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Alzheimer’s Disease
Latest News Regarding Alzheimer’s Disease and Your Health
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A large study concludes that atrial fibrillation does, indeed, raise the risk of dementia even in people who did not have a stroke and that anticoagulants may reduce this risk. An irregular heartbeat may be a sign of A-fib, which may, in turn, raise dementia risk. Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly. More specifically, the atria of the heart — the chambers that receive blood and pump it out to the heart’s ventricles and the rest of the body — beat at an irregular rhythm. A-fib is the most common form of arrhythmia, affecting between 2.7 and 6.1 million adults in the United States. Previous research has shown that people with A-fib have a higher risk of dementia, and also that people can take blood thinners to reduce this risk. New research confirms that the above is true, even in people who never experienced a stroke. The new study is the largest of its kind ever conducted. Boyoung Joung, who is a professor of cardiology and internal medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Republic of Korea, is the leading author of the paper, which appears in the European Heart Journal. A-fib […]
By the time that the symptoms of dementia emerge in Alzheimer’s disease, tissue damage is well underway in the brain. Now, scientists propose that specific psychiatric symptoms – such as depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, and loss of appetite – may serve as markers of very early brain changes in Alzheimer’s. Depression and anxiety may be signs of early-stage Alzheimer’s. Working with the Brazilian Biobank for Aging Studies (BBAS) at the University of São Paulo, investigators at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) studied results of postmortem brain tissue tests and compared them with psychiatric symptoms obtained from detailed interviews conducted with people who knew the deceased well, such as relatives and carers. They suggest that their study — a paper on which now features in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease — reveals that psychiatric symptoms are not the cause of Alzheimer’s, but more likely early indicators of the disease. Such markers could help doctors to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease much earlier and thus increase opportunities for slowing its progress, they note. Better understanding of Alzheimer’s The authors also propose that the findings could alter our understanding of how the biology of Alzheimer’s leads to psychiatric symptoms in people who […]
By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Could illiteracy up your odds for dementia? That’s the suggestion of a study that found seniors who couldn’t read or write were two to three times more likely to develop dementia than those who could. The finding “provides strong evidence for a link between illiteracy and dementia risk,” said study author Jennifer Manly, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. The finding also offers sobering insight into how dementia risk could be disproportionately affecting the roughly 32 million illiterate adults in the United States. For the study, Manly and her colleagues focused on men and women who were at least 65, with an average age of 77. Most had been born and raised in rural areas of the Dominican Republic before moving to northern Manhattan. None — including those who could read or write — had gone to school for more than four years. Three separate groups of participants were tracked for an average of about four years, with the first group formed in 1992, followed by a second in 1999 and a third in 2009, for […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Take care of your heart. That’s the takeaway from a new study that suggests good heart health in middle age could lower your odds for problems with thinking and memory later in life. The study included nearly 7,900 British adults who did not have heart disease or dementia at age 50. Over an average 25-year followup, 347 cases of dementia were diagnosed among participants. Average age at diagnosis: 75. After taking other factors into account, researchers linked a higher score at age 50 on seven healthy habits outlined in the American Heart Association’s “Life Simple 7” with a lower risk of dementia later in life. The Life Simple 7 assesses smoking, diet, physical activity, fasting blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight). Dementia rates were 1.3 per 1,000 person years among participants who had high scores on heart healthy habits, compared to 3.2 per 1,000 for low-scorers, according to the study published Aug. 7 in the BMJ. A better score at age 50 was also associated with higher overall brain […]
A new study investigates the effect of leading a healthful lifestyle on people who have a genetic predisposition to developing dementia. Leading a healthful lifestyle can offset the genetic risk of dementia, according to a new study. Elżbieta Kuźma, Ph.D., and David Llewellyn, Ph.D., from the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom, are the joint lead authors of the new research, which appears in the journal JAMA. Llewellyn, Kuźma, and colleagues also presented their findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019, which took place in Los Angeles, CA. In their paper, the authors explain that while scientists know that genes and lifestyle both significantly affect Alzheimer’s risk and the likelihood of other types of dementia, they do not yet know the extent to which making healthful lifestyle choices can offset the genetic risk. For instance, research has shown that the E4 variant of the gene that encodes the apolipoprotein E raises the risk by threefold if a person inherits one copy and up to 15 times if they have two copies of the gene. However, a significant body of research also points to the fact that people who do not smoke, are physically active, only consume […]
The herpes virus could account for at least half of Alzheimer’s cases, according to a new review of the findings of three recent studies examining links between Alzheimer’s and herpes. Infection with the herpes simplex virus may boost the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, researchers suggest. The new paper, published in the Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience journal, also suggests that antiviral drugs may reduce the risk of senile dementia — which is mostly caused by Alzheimer’s disease — among people who have severe cases of herpes. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is the type of herpes that results in cold sores. HSV1 is a common virus, and the majority of people will have contracted it by the time they reach old age. However, the virus remains permanently in the body and cannot be decisively removed either by the body’s natural defense mechanisms or by drugs. The virus is inactive most of the time, but when a person has HSV1, they may find that flare-ups occur when they are stressed or sick, resulting in characteristic blisters. Medical News Today have reported on several studies this year alone that have provided evidence of a connection between Alzheimer’s and herpes. In June, we looked […]
Researchers found that using a computer, playing games, and participating in social activities may reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment. New research suggests that playing games, using a computer, and having a rich social life can keep mild cognitive impairment at bay. Our brains go through changes as we get older, and some people may experience issues with memory, thinking, or judgment. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between age-related cognitive decline and dementia — however, MCI does not significantly affect daily life and activities. People with MCI tend to forget things, lose their train of thought or the thread of conversations, and feel overwhelmed by making decisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 16 million people in the United States are living with cognitive impairment. MCI may increase the risk of dementia, but not everyone with MCI goes on to develop the condition. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved any treatments specifically for MCI. Lifestyle choices such as physical exercise and intellectual stimulation have positive effects on the brain. In recent years, researchers have been conducting more studies to find treatments that may prevent cognitive decline. […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New study results about an experimental drug its maker claims can slow mental decline in Alzheimer’s disease patients were released Thursday. Studies on aducanumab were halted earlier this year because the drug didn’t appear to be effective. But the new results suggest it’s effective at a high dose, the Associated Press reported. The findings were presented at an Alzheimer’s conference in San Diego. However, some experts say that changes during the study and unusual analyses make the results difficult to interpret and the risks and benefits of the drug unclear, the AP reported. “I don’t see how you can conclude anything other than that another trial needs to be done,” said Dr. David Knopman of the Mayo Clinic, who is a member of an FDA panel likely to review the drug. He’s not likely to participate in such a review because he was involved in one of the studies, the AP reported. Aducanumab — being developed by U.S. company Biogen and Japanese company Eisai — is designed to clear harmful plaques, or protein clumps, from the brain. Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SLIDESHOW Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Aging […]
Scientists have uncovered a mechanism through which a toxic brain protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease can damage neurons, or brain cells. New research uncovers the mechanism that leads to the progressive loss of brain cells that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease. The team at the Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences in France that made the discovery also suggests a potential way to disarm the mechanism during the early stages of the disease. The study concerns the functioning of dendritic spines, which are the tiny structures in the branching parts of brain cells that receive signals from other brain cells. It appears that beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, triggers a mechanism that disrupts the functioning of dendritic spines. The mechanism disables a protein called cofilin 1, and the activity of this protein is crucial for the healthy functioning of dendritic spines. The Journal of Neuroscience has recently published a study paper on the research. It describes how the team used brain tissue samples from mouse models and people with Alzheimer’s disease to arrive at their findings. A key finding was that exposure to beta-amyloid peptides, which are the building blocks of […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Brain scans can improve diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study claims. Researchers assessed the use of PET scans to identify Alzheimer’s-related amyloid plaques in the brain. The study included more than 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries with mild thinking impairment or dementia of uncertain cause. This scanning technique changed the diagnosis of the cause of mental impairment in more than one-third of the participants in the study. The brain scan results also changed management — including the use of medications and counseling — in nearly two-thirds of cases, according to the study published April 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “These results present highly credible, large-scale evidence that amyloid PET imaging can be a powerful tool to improve the accuracy of Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lead to better medical management, especially in difficult-to-diagnose cases,” said study co-author Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association. “It is important that amyloid PET imaging be more broadly accessible to those who need it,” she added in an association news release. Funding for the study came from Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., General Electric Healthcare, and Life Molecular Imaging. “We are […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, June 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with blood pressure medication can improve blood flow to a key brain region in people with Alzheimer’s disease, a small clinical trial has found. Researchers stressed that they do not know whether the brain finding can translate into any benefits for patients. But future studies should look into that possibility, they said. The findings, published June 17 in the journal Hypertension, come from a trial of 44 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. They were randomly assigned to take either the blood pressure drug nilvadipine or inactive placebo pills for six months. In the end, patients on the drug showed a 20% increase in blood flow to the hippocampus — a brain structure involved in memory and learning that is one of the first areas damaged by Alzheimer’s. Experts said the study was too small and short-term to know whether the improved blood flow could have any effect on symptoms. But future research should try to answer that question and should focus on people with early Alzheimer’s, said Dr. Jurgen Claassen, the study’s lead author. The research is part of a larger trial that looked […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When older adults fall prey to scam artists, it might in some cases be an early warning of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. The study of 935 older adults found that those who appeared susceptible to scams were at higher risk of mental decline over the next six years. Compared with their more skeptical peers, they were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment — problems with memory and thinking that can progress to dementia. And they were typically twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers said it all suggests that “low scam awareness” can be a harbinger of dementia. That’s important, in part, because financial fraudsters go after the elderly. “Older adults hold most of the wealth in this country,” said Patricia Boyle, lead researcher on the study. “We know they are often the target of scam artists, and they’re vulnerable to falling victim — to the tune of about $35 billion a year.” If an older adult falls for a scam, that alone does not mean they’re on a path toward dementia, said Boyle, a neuropsychologist with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease […]
A protein that plays a key role in early neural development is also essential for learning and memory in the adult brain. A protein called netrin may boost learning and memory by strengthening neural connections in the adult brain. The protein, called netrin, strengthens connections between brain cells. This is according to recent research led by the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro), a teaching and research institute of McGill University in Canada. Scientists already knew that netrin is essential for the development of the embryonic and infant brain, where it helps make connections between brain cells, or neurons. The recent research reveals that the protein also strengthens those neural connections, or synapses, in the adult brain’s hippocampus, an area that is involved in memory and learning. The journal Cell Reports recently published a paper on the study, which the team conducted on cells from developing and adult rat brains. “It was a mystery,” comments senior study author Dr. Timothy E. Kennedy, who runs a research laboratory at The Neuro, “why neurons would continue making netrin in the adult brain after all the connections had already been made in infancy.” Molecule key for synapse strengthening According to Dr. Kennedy, […]
As scientists delve deeper into the nature of Parkinson’s, the more it appears that it is highly varied, suggesting numerous subtypes. A new review proposes that Parkinson’s falls into one of two main categories, depending on whether it originates in the central nervous system (CNS) or the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Share on PinterestNew research redefines Parkinson’s disease. In a recent Journal of Parkinson’s Disease paper, scientists from Denmark argue how results from imaging and tissue studies fit with a theory of Parkinson’s that divides the condition “into a PNS-first and a CNS-first subtype.” Parkinson’s disease principally destroys dopamine cells in the brain’s substantia nigra area. This is the part that controls movement. This damage gives rise to the most common symptoms, including tremors, rigidity, and balance difficulties. Parkinson’s disease may also cause emotional changes, depression, constipation, sleep disruption, and urinary problems. The pattern of symptoms and their rate of progression can vary widely among individuals. A distinguishing feature of Parkinson’s, however, is the accumulation and spread of toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein protein called Lewy bodies. These clumps are also hallmarks of dementia with Lewy bodies. Debating the origins of Parkinson’s Some scientists have proposed that the toxic alpha-synuclein forms […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Sleep loss is a problem for people who care for loved ones with dementia, which can put both caregivers and patients at risk, researchers say. Investigators at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, found caregivers lost between 2.5 to 3.5 hours of sleep a week due to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. “Losing 3.5 hours of sleep per week does not seem much, but caregivers often experience accumulation of sleep loss over years,” said review lead author Chenlu Gao, a doctoral candidate of psychology and neuroscience. “Losing 3.5 hours of sleep weekly on top of all the stress, grief and sadness can have a really strong impact on caregivers’ cognition, and mental and physical health,” Gao added in a university news release. But improving caregivers’ sleep quality can significantly improve their functioning and quality of life, Gao said. For example, the researchers found that caregivers’ sleep noticeably improved after simple changes such as getting more morning sunlight, establishing a regular and relaxing bedtime routine, and doing moderate physical exercise. Chronic stress can cause sleep problems, and nighttime awakenings by people with dementia can also disrupt caregivers’ sleep, the researchers noted. […]
Scientists have now proved that drinking certain types of coffee can be beneficial to brain health, but how does this popular brew support cognitive function? A new study identifies some of the mechanisms that allow coffee to keep mental decline at bay. What makes coffee an ally of brain health? According to data from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, about 54 percent of all adults in the United States drink coffee on a daily basis. While drinking coffee can bring both benefits and risks for a person’s health, a 2016 study from the University of Ulster in Coleraine, United Kingdom, concluded that the health benefits of moderate coffee consumption “clearly outweigh” the potential risks. One of these benefits is that coffee seems to protect the brain against cognitive impairments and boost thinking skills. How does this happen, and what is it about coffee that is so beneficial to cognitive health? These are some questions that a new study from the Krembil Brain Institute — part of the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto, Canada — aims to answer. “Coffee consumption does seem to have some correlation to a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and […]
Researchers reveal a marker and new testing tool of frontotemporal dementia that may help distinguish this condition from Alzheimer’s disease. ‘Moral emotions’ are ones that prompt us to do good and contribute to pro-social behavior and cooperation. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a less common form of dementia than Alzheimer’s. Sometimes called Pick’s disease or frontal lobe dementia, this condition occurs when brain cells in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain, or both, become damaged. The frontal lobes of a person’s brain are responsible for problem-solving, planning, emotional control, and behavior. FTD may also affect the temporal lobes, which can be found on each side of the brain and deal with speech, the meaning of words, and recognition of faces or objects. In addition to difficulties with language, FTD also causes changes in personality and behavior. For instance, people with FTD may experience mood changes that do not normally characterize them. They may act more impulsively, lose their social inhibitions, feel apathetic, or lose interest in the emotions of other people or in socializing. Although some of these symptoms are similar to other, more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, FTD is different from Alzheimer’s. In an […]
New research suggests that vital exhaustion, a marker of psychological distress, may raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Psychological distress in midlife may bring about dementia later on, suggests new research. Many factors may increase Alzheimer’s risk, including age, family history, and genetic makeup. Certain health issues, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, may also influence the odds of experiencing dementia because they impact the blood vessels. New research indicates that psychological factors could also affect risk. Psychological distress, in particular, may increase the likelihood of developing dementia, suggests the new study. Specifically, researchers led by Sabrina Islamoska, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, set out to investigate the possibility of a link between vital exhaustion and Alzheimer’s disease. Vital exhaustion describes “a mental state of psychological distress” that manifests as irritability, fatigue, and a feeling of demoralization. As the researchers explain, vital exhaustion may be a reaction to “unsolvable problems” in one’s life, especially when the person has been exposed to stressors for a prolonged period. So, vital exhaustion can be seen as a sign of psychological distress. Previous studies have noted that vital exhaustion may raise the risk […]
Older people who want to preserve their faculties may wish to consider rationing their TV time. A large new study of older adults found that those who spent at least 3.5 hours per day watching TV experienced a greater decline in verbal memory. The ‘passive activity’ of watching TV may impair memory in older people. Researchers at University College London in the United Kingdom analyzed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) on 3,662 adults aged 50 and older. In 2008–2009, and again in 2014–2015, the ELSA participants had answered questions about the time they spent watching TV. At these times, they also completed tests of verbal memory and fluency. The analysis revealed that those who watched TV for 3.5 hours or more per day had an average decline of 8–10 percent in word- and language-related memory over the 6 years the study covered. This is compared with a lower 4–5 percent average decline in those who watched fewer hours of TV per day over the same period. The study, which now features in the journal Scientific Reports, found no such links between TV viewing time and differences in “semantic fluency.” The verbal memory tests asked the participants […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Are some tests designed to measure memory declines missing signs of trouble in women? New research suggests that might be the case. More women than men were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) when sex-specific scores were used on memory tests, researchers report. They explained that women generally score higher on verbal memory tests than men, even when they have the same levels of brain changes. Therefore, memory scores based on gender, rather than averages for both men and women, may be more revealing for women with possible brain issues. People with MCI have problems with memory and thinking skills, and the condition is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. “If women are inaccurately identified as having no problems with memory and thinking skills when they actually have mild cognitive impairment, then treatments are not being started and they and their families are not planning ahead for their care or their financial or legal situations,” said study author Erin Sundermann, from the University of California, San Diego. “And for men who are inaccurately diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, they can be exposed to unneeded medications, along […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News SUNDAY, Nov. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — It happens to everyone: A familiar song comes on the radio, and suddenly you recall every note and every word. Now, new research has pinpointed exactly how long it takes people to recognize that favorite tune — just 0.1 to 0.3 seconds. The study included five men and five women who each provided a list of five familiar songs that they associated with good memories. The researchers then chose one of each participants’ songs and matched it with a song that was similar in tempo, melody, harmony, vocals and instrumentation, but was unfamiliar to the participant. Each participant was randomly played 100 snippets (each less than a second) of both the familiar and unfamiliar song. The researchers monitored the participants’ electrical activity in the brain and their pupil diameter (a measure of arousal) while they listed to the song snippets. Song recognition was first revealed by pupil dilation likely associated with increased arousal triggered by the familiar song, followed by brain activity related to memory retrieval, according to the study published online Oct. 30 in the journal Scientific Reports. A “control group” of people unfamiliar with any of the songs […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, March 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A long-running study questions the conventional wisdom that a healthy diet may help ward off dementia. European researchers followed more than 8,200 middle-aged adults for 25 years — looking at whether diet habits swayed the odds of being diagnosed with dementia. In the end, people who ate their fruits and vegetables were at no lower risk than those who favored sweets and steaks. The findings, published March 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, stand in stark contrast to many past studies. Those studies have linked heart-healthy diets to lower odds of mental decline and abnormalities in the brain that can foretell dementia. Currently, groups like the Alzheimer’s Association suggest that people adopt those diets as one potential way to stave off dementia. Most studies, though, have followed people for only a fairly short time — less than 10 years, said lead researcher Tasnime Akbaraly, from the French national research institute INSERM. This study is the first to look at diet quality starting in middle age and the long-term risk of dementia, explained Akbaraly. Her team found that 344 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s […]
Millions of people worldwide live with a form of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there is no way to halt its progress, but clinical trials of new drugs are underway. What approach will serve specialists best? A new review of clinical trials advises on the best way forward. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people around the world live with dementia, and approximately 60–70 percent have Alzheimer’s disease. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is aging, and people ages 65 or older are the most vulnerable. Current treatments for this condition address its symptoms, such as memory loss and behavioral changes. However, more and more research aims to find a therapy that will tackle the biological changes that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. But are researchers on the right track with their investigations, and what would be the best treatment approach? A new comprehensive review published in the journal Neurology, and available online, addresses these questions. Most trials target brain pathologies In the review, specialists from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in New York, NY analyze current clinical trials for dementia drugs and advise about the best approach going forward. “Alzheimer’s is […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The old saying, “TV rots your brain,” could have some validity for folks as they age. In a new study, middle-aged people who watched television for more than 3.5 hours a day experienced a decline in their ability to remember words and language over the next six years, British researchers found. What’s worse, it appears that the more TV you watch, the more your verbal memory will deteriorate, researchers said. “Overall, our results suggests that adults over the age of 50 should try and ensure television viewing is balanced with other contrasting activities,” said lead researcher Daisy Fancourt. She’s a senior research fellow at University College London. For the study, researchers relied on data from a long-term study of aging involving more than 3,600 residents of England. Participants reported the amount of hours of TV they watched daily. They also had their thinking and reasoning skills regularly tested as part of the study. People who watched less than 3.5 hours of TV a day didn’t seem to suffer any deterioration in their brain power, Fancourt said. But more than that amount, people became increasingly apt to […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — If someone you know is struggling to keep track of their finances as they age, early dementia might be the culprit. That’s the conclusion of researchers who tested 243 adults, aged 55 to 90, on their financial skills and performed brain scans to assess the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the participants had no mental decline, some had mild memory impairment and some had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Specific financial skills declined with age and at the earliest stages of mild memory impairment, with similar declines in men and women, the study authors said. “There has been a misperception that financial difficulty may occur only in the late stages of dementia, but this can happen early and the changes can be subtle,” said senior study author P. Murali Doraiswamy. He is a professor of psychiatry and geriatrics at Duke University, in Durham, N.C. After accounting for education levels and other factors, the researchers found that the more extensive the amyloid plaques were, the worse a person’s ability to understand and use basic financial concepts or to complete financial tasks, such as calculating […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Former professional soccer players have a significantly increased risk of death from brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, a new study finds. Former soccer players were about 3.5 times more likely to die of neurodegenerative diseases than people in the general population, according to a study in Scotland. “This analysis revealed that risk ranged from a fivefold increase in Alzheimer’s disease, through an approximately fourfold increase in motor neuron disease, to a twofold in Parkinson’s disease in former professional [soccer players] compared to population controls,” said study leader Dr. Willie Stewart. Stewart is a consultant neuropathologist and honorary clinical associate professor at the University of Glasgow. Prior studies of contact sports athletes, particularly National Football League (NFL) players in the United States, have tied repeated head blows to another degenerative brain disorder called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Deceased Hall of Famers Frank Gifford and Junior Seau were among the NFL players who developed CTE. In one study at Boston University, risk of CTE was linked to length of time playing tackle football. “While we don’t yet know absolute risk of developing CTE among football players, this study found that […]
Building on decades of research, a new paper brings us one step closer to a vaccine that targets the neurological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Prevention may soon be possible. Scientists inch closer to finding a way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a degenerative neurological disease. Memory issues are often the first sign of the condition, which steadily progresses over time. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing concern as it appears almost exclusively in older adults. As the number of older people rises in the United States, the number of cases will also increase. Although scientists are still investigating the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease, they believe that certain neurological markers play a significant role. The disease seems to involve a buildup of specific proteins in the brain called beta-amyloid and tau. Doctors refer to these abnormal congregations as plaques and neurofibrillary tangles respectively. The hunt for a vaccine Current treatments for Alzheimer’s do not stop disease progression, so the search for effective alternatives is ongoing. Some researchers hope that targeting amyloid buildup might make it possible to stop Alzheimer’s in its tracks. Many scientists are on the hunt for a vaccine, including Dr. […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Imagine a blood test that could spot whether you are aging too quickly. New research suggests it’s not the stuff of science fiction anymore. The scientists analyzed plasma — the cell-free, fluid part of blood — from more than 4,200 people between the ages of 18 and 95, and found a link between 373 proteins and aging. “We’ve known for a long time that measuring certain proteins in the blood can give you information about a person’s health status — lipoproteins for cardiovascular health, for example,” said study senior author Tony Wyss-Coray. He’s co-director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Stanford University in California. “But it hasn’t been appreciated that so many different proteins’ levels — roughly a third of all the ones we looked at — change markedly with advancing age,” he added in a university news release. The study was published Dec. 5 in the journal Nature Medicine. “Proteins are the workhorses of the body’s constituent cells, and when their relative levels undergo substantial changes, it means you’ve changed, too,” Wyss-Coray explained. “Looking at thousands of them in plasma gives you a snapshot of what’s going on […]
What is memantine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Memantine is an oral medication for treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Other medications used for Alzheimer’s disease affect acetylcholine, one of the neurotransmitter chemicals that nerve cells in the brain use to communicate with one another. These drugs – galantamine (Razadyne – formerly known as Reminyl), donezepil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and tacrine (Cognex) – inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase that destroys acetylcholine and thereby increase the effects of acetylcholine. Memantine’s effects are independent of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. It is believed that too much stimulation of nerve cells by glutamate may be responsible for the degeneration of nerves that occurs in some neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Like other neurotransmitters, glutamate is produced and released by nerve cells in the brain. The released glutamate then travels to nearby nerve cells where it attaches to a receptor on the surface of the cells called the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Memantine blocks this receptor and thereby decreases the effects of glutamate. It is thought that by blocking the NMDA receptor and the effects of glutamate, memantine may protect nerve cells from excess stimulation by […]
(HealthDay News) — Memory loss is common, but should not be taken lightly, says Mayo Clinic. If you have difficulty remembering things, Mayo Clinic offers a few simple ways to sharpen your memory: Stay physically and mentally active. Socialize often. Stay organized. Sleep well. Eat healthy. Manage chronic conditions. Latest Alzheimer’s News If memory loss affects your ability to complete your daily activities, or if you notice it getting worse, talk with your doctor. Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Regular exposure to stress can impact our physical and mental health, but how does it actually affect our brains? One new Harvard Medical School study answers that question. According to new research, high levels of stress hormones can impact how well the brain functions. Stress — especially when we experience it on a regular basis — takes a significant toll on our minds and bodies. It can make us feel more irritable and constantly tired, and it impacts our ability to focus. Chronic stress can also interfere with our sleep patterns, appetite, and libido, and it can also exacerbate a range of health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems. One study that Medical News Today covered earlier this year, in fact, saw that even minor levels of distress can increase a person’s risk of chronic disease. What impact does stress have on the brain in physiological and cognitive terms? Researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, have explored this question and reported their answer in the journal Neurology. The stress hormone affects memory In their study, the researchers worked with participants with an average age of 49 and no diagnosis of dementia. At baseline, the investigators […]
A number of warning/advisory letters have been issued to 17 companies for selling illegal products that claim to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease and other serious conditions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Latest Alzheimer’s News The agency said it posted 12 warning letters and five online advisory letters to U.S. and foreign companies illegally selling more than 58 products, many of which are marketed as dietary supplements. The products — which include tablets, capsules and oils and are often sold on websites and social media — have not been reviewed by the FDA and may be ineffective, unsafe and could prevent a person from seeking an appropriate diagnosis and treatment, according to the FDA The companies have 15 days to respond to the FDA and outline how they intend to correct the violations. Product seizures and/or injunctions are among the actions the FDA could take if the violations are not corrected. “Science and evidence are the cornerstone of the FDA’s review process and are imperative to demonstrating medical benefit, especially when a product is marketed to treat serious and complex diseases like Alzheimer’s,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in an agency news release. “Alzheimer’s is a […]
Recent research suggests that a maternal diet that is high in an essential nutrient can reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on future generations. Meat, fish, eggs, and dairy are the main dietary sources of choline. In the study, scientists bred mice that were genetically predisposed to develop hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease from females whose diet contained added choline. The descendants of these females developed fewer disease-associated brain changes and had improved memory skills compared with those of non-supplemented mice. The researchers, who are from Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe and the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, AZ, bred two generations of mice from the choline-supplemented females. They found that the protective effect of “maternal choline supplementation” persisted across multiple generations, even though the descendants’ diets were not enriched with choline. The journal Molecular Psychiatry has now published a paper on the study. Choline: An essential nutrient Choline is an essential nutrient that the body needs for many functions, including early brain development and the preservation of cell structure. While the human body can make some of the choline that it needs, it has to obtain the rest from dietary sources. In the United States, animal products such […]
By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, June 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Every college student misplaces keys or forgets an appointment from time to time. Usually it’s no big deal. But a new study warns that when young people with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease have memory lapses, it could be an early sign of something serious. That’s the concern raised by a new memory test taken by nearly 60,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 85. The results revealed that participants between 18 and 65 who had family members with Alzheimer’s scored lower than those who did not. That included even young adults in their 20s. But, “no one should feel doomed to experience Alzheimer’s, certainly not simply because your parents or grandparents were diagnosed with the disease,” stressed study author Matt Huentelman. He is a professor of neurogenomics with TGen, a genetics research institute based in Phoenix. Lots of non-inherited factors play a role in Alzheimer’s risk, he explained. And, “there are many cases of people with family history and/or high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s who live long lives without memory problems.” But there’s no getting around the fact that roughly 75% […]
What brand names are available for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Fossil Tree, Kew Tree, Silver Apricot Is ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? No What are the uses for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Ginkgo biloba is used for memory improvement, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sexual dysfunction, premenstrual syndrome, dizziness, headache, glaucoma, diabetic eye problems, and vertigo. What are the side effects of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Side effects of gingko biloba are Possible serious side effects of gingko biloba include: bleeding in the eye or brain, severe bleeding after surgery, severe allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, seizures (eating fresh gingko seeds), and death (eating fresh gingko seeds). What is the dosage for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Dosing may vary with the preparation (capsules, gels, extracts). Read manufacturer’s directions before using this product. Dementia: Take 120 – 240 mg per day in divided doses, 2 to 3 times a day. Vertigo and tinnitusTake 120 – 160 mg per day in divided doses, 2 to 3 times a day. Sexual dysfunctionTake 60 – 240 mg by mouth twice a day. Premenstrual symptoms Take 80 mg by […]
By Len CanterHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When you hear the word diet, you might think only of weight loss. But a lifestyle diet can bring even greater benefits. One option that belongs on your radar is the MIND diet created by researchers at Rush University in Chicago. MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It’s a hybrid of those two heart-healthy diets, both of which reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. In initial studies, the MIND diet offered a huge additional benefit — lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 53% in participants who stuck to it rigorously and by about 35% in those who only did so moderately well. But the key is to start now, no matter your age, because it seems like the longer you follow it, the lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Do Eat: Green leafy vegetables and other vegetables Nuts Blueberries or strawberries Beans Whole grains Fish Poultry Olive oil Wine Do Limit: Red meat Butter and stick margarine to less than a tablespoon a day Cheese, pastries, sweets, fried or fast food to one serving in […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Cuddler the bear, Aibo the dog, Justocat the purring kitty: They may only be furry, lifelike robots, but they have a made a real impact in nursing homes. That’s the finding of new British research that suggests these high-tech “robopets” are the next best thing for nursing home residents unable to have a beloved pet or those suffering from loneliness. “Although not every … resident may choose to interact with robopets, for those who do, they appear to offer many benefits,” study author Rebecca Abbott, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said in a university news release. The robopets stimulate conversations and trigger fond memories of pets or past experiences, Abbott said. “And there is also the comfort of touching or interacting with the robopet itself. The joy of having something to care for was a strong finding across many of the studies.” One U.S. geriatrician who was not involved in the study said engagement with a robotpet does seem helpful. “Most importantly, it was found to decrease loneliness and increase pleasure and joy, and bring comfort,” said Dr. Maria Torroella Carney. She directs geriatrics and palliative medicine at […]
By Deborah DiSesa HirschHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Sept. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Marriage has been said to deflect depression, stave off stress, even help people live longer. Now a new study says it may also decrease your chance of developing dementia. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Married people have a far lower chance of being diagnosed with this dreaded disorder than those who are divorced or separated, widowed, or never married, according to the study. And marriage is more protective than cohabitation, the study revealed. Divorced people have more than twice the odds for mental decline compared to married folks, the 14-year study found. And divorced men have it worse: They have a 2.6 times higher chance of developing dementia than married men, while divorced women have a 30% increased risk versus married women. “There are a lot of theories about why marriage might be good for general health,” says Hui Liu, lead investigator and professor of sociology at Michigan State University. “Married people, of course, are financially better off than those who do not have a spouse,” she said. “But there are factors […]
By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Could one woman’s rare genetic mutation one day have a global impact on dementia risk? It’s possible, say investigators who report on a potentially groundbreaking case of a woman whose genetic mutation staved off dementia for decades, even though her brain had already been damaged by Alzheimer’s disease. While most Alzheimer’s cases are not driven by genetic predisposition, one woman in Colombia is among about 1,200 in her country who do face a genetically higher risk for early-onset Alzheimer’s. Why? They all carry the E280A mutation of a gene called Presenilin 1 (PSEN1), which is known to increase the chances for Alzheimer’s at a far younger age than usual. “We identified an individual that was predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s in her 40s,” noted study author Dr. Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez. He’s an assistant professor of ophthalmology with the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear at Harvard Medical School, in Boston. But, strangely, the woman “remained unimpaired until her 70s,” Arboleda-Velasquez added. The twist: the woman had, in fact, developed clear telltale signs of Alzheimer’s in her brain. She just hadn’t developed dementia. For example, while […]
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s, share a mechanism of brain cell damage that could offer a new target for treatment, according to new research in human cells and mice. A newly discovered mechanism of brain cell damage could hold the key to treating several neurodegenerative conditions. A recent Nature Neuroscience study describes how researchers uncovered the mechanism and how it leads to death of neurons, or nerve cells. “We’ve identified a potential new way to reduce nerve cell death in a number of diseases characterized by such losses,” says senior study author Daria Mochly-Rosen, Ph.D., a professor of chemical and systems biology at Stanford University School of Medicine, in California. The mechanism involves microglia and astrocytes, two types of cell that normally help to protect neurons, or nerve cells. Microglia and astrocytes are glial cells, a type of cell that scientists once regarded as the “glue of the nervous system.” That is no longer the case, however, as researchers are increasingly discovering that glial cells play vital roles in brain development and function. Among the many jobs that astrocytes fulfill is to determine the number and locations of the connections that neurons make with each other. These glial […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most people with Down syndrome have dementia by age 55, a new study shows. People with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, which often results in developmental disabilities. Surviving to middle age used to be rare, with many dying young due to heart problems associated with the syndrome, the researchers noted. While treatment advances now enable people with Down syndrome to live longer, healthier lives, they’re at increased risk for dementia. And they are likely to be diagnosed at younger ages than other people. The researchers said that by age 40, the brains of nearly all adults with Down syndrome have signs of dementia, according to autopsies. In this study, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers analyzed Medicaid claims data on 3,000 people with Down syndrome, aged 21 and older, in Wisconsin. The results showed that 3 in 5 people with Down syndrome will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by age 55. In comparison, people without Down syndrome are rarely diagnosed with dementia before age 65. “We found [among claims data] that if you started without dementia, as time goes on, your […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New research is untangling the complex relationship between symptoms of depression and losses in memory and thinking that often emerge together with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the new data suggests that “depression symptoms themselves may be among the early changes in the preclinical stages of dementia syndromes,” explained study lead author Dr. Jennifer Gatchel. She works in the division of geriatric psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In the study, researchers examined brain scans and other data gathered over seven years from 276 older adults enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. All of the participants were still living independently in the community at the beginning of the study and were considered healthy. However, the analysis revealed a significant link between worsening depression symptoms and mental decline over two to seven years, and both of these trends seemed to be linked to a buildup of amyloid protein in brain tissue. The slow accumulation of amyloid has long been known as a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our research found that even modest levels of brain amyloid deposition can impact the relationship between depression symptoms and cognitive [thinking] abilities,” Gatchel said […]
New research over a 28-year follow-up period finds significant evidence that frequent social contact at the age of 60 can lower the risk of developing dementia later on. Spending time with friends could stave off dementia for those 60 and older. The link between having a rich social life and brain health has received much attention in the scientific community. Some studies have suggested that levels of social interaction can predict cognitive decline and even dementia, while others have shown that group socializing can prevent the harmful effects of aging on memory. New research examines the link between social contact and dementia in more depth. Andrew Sommerlad, Ph.D., from the Division of Psychiatry at University College London (UCL), in the United Kingdom, is the first and corresponding author of the new study. Sommerlad and colleagues started from a critical observation of existing studies. They say that numerous findings have suggested that frequent social contact can protect the brain, either by helping to build a “cognitive reserve,” or by reducing stress and promoting more healthful behaviors. Many longitudinal studies have found an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline in people with a smaller social network or less frequent social contact. […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — If you were good with words and puzzles at age 8, you’re likely to fare well on tests of mental acuity at age 70, too. That’s among the findings of a new study that followed the thinking abilities of a group of Britons born in the 1940s. Researchers found that their performance on standard cognitive tests at age 8 predicted their performance around age 70. People who scored in the top quarter as kids were likely to remain in that bracket later in life. “Cognition” refers to our ability to pay attention, process information, commit things to memory, to reason and to solve problems. And it’s no surprise, experts said, that there is a correlation between childhood and adulthood skills. However, no one is saying that your brain-health destiny is set in childhood, according to senior researcher Dr. Jonathan Schott, a professor of neurology at University College London. In this study, for example, education also mattered. Older adults who’d gone further in their formal education tended to score higher, regardless of their test performance as children. A number of past studies have linked higher education levels […]
New evidence suggests that atrial fibrillation, in which the heart has an irregular beat, is linked to an increased risk of dementia. This knowledge, however, also indicates a potential preventive strategy, researchers show. An irregular heartbeat speeds up the rate at which cognitive function deteriorates, but there may be an easy way to address this. In a new study paper published yesterday in the journal Neurology, researchers at the Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, which are in Sweden, explain that atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is linked with an increased risk of developing dementia. In A-fib, the heart’s atria — or the chambers that receive blood and then send it to the ventricles, which pump it out to the rest of the body — beat irregularly. Because of this, blood can pool inside the heart and form clots, which may later circulate to the brain, leading to a stroke. The new study has found that A-fib also increases the risk of another health problem as people age — namely, dementia. However, this warning also comes with an encouraging solution, the authors explain. “Compromised blood flow caused by atrial fibrillation may affect the brain in a number of ways,” as study co-author Chengxuan […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, May 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Mornings spent figuring out Sudoku or finessing a crossword could spell better health for aging brains, researchers say. In a study of over 19,000 British adults aged 50 and over who were tracked for 25 years, the habit of doing word or number puzzles seemed to help keep minds nimble over time. “We’ve found that the more regularly people engage with puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the sharper their performance is across a range of tasks assessing memory, attention and reasoning,” said research leader Dr. Anne Corbett, of the University of Exeter Medical School. “The improvements are particularly clear in the speed and accuracy of their performance,” she added in a university news release. “In some areas, the improvement was quite dramatic — on measures of problem-solving, people who regularly do these puzzles performed equivalent to an average of eight years younger compared to those who don’t.” Does that translate to protection against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia? The study “can’t say” at this point, Corbett said, “but this research supports previous findings that indicate regular use of word and number puzzles helps keep our brains working better […]
Gum disease bacteria may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers say. Latest Alzheimer’s News They studied dead and living patients with diagnosed and suspected Alzheimer’s and found bacteria associated with chronic gum disease in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, BBC News reported. Tests on mice confirmed the bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis could migrate from the mouth to the brain and that a toxic protein they secrete (gingipain) destroyed brain neurons. The bacteria also boosted production of amyloid beta, a component of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s, BBC News reported. Further tests on mice showed that drugs that block the toxic proteins produced by the bacteria stopped brain degeneration. The study was published in the journal Science Advances. The researchers said their findings could point to new ways to help people with Alzheimer’s. Currently there is no cure or effective treatment, BBC News reported. The team developed a new drug and plan to test it later this year in a clinical trial with patients who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. The study adds to evidence of a link between gum disease and dementia, but it’s still not clear if gum disease bacteria actually trigger Alzheimer’s, said scientists not involved in […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A grandparent’s mental decline or a great uncle’s waning memory may indicate you, too, have greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease — especially if closer relatives have the condition, a new study says. Alzheimer’s in both a first-degree relative (parents, siblings) and a second-degree relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, nieces or nephews) doubles your risk of the brain-destroying disorder, researchers found. But if you have one first-degree relative and two second-degree relatives with the disease, your risk increases by 21 times. “Family history is a very powerful piece of information that can accurately predict someone’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and this study shows there are more people at risk than we know,” said the study’s lead author, Lisa Cannon-Albright. She’s a professor of epidemiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Family history is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive disease that causes difficulty in thinking and memory. Previous research has focused on close family relations, the researchers noted. The current study used a database that includes family records of Utah pioneers dating back to the 1800s. That information is also linked to health-related […]
An existing blood thinner — used to prevent the formation of blood clots in people at risk of stroke — could help delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study in a mouse model. Could a common blood thinner help people with Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a neurodegenerative condition in which people experience progressive memory loss. Some treatments can help people with Alzheimer’s disease manage this symptom and others to a certain extent. However, there is currently neither a cure nor a tried and true method of preventing the condition. This is why researchers worldwide continue to search for strategies and therapies that could at least delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms. This is also what a team of investigators — many from the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), in Madrid, Spain, and The Rockefeller University, in New York — has recently investigated. In a new study, coordinated by Marta Cortés Canteli, Ph.D., the team has used a known anticoagulant, a drug that prevents blood clots, to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms in a mouse model. The researchers took this approach because previous studies have shown that […]
Dementia is a term that describes a variety of symptoms affecting a person’s cognitive functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and reason. It tends to get worse over time, so there are a few key early warning signs. Dementia occurs when nerve cells in a person’s brain stop working. Although it typically happens in older people, it is not an inevitable part of aging. The brain’s natural deterioration happens to everyone as they grow older, but it occurs more quickly in people with dementia. There are many different types of dementia. According to the National Institute on Aging, the most common is Alzheimer’s disease. Other types include: Lewy body dementia frontotemporal dementia vascular disorders mixed dementia, or a combination of types There are 10 typical early signs of dementia. For a person to receive a diagnosis, they would usually experience two or more of these symptoms, and the symptoms would be severe enough to interfere with their daily life. These early signs of dementia are: 1. Memory loss A person developing dementia may have trouble remembering dates or events. Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. A person with dementia may find it difficult to recall information they […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Concerns that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs can impair brain health appear to be unfounded, according to new research. “Statins won’t make you stupid or cause memory loss,” said lead researcher Dr. Katherine Samaras, a professor of medicine at St. Vincent’s Clinical School of Medicine in Darlinghurst, Australia. And for some people at risk of dementia, statins like Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) may improve memory and mental functioning, her team found. Many millions of people take statins because of heart disease or high cholesterol. But reports that the drugs could cause memory loss led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 to require a black box warning on all statin medications, she said. However, “we could find no overall impact on memory or any other aspect of cognitive function over six years in a large population of older people, who had extensive testing every two years,” Samaras said. The observational nature of this study means the research can’t be considered conclusive, only that a strong link exists, the researchers noted. “Any person who takes statins and is concerned about their memory and cognition should discuss this […]
A blood test can identify the protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s nearly 20 years before symptoms appear, a new study shows. A simple blood test could soon predict symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease decades before they appear. The study found that the blood test was even more sensitive at detecting the buildup of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain than the current gold standard, which is a PET brain scan. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine (WUSTL) in St. Louis, MO, conducted the study, which appears in the journal Neurology. First author Dr. Suzanne Schindler, an assistant professor of neurology, led the researchers, who first developed a version of this test a couple of years ago. The test uses mass spectrometry on blood samples to detect the presence of two forms of the beta-amyloid protein: beta-amyloid 42 and beta-amyloid 40. When beta-amyloid deposits in the brain start to build up, the ratio between the two forms of the protein goes down. The blood test can detect this change. The study involved 158 adults who were at least 50 years old, and all but 10 had normal cognitive function. For the study, each person had a […]
In the future, a doctor might be able to tell whether someone is heading toward Alzheimer’s disease — not by carrying out expensive brain scans, but during an eye exam. One day, a simple eye test might help predict the onset of Alzheimer’s. A new study paper in the journal Ophthalmology Retina outlines research that took place at Duke Eye Center in Durham, NC. The researchers propose that a loss in density of blood vessels in the retina could suggest development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied more than 200 people with normal brain function as well as individuals with Alzheimer’s. They used a technique called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), which is noninvasive and can reveal blood flow in every layer of the retina. In the control group, they found that the web of tiny blood vessels located at the back of the eye was quite dense. The vessels of those with Alzheimer’s disease, however, were less dense. In some cases, they were also much more sparse. Senior study author Dr. Sharon Fekrat, an ophthalmologist and retinal surgeon at Duke Eye Center, notes that they measured blood vessels that are not normally seen during a routine eye exam. She explains […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Walking and other types of moderate exercise may help turn back the clock for older adults who are losing their mental sharpness, a new clinical trial finds. The study focused on older adults who had milder problems with memory and thinking skills. The researchers found that six months of moderate exercise — walking or pedaling a stationary bike — turned some of those issues around. Specifically, exercisers saw improvements in their executive function — the brain’s ability to pay attention, regulate behavior, get organized and achieve goals. And those who also made some healthy diet changes, including eating more fruits and vegetables, showed somewhat bigger gains. The effect was equivalent to shaving about nine years from their brain age, said lead researcher James Blumenthal, a professor at Duke University School of Medicine, in Durham, N.C. In contrast, those same mental abilities kept declining among study participants who received health education only. Experts said the findings support the general concept that a healthy lifestyle can help protect the brain as you age. “And it’s never too late to start,” said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Could a pacemaker for the brain improve the memories of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? New research suggests it might be possible one day: Electrical stimulation directed at key memory regions of the brain created intense flashbacks in some Alzheimer’s patients, including sensations of emotions, smells, taste and temperature. In one case, a patient suddenly recalled “an entire experience of being inebriated while drinking a margarita at a resort in Aruba,” researchers said. In another, a man had a vivid flashback of feeling very full after eating sardines on his front porch two decades previously. In fact, about half of the 42 Alzheimer’s patients in the clinical trial experienced electrically induced flashbacks from decades prior, stretching back as far as the Vietnam War era, said lead researcher Dr. Wissam Deeb, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Florida. “These memory recollections were very vivid for some people,” Deeb said. “They were associated with a lot of emotional content when patients remembered them, because they were memories they hadn’t even thought of for such a long time.” Researchers cautioned that the deep brain stimulation […]
New research shows that a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease accurately detected levels of beta-amyloid protein in all stages of the condition, approaching “a level of accuracy that is usable in routine clinical care around the world.” Doctors could soon use a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. The brain changes that lead to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can occur decades before any other signs of the condition are noticeable. In fact, some recent studies have claimed that certain biochemical changes in the brain may occur up to 34 years before symptom onset. Detecting Alzheimer’s disease far enough in advance could make it easier for those affected to plan accordingly and begin treatment as early as possible. Beginning treatment for Alzheimer’s disease as soon as possible can maximize the effectiveness of the therapy. So, to be able to diagnose the condition as early as possible, researchers have been trying to come up with blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease. For instance, last year, a team of scientists developed a test that detected the protein beta-amyloid from blood samples using immuno-infrared sensor technology. Having a lot of this protein in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. At the time, the […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Sept. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many older people show evidence of mental decline, called mild cognitive impairment, but doctors often miss this sometimes early sign of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. To help doctors get a better handle on their patients’ mental state, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is urging physicians to assess patients aged 65 and older at least once a year. The academy recommends that doctors use a mathematical tool that helps quantify their patients’ memory and thinking skills. “Since thinking skills are the most sensitive indicator of brain function and they can be tested cost-effectively, this creates an enormous opportunity to improve neurologic care,” study author Dr. Norman Foster, of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, said in an AAN news release. Around the world, nearly 7% of people in their early 60s suffer from mild cognitive impairment, as do 38% of those aged 85 and older, according to the AAN. Using the new metric can alert doctors so that optimal care can be provided. Although there is no cure for mild cognitive impairment, its presence can help doctors keep watch should the patient progress to dementia. “We cannot expect […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A breakthrough study has identified a class of natural gene variants that may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. For the study, researchers at University College London analyzed DNA from more than 10,000 people — half with Alzheimer’s and half without. The investigators found that these gene variants reduce the functioning of proteins called tyrosine phosphatases. These proteins impair the activity of a cell signaling pathway important for cell survival, explained the authors of the study published online Feb. 5 in the Annals of Human Genetics. The pathway could be a key target for drugs to treat Alzheimer’s, and the study authors said that the findings provide more evidence that other genes may be linked to one’s risk for the memory disorder. “These results are quite encouraging. It looks as though when naturally occurring genetic variants reduce the activity of tyrosine phosphatases, then this makes Alzheimer’s disease less likely to develop, suggesting that drugs which have the same effect might also be protective,” lead author David Curtis said in a college news release. He’s a professor of genetics, evolution and environment. Previous research in mice and rats suggested that inhibiting the function […]
By Peter Schelden on 11/08/2019 2:29 PM Latest Alzheimer’s News Source: MedicineNet Health News People with Down syndrome seem to face a much greater risk of dementia — particularly Alzheimer’s disease — than previously known, according to new research. And they often exhibit symptoms much earlier in life. For the first time, researchers inspected Medicaid claims to show how common these memory conditions are in the lives of people with Down syndrome above age 40. Claims records for nearly 3,000 Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees with Down syndrome were analyzed. Investigators found that 40% of 40 to 54 year olds with Down syndrome have made claims for dementia, and 27% specifically made claims for Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia. In comparison, people over the age of 60 have a 5% to 8% dementia rate in the general population, according to the World Health Organization. This research goes beyond prior studies by examining real cases from a large, diverse group, said Chief of NICHD’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Branch Melissa Parisi, M.D., Ph.D. Other approaches might leave out patients who seek care from more expensive health providers. The study could encourage investigators to search for similar patterns in other states. Dr. Parisi said […]
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Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A dementia study has led researchers to a brain region that processes spoken, not written, words. Northwestern University researchers worked with four patients who had a rare type of dementia called primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which destroys language. Although able to hear and speak, they could not understand what was said out loud. However, they could still process written words. For example, if they read the word “hippopotamus,” they could identify a picture of a hippo. But if someone said the word “hippopotamus,” they couldn’t point to its picture. Through their tests with these patients, the researchers were able to identify an area in the left brain that appears specialized to process spoken words. “We always think of these degenerative diseases as causing widespread impairment, but in early stages, we’re learning that neurodegenerative disease can be selective with which areas of the brain it attacks,” said senior author Sandra Weintraub. She’s a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “The fact that only the auditory words were impaired in these patients and their visual words were untouched leads us to believe […]
In a new study, researchers have found that a bacterium largely responsible for gum disease also contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A bacterium involved in gum disease boosts Alzheimer’s toxicity. According to data from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 8.52 percent of adults between 20 and 64 years of age in the United States have periodontitis (gum disease). Gum disease is a widespread problem that can lead to more negative outcomes, from tooth loss to an increased risk of cancer. Now, emerging evidence suggests that one of the bacteria involved in periodontitis could also contribute to the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, which scientists have associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings have emerged from a new study in mice that researchers from Cortexyme, Inc., a pharmaceutical company that aims to develop new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease, have conducted. The results of the research — whose lead author is Dr. Stephen Dominy, Cortexyme co-founder — appear in the journal Science Advances. “Infectious agents have been implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease before, but the evidence of causation hasn’t been convincing,” notes Dr. Dominy. The bacterium that boosts brain […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obesity in middle age is associated with an increased risk of dementia later in life, according to a study of more than 1 million women in the United Kingdom. Those who were obese in their mid-50s had 21% greater risk of being diagnosed with dementia 15 or more years later, compared with women who had a healthy weight, a team of British and international researchers found. The study adds to the “ever-expanding body of data that says what you do with yourself in midlife — and really even earlier — affects your risk for dementia as you age,” said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago. He was not part of the research. For the study, the researchers followed about 1 out of every 4 women born in the United Kingdom between 1935 and 1950, more than 1.1 million overall. Their average age at the start of the study was 56. None had dementia. At the outset, researchers calculated each woman’s body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. They also asked about […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Aug. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A simple blood test helped pinpoint the early signs of Alzheimer’s in a new study. Up to two decades before people develop Alzheimer’s symptoms such as memory loss and confusion, harmful clumps of amyloid beta protein begin to accumulate in their brain, researchers explained. But it’s possible to measure levels of amyloid beta in the blood and use that information to determine whether the protein has accumulated in the brain, they added. Combining blood amyloid levels with two other major Alzheimer’s risk factors — age and the genetic variant APOE4 — can identify people who have early Alzheimer’s brain changes with 94% accuracy, according to the scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study included 150 adults over age 50 who had no thinking or memory problems. The blood test may be even more sensitive than the current gold standard — a PET brain scan — at detecting early amyloid accumulation in the brain, according to the authors. The findings advance efforts to have a blood test to identify people who will develop Alzheimer’s before they have symptoms, and such a test could be available in […]
New research examines the associations between migraine and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as related forms of dementia. The study finds that migraine is “a significant risk factor” for Alzheimer’s and all‐cause dementia. Could a history of migraine increase dementia risk? New research suggests so. According to the American Migraine Association, about 36 million people of all ages in the United States regularly experience migraine. That is about 12% of the population. Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia were affecting 5 million U.S. adults in 2014, according to official estimates, and the figures are only expected to increase. While dementia is the most prevalent neurological condition in older adults, headaches are the most prevalent neurological condition across all ages, and migraine headaches are the most severe form. So, new research set out to investigate whether migraine is a risk factor for dementia. Identifying what raises the risk of dementia may enable more timely treatment interventions. Detecting dementia early on and starting treatment as soon as possible can improve the effectiveness of therapies and empower people with the condition and their families to make the right decisions at the right time. Suzanne L. Tyas, Ph.D., of the University of Waterloo, in […]
Experts have already concluded that exercise can help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their motor symptoms, but what is its effect on the cognitive symptoms of this condition? Besides boosting motor function, exercise could improve memory in people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that usually stands out for the motor symptoms that it causes, which include tremors, rigidity in the limbs, impaired balance, and a lack of control over movements. However, this condition also has numerous other symptoms that can leave their mark on a person’s quality of life. Cognitive symptoms, in particular, have been worrying researchers interested in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease. People with this condition experience cognitive impairment, which can worsen in time and eventually evolve into Alzheimer’s disease. When it comes to managing Parkinson’s, doctors often advise their patients to take up an exercise regime, since physical activity demonstrably helps improve motor symptoms. The Parkinson’s Foundation call exercise routines “a vital component” of efforts to maintain the quality of life following diagnosis. But how does physical activity affect other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, particularly cognitive ones? This is the question that a team of researchers from the German Sport University, in Cologne, […]
Following their study in rats, scientists have broken new ground in memory research. The finding concerns how the brain retrieves long-term memory and should open new avenues for investigating and treating Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia. New research in rats has unveiled a brain mechanism that could explain how we retrieve old memories. Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have discovered that two brain areas that work together to consolidate memories interact differently during the retrieval of remote memories. The two brain areas are the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). During consolidation, memory dependence transfers from the hippocampus to the ACC. However, the recent study reveals that during remote memory recall, the ACC takes the lead and drives the hippocampus. Graduate student Ryan A. Wirt and psychology professor James M. Hyman describe the 4 years of laboratory and analysis work that led to the findings in a Cell Reports paper. “Our research,” says Prof. Hyman, “opens up potential new avenues to explore why certain dementias and disorders lead to problems recalling long-term memories, which could help pave the way for future treatments that might be able to restore this ability to afflicted individuals.” Memory […]
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition with a wide range of effects, including problems with movement, blood pressure and thinking, and mood, sensory, and sleep difficulties. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) usually begin gradually, and they affect each person differently. The symptoms a person has will vary widely, regardless of how severe they are or how quickly they develop. Read on to find out more about the different types of symptoms and how to recognize the early symptoms of PD. Early symptoms Around 7 out of 10 people with PD experience tremor at some stage. The symptoms of PD affect individuals differently, but some can be an early sign of the disease. These are: REM sleep disorder and other sleep problems the loss of the sense of smell tremor, especially in one hand a smaller size of handwriting difficulty moving or walking or a stooping gait constipation loss of facial expression, that may make the person look emotionless a low or soft voice Primary motor symptoms The four main signs and symptoms include: slow physical movements, known as bradykinesia shaking, or tremor muscle stiffness, or rigidity problems with balance and coordination, known as postural instability Symptoms often start on […]
New research suggests that “Life’s Simple 7” steps for maintaining heart health may also be a useful tool for predicting dementia risk and preventing the neurological condition. Managing your blood pressure is one of the seven actionable steps people in their 50s can take to maintain their cardiovascular health. The lead author of the new study is Séverine Sabia, of the department of Epidemiology of Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases at Inserm, a public research institution affiliated with the Université de Paris in France. Sabia and her colleagues set out to examine the link between the American Heart Association’s (AHA) guidelines for optimal cardiovascular health — which they dub “Life’s Simple 7” — and the risk of developing dementia later in life. “Life’s Simple 7” are modifiable risk factors which, according to the AHA, can help keep heart disease at bay. Making lifestyle changes along these seven parameters can improve a person’s cardiovascular health, the AHA advises. Life’s Simple 7 are: manage blood pressure manage cholesterol lower blood sugar stay physically active follow a healthful diet lose weight stop smoking (or don’t start) In the new research, Sabia and her team looked at how well people adhered to these steps at […]
Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s disease still holds many mysteries. A recent study asks whether spontaneous changes to the chemistry of proteins might help explain the neurological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. A new study looks at the chemistry of Alzheimer’s-related proteins. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia; it currently affects an estimated 5.5 million people in the United States. As it stands, there is no cure, and researchers are still trying to come to grips with what makes Alzheimer’s tick. The main focus of medical research has been plaques and tangles, the protein-based markers of the Alzheimer’s brain. A recent paper, published in ACS Central Science, asks whether these features might occur due to what they refer to as “spontaneous chemistry.” Plaques and tangles Plaques consist of a protein called beta-amyloid. Usually, this protein is cleared away by cells, but in the Alzheimer’s brain, it sticks together in clumps between nerve cells. A protein called tau forms neurofibrillary tangles, which develop inside brain cells. Tau is associated with microtubules, which are long, thin, tubular structures that provide support to the cell. In Alzheimer’s, tau is altered, and microtubules cannot form correctly; instead, they form twisted filaments. Despite a […]
A large new study has found a link between taking various kinds of blood pressure-lowering drugs and a lower risk of dementia among older adults, adding to the discussion around the link between cognitive decline and high blood pressure. People who take blood pressure-lowering medication may have a lower risk of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella-term for various neurodegenerative conditions, the most widespread of which is Alzheimer’s disease. The main characteristic of dementia is progressive cognitive decline, wherein a person experiences memory loss and a decline in their thinking and decision-making abilities. Researchers are still uncertain as to what causes dementia, but in an effort to improve prevention strategies, they have been studying the potential risk factors that may contribute to the development of this condition. Many recent studies have linked hypertension with a higher risk of dementia. For instance, a paper that appeared in the journal Neurology last year found that hypertension is tied to a higher risk of experiencing brain lesions, which are, in turn, tied to dementia. Now, a large study that used data from the Disease Analyzer database — which is a large German database that collects and stores the health information of millions of people […]
As interest in gut bacteria peaks, they are implicated in yet another condition. Researchers recently identified stark differences in levels of specific gut bacteria in people with dementia. A new study links changes in gut bacteria to dementia. Our bodies swarm with microscopic visitors. On our skin, in our mouths, deep in our lungs, and, of course, nestled in our digestive systems. The bacteria in the gut have long been known to assist the digestive process, but in recent years, it has become clear that they are involved in much, much more. With bacteria now implicated in conditions as diverse as diabetes and schizophrenia, we truly are in the age of the microbiome. Recently, researchers in Japan investigated whether gut bacteria might, one day, help in the diagnosis and even treatment of dementia. Dr. Naoki Saji, from the Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology in Obu, Japan, led the team of scientists. The researchers will present their findings at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2019 in Honolulu, HI. Examining feces The researchers recruited 128 participants from their memory clinic. The average age was 74.2, and 59 percent […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Heat waves can pose a serious risk to people with Alzheimer’s disease, so their families should know how to keep them safe, advocates say. Extreme heat is “dangerous for everyone, but especially for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, who may be unable to spot the warning signs of trouble or know how to get help,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). “Caregivers need to be proactive and prepared to protect their loved ones. Taking a few simple steps will go a long way,” he said in a foundation news release. Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia can diminish a person’s ability to know when they are thirsty, so it’s crucial for caregivers to watch them and encourage them to drink often. Don’t let them have alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which may contribute to dehydration. Seniors and people with chronic medical conditions are at high risk for hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature caused by an inability to regulate heat from the environment. A life-threatening form of hyperthermia is heat stroke, a dangerous elevation in body temperature. Watch Alzheimer’s patients for warning signs such […]
The results of a new study suggest that virtual reality could make life easier for people with dementia. The authors conclude that virtual reality helped the participants recall memories and contributed to an improvement in patients’ relationships with caregivers. Could virtual reality enhance the lives of people with dementia? Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions, including Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. It can cause memory loss so severe that it negatively impacts a person’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. A person’s risk of dementia increases as they get older, and a person can be more prone to developing Alzheimer’s based on their ethnicity. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans are the group most at risk for Alzheimer’s among seniors, followed by Hispanic people, then non-Hispanic white people. The CDC state that the greatest increase in Alzheimer’s disease over the coming decades will occur among Hispanic and African American people and that these increases are largely due to people living longer, as the rates of people dying from chronic diseases are decreasing. Virtual environments triggered memories In the current study, the researchers — many from the University of Kent in […]
The buildup of defective tau proteins is a prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The faulty proteins form tangles that disrupt brain function and kill nerve cells, or neurons. Experiments in human cell cultures reveal a mechanism through which scientists can regulate defective tau protein levels. Now, scientists have identified a molecule that plays a vital role in helping to prevent the buildup of toxic tau protein in the brain. The molecule, which has the name vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35), identifies and removes faulty tau proteins from neurons. Using human cells, researchers from Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, showed that they could control tau buildup by altering levels of VPS35. They describe the findings in a Molecular Psychiatry study paper. “A major part of what VPS35 does,” says senior study author Prof. Domenico Praticò, director of LKSOM’s Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, “is to sort out and transport dysfunctional proteins to degradation sites.” The researcher and his colleagues also found that VPS35’s effect on tau depends on the activity of cathepsin D, an enzyme that breaks down proteins in cells. Neurons vulnerable to defective proteins The correct folding of proteins is […]
For reasons as yet unknown, Alzheimer’s disease is more likely to affect women. However, new research sheds light on the potential impact of stress on their cognitive functioning. Stress during midlife can put older women at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Affecting millions of people in the United States, this progressive condition has no proven cause, treatment, or cure. What researchers do know, however, is that women bear the brunt of the condition. Almost two-thirds of U.S. individuals with Alzheimer’s are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. However, only theories exist to explain this difference; there is no concrete evidence. One understudied area — say researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD — is the role of stress on cognitive function. Previous research has shown that age can have a significant impact on women’s stress response, and that a stressful life experience can cause memory and cognitive issues. However, these problems tend to be short term. Researchers have now decided to look at the relationship between stress and the long term cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s. “A normal stress response causes a temporary increase in stress hormones […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019 (American Heart Association News) — The brains of middle-age adults may be aging prematurely if they have obesity or other factors linked to cardiovascular disease, new research has found. Almost one-quarter of adults have metabolic syndrome, a set of factors that in combination amplify a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other illnesses. In the new research, participants were considered metabolically unhealthy if they had two or more such factors: high blood pressure; high blood sugar; high blood triglyceride levels; or low levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol – or if they took medicine for diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging and tests of thinking skills to evaluate more than 2,100 women and men ages 37 to 55. Compared with the healthiest participants, those who were metabolically unhealthy, obese or both showed evidence of brain decline. “This has public health implications, since poor metabolic health is also associated with poor brain health,” said lead researcher Dr. Rebecca Angoff, clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “This is further ammunition for health care workers to convince patients to change […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Poor sleep is common among Alzheimer’s patients, and researchers say they’re beginning to understand why. Scientists studied 119 people aged 60 and older. Eighty percent had no thinking or memory problems, while the rest had only mild problems. The researchers found that participants with less slow-wave sleep — deep sleep that’s needed to preserve memories and to wake up feeling refreshed — had higher levels of the brain protein tau. Elevated tau levels are a possible sign of Alzheimer’s disease and have been linked to brain damage and mental decline, the scientists said. The findings suggest that poor sleep among older adults could be a warning sign of declining brain health, according to the researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “We saw this inverse relationship between decreased slow-wave sleep and more tau protein in people who were either cognitively normal or very mildly impaired, meaning that reduced slow-wave activity may be a marker for the transition between normal and impaired,” said first author Dr. Brendan Lucey. He’s an assistant professor of neurology and director of the Washington University Sleep Medicine Center. “Measuring how people sleep may […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Alzheimer’s and dementia are not an inevitable part of normal aging, and a little exercise might help keep them at bay, a new study suggests. The researchers found that every hour of light exercise on top of recommended weekly levels of more intense activity reduced brain aging by about a year. “This study emphasizes the relationship we are seeing between people doing more light-intensity physical activity and also having maintained brain structures,” said lead researcher Nicole Spartano. She added that the study shows a link but does not prove that physical activity keeps the brain healthy. “We can’t be certain that physical activity is causing people to have a better brain structure,” said Spartano, a research assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine. Though it’s not clear how much exercise is needed to keep your brain in peak condition, this study suggests that the bar is lower than thought. Spartano’s team suspects a moderate amount of low-intensity activity may do the trick. For the study, Spartano and her colleagues collected data on more than 2,300 men and women, average age 53, who each wore a […]
The symptoms of frontotemporal, or early onset, dementia can appear as early as age 40. Have researchers found a new way to treat this condition using antibiotics? Frontotemporal dementia, or frontotemporal lobar dementia, is an umbrella term that refers to a range of early onset dementias characterized by the progressive atrophying of the brain’s frontal lobes, temporal lobes, or both. The main symptoms in this form of dementia are cognitive function impairments and personality and behavioral changes. These can appear as early as age 40. Researchers explain that frontotemporal dementia is usually heritable, and they tie most cases to specific DNA mutations. Now, scientists at the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine in Lexington — in collaboration with colleagues from other research institutions — have studied the mutated genes associated with frontotemporal dementia. They wanted to determine whether or not anything can prevent these genes from triggering the condition. In their new study, the findings of which appear in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, the researchers focused on one specific gene mutation. Fighting a key mutation with antibiotics? The study authors explain that, among others, a key player in this form of early onset dementia is a mutation in the […]
By Rich HolmesHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just 10 minutes of exercise a day appears to sharpen mental prowess, new research suggests. “Getting off the couch and walking a block can help keep you on the right track,” said study author Nicole Spartano, a research assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine. Her team looked 2,770 participants in the Framingham Heart Study who were divided into two groups: middle-aged and older. The Framingham study has followed the health and habits of its original participants from Massachusetts and their descendants since 1948. The researchers found that roughly 10 to 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day was associated with better brain function for both groups. For the middle-age group, just 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity was linked to better verbal memory. For the older group, the total amount of activity — not the intensity — corresponded to stronger mental skills. While the study only found associations, Spartano said the findings were especially significant for older people, who may find it difficult or impossible to meet the exercise guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Those […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News (HealthDay News) — Confusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as normal, says MedlinePlus. From intoxication to head trauma, confusion can have a variety of causes. To help a confused person, MedlinePlus suggests: Always introduce yourself, no matter how well the person once knew you. Remind the person of his or her location. Place a calendar and clock near the person. Talk about current events and plans for the day. Keep surroundings calm, quiet and peaceful. MedlinePlus urges you to call 911 if confusion has come on suddenly or is accompanied by other symptoms. Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SLIDESHOW Brain Food Pictures: What to Eat to Boost Focus See Slideshow
Researchers are finding new evidence that exercise — even low-intensity, casual physical activity — can boost brain health in the short- and long-term. Frequent but leisurely exercise can boost brain health. Evidence that exercise can benefit the brain and help maintain cognitive function — including memory — is accumulating. One study, for instance, suggests that engaging even in low-level phyisical activities, such as doing household chores, can help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older adults. Now, a team led by Michelle Voss — from the University of Iowa in Iowa City — has found evidence in support of the notion that the benefits of just one workout can predict the benefits of frequent physical activity in the long run. The team presented these findings at this year’s Cognitive Neuroscience Society’s symposia in San Francisco, CA. As symposium chair Wendy Suzuki, of New York University in New York City, explains, “There is a strong and direct link between physical activity and how your brain works.” “People still do not link physical health to brain and cognitive health; they think about fitting into a bikini or losing that last pound, not about all the brain systems they are improving and […]
A drug that scientists are currently developing to treat stroke survivors might also help stave off Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are trialing a new treatment that may help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.7 million people in the United States are living with the condition. Current medications can only relieve some symptoms of the disease, and there is not yet any way to halt its progression. The neurodegeneration that occurs in people with Alzheimer’s results from the buildup of a protein called beta-amyloid in the brain. Beta-amyloid is present in the healthy brain, but incorrectly folded proteins can accumulate to form amyloid plaques. These plaques reduce blood flow to the brain, leading to the breakdown of brain cells. Over the years, researchers have investigated many pharmacological routes to tackle these plaques, but, to date, none have led to the development of effective drugs. Recently, researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles explored an innovative new compound that the scientific community is already scrutinizing. Introducing 3K3A-APC 3K3A-APC is a modified version of activated C protein, which is a blood-based protein that protects brain cells […]
Mushrooms are a much-loved ingredient in cuisines around the world. They are nutritious and especially rich in antioxidants, which protect cell health. Researchers are now asking whether mushrooms can also protect against cognitive decline. Eating mushrooms may help keep cognitive decline at bay. Mushrooms are fascinating. Although some are edible and grocery stores sell them in their “vegetable” aisles, they aren’t actually vegetables. They are actually fungi, a kingdom all of its own, alongside those of plants and animals in biological classifications. Edible mushrooms — both cultivated and wild species — contain a high amount of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. New research has found that people who integrate mushrooms into their diets — even if they only consume them in small portions — appear to have a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which often precedes Alzheimer’s disease. In MCI, a person may experience some symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease — such as poor memory and issues with language and spatial orientation — but in a much subtler way that does not prevent them from continuing to lead a fully functional life. Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) near Clementi […]
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s insulin production and blood sugar levels. New research, however, suggests that the scope of this condition may be broader than previously thought, as scientists find a link between type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline over 5 years. New research suggests that type 2 diabetes may affect brain size in midlife. Michele Callisaya, from the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, led the new research. Callisaya and her colleagues set out to investigate if there was an association between type 2 diabetes, on the one hand, and brain atrophy and cognitive decline, on the other. Moreover, in case the researchers found such a connection, they wanted to discover whether there was a causal relationship underlying it. The researchers recruited 705 people aged between 55 and 90 years from the so-called Cognition and Diabetes in Older Tasmanians study and took measures of the participants’ brains and cognition. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to compare both cognition and brain size among people with and without type 2 diabetes. The results appear in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes tied […]
By E.J. MundellHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, July 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Even if you are unlucky enough to carry genes that predispose you to Alzheimer’s disease, a healthy lifestyle can minimize that risk, new research shows. The study tracked the genetics, lifestyles and Alzheimer’s disease incidence of nearly 200,000 British people over 60 for an average of eight years. Researchers found that people who had a high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and who followed unhealthy lifestyles had nearly triple the odds of getting the disease, compared to people with low genetic risk and a healthy lifestyle. Conversely, living well — exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, not smoking, and drinking moderately — appeared to cut the odds for Alzheimer’s, even among those at high genetic risk. Among people found to be at highest genetic risk, healthy living appeared to reduce the chances of developing the disease by 35%, said a team led by David Llewellyn at the University of Exeter Medical School in England. That implies that “1 case of dementia would be prevented for each 121 individuals per [every] 10 years with high genetic risk who improved their lifestyle from unfavorable to favorable,” the researchers reported […]
Scientists have identified gene variants that appear able to alter the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by changing levels of a protein that is present in cerebrospinal fluid. A new study focuses on the variants of a single gene and their role in promoting Alzheimer’s. In a recent Science Translational Medicine paper, the international team describes how variants in the MS4A4A gene influence the risk of both early and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. The gene variants alter levels of a protein called TREM2, which helps the brain to clear away excess amyloid and tau. Toxic buildup of excess amyloid and tau proteins in the brain are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a disease that impairs communications in the brain as it damages nerve cells, or neurons, and the connections between them. As the disease progresses, more and more neurons stop working and die. “The findings point to a new therapeutic strategy,” says co-senior study author of the latest study Carlos Cruchaga, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and director of the NeuroGenomics and Informatics Group at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. Changes in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease begins in parts of the brain that […]
Recent research suggests that doing even low-intensity physical activity allows older people to reduce their risk of dementia. Carrying out even basic activities in older age might help maintain brain health. Several factors can affect a person’s chance of developing dementia. Some of the factors, such as age and genetics, are unavoidable. Others, such as smoking and other unhealthful behaviors, are lifestyle choices that a person can change. Regularly exercising and eating a healthful diet may prevent the onset of symptoms, say the Alzheimer’s Association. However, a new study that appears in the journal Neurology has revealed that any kind of physical activity — including basic tasks such as doing housework — may protect a person’s brain when they have already reached old age. The researchers — from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL — studied 454 older adults. Of these, 191 had a diagnosis of dementia. Every participant agreed to donate their brain for medical research purposes when they died. Every year for 2 decades, each person underwent a full physical examination, along with a test, to determine their thinking and memory skills. The scientists gave all the volunteers an activity-monitoring device called an accelerometer around 2 years […]
There is no doubt that smoking damages health and increases the risk of many diseases and premature death. However, a study that followed hundreds of older adults for more than 10 years found no link between tobacco smoking and raised dementia risk. A new study suggests there is no causal link between smoking and the risk of developing dementia. Dementia is the general name for conditions that diminish the capacity to think, remember, reason, and interact with others. These symptoms can progress to the point that people are no longer able to carry out their daily activities and take care of themselves. The recent finding contradicts many earlier studies that have tied smoking to higher risk of dementia. This could be because, for the new investigation, researchers from the University of Kentucky in Lexington analyzed the data in a different way. They used a statistical method called “competing risk analysis” to allow for the strong effect that smoking has on risk of death. In a paper that now features in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, first study author Erin L. Abner Ph.D., an associate professor in the university’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, and her colleagues describe their approach and findings. […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, but what part those plaques play in the development of the disease isn’t clear. Now researchers have taken the first steps to trace the progression of plaque buildup in living patients. This way of “staging” the disease has implications for research and one day may help doctors treat this debilitating, fatal disease. “It is possible to stage individuals in terms of how advanced their beta-amyloid deposition is, using PET scans,” said lead researcher Dr. Niklas Mattsson, an associate professor of clinical neuroscience at Lund University in Sweden. When beta-amyloid appears, it follows certain stages, he explained. Some brain regions are involved early, others at the intermediate stage, and some in the late stage of Alzheimer’s. “These stages are also associated with other hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, such as levels of tau [another type of protein] in cerebral spinal fluid, cognitive decline and the wasting away of brain cells,” Mattsson added. “This staging system can be used both to improve research and perhaps also in clinical trials, to see if certain drugs […]
Recent research adds to a growing body of knowledge that links hearing loss with cognitive decline, which is a hallmark of dementia and often precedes the disease. Research suggests a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. After analyzing 8 years of data from a health study of more than 10,000 men, scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, MA, found that hearing loss is tied to an appreciably higher risk of subjective cognitive decline. In addition, the analysis revealed that the size of the risk went up in line with the severity of hearing loss. The risk of subjective cognitive decline was 30 percent higher among men with mild hearing loss, compared with those with no hearing loss. For men with moderate or severe hearing loss, the risk of subjective cognitive decline was between 42 and 54 percent higher. Subjective cognitive decline refers to changes in memory and thinking that people notice in themselves. Such changes can be an early indication of cognitive decline that objective performance tests do not pick up on. “Our findings,” says lead study author Dr. Sharon Curhan, who works as a physician and epidemiologist, “show that hearing loss […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Dementia patients may develop distinct speech and reading problems depending on their native language, a new study finds. The study included 20 English-speaking and 18 Italian-speaking patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a neurodegenerative disorder that affects language areas in the brain. It is often associated with dementia. The patients had a type of PPA characterized by difficulty producing or pronouncing words (nonfluent PPA). While both groups of patients had similar levels of degeneration and brain function, English-speakers had more trouble pronouncing words — a traditional sign of nonfluent PPA — and tended to speak less than usual. The Italian-speakers had fewer pronunciation difficulties but tended to produce much shorter and grammatically simpler sentences, according to the study published recently in the journal Neurology. “We think this is specifically because the consonant clusters that are so common in English pose a challenge for a degenerating speech-planning system,” said senior author Dr. Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini. She’s a professor at the University of California, San Francisco’s Memory and Aging Center. “In contrast, Italian is easier to pronounce, but has much more complex grammar, and this is how Italian-speakers with PPA tend to […]
(HealthDay News) — Many doctors encourage seniors to use brain fitness games as a means to help deal with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases, says SeniorLiving.org. Latest Alzheimer’s News While research remains inconclusive, there appears to be a correlation between brain games and brain health. The website says brain games that may help seniors include: Memory games, such as Match and Simon. Word games, such as word searches and Scrabble. Electronic games, such as Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud. Board games, such as Chess and Checkers. Interactive Wii and X-Box games. Trivia games, such as Trivial Pursuit. Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. QUESTION One of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is __________________. See Answer
By Len CanterHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — If you have a hard time remembering names or what to get at the supermarket, there are ways to boost your memory. According to a study in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, one of the best things you can do is say the information you want to remember out loud, and it’s even stronger if you repeat the information to another person — that means not just mouthing the words. This could explain why you can recite your child’s favorite book unaided — read it out loud enough times and you can have near total recall. An everyday example is to repeat the name of a new acquaintance out loud as soon as you’re introduced. Instead of just saying, “It’s nice to meet you,” add their name and say, “It’s nice to meet you, Mary.” Making word and number associations is effective, too. Break down a phone number you want to memorize into digits you can associate with special dates or the ages of your kids, for example. You might try dividing almost any type of information into chunks that you learn one by one. Other […]
As we age, we may experience a decline in our mental ability. A recent study has concluded that chronic inflammation in midlife might speed up this decline as we get older. Could influencing inflammation slow cognitive decline? The average age of the population of the United States is gradually increasing, so conditions of old age are moving into the spotlight. Growing older is associated with a progressive decline in average thinking abilities. However, it may only affect some people very mildly, while other individuals can develop significant cognitive deficits. Understanding the risk factors involved is of growing importance. We already know some risk factors; for instance, lower levels of physical activity, smoking, and obesity appear to increase the rate of decline. Recently, some scientists have turned their attention toward the potential role of inflammation. Inflammation and its consequences As a protective mechanism that prevents any damage to tissue, inflammation occurs in response to an infection or injury. However, if this acute inflammation continues for longer periods — which doctors call chronic inflammation — it can cause damage. Scientists have already linked inflammation to a range of health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma. Could inflammation also have a […]
It is natural for a person’s memory and thinking abilities, or cognitive function, to wane as they age — even if they are in good health. However, the rate of cognitive decline can speed up if they experience heart attack or angina, according to new research. Cognitive decline may speed up after a heart attack or angina. Studies that have explored the links between circulation problems and cognitive decline have tended to focus on conditions that affect the blood supply to the brain, such as stroke. Few of these earlier studies, however, have looked at the long-term links between incident coronary heart disease (CHD), such as heart attack and angina, and cognitive decline. The recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology study is unique; it tracked cognitive decline both before and after incident CHD. “Incident CHD,” its authors conclude, “is associated with accelerated cognitive decline after, but not before, the event.” They suggest that the findings highlight the long-term relationship between cognitive decline and CHD. Lead and corresponding study author Wuxiang Xie, Ph.D., says that because there is not yet a cure for dementia, it is important to detect and treat the brain condition as early as possible in […]
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A new study of older adults in a Japanese town has found that those whose blood contained higher levels of trans fats were more likely to develop dementia than those with lower levels. Sweet pastry can be a rich source of trans fats, which may raise the risk of dementia in some people, according to new research. The researchers also found that sweet pastries were likely the biggest source of dietary trans fats in that population. There are two primary sources of trans fats in the human diet: natural and artificial. Natural trans fats are present in small amounts in dairy products and the meat of some animals. Artificial trans fats, or trans fatty acids, are the primary source of trans fats in the diet and are the product of an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil to make it solid. According to the American Heart Association, consumption of trans fats can raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and has links to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. In a recent Neurology paper, the new study authors describe how they linked trans fats to a higher risk of dementia using data from an ongoing health study […]
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