Alzheimer's drug development
Posted by on December 3, 2012
Researchers have developed a synthetic compound that, in a mouse model, successfully prevents the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Alzheimer's researcher reveals a protein's dual destructiveness and therapeutic potential
Posted by on December 3, 2012
A scientist has identified the molecule that controls a scissor-like protein responsible for the production of plaques – the telltale sign of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Research opens new pathway for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on December 3, 2012
Scientists in Belgium have discovered a new target molecule for the development of a treatment against Alzheimer’s disease. There is currently no cure for this disease. Many candidate drugs fail because they also target proteins essential to life. This discovery could form a target for a treatment against Alzheimer’s disease with fewer side effects and that suppresses the very first symptoms of… (read more)
Vitamin D tied to women's cognitive performance
Posted by on November 30, 2012
Two new studies show that vitamin D may be a vital component for the cognitive health of women as they age. (read more)
Immune cells of the brain renew hopes for curing Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on November 29, 2012
A new experimental study carried out in mice shows that microglia, immune cells of the brain, might play a key role in protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is long believed that toxic sticky protein deposits in the brain called amyloid beta (Aß) are responsible for loss of memory in AD patients. Earlier studies have shown that microglia can remove Aß protein from the brain and… (read more)
Amyloid imaging helps in evaluating possible Alzheimer disease
Posted by on November 27, 2012
A test to detect brain amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) provides doctors with useful information on treatment and further testing for patients with cognitive impairment, according to a new study. (read more)
Active lifestyle boosts brain structure and slows Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on November 26, 2012
An active lifestyle helps preserve gray matter in the brains of older adults and could reduce the burden of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. (read more)
Researchers discover gender-based differences in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on November 26, 2012
All patients with Alzheimer's disease lose brain cells, which leads to a shrinking, or atrophy, of the brain. But the pattern of gray matter loss is significantly different in men and women, according to a new study. (read more)
Alzheimer's disease in mice alleviated: Promising therapeutic approach for humans
Posted by on November 25, 2012
Pathological changes typical of Alzheimer's disease were significantly reduced in mice by blockade of an immune system transmitter. The new therapeutic approach in fighting Alzheimer's disease promises potential both in prevention and in cases where the disease has already set in. (read more)
Reading, writing and playing games may help aging brains stay healthy
Posted by on November 25, 2012
Mental activities like reading and writing can preserve structural integrity in the brains of older people, according to a new study. (read more)
Six steps to reduce dementia's most troubling symptoms
Posted by on November 21, 2012
Many of dementia’s behavioral symptoms can be managed well without medications, experts say. (read more)
Alzheimer’s drug trials: Scientists learn from the old, bring on the new
Posted by on November 20, 2012
Potential Alzheimer’s disease drugs have performed poorly in clinical trials with no sign of any new approvals on the horizon. Have scientists reached a therapeutic dead end? Not according to experts. (read more)
Discovery of molecular pathway of Alzheimer's disease reveals new drug targets
Posted by on November 20, 2012
The discovery of the molecular pathway that drives the changes seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients is reported today, revealing new targets for drug discovery that could be exploited to combat the disease. The study gives the most detailed understanding yet of the complex processes leading to Alzheimer's. (read more)
Researchers target vascular health, low-light therapy to combat Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on November 20, 2012
Researchers are conducting new research on vascular disease and low-light therapy to prevent and reverse dementia before it sets into the brain. (read more)
How yeast protein breaks up amyloid fibrils and disordered protein clumps
Posted by on November 19, 2012
Hsp104, an enzyme from yeast, breaks up both amyloid fibrils and disordered clumps. For stable amyloid-type structures, Hsp104 needs all six of its subunits, which together make a hexamer, to pull the clumps apart. By contrast, for amorphous, non-amyloid clumps, Hsp104 required only one of its six subunits. (read more)
'It takes a village' approach improves dementia care and informs research, study shows
Posted by on November 19, 2012
The approach of the Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia -- with contributions from family members, community advocates, health care systems and researchers -- improves dementia care and informs dementia research, according to a new study. (read more)
New factor of genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on November 19, 2012
A large-scale international study has just discovered a gene for susceptibility to a rare disease providing evidence of the heterogeneous aetiology of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Decreased kidney function leads to decreased cognitive functioning, study finds
Posted by on November 19, 2012
Decreased kidney function is associated with decreased cognitive functioning in areas such as global cognitive ability, abstract reasoning and verbal memory, according to new research. This is the first study describing change in multiple domains of cognitive functioning in order to determine which specific abilities are most affected in individuals with impaired renal function. (read more)
Quick test speeds search for Alzheimer's drugs: Compound restores motor function and longevity to fruit flies
Posted by on November 15, 2012
Researchers report that an efficient, high-volume technique for testing potential drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease uncovered an organic compound that restored motor function and longevity to fruit flies with the disease. (read more)
Potential new treatment to stop Alzheimer's disease: Molecular 'tweezers' break up toxic aggregations of proteins in mouse model
Posted by on November 15, 2012
Using a specific biological compound they call molecular "tweezers," researchers report that, for the first time in a living mouse model for Alzheimer's (AD), the compound cleared the existing amyloid ² and Tau aggregates, and proved protective to the neuron's synapses, another target common to AD. (read more)
New, improved mouse model of human Alzheimer's may enable drug discovery
Posted by on November 8, 2012
Researchers have developed a transgenic mouse that carries a human gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer's 15-fold. The new mouse, which mimics the genetics of the human disease more closely than any existing model, provides new evidence for the earliest cause of Alzheimer's and may prove more useful in the development of drugs to prevent or treat the disease. (read more)
Measuring metabolism can predict Alzheimer's progress with 90 percent accuracy
Posted by on November 7, 2012
A new study suggests that early clues about the progression of Alzheimer's disease can be found in the metabolism of the brain, making it possible to detect and diagnose Alzheimer's at an early stage with a simple blood test. (read more)
Controlling vascular disease may be key to reducing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on November 5, 2012
International Experts Review the Latest Thinking in a Special Issue of Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (read more)
Amyloid-beta peptide behind Alzheimer's: Hydrogen bonds analyzed for first time
Posted by on November 5, 2012
Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, researchers have managed to analyze hydrogen bonds in tiny fibrils of Amyloid-beta peptide , which is considered a probable cause of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Regular physical activity reduces risk of dementia in older people
Posted by on November 1, 2012
Regular physical activity may help older people reduce their chances of getting dementia. (read more)
New therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease identified
Posted by on November 1, 2012
Medical researchers have identified an enzyme called Monoacylglycerol lipase as a new therapeutic target to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Dementia patients need urgent support after diagnosis
Posted by on October 30, 2012
There is an urgent need for support from outside the family after diagnosis of dementia according to a study led by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire. (read more)
Drug shows promise in animal model of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's with dementia
Posted by on October 26, 2012
New research demonstrates the role of the investigational compound IRX4204 in alleviating cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Diabetes raises levels of proteins linked to Alzheimer's features, study finds
Posted by on October 26, 2012
Growing evidence suggests that there may be a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, but the physiological mechanisms by which diabetes impacts brain function and cognition are not fully understood. In a new study published in Aging Cell, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies show, for the first time, that diabetes enhances the development of aging features that may underlie… (read more)
Timing is everything: Hormone use may reduce or increase Alzheimer's disease risk in women
Posted by on October 24, 2012
A new study suggests that women who begin taking hormone therapy within five years of menopause may reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Study of patients ages 90 and older links poor physical performance, increased odds of dementia
Posted by on October 22, 2012
Poor physical performance on activities including walking was associated with increased odds of dementia in a study of individuals 90 years and older. (read more)
Clue to cause of Alzheimer's dementia found in brain samples
Posted by on October 22, 2012
Researchers have found a key difference in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and those who are cognitively normal but still have brain plaques that characterize this type of dementia. (read more)
Link found between Alzheimer's disease and protein regulation in the brain -- hope for new treatments
Posted by on October 22, 2012
A link has been discovered between Alzheimer’s disease and the activity level of protein eIF2alpha. One of the researchers said, "Altering the performance of this protein via drug via drug therapy could constitute a treatment for Alzheimer’s." (read more)
Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid can identify patients with Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on October 22, 2012
Analysis of specific biomarkers in a cerebrospinal fluid sample can differentiate patients with Alzheimer’s disease from those with other types of dementia. The method may eventually permit earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment
Posted by on October 16, 2012
People 70 and older who eat food high in carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, and the danger also rises with a diet heavy in sugar, researchers have found. Those who consume a lot of protein and fat relative to carbohydrates are less likely to become cognitively impaired, the study found. (read more)
Plaque build-up in your brain may be more harmful than having Alzheimer's gene
Posted by on October 15, 2012
A new study shows that having a high amount of beta amyloid or "plaques" in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease may cause steeper memory decline in mentally healthy older people than does having the APOE [4 allele, also associated with the disease. (read more)
Astrocytes as a novel target in Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on October 10, 2012
Alzheimer’s disease is a severe neurodegenerative disease that affects 45% of people over 85 years of age. Medical researchers have now identified astrocytes as a novel target for the development of future treatment strategies. (read more)
Tau drug heads into phase 3 trials in frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's
Posted by on October 5, 2012
A small company with roots in Singapore and Scotland plans to test a relatively unknown compound in clinical trials for a type of dementia that strongly affects behavior. (read more)
Know your risk factors to help prevent dementia
Posted by on October 5, 2012
Research shows that managing and treating vascular disease risk factors are not only beneficial to preventing heart disease and stroke, but also common forms of dementia. (read more)
Chewing ability linked to reduced dementia risk
Posted by on October 4, 2012
Can you bite into an apple? If so, you are more likely to maintain mental abilities, according to new research. (read more)
Eliminating visual clutter helps people with mild cognitive impairment
Posted by on October 1, 2012
A new study suggests that memory impairments for people diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease may be due, in part, to problems in determining the differences between similar objects. The findings also support growing research indicating that a part of the brain once believed to support memory exclusively -- the medial temporal lobe -- also plays a role in object perception. (read more)
Over 65s at increased risk of developing dementia with benzodiazepine, study suggests
Posted by on September 27, 2012
Patients over the age of 65 who begin taking benzodiazepine (a popular drug used to treat anxiety and insomnia) are at an approximately 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia within 15 years compared to never-users, a new study suggests. (read more)
Into the mind of the common fruit fly
Posted by on September 25, 2012
Although a nuisance in every home, fruit flies have made surprising contributions to medical science. Now a researcher says that they may also hold the key to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Scientists reverse Alzheimer's-like memory loss in animal models by blocking EGFR signaling
Posted by on September 24, 2012
Neuroscientists have published new research suggesting that EGFR inhibitors, a class of currently used anti-cancer drugs, as well as several previously untested synthetic compounds, show effectiveness in reversing memory loss in two animal models of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
'Foreign' proteins are also implicated in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on September 21, 2012
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s are characterised by the loss of nerve cells and the deposition of proteins in the brain tissue. Scientists have now demonstrated that Alzheimer’s disease does not just – as previously believed – involve the proteins that are attributed to Alzheimer’s, but instead the condition can involve a mixture of interacting proteins from… (read more)
Delirium has a dramatic impact on older people but is frequently undiagnosed
Posted by on September 18, 2012
Delirium is widespread among older people but often goes ignored and untreated, according to new research by US and UK researchers including the University of East Anglia (UEA). (read more)
New enzyme to fight Alzheimer's disease identified
Posted by on September 17, 2012
An enzyme could represent a powerful new tool for combating Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Diabetes drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease, study reveals
Posted by on September 14, 2012
A drug designed for diabetes sufferers could have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, a new study reveals. (read more)
Surgery has a more profound effect than anesthesia on brain pathology and cognition in Alzheimer's animal model
Posted by on September 14, 2012
A syndrome called "post-operative cognitive decline" has been coined to refer to the commonly reported loss of cognitive abilities, usually in older adults, in the days to weeks after surgery. In fact, some patients time the onset of their Alzheimer's disease symptoms from a surgical procedure. Exactly how the trio of anesthesia, surgery, and dementia interact is clinically inconclusive, yet of great… (read more)
Scientists discover how the brain ages
Posted by on September 12, 2012
Researchers have revealed the mechanism by which neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and other parts of the body, age. The research opens up new avenues of understanding for conditions where the aging of neurons are known to be responsible, such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. (read more)
Vitamin C and beta-carotene might protect against dementia
Posted by on September 11, 2012
Researchers in Germany have discovered that the serum-concentration of the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene are significantly lower in patients with mild dementia than in control persons. It might thus be possible to influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by a person's diet or dietary antioxidants. (read more)
Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign
Posted by on September 5, 2012
Sleep disruptions may be among the earliest indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, scientists report. (read more)
Plaque-forming substances in mice with Alzheimer’s disease dramatically reduced
Posted by on September 5, 2012
Scientists have found that eliminating an enzyme from mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease leads to a 90 percent reduction in the compounds responsible for formation of the plaques linked to this form of dementia. That is the most dramatic reduction in this compound reported to date in published research. (read more)
Even in normal range, high blood sugar linked to brain shrinkage
Posted by on September 4, 2012
People whose blood sugar is on the high end of the normal range may be at greater risk of brain shrinkage that occurs with aging and diseases such as dementia, according to new research, (read more)
Potential drug for treatement of Alzheimer's disease investigated
Posted by on August 31, 2012
A compound developed to treat neuropathic pain has shown potential as an innovative treatment for Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. (read more)
New diagnostic biomarkers offer ray of hope for Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on August 30, 2012
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common brain disorders, with an estimated 35 million people affected worldwide. In the last decade, research has advanced our understanding of how AD affects the brain. However, diagnosis continues to rely primarily on neuropsychological tests which can only detect the disease after clinical symptoms begin. (read more)
Women with Alzheimer’s deteriorate faster than men
Posted by on August 24, 2012
Women with Alzheimer’s show worse mental deterioration than men with the disease, even when at the same stage of the condition, according to new research. (read more)
For mitochondria, bigger may not be better: Optimal length of mitochondria is essential to preventing Alzheimer's
Posted by on August 23, 2012
Abnormalities in mitochondrial length promote the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. (read more)
Are the eyes the key to a new test for Alzheimer's disease?
Posted by on August 22, 2012
A simple eye tracking test could hold the key to earlier Alzheimer’s diagnosis, according to new research. (read more)
Alzheimer protein seems to slow down neurotransmitter production
Posted by on August 21, 2012
Researchers report how abnormal protein deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's patients disrupt the signaling between nerve cells. They varied the amount of APP protein and related proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in cell cultures, and then analyzed how this manipulation affected other proteins in the cell. The result: The amount of APP present was related to the amount of an enzyme that… (read more)
Brain enzyme is double whammy for Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on August 20, 2012
The underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood, but a good deal of evidence points to the accumulation of ß-amyloid, a protein that's toxic to nerve cells. ß-amyloid -- a toxic protein known to accumulate in the brains of most Alzheimer's disease patients -- is formed by several enzymes, including BACE1. Researchers have now found that BACE1 does more than just help produce… (read more)
Secrets of 'super-ager' brains: Elderly super-agers have brains that look and act decades younger than their age
Posted by on August 16, 2012
Scientists for the first time have identified an elite group of elderly people age 80 and older whose memories are as sharp as people 20 to 30 years younger than them. And on 3-D MRI scans, the "SuperAgers"' brains appear as young -- and one brain region was even bigger -- than the brains of the middle-aged participants. The SuperAger's cortex was astoundingly vital and resembled the cortex of people… (read more)
Resistance to dementia may run in the family
Posted by on August 15, 2012
People who are free of dementia and have high levels of a protein that indicates the presence of inflammation have relatives who are more likely to avoid the disease as well, according to a new study. (read more)
Color-coded markers may help doctors diagnose neural diseases through the eyes
Posted by on August 15, 2012
Scientists have devised several new fluorescent probes that change color depending on what type of amyloid they encounter. Because amyloids accumulate in the eye as well as the brain, their discovery offers hope that one day neurodegenerative diseases could be differentially diagnosed with simple eye drops or ointment and an eye exam. (read more)
Rejected drug may protect against toxic substance common to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
Posted by on August 13, 2012
The second of two studies on latrepirdine demonstrates new potential for the compound in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, and other neurodegenerative conditions. Scientists found that latrepiridine, known commercially as Dimebon, reduced the level of at least two neurodegeneration-related proteins in mice. (read more)
Good news: Migraines hurt your head but not your brain
Posted by on August 10, 2012
Migraines currently affect about 20 percent of the female population, and while these headaches are common, there are many unanswered questions surrounding this complex disease. Previous studies have linked this disorder to an increased risk of stroke and structural brain lesions, but it has remained unclear whether migraines had other negative consequences such as dementia or cognitive decline. According… (read more)
Blood test for Alzheimer's gaining ground
Posted by on August 9, 2012
The possibility of an inexpensive, convenient test for Alzheimer's disease has been on the horizon for several years, but previous research leads have been hard to duplicate. Now in a new study, scientists have taken a step toward developing a blood test for Alzheimer's, finding a group of markers that hold up in statistical analyses in three independent groups of patients. (read more)
Delirium increases the risk of developing new dementia 8-fold in older patients
Posted by on August 9, 2012
Older people who have experienced episodes of delirium are significantly more likely to develop dementia, according to new research. (read more)
Growth hormone-releasing hormonen appears to aid cognitive functioning
Posted by on August 6, 2012
Treatment with growth hormone-releasing hormone appears to be associated with favorable cognitive effects among both adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults. (read more)
Memory improves for older adults using computerized brain fitness program
Posted by on August 3, 2012
Researchers found that older adults who regularly used a brain fitness program played on a computer demonstrated significantly improved memory and language skills. (read more)
Alzheimer’s cognitive decline slows in advanced age
Posted by on August 2, 2012
The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is advancing age. By age 85, the likelihood of developing the dreaded neurological disorder is roughly 50 percent. But researchers say AD hits hardest among the “younger elderly” – people in their 60s and 70s – who show faster rates of brain tissue loss and cognitive decline than AD patients 80 years and older. (read more)
Reviled substance involved in Alzheimer's can reverse paralysis in mice with multiple sclerosis
Posted by on August 1, 2012
A molecule widely assailed as the chief culprit in Alzheimer's disease unexpectedly reverses paralysis and inflammation in several distinct animal models of a different disorder -- multiple sclerosis, researchers have found. (read more)
Artificial butter flavoring ingredient linked to key Alzheimer's disease process
Posted by on August 1, 2012
A new study raises concern about chronic exposure of workers in industry to a food flavoring ingredient used to produce the distinctive buttery flavor and aroma of microwave popcorn, margarines, snack foods, candy, baked goods, pet foods and other products. It found evidence that the ingredient, diacetyl, intensifies the damaging effects of an abnormal brain protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Dementia: Autoantibodies damage blood vessels in the brain
Posted by on July 31, 2012
The presence of specific autoantibodies of the immune system is associated with blood vessel damage in the brain. New results suggest that autoimmune mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. (read more)
Rejected Alzheimer's drug shows new potential in animal model
Posted by on July 31, 2012
Scientists have discovered that a drug that had previously yielded conflicting results in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease effectively stopped the progression of memory deterioration and brain pathology in mouse models of early stage Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Blocking the effects of amyloid b in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on July 30, 2012
During Alzheimer’s disease, 'plaques' of amyloid beta (Ab) and tau protein ‘tangles’ develop in the brain, leading to the death of brain cells and disruption of chemical signaling between neurons. This leads to loss of memory, mood changes, and difficulties with reasoning. New research has found that up-regulating the gene Hes1 largely counteracted the effects of Ab on neurons, including preventing… (read more)
New drug could treat Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and brain injury
Posted by on July 24, 2012
A new class of drug shows early promise of being a one-size-fits-all therapy for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury by reducing inflammation in the brain. A new study reports when one of the new drugs is given to a mouse genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's, it prevents the development of the disease when given during a newly identified therapeutic time… (read more)
How a single brain trauma may lead to Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on July 24, 2012
A study, performed in mice and utilizing post-mortem samples of brains from patients with Alzheimer’s disease, found that a single event of a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can disrupt proteins that regulate an enzyme associated with Alzheimer’s. The new article identifies the complex mechanisms that result in a rapid and robust post-injury elevation of the enzyme in the brain. (read more)
Anti-tau drug improves cognition, decreases tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease models
Posted by on July 19, 2012
An anti-tau treatment called epithilone D (EpoD) was effective in preventing and intervening the progress of Alzheimer's disease in animal models, improving neuron function and cognition, as well as decreasing tau pathology. (read more)
Alzheimer’s disease linked to diabetes, study suggests
Posted by on July 18, 2012
Researchers have provided direct experimental evidence linking diabetes to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The study also identified an experimental model that could become an important new tool for AD research. (read more)
New biomarker in the blood may help predict Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on July 18, 2012
Higher levels of a certain fat in the blood called ceramides may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. (read more)
Are cardiac risk factors linked to less blood flow to the brain?
Posted by on July 18, 2012
Metabolic syndrome, a term used to describe a combination of risk factors that often lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, seems to be linked to lower blood flow to the brain, according to new research. (read more)
New model of Alzheimer's disease developed
Posted by on July 16, 2012
Scientists have developed the first cell-based model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by reprogramming skin cells of Alzheimer's patients to become brain cells that are affected in Alzheimer's. This will allow researchers to work directly on living brain cells suffering from Alzheimer's, which until now had not been possible. (read more)
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment doubles risk of death
Posted by on July 16, 2012
Researchers have found that people with a form of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease, have twice the risk of dying compared with cognitively normal people. Those with dementia have three times the risk. x (read more)
Alzheimer's plaques in PET brain scans identify future cognitive decline
Posted by on July 11, 2012
Among patients with mild or no cognitive impairment, brain scans using a new radioactive dye can detect early evidence of Alzheimer's disease that may predict future decline, according to new research. (read more)
Timeline maps brain's descent into Alzheimer's
Posted by on July 11, 2012
Scientists have assembled the most detailed chronology to date of the human brain’s long, slow slide into full-blown Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Potential cause of HIV-associated dementia revealed
Posted by on July 10, 2012
Researchers appear to have solved the mystery of why some patients infected with HIV, who are using antiretroviral therapy and show no signs of AIDS, develop serious depression as well as profound problems with memory, learning, and motor function. The finding might also provide a way to test people with HIV to determine their risk for developing dementia. (read more)
Nutrient mixture improves memory in patients with early Alzheimer's
Posted by on July 10, 2012
A clinical trial of an Alzheimer's disease treatment developed at MIT has found that the nutrient cocktail can improve memory in patients with early Alzheimer's. (read more)
Chronic inflammation in the brain leads the way to Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on July 2, 2012
A new article suggests that chronic inflammation can predispose the brain to develop Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Post-anesthesia dementia, like Alzheimer's, looks micro-'tubular'
Posted by on June 27, 2012
Modern anesthesia is extremely safe. But as risks to heart, lungs and other organs have waned, another problem has emerged in the elderly: post-operative cognitive dysfunction. Mentally, some patients “just aren’t the same” for months or longer after surgery. Other factors play a role, but a small number of patients deteriorate mentally due to anesthesia per se. Those with Alzheimer’s disease… (read more)
Alzheimer's spread through the brain mapped: Infects from neuron to neuron
Posted by on June 26, 2012
The inexorable spread of Alzheimer's disease through the brain leaves dead neurons and forgotten thoughts in its wake. Researchers have now shown how toxic proteins are transferred from neuron to neuron. (read more)
New approach to diagnosing and treating dementia
Posted by on June 22, 2012
Some dementia patients show symptoms of a malfunctioning immune system. New research shows that immune reactions against the body's own nerve cells can be the cause of advanced dementia and an appropriate immune suppressive therapy can develop with significant effectiveness. (read more)
Preventing or better managing diabetes may prevent cognitive decline
Posted by on June 21, 2012
Preventing diabetes or delaying its onset has been thought to stave off cognitive decline -- a connection strongly supported by the results of a nine-year study. (read more)
Tai Chi increases brain size, benefits cognition in randomized controlled trial of Chinese elderly
Posted by on June 19, 2012
Scientists have found increases in brain volume and improvements on tests of memory and thinking in Chinese seniors who practiced Tai Chi three times a week, reports a new article. (read more)
Diabetes, poor glucose control associated with greater cognitive decline in older adults
Posted by on June 18, 2012
Among well-functioning older adults without dementia, diabetes mellitus (DM) and poor glucose control among those with DM are associated with worse cognitive function and greater cognitive decline, according to a new report. (read more)
Link between metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease examined
Posted by on June 14, 2012
No effective treatments are currently available for the prevention or cure of Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent form of dementia in the elderly. Increasingly, scientists are looking toward other risk factors to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies. Much attention recently has focused on the metabolic syndrom, with a strong and growing body of research suggesting that metabolic disorders… (read more)
New group of proteins identified in brains of Alzheimer's patients
Posted by on June 13, 2012
Researchers have identified a novel group of proteins that accumulate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. These findings may open up novel approaches to diagnose and stage the progression likelihood of the disease in Alzheimer's patients. (read more)
Role of omega-3 in preventing cognitive decline in older people questioned
Posted by on June 13, 2012
Older people who take omega-3 fish oil supplements are probably not reducing their chances of losing cognitive function, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. Based on the available data from studies lasting up to 3.5 years, the researchers concluded that the supplements offered no benefits for cognitive health over placebo capsules or margarines, but that longer term effects are worth investigating. (read more)
Alzheimer's risk gene disrupts brain function in healthy older women, but not men
Posted by on June 12, 2012
Scientists have found that the most common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease disrupts brain function in healthy older women but has little impact on brain function in healthy, older men. (read more)
Attitude towards age increases risk of dementia diagnosis, study suggests
Posted by on June 11, 2012
Our attitude towards our age has a massive impact on the likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia, new research suggests. New research shows that when seniors see themselves as 'older' their performance on a standard dementia screening test declines dramatically; Making them five times more likely to meet the criteria for dementia. (read more)
Keeping pace: Walking speed may signal thinking problems ahead
Posted by on June 11, 2012
A new study shows that changes in walking speed in late life may signal the early stages of dementia known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). (read more)
Molecular imaging detects signs of Alzheimer's in healthy patients
Posted by on June 11, 2012
An arsenal of new Alzheimer's research indicates that beta-amyloid plaque in the brain not only is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease but may also precede even mild cognitive decline. These and other studies advance molecular imaging for the early detection of beta-amyloid, for which one product is now approved in the United States, as a major push forward in the race for better treatments. (read more)
Alzheimer’s vaccine trial a success
Posted by on June 7, 2012
Medical researchers report, for the first time, the positive effects of an active vaccine against Alzheimer’s disease. The new vaccine, CAD106, can prove a breakthrough in the search for a cure for this seriously debilitating dementia disease. (read more)
Alzheimer plaques in 3D
Posted by on June 6, 2012
Swiss researchers have succeeded in generating detailed three-dimensional images of the spatial distribution of amyloid plaques in the brains of mice afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques are accumulations of small pieces of protein in the brain and are a typical characteristic of Alzheimer’s. The new technique used in the investigations provides an extremely precise research tool… (read more)
High blood caffeine levels in older adults linked to avoidance of Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on June 4, 2012
Those cups of coffee that you drink every day to keep alert appear to have an extra perk -- especially if you’re an older adult. A recent study monitoring the memory and thinking processes of people older than 65 found that all those with higher blood caffeine levels avoided the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in the two-to-four years of study follow-up. Moreover, coffee appeared to be the major… (read more)
New multitarget molecule designed with high potential in future treatments for Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on June 4, 2012
Researchers have developed a multitarget molecule, ASS234, which according to the results of in vitro studies conducted, inhibits the aggregation of the ß-amyloid protein, involved in Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, ASS234 stimulates the cholinergic and monoaminergic transmission, key factors involved in the cognitive function. In addition, ASS234 is able to cross the blood–brain barrier… (read more)
Alzheimer's protein structure suggests new treatment directions
Posted by on May 31, 2012
The molecular structure of a protein involved in Alzheimer's disease -- and the surprising discovery that it binds cholesterol -- could lead to new therapeutics for the disease, investigators report. (read more)
Immune system may protect against Alzheimer's changes in humans
Posted by on May 25, 2012
Recent work in mice suggested that the immune system is involved in removing beta-amyloid, the main Alzheimer's-causing substance in the brain. Researchers have now shown for the first time that this may apply in humans. Researchers screened the expression levels of thousands of genes in blood samples from nearly 700 people. The telltale marker of immune system activity against beta-amyloid, a gene… (read more)
Well-connected brains make you smarter in older age
Posted by on May 23, 2012
Brains that maintain healthy nerve connections as we age help keep us sharp in later life, new research has found. (read more)
Pathological aging brains contain the same amyloid plaques as Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on May 22, 2012
Pathological aging (PA) is used to describe the brains of people which have Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like pathology but where the person showed no signs of cognitive impairment whilst they were alive. New research shows that PA and AD brains contain similar amyloid ß (Aß) plaques and that while on average AD brains contain more Aß there was considerable overlap in Aß subtypes. These results… (read more)
Neuron-nourishing cells appear to retaliate in Alzheimer's
Posted by on May 22, 2012
When brain cells start oozing too much of the amyloid protein that is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, the astrocytes that normally nourish and protect them deliver a suicide package instead, researchers report. (read more)
With fat: What's good or bad for the heart, may be the same for the brain
Posted by on May 18, 2012
According to new research, one "bad" fat -- saturated fat -- was found to be associated with worse overall cognitive function and memory in women over time. By contrast, a "good" fat -- mono-unsaturated fat was associated with better overall cognitive function and memory. (read more)
New clues on how ApoE4 affects Alzheimer's risk
Posted by on May 16, 2012
Common variants of the ApoE gene are strongly associated with the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, but the gene's role in the disease has been unclear. Now, researchers have found that in mice, having the most risky variant of ApoE damages the blood vessels that feed the brain. (read more)
Reducing brain activity improves memory after cognitive decline
Posted by on May 10, 2012
Research suggests a new approach to improving memory and interrupting disease progression in patients with a form of cognitive impairment that often leads to full-blown Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Reduction of excess brain activity improves memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Posted by on May 9, 2012
New research describes a potential new therapeutic approach for improving memory and modifying disease progression in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The study finds that excess brain activity may be doing more harm than good in some conditions that cause mild cognitive decline and memory impairment. (read more)
Greater purpose in life may protect against harmful changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on May 7, 2012
Greater purpose in life may help stave off the harmful effects of plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. (read more)
Midlife and Late-Life Depressive Symptoms Associated with Dementia
Posted by on May 7, 2012
Depressive symptoms that are present in midlife or in late life are associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new report. (read more)
Diabetes shrinks elderly brain
Posted by on May 7, 2012
Elderly people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes suffer from an accelerated decline in brain size and mental capacity in as little as two years according to new research. (read more)
Eating fish, chicken, nuts may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on May 2, 2012
A new study suggests that eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, chicken, salad dressing and nuts, may be associated with lower blood levels of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease and memory problems. (read more)
Alzheimer's drug fails to reduce significant agitation
Posted by on May 2, 2012
A drug prescribed for Alzheimer's disease does not ease clinically significant agitation in patients, according to first randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of the drug (generic name memantine) for significant agitation in Alzheimer's patients. (read more)
New understanding of Alzheimer's trigger
Posted by on May 2, 2012
A highly toxic beta-amyloid – a protein that exists in the brains of Alzheimer's disease victims – has been found to greatly increase the toxicity of other more common and less toxic beta-amyloids, serving as a possible "trigger" for the advent and development of Alzheimer's, researchers have discovered. (read more)
Computer use and exercise combo may reduce the odds of having memory loss
Posted by on May 1, 2012
You think your computer has a lot of memory … if you keep using your computer you may, too. Combining mentally stimulating activities, such as using a computer, with moderate exercise decreases your odds of having memory loss more than computer use or exercise alone, a new study shows. (read more)
Molecule blocks pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on April 30, 2012
Researchers have found novel compounds that disrupt the formation of amyloid, the clumps of protein in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease believed to be important in causing the disease's characteristic mental decline. The so-called "spin-labeled fluorene compounds" are an important new target for researchers and physicians focused on diagnosing, treating and studying the disease. (read more)
Maintain your brain: The secrets to aging success
Posted by on April 27, 2012
Aging may seem unavoidable, but that's not necessarily so when it comes to the brain. So say researchers based on counterintuitive evidence that it is what you do in old age that matters when it comes to maintaining a youthful brain rather than what you did earlier in life. (read more)
Protecting your brain: 'Use it or lose it'
Posted by on April 25, 2012
The protective effects of an active cognitive lifestyle arise through multiple biological pathways, new research suggests. For some time researchers have been aware of a link between what we do with our brains and the long term risk for dementia. In general, those who are more mentally active or maintain an active cognitive lifestyle throughout their lives are at lower risk. New research throws some… (read more)
Preventing dementia: Trajectory of cognitive decline can be altered in seniors at risk for dementia
Posted by on April 23, 2012
Cognitive decline is a pressing global health care issue. Worldwide, one case of dementia is detected every seven seconds. Mild cognitive impairment is a well recognized risk factor for dementia, and represents a critical window of opportunity for intervening and altering the trajectory of cognitive decline in seniors. (read more)
Intravenous vaccination promotes brain plasticity and prevents memory loss in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on April 23, 2012
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable, progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting over five million people worldwide, and is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Currently, intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment is being explored in multiple off-label uses other than immunotherapy, including AD. Several clinical studies assessing the tolerability and efficacy of IVIG in… (read more)
Clinical decline in Alzheimer’s requires plaque and proteins
Posted by on April 23, 2012
The neuron-killing pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which begins before clinical symptoms appear, requires the presence of both amyloid-beta (a-beta) plaque deposits and elevated levels of an altered protein called p-tau. (read more)
Single-neuron observations mark steps in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on April 20, 2012
Neuroscientists have observed correlations between increases in both soluble and plaque-forming beta-amyloid -- a protein implicated in the disease process -- and dysfunctional developments on several levels: individual cortical neurons, neuronal circuits, sensory cognition, and behavior. Their results show that these changes progress in parallel and that, together, they reveal distinct stages in… (read more)
Alzheimer's plaques disrupt brain networks
Posted by on April 20, 2012
Researchers have shown that brain plaques in mice are associated with disruption of the ability of brain regions to network with each other. (read more)
Daily physical activity may reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk at any age
Posted by on April 18, 2012
Daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, even in people over the age of 80, according to a new study. (read more)
New method may help detect marker for Alzheimer's disease earlier
Posted by on April 16, 2012
Use of a new drug to detect the beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that are hallmark signs of Alzheimer's disease may help doctors diagnose the disease earlier. (read more)
Memory in adults impacted by versions of four genes
Posted by on April 15, 2012
Scientists have advanced understanding of the genetic components of Alzheimer's disease and of brain development with two new studies. The first study has found that certain versions of four genes may speed shrinkage of a brain region involved in making new memories. The brain area, known as the hippocampus, normally shrinks with age, but if the process speeds up, it could increase vulnerability to… (read more)
New MRI technique may predict progress of dementias
Posted by on April 10, 2012
A new technique for analyzing brain images offers the possibility of using magnetic resonance imaging to predict the rate of progression and physical path of many degenerative brain diseases, report scientists. (read more)
Antioxidant may disrupt Alzheimer's disease process
Posted by on April 10, 2012
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is now the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, affecting nearly 1 in 8 people over the age of 65. There is currently no treatment that alters the course of this disease. However, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that changes in the way the body handles iron and other metals like copper and zinc may start years before the onset of AD symptoms. A new study… (read more)
Memory declines faster in years closest to death; mental activity best protection
Posted by on April 4, 2012
New research finds that a person’s memory declines at a faster rate in the two- and-a-half years before death than at any other time after memory problems first begin. A second study shows that keeping mentally fit through board games or reading may be the best way to preserve memory during late life. (read more)
New gene thought to be cause in early-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on April 4, 2012
A new gene that causes early onset of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered, researchers say. The research scientists showed that in the families of five of 14 patients suffering from the disease, mutations were detected on the gene SORL1. (read more)
Amyloid beta in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on March 30, 2012
The deposition of amyloid beta in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is the focus of much research into both its cause and treatment. (read more)
Being bilingual wards off symptoms of dementia
Posted by on March 29, 2012
New research explains how speaking more than one language may translate to better mental health. Scientists examine how being bilingual can offer protection from the symptoms of dementia, and also suggests that the increasing diversity in our world populations may have an unexpected positive impact on the resiliency of the adult brain. (read more)
Use it or lose it: Mind games help healthy older people too
Posted by on March 27, 2012
Cognitive training including puzzles, handicrafts and life skills are known to reduce the risk, and help slow down the progress, of dementia amongst the elderly. A new study has shown that cognitive training was able to improve reasoning, memory, language and hand eye co-ordination of healthy, older adults. (read more)
Brain insulin resistance contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on March 23, 2012
Insulin resistance in the brain precedes and contributes to cognitive decline above and beyond other known causes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. (read more)
A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on March 23, 2012
Scientists have developed a new method for measurement of aggregated beta-amyloid – a protein complex believed to cause major nerve cell damage and dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. The new method might facilitate diagnosis and detection as well as development of drugs directed against aggregated beta-amyloid. (read more)
Computer model of spread of dementia can predict future disease patterns years before they occur in a patient
Posted by on March 21, 2012
Researchers have developed a computer program that has tracked the manner in which different forms of dementia spread within a human brain. They say their mathematical model can be used to predict where and approximately when an individual patient's brain will suffer from the spread, neuron to neuron, of "prion-like" toxic proteins -- a process they say underlies all forms of dementia. (read more)
Alzheimer’s disease spreads through linked nerve cells, brain imaging studies suggest
Posted by on March 21, 2012
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia may spread within nerve networks in the brain by moving directly between connected neurons, instead of in other ways proposed by scientists, such as by propagating in all directions, according to new research. (read more)
New hope for treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Role for the FKBP52 protein
Posted by on March 20, 2012
New research in humans reveals that the so-called FKBP52 protein may prevent the Tau protein from turning pathogenic. This may prove significant for the development of new Alzheimer’s drugs and for detecting the disease before the onset of clinical symptoms. (read more)
Clinical trial examines antioxidant effects for Alzheimer's disease on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers
Posted by on March 19, 2012
An antioxidant combination of vitamin E, vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid was not associated with changes in some cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers related to Alzheimer's disease in a randomized controlled trial, according to a new study. (read more)
REM sleep disorder doubles risk of mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's, study finds
Posted by on March 14, 2012
People with symptoms suggesting rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, or RBD, have twice the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or Parkinson's disease within four years of diagnosis with the sleep problem, compared with people without the disorder, a new study has found. (read more)
Potential Alzheimer's disease drug slows damage and symptoms in animal model
Posted by on March 13, 2012
A compound that previously progressed to Phase II clinical trials for cancer treatment slows neurological damage and improves brain function in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The compound epothilone D is effective in preventing further neurological damage and improving cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results establish how the… (read more)
Specific antibodies halt Alzheimer's disease in mice
Posted by on March 6, 2012
Antibodies that block the process of synapse disintegration in Alzheimer's disease have been identified, raising hopes for a treatment to combat early cognitive decline in the disease. (read more)
Scientists pinpoint how vitamin D may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's
Posted by on March 6, 2012
Researchers have identified the intracellular mechanisms regulated by vitamin D3 that may help the body clear the brain of amyloid beta, the main component of plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. The early findings show that vitamin D3 may activate key genes and cellular signaling networks to help stimulate the immune system to clear the amyloid-beta protein. (read more)
New Alzheimer's marker strongly predicts mental decline
Posted by on March 5, 2012
A new marker of Alzheimer’s disease can predict how rapidly a patient’s memory and other mental abilities will decline after the disorder is diagnosed, researchers have found. (read more)
Promising approach to preventing Alzheimer's
Posted by on March 1, 2012
As scientists struggle to find an effective way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, researchers may have found a new approach to interrupting the process that leads to the devastating disease. (read more)
Understanding and treating the cognitive dysfunction of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on March 1, 2012
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder in live born children arising as a consequence of a chromosomal abnormality. It occurs as a result of having three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two. It causes substantial physical and behavioral abnormalities, including life-long cognitive dysfunction that can range from mild to severe but which further deteriorates as individuals… (read more)
Reversing Alzheimer's gene 'blockade' can restore memory, other cognitive functions
Posted by on February 29, 2012
Neuroscientists have shown that an enzyme overproduced in the brains of Alzheimer's patients creates a blockade that shuts off genes necessary to form new memories. Furthermore, by inhibiting that enzyme in mice, the researchers were able to reverse Alzheimer's symptoms. (read more)
Reawakening neurons: Researchers find an epigenetic culprit in memory decline
Posted by on February 29, 2012
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, memory problems stem from an overactive enzyme that shuts off genes related to neuron communication. Researchers genetically blocked the enzyme HDAC2, and 'reawakened' some of the neurons -- restoring the animals' cognitive function. (read more)
Blockade of learning and memory genes may occur early in Alzheimer's disease: Treatable in mice
Posted by on February 29, 2012
A repression of gene activity in the brain appears to be an early event affecting people with Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found. In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, this epigenetic blockade and its effects on memory were treatable. (read more)
How fast you walk and your grip in middle age may predict dementia, stroke risk
Posted by on February 15, 2012
Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke. (read more)
Cognitive stimulation beneficial in dementia
Posted by on February 14, 2012
Cognitive stimulation therapies have beneficial effects on memory and thinking in people with dementia, according to a systematic review. Despite concerns that cognitive improvements may not be matched by improvements in quality of life, the review also found positive effects for well-being. (read more)
Trouble sleeping? It may affect your memory later on
Posted by on February 14, 2012
The amount and quality of sleep you get at night may affect your memory later in life, according to new research. (read more)
Turmeric-based drug effective on Alzheimer flies
Posted by on February 14, 2012
Curcumin, a substance extracted from turmeric, prolongs life and enhances activity of fruit flies with a nervous disorder similar to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. The study indicates that it is the initial stages of fibril formation and fragments of the amyloid fibrils that are most toxic to neurons. (read more)
Brain-imaging technique predicts who will suffer cognitive decline over time
Posted by on February 13, 2012
Scientists have used a brain imaging tool that effectively tracked and predicted cognitive decline over a two-year period. The team had previously developed this tool that can assess the neurological changes associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. (read more)
Air pollution linked to cognitive decline in women
Posted by on February 13, 2012
A large, prospective study indicates that chronic exposure to particulate air pollution may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults. (read more)
Overeating may double risk of memory loss
Posted by on February 13, 2012
New research suggests that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day may double the risk of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), among people age 70 and older. MCI is the stage between normal memory loss that comes with aging and early Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Drug quickly reverses Alzheimer's symptoms in mice
Posted by on February 9, 2012
Neuroscientists have made a dramatic breakthrough in their efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. The use of a drug appears to quickly reverse the pathological, cognitive and memory deficits caused by the onset of Alzheimer's in mice. (read more)
New target for Alzheimer's drugs
Posted by on February 9, 2012
UC Riverside biomedical scientists have identified a new link between a protein (beta-arrestin) and short-term memory that could open new doors for the therapeutic treatment of neurological disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. They show that if beta-arrestin is removed from neurons, short-term memory loss is prevented. But beta-arrestin is also required for normal learning/memory. The researchers… (read more)
Mild cognitive impairment is associated with disability and neuropsychiatric symptoms
Posted by on February 7, 2012
In low- and middle-income countries, mild cognitive impairment -- an intermediate state between normal signs of cognitive aging, such as becoming increasingly forgetful, and dementia, which may or may not progress -- is consistently associated with higher disability and with neuropsychiatric symptoms but not with most socio-demographic factors, according to a large study. (read more)
How to tell apart the forgetful from those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Posted by on February 2, 2012
It can be difficult to distinguish between people with normal age-associated memory loss and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However people with aMCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and identification of these people would mean that they could begin treatment as early as possible. New research shows that specific questions, included as part of… (read more)
Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's
Posted by on February 2, 2012
Researchers have found new evidence that confirms the significance of a protein that neuroscientists call tau to the development of Alzheimer's disease. While earlier studies have focused on tau's aggregation into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles," the new work emphasizes intermediary steps between single protein units and the much larger tangles – small assemblages of two, three,… (read more)
Same genes linked to early- and late-onset Alzheimer's
Posted by on February 1, 2012
The same gene mutations linked to inherited, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease have been found in people with the more common late-onset form of the illness. The discovery may lead doctors and researchers to change the way Alzheimer’s disease is classified. (read more)
Alzheimer's disease may spread by 'jumping' from one brain region to another
Posted by on February 1, 2012
For decades, researchers have debated whether Alzheimer's disease starts independently in vulnerable brain regions at different times, or if it begins in one region and then spreads to neuroanatomically connected areas. A new study strongly supports the latter, demonstrating that abnormal tau protein, a key feature of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in the brains of those with Alzheimer's, propagates… (read more)
Why the brain is more reluctant to function as we age
Posted by on February 1, 2012
New findings reveal a novel mechanism through which the brain may become more reluctant to function as we grow older. (read more)
Decaffeinated coffee may help improve memory function and reduce risk of diabetes
Posted by on February 1, 2012
In an animal study, researchers found that decaffeinated coffee may improve glucose utilization in the brain, reducing the risk for Type 2 diabetes and the brain dysfunction associated with some neurological disorders. (read more)
Mild cognitive impairment is common, affects men most, study finds
Posted by on January 25, 2012
Researchers report that more than 6 percent of Americans age 70 to 89 develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) every year. Also, the condition appears to affect men and those who only have a high school education more than women and those who have completed some higher education. People with MCI are at the stage between suffering the normal forgetfulness associated with aging and developing dementia,… (read more)
Men at higher risk for mild memory loss than women, study finds
Posted by on January 25, 2012
Men may be at higher risk of experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or the stage of mild memory loss that occurs between normal aging and dementia, than women, according to a new study. (read more)
Could Alzheimer's disease be diagnosed with a simple blood test?
Posted by on January 25, 2012
A pilot study suggests infrared analysis of white blood cells is a promising strategy for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Protein in brain could be a key target in controlling Alzheimer’s
Posted by on January 25, 2012
A protein recently discovered in the brain could play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. (read more)
Cognitive activity linked to brain protein related to Alzheimer disease, study suggests
Posted by on January 23, 2012
Individuals who keep their brains active throughout life with cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, writing and playing games appear to have reduced levels of the beta-amyloid protein, which is the major part of the amyloid plaque in Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. (read more)
Lifelong brain-stimulating habits linked to lower Alzheimer's protein levels
Posted by on January 23, 2012
People who have made mental engagement a lifelong habit have lower levels of a key protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by neuroscientists. The findings could provide support for cognitive therapies to help prevent the onset of a debilitating disease. (read more)
Alzheimer's protein characterized
Posted by on January 22, 2012
Clarification of the role of a specific protein fragment that forms toxic clumps and damages the brain could lead to therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
Active compounds against Alzheimer's disease: New insights thanks to simulations
Posted by on January 12, 2012
Various molecules have been synthesized that inhibit self-assembly of the amyloid beta peptide in vitro. This peptide is strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease. Based on computer simulations, biochemists have recently shown how the active compounds and fragments of this disease-causing peptide interact with each other: it is the disordered structure of the peptide that determines the interactions… (read more)
Advance toward an imaging agent for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease
Posted by on January 11, 2012
Scientists are reporting development and initial laboratory tests of an imaging agent that shows promise for detecting the tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain -- signs that now can't confirm a diagnosis until after patients have died. (read more)
Nicotine patch shows benefits in mild cognitive impairment, study suggests
Posted by on January 9, 2012
Using a nicotine patch may help improve mild memory loss in older adults, according to a new study. (read more)
PET effectively detects dementia, decade of research shows
Posted by on January 7, 2012
Scientists find that a method of positron emission tomography safely and accurately detects dementia, including the most common and devastating form among the elderly, Alzheimer's disease. (read more)
'BINGO!' game helps researchers study perception deficits
Posted by on January 3, 2012
Bingo, a popular activity in nursing homes, senior centers and assisted-living facilities, has benefits that extend well beyond socializing. Researchers found high-contrast, large bingo cards boost thinking and playing skills for people with cognitive difficulties and visual perception problems produced by Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. (read more)
Alzheimer's damage occurs early
Posted by on January 3, 2012
The first changes in the brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease can be observed as much as ten years in advance – ten years before the person in question has become so ill that he or she can be diagnosed with the disease. (read more)
Another potential risk factor for developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in women
Posted by on January 2, 2012
A hormone derived from visceral fat called adiponectin may play a role as a risk factor for development of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease in women, according to a new study. (read more)