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Alzheimer’s Disease
Latest News Regarding Alzheimer’s Disease and Your Health
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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 […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Being yelled at or insulted is never easy. But it’s a situation faced by about one-quarter of U.S. home health care workers, a new study finds. Certain environments, such as caring for someone with dementia or working in a very cramped space, were linked to a higher risk of verbal abuse from patients or their kin. “Our study found that aides frequently experience verbal abuse from the clients and their families,” said the study’s senior author, Margaret Quinn. She’s director of the Safe Home Care Project at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. “There is increasing scientific evidence that verbal abuse, as well as physical abuse, can have harmful, long-term impacts on employees’ health, such as depression and burnout, and on the stability of the workforce, such as high turnover, which is costly for employers and hard on those receiving care when an aide they’ve developed a relationship with does not return,” she said. Despite this study’s findings, Quinn said most home care aides report a high level of job satisfaction and get great reward from helping people age in place in their homes with dignity. Addressing […]
The vast majority of people who develop the rare neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have one feature in common: toxic buildup of faulty TDP-43 protein in the affected nerve cells. One recent study tackled the toxic protein deposits that characterize 97 percent of ALS cases. Postmortem evidence suggests that 97 percent of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have these toxic protein deposits. There is also evidence that faulty TDP-43 occurs in 45 percent of frontotemporal dementia, 60 percent of Alzheimer’s disease, and 80 percent of chronic traumatic encephalopathy cases. Now, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania have developed an approach that could prevent the formation of toxic TDP-43 deposits. They recreated conditions that would lead to a buildup of TDP-43 followed by cell death in cultured human nerve cells. At this point, they noticed that the deposits only formed when certain molecules that target TDP-43 — namely, the protein’s RNA binding partners — were missing. Adding a molecule that could mimic the action of the missing RNA binding partners, however, prevented TDP-43 deposits from forming in the cells. The study, which now features in the journal Neuron, is unique in that it focuses on proteins rather than […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An experimental Alzheimer’s disease vaccine shows promise in animal tests, and researchers say it could have the potential to reduce dementia cases by half. In mice created to develop Alzheimer’s, the vaccine triggered an immune response that reduced accumulation of two toxic proteins associated with the fatal brain disease. There was a 40 percent reduction in beta-amyloid proteins and up to a 50 percent reduction in tau proteins, with no harmful side effects, according to researchers at the University of Texas. But there’s a catch: While such tests showed positive results in mice, research on animals doesn’t always produce the same effects in humans. More study is needed. Still, the researchers remained optimistic. Reductions in these proteins could someday have significant benefits in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, said study senior author Doris Lambracht-Washington, of the UT Southwestern Medical Center Brain Institute in Dallas. “If the onset of the disease could be delayed by even five years, that would be enormous for the patients and their families,” she said in a center news release. “The number of dementia cases could drop by half.” Lead researcher Dr. Roger Rosenberg is […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, June 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People with Alzheimer’s disease who take opioid painkillers are more likely to develop pneumonia, Finnish researchers report. The overall odds are 30% higher, especially in the first two months of use, the researchers found. And the risk is highest for those taking strong opioids such as oxycodone or fentanyl. However, pneumonia risk also rose among Alzheimer’s patients who took milder opioids, according to the team from the University of Eastern Finland. Why might this be? Aleksi Hamina, a researcher in the university’s School of Pharmacy, and colleagues explained that opioids can impair the cough reflex, interfere with normal respiratory function, and cause sleepiness and fatigue. All of these factors could increase pneumonia risk, the study authors said. For their study, the investigators analyzed data collected in 2010 and 2011 from more than 5,600 Alzheimer’s patients in Finland. Patients who used opioids were matched with Alzheimer’s patients who were not prescribed the drugs. The findings were published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is often difficult to assess pain among Alzheimer’s patients due to problems with communication, the researchers explained in a university news release. So if opioid painkillers […]
Doctors may find it hard to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before the obvious symptoms set in, and many of the current tests for it are expensive and complicated. However, researchers recently devised a blood test that could accurately detect this condition. Recent research aimed to develop an accurate blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the condition will affect an estimated 5.7 million people in the United States by 2050. Despite this, there are few ways of accurately diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease early on. These include MRI and CT scans, which help doctors rule out other conditions that might cause similar symptoms. Another way of diagnosing Alzheimer’s is by collecting cerebrospinal fluid and looking for biomarkers of the disease. This is the most accurate test for this neurodegenerative condition, but it is costly and invasive. For all these reasons, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, have been developing a blood test for Alzheimer’s that aims to be accurate, more cost-effective, and less unpleasant. In the study paper, which appears in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the researchers explain that the test may be able to detect biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease before the appearance of obvious symptoms. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
There is no link between statin use and memory impairment, researchers have concluded, after evaluating effects of the cholesterol-lowering drugs over 6 years in more than 1,000 older people in Australia. Share on PinterestNew research reinforces the idea that statins are safe for older adults to use. A team from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), both in Sydney, Australia, led the study. “Over 6 years, there was no difference in the rate of decline in memory or global cognition between statin users and never users,” they write in a recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology paper on the findings. In fact, for certain individuals, statins may even offer some protection against memory decline, they suggest. The results show that, among participants with risk factors for dementia, those who used statins had a slower rate of decline in memory and thinking skills than those who did not use the drugs. The researchers hope that the findings will help to allay fears among consumers who have become concerned following reports of isolated cases of statin users experiencing cognitive decline. “Many factors can contribute to the cognitive symptoms that isolated case reports […]
(HealthDay News) — Dementia is a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or thinking skills. Latest Alzheimer’s News Because the progression of dementia varies, deciding when a person is no longer able to drive safely can be difficult, says the National Center on Caregiving. For caregivers and those who have a loved one with dementia, the center suggests: If the person has mild dementia, have driving skills evaluated immediately. If the person with dementia passes, continue to have driving skills evaluated every 6 months. Watch for behavioral signs, such as disorientation and difficulty processing. Watch for poor driving behavior, such as drifting or incorrect signaling. Encourage the person to drive on familiar roads, and avoid nighttime driving. The NCC also suggests reducing the need to drive by arranging alternative transportation. Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SLIDESHOW Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Aging Brains See Slideshow
New research suggests that not being able to read or write can raise the chances of developing dementia by two or three times. Share on PinterestNot being able to read or write may dramatically increase the risk of dementia, according to a new study. According to the United States Department of Education, 1 in 5 adults in the country do not have the literacy skills required for “comparing and contrasting information, paraphrasing, or making low-level inferences.” Overall, 43 million U.S. adults have low literacy abilities. Results of a survey that the department conducted between 2011 and 2014 indicate that 26.5 million people in the country do not have the literacy skills mentioned above, 8.4 million have even fewer literacy skills, and 8.2 million could not take part because of a linguistic or cognitive barrier. Now, new research suggests that people who cannot read or write may have a higher risk of dementia. Jennifer J. Manly, Ph.D., of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, is the senior author of the paper, which appears in the journal Neurology. Manly explains the link between literacy and brain health, saying, “Being able to read and write allows people to […]
Brain atrophy refers to a loss of brain cells or a loss in the number of connections between brain cells. People who experience brain atrophy typically develop poorer cognitive functioning as a result of this type of brain damage. There are two main types of brain atrophy: focal atrophy, which occurs in specific brain regions, and generalized atrophy, which occurs across the brain. Brain atrophy can occur as a result of the natural aging process. Other causes include injury, infections, and certain underlying medical conditions. This article describes the symptoms and causes of brain atrophy. It also outlines the treatment options available in each case, as well as the outlook. Brain atrophy can affect one or multiple regions of the brain. The symptoms will vary depending on the location of the atrophy and its severity. According to the National Institute of Neurological Conditions and Stroke, brain atrophy can cause the following symptoms and conditions: Seizures A seizure is a sudden, abnormal spike of electrical activity in the brain. There are two main types of seizure. One is the partial seizure, which affects just one part of the brain. The other is the generalized seizure, which affects both sides of the […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, July 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Keeping your brain active as you age, whether it be working on a computer, playing games or being socially involved, might ward off memory loss, a new study suggests. Losing memory as you age is a sign of mild cognitive impairment, which can be a gateway to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. But using your brain can help keep it sharp, and it’s never too late to start reaping the benefits, researchers say. Why keeping mentally active has this effect isn’t known, but it might be that the brain responds positively to increased use, said senior researcher Dr. Yonas Geda, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. “It’s like watering a flower,” he said. It’s also possible that people who engage in mental activities also have other good behaviors, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet, which benefit brain health, Geda said. Study lead author Janina Krell-Roesch, a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic, cautioned that this study can’t prove that mental activity keeps mild cognitive impairment at bay. “Our study was an observational study, so we can only say that there is an […]
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 […]
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 […]
Exercise is a vital element of a healthful lifestyle; it helps maintain heart health, improve mood, and fight weight gain. New research also suggests that it can protect a person’s cognitive skills, and a new study uncovers fresh information as to how this can happen. How does exercise help protect memory? According to a study covered on Medical News Today last year, engaging in regular, leisurely exercise can help keep the body young and healthy. The same appears to be true for the relationship between exercise and the mind; only 10 minutes of physical activity may boost cognitive function in the short-term. Meanwhile, exercising regularly for 6 months could actually reverse the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment. Starting from such evidence, which suggests that exercise has a protective and even healing effect on brain functioning, a team of researchers from numerous international academic institutions has recently investigated some of the biological mechanisms that underlie this relationship. The researchers came from institutions including the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University in New York City, NY. They conducted the new research — the findings […]
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. […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News SUNDAY, Nov. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — People caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia should focus on four main safety issues, an expert says. Nearly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. About 16.1 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. “When approaching dementia families, I follow the safe and sane rule,” said Dr. Andrew Duxbury, a geriatrician in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care at University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Everything we do needs to make the patient safe and the family sane. In terms of safety, it boils down into the big four: meals, wheels, bills and pills,” he explained in a university news release. In terms of meals, caregivers need to consider whether the person is capable of preparing food, eating healthy and appropriate amounts of food, and has the awareness that they need to eat, Duxbury said. “If any link in that chain breaks, the person may not eat,” he said. When it comes to kitchen safety, the “biggest issue is leaving things on the stove and forgetting to turn the oven off; but if cooking […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, June 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have found more evidence of a puzzling phenomenon: Older adults who survive cancer seem to be somewhat protected against dementia. A number of studies in recent years have found that cancer survivors have a relatively lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The new research adds another layer. It shows that even before their diagnosis, older adults who go on to develop cancer have an edge when it comes to memory performance. Among the older Americans who were tracked for 16 years, those who developed cancer typically had sharper memory skills — both before and after the diagnosis — than those who remained cancer-free. Researchers said it all supports the theory that some of the biological processes that contribute to cancer may actually protect against dementia. But the big remaining question is, what are those mechanisms? “We’re really interested in understanding what [they] could be, because it might point the way to strategies to prevent dementia,” said senior researcher Maria Glymour, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. The study findings are based on more than 14,500 U.S. adults born before 1949. […]
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 […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, June 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Doctors often prescribe anticholinergic drugs for a variety of ills. But a new study suggests they may increase the risk of dementia in older patients. These medicines include everything from Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to certain antipsychotics and Parkinson’s meds. They’re used to treat a wide range of other conditions, including depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, overactive bladder, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorders. Anticholinergic drugs help contract and relax muscles, and work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits messages in the nervous system. But the new British study found that people aged 55 and older who took strong anticholinergic medications daily for three years or more had a 50% increased risk of dementia. “Our study adds further evidence of the potential risks associated with strong anticholinergic drugs, particularly antidepressants, bladder antimuscarinic drugs, anti-Parkinson drugs and epilepsy drugs,” said study author Carol Coupland. She works in the division of primary care at the University of Nottingham. Anticholinergics are known to cause short-term side effects — including confusion and memory loss — but it’s unclear if long-term use increases the risk of dementia. To find out, Coupland’s team examined the medical records of nearly […]
Research has linked a particular sleep disorder called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. What characterizes this sleep problem, and can its presence be a good way to predict Parkinson’s risk? People who experience a sleep disorder that causes them to act out their dreams have a high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that every year, approximately 50,000 people in the United States learn that they have Parkinson’s disease, a neurological condition that affects a person’s motor function and exposes them to other neurodegenerative problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers still do not fully understand exactly what causes Parkinson’s disease, but they have identified a few risk factors that can predispose a person to develop this condition. These include a person’s age and sex as well as some genetic factors. Still, it remains a challenge to establish early on who is likely to develop Parkinson’s disease at some point in their life. However, a team of researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Canada decided to see if one particular factor — a sleep disorder called REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) — could be a […]
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 […]
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 Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, Jan. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Tight control of your blood pressure won’t necessarily spare you from full-blown dementia, a new trial concludes. But it might lower the risk of slight declines in thinking and memory, a condition known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the researchers added. The clinical trial is the “first study in history to show that any intervention can reduce your risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, an early form of dementia,” said lead researcher Dr. Jeff Williamson. He is a professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, N.C. “What is good for your heart in terms of blood pressure-lowering is also good for your brain,” Williamson added. He noted that the trial ended early, which likely affected the dementia result. “We just didn’t have enough dementia cases develop over time” in the group with less-restricted blood pressure, he explained. High blood pressure affects more than three-fourths of people over the age of 65, and it has been identified as a potential risk factor for MCI and dementia in observational studies, the study authors said in background notes. The new clinical trial […]
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 […]
New research finds that a 6-month regimen of aerobic exercise can reverse symptoms of mild cognitive impairment in older adults. Just 6 months of exercise that raises the heart rate can reverse signs of age-related cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a mild loss of cognitive abilities, such as memory and reasoning skills. A person with MCI may find it hard to remember things, make decisions, or focus on tasks. While the loss of cognitive abilities is not serious enough to interfere with daily activities, MCI raises the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 15–20 percent of adults aged 65 and over in the United States have MCI. New research suggests that there might be a way to reverse these age-related cognitive problems. James A. Blumenthal, Ph.D. — of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC — and colleagues examined the effects of regimented exercise in 160 people aged 65 on average. They published their findings in the journal Neurology. Studying exercise, diet, and MCI The participants included in the research were sedentary at the beginning of the study. They had cardiovascular risk factors and reported symptoms of MCI. […]
New research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, identifies new genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. It also uncovers novel biological mechanisms that may lead to this neurodegenerative condition. Scientists have found new genetic locations associated with Alzheimer’s. About 5.7 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. A recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that by the year 2060, this number will grow to 13.9 million. Genes play an important role in whether a person will develop Alzheimer’s or not. Researchers estimate that 60–80 percent of the disease is heritable. Therefore, identifying the genes that put some people at risk of Alzheimer’s is an important scientific endeavor. So far, studies have found more than 20 genetic locations that have links with the condition, but these only explain a small percentage of the genetic variance that accounts for Alzheimer’s. So, a team of scientists has set out to uncover more genetic risk factors. Professor Danielle Posthuma, from the Vrije Universiteit University in Amsterdam, Netherlands, together with Dr. Ole Andreassen from the University of Oslo, Norway, and Dr. Stephan Ripke from the Broad Institute in Boston, MA, led the new […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Poor sleep has been linked to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and now a new study suggests a possible reason why. A small group of young, healthy men deprived of just one night of sleep had higher blood levels of tau protein than when they had a full and uninterrupted night of rest, researchers reported in a study published online Jan. 8 in Neurology. “This is interesting as accumulation of the protein tau is seen in the brains of individuals afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, or most common forms of dementia,” said senior study author Dr. Jonathan Cedernaes, a senior researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden. The researchers did not find any similar increase in amyloid beta, another brain protein long linked to Alzheimer’s, the Swedish researchers said. The new findings come as Alzheimer’s research has started to shift its focus towards tau as a more important cause of brain damage associated with the disease. Another group of researchers recently reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine that they can predict with reasonable accuracy which brain regions will wither and atrophy in Alzheimer’s by identifying […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
The causes of dementia can damage the brain in different ways. Is it possible that these differences may reveal themselves in the way that people walk? A new study that compared walking patterns in people with two types of dementia explored the question. New research suggests a person’s gait may offer clues into the type of dementia they are living with. “Alzheimer’s and Lewy body disease have unique signatures of gait impairment,” state the authors in a recent Alzheimer’s & Dementia paper about their findings. The researchers suggest that the unique impairments to gait — or alterations to walking pattern — may reflect the specific damage that each disease inflicts on mental function and the brain. Should further studies corroborate the findings, the researchers suggest that walking pattern could become a useful and inexpensive addition to the medical toolbox for diagnosing different types of dementia. “It is a key development,” says first study author Ríona McArdle, Ph.D., of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, “as a more accurate diagnosis means that we know that people are getting the right treatment, care, and management for the dementia they have.” Types and causes of dementia Dementia […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many Americans believe they are likely to develop dementia — and they often turn to unproven ways to try to better their odds, a new study suggests. In a survey, researchers found that almost half of Americans in their 50s and 60s believed they were at least “somewhat likely” to develop dementia. Yet few — 5% — said they had talked to their doctor about ways to lower their risk. Instead, one-third or more were taking fish oil, vitamin E or other supplements to help ward off memory decline — even though none have been proven to have such benefits. “It certainly seems like people believe that supplements or fish oil help preserve their memory,” said lead researcher Dr. Donovan Maust, a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Maust said that might reflect “excitement” over initial research suggesting that certain supplements might ward off memory decline — excitement that wasn’t tempered when later studies failed to show benefits. The findings, published online Nov. 15 in JAMA Neurology, are based on 1,019 adults aged 50 to 64 who were surveyed in 2018. They […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There are plenty of good reasons to seek a higher education, but avoiding Alzheimer’s disease probably isn’t one of them, new research suggests. The study found that a person’s level of education wasn’t related to the onset of memory and thinking (“cognitive”) troubles, or the rate at which dementia progressed. “Education is related to cognitive growth in early life, but it wasn’t associated with cognitive change as you age. What’s more important is what you’re doing now, than what you did 40 or 50 years ago,” explained study author Robert Wilson. He’s a neuropsychologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Wilson said that continuing to do things such as learning a new language, social activities, having a purpose in life, or engaging in mentally demanding work may help keep your brain sharper as you get older. Previous research has hinted that there might be a link between education and a person’s risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or how fast the disease advances. But the results of a number of studies looking at this possible link have had mixed results. To try to get […]
For years, many experts have assumed that spending more time in education protects against dementia. The latest study may overturn this long-held theory. A new study examines the links between education and dementia risk over time. It will have escaped no one’s attention that dementia is on the rise. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.7 million adults in the United States have Alzheimer’s. Primarily due to our increasing lifespan, dementia incidence is set to keep rising. Currently, there is no cure, and treatments can only reduce certain symptoms. For this reason, it is vital that we understand the relevant risk factors and discover ways to prevent or slow down dementia. Some risk factors are well-known, such as smoking and lack of physical activity. Well-known protective factors include sticking to a healthful diet. Education and cognitive reserve Many experts think that the length of time someone spends in education helps protect against dementia. Although studies have generated conflicting or inconclusive results, many researchers believe that higher levels of educational attainment provide an individual with a certain “cognitive reserve.” Scientists believe that this hypothetical reserve lowers the risk or, at the very […]
Memory can deteriorate naturally, due to age, and even when this process is not related to neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, it can still affect a person’s quality of life. Now, researchers from Boston University in Massachusetts are exploring ways of fighting age-related memory decline. By resynchronizing brain waves, we could reverse some age-related memory problems. “Working memory […] is a fundamental building block of human cognition,” explains Robert Reinhart, Ph.D., the director of the university’s Visual Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. “It’s been called, classically, the ‘workbench of the mind’ or the ‘sketchpad of the mind.’ It allows us to hold information in our minds over a period of seconds,” he continues. Essentially, this is the type of memory that allows a person to make spontaneous calculations and assessments, and navigate daily life situations. But working memory also starts to naturally decline with age, which means that, as a person grows older, they may find it more difficult to perform some tasks, such as keeping track of their finances. “Working memory […] is where we think, where we problem-solve, where we reason, plan, perform mathematical calculations, make decisions. It’s essentially where consciousness lives.” Robert Reinhart, Ph.D. For this reason, Reinhart and […]
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 […]
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% […]
Could taking good care of gums and teeth also help to protect the brain? A recent study has added to growing evidence of a link between severe gum disease, or periodontitis, and a raised risk of dementia. New research suggests that keeping your gums healthy may prevent dementia. Using data from an extensive national health insurance screening program, investigators from Seoul National University in South Korea examined the relationship between chronic periodontitis and dementia. In a paper that now features in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the researchers describe how they found a modest link between severe gum disease and dementia, which is consistent with some previous studies. The researchers also point out that their “retrospective cohort study” is likely the first to establish that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and exercise, did not appear to have any effect on the connection. The term dementia describes a decline in mental capacity – such as increasing difficulty with memory and reasoning – that becomes so severe that it disrupts daily living. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Need to reduce dementia risk factors A joint 2012 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and […]
A novel genetic approach that repairs broken connections between brain cells could lead to treatments that restore memory capacity in Alzheimer’s disease. By using epigenetics, it may soon be possible to reverse memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. The new approach reverses changes to gene expression that tend to occur in the later stages of the disease. Scientists at State University of New York at Buffalo demonstrated how the method was able to reverse Alzheimer’s memory decline in mice. Much genetic research on the causes of Alzheimer’s disease focuses on changes in the DNA of genes. The new study, however, focuses on epigenetics, which concerns mechanisms that can switch genes on and off without disturbing their DNA code. A paper about the work now features in the journal Brain. “In this paper,” says senior study author Zhen Yan, Ph.D., who is a professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, “we have not only identified the epigenetic factors that contribute to the memory loss, we also found ways to temporarily reverse them in an animal model of [Alzheimer’s disease].” Alzheimer’s disease and loss of synapses Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People with dementia show a different makeup in the bacteria dwelling in their guts, a preliminary study finds — raising questions about whether the “bugs” play some role in the brain disease. Researchers in Japan found that compared with dementia-free older adults, those with the disease typically had a very different gut “microbiome.” The term refers to the trillions of bacteria and other microbes dwelling in the digestive system. As recent studies have been revealing, those gut bugs do more than aid digestion. They appear to affect a range of bodily functions, from immune defenses to the production of vitamins, anti-inflammatory compounds and even chemicals that relay messages among brain cells. Researchers have also found that the makeup of the gut microbiome is linked to risks for various conditions, such as obesity, asthma and type 1 diabetes. Those studies do not prove that gut bacteria directly contribute to, or protect against, those diseases, however. And neither does the new study, experts stressed. The study found only that a group of dementia patients had different gut microbes from dementia-free adults, said Mary Sano, director of the Alzheimer’s […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dealing with the agitation, anxiety and aggression that often come with dementia is one of the most challenging aspects of caring for someone with this brain disorder. But new research suggests that massage and other non-drug treatments may be more effective than medications. Even just taking people with dementia outdoors can help, said study author Dr. Jennifer Watt, a geriatrician and clinical scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital-Unity Health in Toronto. “The bottom line from our study is that non-medication based therapy and multidimensional care seem to be better than medications for treating the symptoms of aggression and agitation in persons with dementia,” she said. Dementia, a progressive loss of thinking and memory skills, affects 50 million people worldwide. Up to three-quarters have behavioral and psychological symptoms. People with such symptoms often need institutionalized care sooner. Health care professionals rely on several medications to lessen symptoms of agitation and aggression, but these medications carry significant risks. One, ironically, is worsening memory and thinking, the researchers said. Some medications — such as anti-psychotics — may do little to control symptoms, according […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Amyloid beta has long been a prime suspect in Alzheimer’s disease, since abnormal levels of the protein form disruptive plaques between patients’ brain cells. But drug trials aimed at lowering amyloid levels have repeatedly failed to save people’s brains, and some researchers now believe the focus needs to shift to other potential culprits. Researchers pulled the plug early on the latest failed clinical trial, after patients’ brain power continued to decline even though the amyloid beta blocker verubecestat successfully lowered amyloid levels in their brains and spinal fluid. The disappointing verubecestat results appear in the April 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, alongside a research letter announcing similarly negative preliminary findings from the clinical trial of another amyloid blocker called atabecestat. These negative results jibe with those of earlier trials, and present “pretty strong evidence that amyloid-lowering is the wrong target,” said Dr. David Knopman. He’s a professor of neurology with the Mayo Clinic who wrote an editorial accompanying the new reports. Knopman noted that the verubecestat trial showed that amyloid levels declined slightly in the brain and fairly substantially in the spinal […]
For many years, specialists believed that people who studied more and kept their brains more active had lower dementia risk. Some recent studies have contradicted this idea. So how is education linked to the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease, if at all? Another study suggests that there is no link between a person’s level of education and Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline. In the recent past, researchers have argued that people who continue their education throughout their lives have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia and primarily characterized by progressive memory loss. However, studies published this year have found no evidence in support of this conclusion. A high level of education is supposed to boost a person’s cognitive reserve, which refers to the brain’s ability to preserve and maintain cognitive function despite any damage. A high cognitive reserve should act as a safeguard against cognitive impairment, which can occur naturally, as a person ages. But is it really effective in preventing or slowing down the development of Alzheimer’s disease? New research — conducted by Dr. Rebecca Gottesman, from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, MD, and colleagues — has found no […]
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a machine-learning model that could predict the rate of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline for up to 2 years in the future. MIT researchers have developed a machine-learning model that they say could accurately predict cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, yet scientists still do not know what causes it. For this reason, prevention strategies can be hit and miss. Moreover, healthcare professionals have no clear way of determining a person’s rate of cognitive decline once a doctor has diagnosed them with Alzheimer’s. Now, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge — in collaboration with specialists from other institutions — have developed a machine-learning model that could allow specialists to predict how much a person’s cognitive functioning will change up to 2 years in advance of this decline becoming established. The team — made of Ognjen Rudovic, Yuria Utsumi, Kelly Peterson, Ricardo Guerrero, Daniel Rueckert, and Prof. Rosalind Picard — will present their project later this week at the Machine Learning for Healthcare conference. This year’s conference will take place in Ann Arbor, MI. “Accurate prediction of cognitive decline from 6 to 24 months is critical to […]
New research suggests that stools from so-called “super donors” have such rich microbial diversity that using them for fecal transplants could cure conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. Scientists have found that stool samples from ‘super donors’ hold the potential for curing a wide range of conditions. Recently, a growing number of studies have discovered diseases that are connected with changes in the gut’s microbiota. Cancer, obesity, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder are only some of the conditions that researchers have linked with an imbalance in the bacterial composition of our gut. This imbalance bears the name “dysbiosis,” and observational studies have noted a link between microbial dysbiosis and allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. More recently, Medical News Today reported on research that found connections between gut bacteria and age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or age-induced paralysis. Many of the studies that have illuminated these connections have been conducted in germ-free mice. In these tests, researchers replaced the rodents’ gut microbiotas with healthier bacteria by performing fecal transplants from a healthy donor. Physicians use the same procedure of stool transplantation in human clinical trials. But new research suggests that some stools are better […]
Two new studies now suggest that a noninvasive eye scan could soon be used to catch Alzheimer’s disease early. A simple eye scan may soon detect Alzheimer’s in a matter of seconds. The world’s population is aging rapidly and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise. For this reason, the need for efficient dementia screening methods that can be applied to millions of people is dire. Current diagnostic practices are either invasive or ineffective. For instance, brain scans are costly, and spinal taps — or lumbar punctures — are invasive and potentially harmful. Specialists currently diagnose Alzheimer’s disease using memory tests and by tracking behavioral changes. However, by the time that the symptoms appear, the disease has already progressed. For these reasons, researchers are hard at work trying to devise newer and better diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s. For instance, some scientists are trying to use a “sniff test” as a way of assessing whether someone has dementia. Now, researchers at Duke University in Durham, NC, say that Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed in seconds just by looking at a person’s eyes, and scientists at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel concur. Two new studies presented at AAO 2018 — […]
An Alzheimer’s diagnosis often relies on signs of memory problems. However, these issues usually do not appear until years after the disease has taken hold. A new smartphone game is using spatial navigation to detect Alzheimer’s before it is too late. A simple game that people can play on their smartphones could help detect Alzheimer’s risk. Another person develops Alzheimer’s disease every 3 seconds, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International. The number of people living with this most common form of dementia currently stands at around 50 million. By 2050, experts expect this figure to have tripled. The last “significant breakthrough” in Alzheimer’s research happened 4 decades ago, states the latest World Alzheimer’s Report. However, a recently developed smartphone game may alter that statistic. “Research shows us that the brain changes associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s begin decades before symptoms like memory loss start,” says Hilary Evans, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Research United Kingdom. “[F]or future Alzheimer’s treatments to be effective, it’s likely they must be given at the earliest stages of disease, before there’s too much damage to the brain.” Navigating space A collaboration between the organization, the University of East Anglia (UEA) and University College London in the U.K., […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 13 million Americans will have dementia by 2040 — nearly twice as many as today, a new report says. The number of women with dementia is expected to rise from 4.7 million next year to 8.5 million in 2040. The number of men with dementia is projected to increase from 2.6 million to 4.5 million. Over the next 20 years, the economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia will be more than $2 trillion. Women will shoulder more than 80% of those costs, according to a report released Tuesday at the 2019 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit, in Washington, D.C. “Longer life spans are perhaps one of the greatest success stories of our modern public health system,” said lead author Nora Super, senior director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. “But along with this success comes one of our greatest challenges,” she added in an institute news release. “Our risk of developing dementia doubles every five years after we turn 65; by age 85, nearly one in three of us will have the disease.” With no cure on the horizon, reducing […]
For the first time, a new study has observed that cerebrospinal fluid washes in and out of the brain in waves during sleep, helping clear out waste. Cerebrospinal fluid helps clear toxic waste from the brain during sleep. Recently, Medical News Today reported on a study that found that specialized immune cells are more active in the brain during sleep, busy performing maintenance work. Researchers know that sleep is important — not just in terms of allowing the brain to reactualize, but also for “making space” for “cleaning” processes to take place. However, many of the mechanisms through which this clearing out of brain waste takes place during sleep remain unclear. Now, researchers at Boston University in Massachusetts have found that during sleep, the fluid present in the brain and spinal chord — called the cerebrospinal fluid — washes in and out, like waves, helping the brain get rid of accumulated metabolic “trash.” “We’ve known for a while that there are these electrical waves of activity in the neurons. But before now, we didn’t realize that there are actually waves in the cerebrospinal fluid, too,” study co-author Laura Lewis explains. A complex synchronization process The new study — the results […]
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of neurocognitive decline that affects millions across the world. The exact cause is unclear, but new research is uncovering the mechanisms that allow Alzheimer’s to become established in the brain. Which brain cells are the most vulnerable to Alzheimer’s? In Alzheimer’s disease, as in other forms of dementia, a defining feature is the accumulation of certain toxic proteins in the brain. These proteins aggregate into plaques that disrupt the communication between brain cells, thus enhancing cognitive problems and other issues. More often than not, researchers identify the protein beta-amyloid as the main culprit in this disruptive process. However, another protein, called tau, is just as important. In a new study, researchers from a series of academic institutions, including the Ohio State University in Columbus, Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY, and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, have found that tau accumulates preferentially around a specific type of brain cell. The investigators also revealed that certain genetic profiles may predispose a person to tau aggregations around those cells. Co-lead author of the study Hongjun (Harry) Fu — now an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Ohio State University — and colleagues […]
Scientists have found an inflammation mechanism that appears to play a key role in the formation of the toxic tau proteins that characterize Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Share on PinterestNew research finds that inflammation is responsible for the tau protein damage in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Other forms include vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Estimates from the National Institute of Aging, which is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggest that more than 5.5 million people in the United States have dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The newly discovered mechanism involves a protein complex called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Previous research had already identified the large molecule’s vital role in triggering inflammatory substances from its location within immune cells in the brain. In the new study, researchers from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn, both in Germany, led an international team’s investigation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in Alzheimer’s disease and FTD. They tested postmortem brain samples from people with and without FTD. They also used cultured brain cells and mice with characteristic brain features of Alzheimer’s and FTD. The lead […]
A new study finds that hearing devices benefit older adults in multiple ways, from physical safety to brain health. A recent study investigates the wide ranging impacts of wearing hearing aids. Almost 1 in 4 people in the United States aged 65–74 have disabling hearing loss. In people over 75, the figure is 1 in 2. Nonetheless, many people who would benefit from wearing a hearing aid do not wear them. Experts have linked hearing loss to an increased likelihood of dementia, depression and anxiety, walking problems, and falling. Now, a study in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society finds that using a hearing device makes these problems significantly less likely to occur. Study lead Elham Mahmoudi, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan, explains: “We already know that people with hearing loss have more adverse health events and more co-existing conditions, but this study allows us to see the effects of an intervention and look for associations between hearing aids and health outcomes.” She continues, “Though hearing aids can’t be said to prevent these conditions, a delay in the onset of dementia, depression and anxiety, and the risk of serious falls could be significant both for the patient and for […]
Recent research into older adults confirms that loneliness is tied to a raised risk of developing dementia. The study also reveals that the effect ranges across a diversity of people and is independent of how much social contact they have. A large new study confirms that loneliness is a risk factor for dementia. Scientists from Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee used data on 12,030 individuals from the Health and Retirement Study, a United States government-sponsored longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of people aged 50 and older. They report their findings in a paper that now features in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. “We are not the first people,” says first study author Dr. Angelina Sutin, who is an associate professor in FSU’s College of Medicine, “to show that loneliness is associated with increased risk of dementia.” “But this is by far the largest sample yet, with a long follow-up,” she adds. “And the population was more diverse.” The study data contained measures of loneliness and social isolation and a range of risk factors, including behavioral, clinical, and genetic. Through telephone interviews, individuals had also completed assessments of cognitive ability, a low score on which indicates dementia. […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A brain protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease might potentially be transmitted to people during neurological procedures, a new preliminary study suggests. Genetically engineered lab mice developed amyloid-beta deposits in their brains after they were injected with amyloid-laced samples of human growth hormone taken from decades-old human cadavers, researchers found. “We have now provided experimental evidence to support our hypothesis that amyloid-beta pathology can be transmitted to people from contaminated materials,” said senior researcher Dr. John Collinge. He is head of University College London’s department of neurodegenerative disease. Clumps of amyloid-beta in the brain are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, although researchers still don’t understand the relationship between these clumps and the degenerative brain disease. Collinge pointedly noted that this study does not mean that you can catch Alzheimer’s from another person. And animal findings often don’t replicate in humans. “Although we’re generating evidence that Alzheimer’s pathology may be transmissible, there’s absolutely no suggestion that Alzheimer’s disease itself is a contagious disease,” he said. Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, went even further, noting that the new study did not look at Alzheimer’s […]
A recent study in older people suggests that reducing blood pressure to levels below the usual standard can lessen the risk of mild cognitive impairment, which is a condition that often precedes dementia. Lowering blood pressure in seniors could prevent mild cognitive impairment, new research concludes. Scientists at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, led a randomized clinical trial involving just under 9,400 adults in their 50s or older with high blood pressure. The objective of the trial, as the investigative team notes in the JAMA study paper, was to “evaluate the effect of intensive blood pressure control on risk of dementia.” The older adults received either intensive blood pressure control or standard treatment. The purpose of intensive control was to bring systolic blood pressure below 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), while that of standard treatment was to lower it to under 140 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. It is usually the first number in a blood pressure measurement, as in “140 mm Hg over 80 mm Hg,” for instance. The results revealed that significantly fewer of those who received intensive blood pressure control went on […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, July 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Join a book club, take a cruise or just visit friends — new research supports the notion that social activities help stave off mental decline as you age. The study found that seniors with high levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in their brains were able to slow any mental decline if they got out and socialized regularly. So, “social engagement may be an important marker of resilience” in older adults at risk of dementia, said senior author Dr. Nancy Donovan. She’s chief of geriatric psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. In the study, researchers tracked data on 217 men and women aged 63 to 89. These seniors were all taking part in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, a trial aimed at identifying early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Participants started the study with no evidence of mental decline, but some had high levels of amyloid beta protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s that can be detected in brain scans. The researchers assessed seniors’ levels of social engagement (such as spending time with friends and family, and doing volunteer work) and their mental (cognitive) function at the start of the study […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
What brand names are available for rivastigmine? Exelon, Exelon Patch Is rivastigmine available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for rivastigmine? Yes What are the uses for rivastigmine? What are the side effects of rivastigmine? The most common side effects Exelon and Exelon Patch are: Dizziness Diarrhea Headache Stomach pain Vomiting Nausea Weight loss About one-half of patients who take Exelon and Exelon Patch develop symptoms of nausea, and about one-third vomit at least once, most commonly during the first few weeks of treatment as the dose is slowly increased. Between one in five and one in four patients lose weight during rivastigmine therapy (about 7 to 10 pounds, on average). One in six patients experiences a loss of appetite. About one in fifty patients develops dizziness. Overall, 15% of patients (between one in seven and one in six) discontinue therapy due to side effects. Serious side effects include: What is the dosage for rivastigmine? Exelon and Exelon Patch usually is taken twice daily with meals. Due to gastrointestinal side effects that can be seen early in therapy, rivastigmine therapy is generally started at a low dose. Exelon and Exelon Patch for treating dementia […]
By Adam Townsend on 09/24/2019 2:47 PM Latest Alzheimer’s News Source: MedicineNet Health News About 90% of all humans are right-handed, so what’s the deal with the other 10%? Genetics play a big role, according to a new handedness study of hundreds of thousands of Brits published this month. The findings offer more than just gee-whiz trivia; the same genes governing which hand you prefer are also implicated in schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published in the neurology journal Brain, could be a crucial step in determining causes, risk factors and treatments for these neurological disorders. The study looked at more than 400,000 people ages 40-69 selected from the UK Biobank. The Biobank is a British nonprofit that tracks the health of more than half a million people specifically to aid medical research. Study authors looked at genotypes for participants, as well as brain image scans of about 9,000 participants and other data to determine the results. The researchers said several genes seem to generate a hand preference. Furthermore, those genes generate that preference by coding for a stronger connection between functional centers in the left and right halves of the brain. The authors concluded the genes […]
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 […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, May 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — With findings that might alter the path of Alzheimer’s research, scientists say misfolded forms of two proteins appear to spread through patients’ brains similar to an infection. The findings suggest that Alzheimer’s is a “double-prion” disorder. This discovery could help lead to new treatments that focus directly on prions, according to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco. A prion is a misshapen protein that can force other copies of that protein into the same misfolded shape and spread in the brain. It’s best known for its role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy — “mad cow” disease — and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a degenerative brain disorder. In the new research, the university team analyzed the brains of 75 Alzheimer’s patients after death and found self-propagating prion forms of the proteins amyloid beta and tau. Higher amounts of these prions were associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s and younger age at death. Alzheimer’s patients have amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, but efforts to treat the disease by clearing out these inactive proteins have failed. These new findings suggest that active amyloid beta and tau prions could drive Alzheimer’s and offer […]
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 […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, March 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dementia is now one of the leading killers in the United States, with the rate of deaths linked to the disease more than doubling over the past two decades. “Overall, age-adjusted death rates for dementia increased from 30.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2000 to 66.7 in 2017,” say a team of researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In sheer numbers, the new analysis of death certificate data shows that dementia was noted as the primary cause for nearly 262,000 deaths in 2017, with 46 percent of those deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease. That’s up from about 84,000 deaths attributed to dementia in 2000. “It’s a huge increase from 2000 to 2017,” said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s a big problem, and it’s getting bigger.” America’s aging population is probably fueling this increase in dementia-related deaths, said lead researcher Ellen Kramarow, a CDC health statistician. “Part of what is likely happening is people are living to older ages, and those are the ages where your risk of dementia is the highest,” Kramarow said. “If you […]
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 […]
Research showed that an antibiotic mix impacted the gut bacteria in mice to the point that it slowed the growth and development of Alzheimer’s, but only in males. New research in mice suggests that antibiotics may reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms by impacting the gut bacteria. The study, conducted at The University of Chicago, IL, demonstrated how long-term antibiotic use could reduce inflammation and slow the growth of amyloid plaques in male mice. Amyloid plaques are a feature specific to Alzheimer’s disease. They form when a particular protein within the neurons of the brain buildup and clump together. These amyloid plaques disrupt brain cell function and lead to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The team was led by Professor Sangram S. Sisodia, who is also the director of the Center for Molecular Neurobiology at The University of Chicago. The team was already aware that people with Alzheimer’s showed changes in their gut bacteria, and they had previously carried out studies showing how gut bacteria could potentially affect Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in rodents. This research found that changes to the microbiome limited the development of amyloid plaques in male mice, but not females. Sisodia says of the research that “[w]hile compelling, our published studies on […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New research delivers fresh hope for everyone who struggles with a fading memory: Neurons continue to form well into old age, even in people with mental impairments or Alzheimer’s disease. “We found that there was active neurogenesis [new neurons forming] in the hippocampus of older adults well into their 90s,” said study author Orly Lazarov, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The interesting thing is that we also saw some new neurons in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive [thinking] impairment,” she added in a university news release. The findings could lead to new treatments for mental decline in older adults, the researchers said. In the study, Lazarov and her colleagues examined hippocampus tissue from the brains of 18 people, average age 90.6 years, after they died. The hippocampus is involved in the formation of memories and in learning. On average, there were about 2,000 neural stem cells and 150,000 developing neurons in each brain. While people with mental impairments and Alzheimer’s disease did have new neurons, their levels were significantly lower than in people with normal brain function, […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, March 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The largest study to date of the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s has uncovered five new gene mutations that make people more vulnerable to the memory-robbing disease. The international team of scientists analyzed the DNA of more than 94,000 people collected by the four groups that make up the International Genomic Alzheimer’s Project. “The ability to combine data from so many research groups gave us the power to detect new links to the causes of Alzheimer disease,” said study co-lead author Brian Kunkle. He is an associate scientist at the University of Miami’s John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics. Margaret Pericak-Vance, director of the institute, added that “this is an exciting time to be studying Alzheimer disease” — the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. “Genes contain the body’s instruction manuals, and we now have a much better understanding of how to read the instructions related to Alzheimer disease as the initial step to translation to clinical care,” she explained in a University of Miami news release. Learning more about how the five gene variants influence Alzheimer’s risk could improve knowledge on how the disease begins and provide […]
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 […]
There are two major stumbling blocks to developing effective drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases that destroy the brain. The first is overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and the second is delivering the drug to a precise location and ensuring that it does not spread to the rest of the brain. New research finds a way to target more precise locations in brains with Parkinson’s. Now, a new approach that uses ultrasound beams and microbubbles could be a noninvasive way to deliver drugs safely to precise locations in the brain. The technique is called focused ultrasound (FUS) and promises to open the door to thousands of drugs that could treat a range of brain conditions if they could cross the blood-brain barrier. The scientists at Columbia University in the city of New York who developed the FUS device have now shown that it helped to curb early Parkinson’s disease progression and improve brain function in mice. They describe the results in a recent Journal of Controlled Release study paper. The FUS technique temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier in a specific part of the brain to allow drugs to reach just that part. Opening the blood-brain barrier The blood-brain barrier is […]
An international working group of experts has agreed on guidelines to help increase scientific and public awareness about a brain condition that mimics Alzheimer’s disease. The condition is not new but has come to light in recent research and clinical trials. Researchers have identified a misfolded protein in the brain that may be ‘a possible Alzheimer’s mimic.’ Scientists have recently recognized Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) as a “newly named pathway to dementia.” The working group consists of scientists from a number of centers that receive support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), together with colleagues from other countries. The experts suggest that the public health impact of LATE on people in their mid-80s and older is probably about the same, if not bigger, than that of Alzheimer’s disease. In a report that now features in the journal Brain, the group proposes the first definition of LATE and recommends guidelines for those who are concerned with diagnosis and furthering research. Richard J. Hodes, M.D., who is director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which forms part of the NIH, says that even though researchers working on Alzheimer’s disease are making progress, they still ask themselves: “When is Alzheimer’s […]
New research in mice suggests that adopting a diet rich in extra virgin olive oil can prevent the toxic accumulation of the protein tau, which is a hallmark of multiple types of dementia. Share on PinterestExtra virgin olive oil ‘has many benefits for health.’ Due to its monounsaturated fatty acids, or “good” fats, extra virgin olive oil is known for its ability to lower the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. Recently, however, several studies have suggested that extra virgin olive oil also has neuroprotective and cognitive benefits. For instance, a 2012 study in mice found that the oil improves rodents’ learning and performance in memory tests. The presumed reason for these findings is that extra virgin olive oil is rich in polyphenols. These are powerful antioxidant compounds that may reverse disease- or aging-related learning and memory impairment. A couple of years ago, a study that Medical News Today reported on found that extra virgin olive oil reduced early neurological signs of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. The extra virgin olive oil intervention improved autophagy — that is, brain cells’ ability to eliminate toxic waste — and helped maintain the integrity of the rodents’ synapses, which are the connections between […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Even if you are at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a little more exercise may buy you time, new research suggests. Folks with elevated levels of a brain protein called beta amyloid tend to be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and experience rapid brain decline later in life, previous research has found. But apparently they can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s through regular exercise, scientists report. “People who had elevated levels of amyloid, which is one of the earliest changes you see with Alzheimer’s disease, had slower rates of cognitive decline and brain volume loss over time if they had greater levels of physical activity,” said lead researcher Jennifer Rabin. She is a scientist with the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program at the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto. It didn’t take much exercise to enjoy this protection, either. The data suggests that people who walked 8,300 to 8,900 steps per day significantly delayed the onset of Alzheimer’s, Rabin said. Previous studies have shown that older people who exercise generally tend to stay sharp longer into old age, but this new research shows physical activity is specifically […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When a loved one shows signs of dementia, sometimes a head injury is the cause and MRI scans can help prevent a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer’s, researchers report. As many as 21% of older adults with dementia may be misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a previous study found. Up to 40% of dementias are caused by conditions other than Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. A misdiagnosis can be devastating for patients and their families, and result in patients not receiving appropriate treatment or taking part in clinical trials that could benefit them, according to the authors of this new study. It included 40 patients, average age 68, who’d suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and later developed memory problems. The patients underwent brain MRI scans, which were analyzed with a software program. “We already knew that MRIs can reveal subtle abnormalities in patients with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s,” said study author Dr. Somayeh Meysami, a postdoctoral clinical research fellow in cognitive and behavioral neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles. “The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether MRI also could reveal distinct abnormalities in traumatic brain […]
(HealthDay News) — Mild memory issues are common from time to time, especially as you age, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Latest Alzheimer’s News The agency says anything that affects the processes of thinking and learning can affect memory. It mentions these common causes of memory loss: Certain drugs can interfere with memory, including over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, schizophrenia medications and pain medicines. Heavy alcohol use can cause a deficiency in vitamin B1, which can affect memory. Stress, particularly because of emotional trauma, can trigger memory loss. Depression may trigger a lack of attention and focus that can affect memory. A blow to the head can trigger memory loss. People with HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis, herpes and other infections affecting the brain may have memory problems. An underactive or overactive thyroid can impact memory. Lack of quality sleep can affect memory. Deficiencies of vitamins B1 or B12 can affect memory. Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
An analysis of how the retina of the eye scatters light shows promise as an aid for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Share on PinterestExamining how the retina disperses light can provide insight into Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis came to this conclusion after carrying out a recent study, the findings of which appear in ACS Chemical Neuroscience. The researchers investigated retinal hyperspectral imaging (HSI) as a potential technique for early Alzheimer’s detection in 35 people. HSI is an emerging imaging method in medicine. As a diagnostic aid, it can provide valuable information about tissue composition and structure. Scientists can take HSI scans of the retina using a special camera that attaches to a spectral imaging system. The method, which takes about 10 minutes to administer, is noninvasive and does not require the injection of tracer substances. Need for biomarkers of early Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for 60–80% of cases of dementia, an incurable condition that progressively impairs memory and thinking to the point that independent living is no longer possible. The presence of toxic clumps of beta-amyloid protein in the brain is an established hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. If there was a […]
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 […]
New research in the Journal of Biological Chemistry breaks down the process through which tau tangles grow as long as they do. The findings may lead to new therapies that target the formation of tau aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers knew that Alzheimer’s-related tau aggregates consisted of a small number of long tau fibrils. One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the so-called tau tangles. Tau is a protein contained within the axons of the nerve cells. More specifically, tau helps form microtubules — essential structures that transport nutrients within nerve cells. In a healthy brain, the tau protein helps these microtubules remain straight and strong. But in Alzheimer’s, tau collapses into aggregates called tangles. When this happens, the microtubules can no longer sustain the transport of nutrients and other essential substances in the nerve cells, which eventually leads to cell death. How toxic and damaging these tau tangles can be, and how far they can spread, depends on their length. However, until now, scientists did not know why some tau tangles are longer than others in Alzheimer’s, or how these aggregates grow so long in the first place. But now, scientists at the Ohio State University in Columbus […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lots of Americans will unwrap a scarf or sweater this holiday season. But a growing number will receive a gift that’s potentially life-changing: an at-home genetic testing kit. Home DNA testing yields clues to ancestry and, potentially, genetic risk for medical conditions. But there are a number of things you need to know before you use one of these kits, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America says. “Genetic testing kits are a popular gift, but the test results can have implications that last long after the holidays,” Lori Frank said in a foundation news release. She’s on the foundation’s medical, scientific and memory screening advisory board. “As with any health decision, consumers should have the right information before deciding to take a genetic test,” Frank said. Because genetic testing has potentially positive and negative impacts, the foundation offers some tips: Be informed. “Some people find the results upsetting and are concerned about the emotional impact to relatives with similar genetic risk, while others feel empowered to proactively take better care of their own health. It’s important to consider all impacts beforehand,” said Dr. J. Wesson Ashford, chair of the medical, scientific […]
More evidence points to the idea that air pollution may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study suggests that tiny polluting particles carried by dirty air can enter the brain, possibly contributing to cognitive decline. Share on PinterestWomen living in highly polluted areas are likelier to experience cognitive decline. It is no secret that ambient air pollution is an important risk factor for various health concerns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 in every 10 people worldwide breathe highly polluted air. Importantly, poor air quality contributes to millions of deaths globally per year. Although it is easy to understand how the air we breathe might affect our respiratory system — with research showing that ambient pollution contributes to lung cancer — it can be harder to understand how, or even if it impacts the health of other major organs. In fact, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that air pollution is associated with cognitive decline, and that it may contribute to the ever growing number of Alzheimer’s disease cases. For example, one study that Medical News Today covered in 2018 suggests that people with the most exposure to top air pollutants have a higher risk of […]
According to recent research in vitro and in mice, viruses that come into contact with biological fluids acquire a protein coating that renders them more infectious. Moreover, it seems that some viruses that ‘change identity’ in this way may promote neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s. Research shows that viruses can acquire a protein ‘coating’ that makes them more infectious. Viruses are strange, fascinating agents, not least because scientists still find it difficult to say whether they qualify as living organisms or not. To replicate, viruses have to infect a host — so in a live biological environment, viruses are also “alive,” interacting with the cells of the host they infect and multiplying. At the same time, on their own, outside an infected host, viruses are more “dead” than “alive,” since they are a protein “package,” containing specific genetic material. Though not clearly “dead” or “alive,” viruses can exploit certain biological mechanisms to preserve their integrity and be more likely to replicate. In a new study that used both human biological samples and mice, researchers from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet in Solna, Sweden, have been looking at one such phenomenon that allows viruses to become more infectious, namely, the formation […]
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 […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A genetic variant associated with Alzheimer’s disease increases the risk of dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease, researchers say. The finding could lead to new treatments for dementia in Parkinson’s patients, according to the team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, slow movement and impaired balance. Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s develop dementia within 20 years. Those who carry a particular variant of the gene APOE have an especially high risk, the study authors said. The researchers found that Parkinson’s-related proteins spread more rapidly through the brains of mice with the high-risk APOE4 variant, and that memory and thinking skills decline faster in Parkinson’s patients who have the variant. APOE4 is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by three to five times. The study was published Feb. 5 in the journal Science Translational Medicine. “Dementia takes a huge toll on people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers,” said lead author Dr. Albert Davis, an assistant professor of neurology. “The development of dementia is often what determines whether someone with Parkinson’s is able to […]
New research has shown that impaired insulin signaling in the brain, often a feature of diabetes, may negatively impact cognition, mood, and metabolism — all of which are common aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study examines the links between Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Although the conditions are seemingly independent of each other, earlier studies have found that people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. However, the mechanisms behind this relationship have remained hidden. A recent study investigated the impact of blocking insulin receptors and insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) receptors in mouse models. The work was carried out at the Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. The results reveal that interrupting these similar pathways impaired both learning and memory. The researchers published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Insulin receptors and learning The researchers worked with both the hippocampus and the central amygdala, areas of the brain that help with cognition function, as well as metabolic control. They looked into how mice with disabled insulin and IGF1 receptors tackled mazes, and the results were revealing. First, the researchers allowed the mice to explore the maze to […]
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 […]
A recent article raises important questions about the prevalence of firearms in the aging population of the United States. The authors argue that there is a vital need to discuss the relationship between dementia and guns. A recent article investigates the issue of gun ownership in an aging population. Gun ownership is a controversial topic, and people are sure to continue debating it for many years to come. This debate often focuses on young men and violent crime, but a recent article investigates the other end of the age spectrum. Older adults are more likely to own a gun than younger people. An estimated 27 percent of people over the age of 65 years own at least one gun, while 37 percent live in a home where a firearm is present. A seemingly unrelated but equally hot topic is the rise of dementia. Dementia and firearms As dementia occurs almost exclusively later in life, the longer that people live, the more prevalent it becomes. Currently, around 5.7 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Although Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, it only accounts for 60–80 percent of all dementia cases. A recent article in […]
For the first time, researchers have identified two clusters of genes that appear to generate the neurological hallmarks of dementia. The discovery provides a new path toward drug discovery. Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s moves us ever closer to an effective treatment. Dementia is a growing concern throughout the Western world and beyond. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, around 5.7 million adults in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to about 14 million. As the average lifespan extends, so does the reach of dementia. Currently, there is no cure for dementia and no way to slow its progress. Although many questions about dementia remain unanswered, our understanding is steadily growing. For instance, we know that a protein called tau plays an important role in a number of dementia types. Tau and dementia In healthy nerve cells, tau helps stabilize microtubules — the scaffolding that helps maintain the structure and rigidity of cells. In dementia, however, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated and clumps together in so-called neurofibrillary tangles. Scientists think that when tau is tangled, it damages nerve cells in at least two ways. Firstly, it can […]
A prescription drug already in use for the treatment of high blood pressure could be effective against conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s, in which toxic proteins build up in brain cells. Scientists could repurpose felodipine to prevent Parkinson’s disease. Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health in China suggest that the hypertension drug felodipine could be a promising candidate for “repurposing” as a treatment for neurodegenerative conditions. In experiments with zebrafish and mice, they showed that felodipine can prompt a cellular recycling process called autophagy to clear away toxic proteins in brain cells, or neurons. “Our data suggest,” they write in a recent Nature Communications paper, “that felodipine induces autophagy in neurons and enhances removal of a range of disease-causing proteins: mutant huntingtin, mutant [alpha]-synuclein, and tau.” Mutant huntingtin is characteristic of Huntington’s disease, while mutant alpha-synuclein and tau are hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, respectively. The study is important because it shows that felodipine can remove mutant alpha-synuclein from the brains of mice at blood levels “similar to those that would be seen in humans taking the drug [for hypertension].” “This is the first […]
A global study on attitudes toward dementia has shown that two-thirds of people believe it to be a natural risk of getting older, which could be limiting the help that people seek. The vast majority of people believe that they will develop dementia and that they can do little about it, new research finds. Every 3 seconds, someone develops dementia somewhere in the world. In the United States alone, 5.8 million people are living with Alzheimer’s, and every 65 seconds, another person develops the disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., beating breast and prostate cancer together, and it is one of the world’s fastest growing causes of death. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the number of people living with dementia is likely to triple from the current 50 million to 152 million by 2050. Despite the prevalence of this neurodegenerative disorder, the world’s largest survey of attitudes toward it has shown that there is very little true understanding across the globe, even among healthcare professionals. The study, which surveyed 70,000 people in 155 countries, found that 62% of healthcare professionals also believe that dementia is a normal part of aging. The findings also […]
Researchers are growing increasingly interested in the relationship between blood pressure and dementia. The most recent study investigates how patterns of change in blood pressure over the decades might influence risk. What can blood pressure fluctuations tell us about dementia risk? As the United States population ages, dementia incidence rises in tandem. Today, around 5 million people in the U.S. have a dementia diagnosis. Studies published over the last few years have produced evidence that hypertension (high blood pressure) during midlife appears to increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Hypertension affects an estimated 1 in 3 adults in the U.S., so it is vital to understandi the exact relationship between blood pressure and the aging brain. Researchers have done less work to investigate the links between blood pressure during later life and cognitive outcomes. However, as the authors of a recent study explain, the findings hint that “optimal blood pressure ranges for older adults may depend on earlier blood pressure characteristics.” In other words, the impact of hypertension on the aging brain may depend on the pattern of blood pressure from midlife onward. Blood pressure changes through life The authors of the current study, published in JAMA Network, […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Frailty is associated with a higher risk of both Alzheimer’s disease and its crippling symptoms, a new study shows. “By reducing an individual’s physiological reserve, frailty could trigger the clinical expression of dementia when it might remain asymptomatic in someone who is not frail,” said study leader Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. “This indicates that a ‘frail brain’ might be more susceptible to neurological problems like dementia as it is less able to cope with the pathological burden,” he added. The study included 456 adults in Illinois, aged 59 and older, who did not have Alzheimer’s when first enrolled in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. They underwent annual assessments of their mental and physical health, and their brains were examined after they died. By their last assessment, 53 percent of the participants had been diagnosed with possible or probable Alzheimer’s disease. For the physical assessments, the researchers created a frailty index using 41 components, including fatigue, joint and heart problems, osteoporosis, mobility and meal preparation abilities. Overall, 8 percent of the participants had significant Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes without having been diagnosed with […]
The first large-scale cohort study of its kind looked at the link between waist circumference in later life and the risk of dementia in a population of older Asian adults. Share on PinterestCould waist size predict dementia risk in older adults? Physicians, healthcare professionals, and medical researchers tend to use body mass index (BMI) to determine if a person’s weight is too high, too low, or “normal.” Despite its widespread use, BMI has its flaws — and one flaw is the fact that it does not discern between fat (adipose tissue) and muscle content (lean tissue). For this reason, some scientists have suggested that waist-to-height ratio or waist circumference measurements may be more accurate indicators of a person’s healthy weight. When it comes to older age, however, is there any link between waist circumference and cognitive health? One 2019 study that Medical News Today reported on, for example, found a link between carrying excess weight around the stomach and experiencing brain atrophy, or brain shrinkage. Another large study, this time from 2018, found correlations between belly fat and poorer cognitive function. However, some of these studies looked at BMI or waist-to-hip ratio. Others have found that a higher BMI raises […]
Research conducted in a Chinese population has found an intriguing link between the consumption of chili peppers and a heightened risk of cognitive decline. Regularly eating a lot of hot peppers may increase a person’s risk of cognitive decline. Many populations around the world add spicy peppers to their local dishes to enhance the taste and make for a more punchy culinary experience. But are spicy peppers healthful, or do they pose any health risks? The spiciest peppers in the world, such as the Carolina Reaper, could cause serious, immediate damage. For example, in 2018, a man from the United States who ate a Carolina Reaper as part of a dare in a hot pepper eating contest ended up in the emergency room with a thunderclap headache. However, most people will not reach for the extreme versions of this hot vegetable. Instead, most cuisines use much milder varieties — some of which are still very spicy — such as jalapeños, cherry peppers, cayenne peppers, Scotch bonnets, and habaneros. Previous research into the potential effects of chili peppers on health has generally had positive findings. A large cohort study from 2017, for instance, found that eating hot red chili peppers was […]
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 […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — You need to exercise both your brain and your body during middle age to guard against dementia as you grow older, a new, long-term study suggests. Keeping mentally active through activities like reading, playing music, sewing or painting reduces your overall risk of both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the report. At the same time, staying physically active appears to protect you against types of dementia linked to unhealthy blood vessels, including vascular dementia and mixed dementia. “We found that higher levels of mental and physical activity in midlife, independently, reduced the risk of dementia,” said lead researcher Dr. Jenna Najar. She is a doctoral student with the University of Gothenburg’s Center for Aging and Health in Molndal, Sweden. Najar said that means that if you just focus on mental activities, you are losing out on the brain benefits from regular physical exercise — and vice versa. “When we studied the effect on different dementia subtypes, we found that higher levels of mental activity in midlife reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of how physically active the women were,” Najar said. “Higher levels of […]
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