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Alzheimer’s Disease
Latest News Regarding Alzheimer’s Disease and Your Health
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New research finds that an HIV enzyme plays a crucial role in driving Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology by altering the APP gene. The findings warrant “immediate clinical evaluation of HIV antiretroviral therapies in people with Alzheimer’s disease,” say the authors of the study. The revelations of a recent study suggest that HIV drugs might successfully treat Alzheimer’s disease. Deemed “the most under-recognized public health crisis of the 21st century,” Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and has no known cure. Currently, 5.7 million people ln the U.S. are living with the condition, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predict that the burden of the disease will double by 2060. Alzheimer’s also puts a significant strain on the American healthcare system. According to recent estimates, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia cost the U.S. $226 billion in 2015, and loved ones spend billions of unpaid hours caring for people with the condition. About 40 percent of these caregivers develop depression. The medical community is hard at work trying to understand how this debilitating disorder occurs and what can be done to stop it. For instance, one of the clues that researchers have […]
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 […]
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 […]
Researchers found that using a computer, playing games, and participating in social activities may reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment. New research suggests that playing games, using a computer, and having a rich social life can keep mild cognitive impairment at bay. Our brains go through changes as we get older, and some people may experience issues with memory, thinking, or judgment. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between age-related cognitive decline and dementia — however, MCI does not significantly affect daily life and activities. People with MCI tend to forget things, lose their train of thought or the thread of conversations, and feel overwhelmed by making decisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 16 million people in the United States are living with cognitive impairment. MCI may increase the risk of dementia, but not everyone with MCI goes on to develop the condition. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved any treatments specifically for MCI. Lifestyle choices such as physical exercise and intellectual stimulation have positive effects on the brain. In recent years, researchers have been conducting more studies to find treatments that may prevent cognitive decline. […]
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 […]
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 […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Could a pacemaker for the brain improve the memories of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? New research suggests it might be possible one day: Electrical stimulation directed at key memory regions of the brain created intense flashbacks in some Alzheimer’s patients, including sensations of emotions, smells, taste and temperature. In one case, a patient suddenly recalled “an entire experience of being inebriated while drinking a margarita at a resort in Aruba,” researchers said. In another, a man had a vivid flashback of feeling very full after eating sardines on his front porch two decades previously. In fact, about half of the 42 Alzheimer’s patients in the clinical trial experienced electrically induced flashbacks from decades prior, stretching back as far as the Vietnam War era, said lead researcher Dr. Wissam Deeb, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Florida. “These memory recollections were very vivid for some people,” Deeb said. “They were associated with a lot of emotional content when patients remembered them, because they were memories they hadn’t even thought of for such a long time.” Researchers cautioned that the deep brain stimulation […]
The majority of people with sleep apnea do not receive a diagnosis. However, brain scans have revealed that there may be an association between this condition and a form of dementia. There may be an association between sleep apnea and dementia, according to a recent study. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA), an estimated 22 million people in the United States have sleep apnea. This condition, which causes a person to stop breathing during sleep, can be infrequent or regular. Doctors refer to regular sleep apnea as obstructive sleep apnea. Without treatment, it can lead to a number of cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, and chronic heart failure. Obstructive sleep apnea also has links to both depression and type 2 diabetes. “Recent research has linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of dementia,” notes Dr. Diego Z. Carvalho, a neurology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Along with colleagues, he authored a study to investigate whether there was a potential relationship between sleep apnea and a particular Alzheimer’s biomarker. This biomarker is a protein called tau, which is present in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Tau proteins form tangles that doctors can identify […]
The buildup of defective tau proteins is a prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The faulty proteins form tangles that disrupt brain function and kill nerve cells, or neurons. Experiments in human cell cultures reveal a mechanism through which scientists can regulate defective tau protein levels. Now, scientists have identified a molecule that plays a vital role in helping to prevent the buildup of toxic tau protein in the brain. The molecule, which has the name vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35), identifies and removes faulty tau proteins from neurons. Using human cells, researchers from Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, showed that they could control tau buildup by altering levels of VPS35. They describe the findings in a Molecular Psychiatry study paper. “A major part of what VPS35 does,” says senior study author Prof. Domenico Praticò, director of LKSOM’s Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, “is to sort out and transport dysfunctional proteins to degradation sites.” The researcher and his colleagues also found that VPS35’s effect on tau depends on the activity of cathepsin D, an enzyme that breaks down proteins in cells. Neurons vulnerable to defective proteins The correct folding of proteins is […]
New insights into a specific gene variant may help to explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs work in certain people but may fail in others. The findings call for a more personalized approach to drug testing. An individual’s genotype may explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs work and others fail, new research shows. Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Kinga Szigeti, Ph.D., who is the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at the University of Buffalo, NY, found a key gene that helped explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs showed promise in animal models but failed in humans. The gene is called CHRFAM7A, and it is specific to humans, although only 75% of people have it. It is a so-called fusion gene — that is, a fusion between a gene that encodes a receptor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and a type of enzyme called a kinase. Acetylcholine plays a key role in memory and learning, and researchers have long linked it with the development of Alzheimer’s. The CHRFAM7A fusion gene encodes the “[alpha]7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,” but because it only does so in humans, drugs targeting the alpha-7 receptor have proven successful in preclinical, animal models but not […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
(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.
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 […]
A new study in mice reveals that Candida albicans — a fungus largely perceived as harmless — can cause memory problems and brain abnormalities that resemble those characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. C. albicans is the most common and best-studied cause of fungal infections in humans. Candida albicans is a species of fungus that grows naturally in the human gut, mouth, and vagina. Although the yeast is mostly harmless, it can develop into issues ranging from thrush to more serious infections that reach the blood and other organs. C. albicans is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans, as well as the most extensively studied fungal pathogen that affects people. A new study, which appears in the journal Nature Communications, adds to the existing body of knowledge about C. albicans. The new research shows that the fungus can enter the brain, trigger an inflammatory response, and impair memory in mice. Importantly, the infection leads to the formation of abnormal structures in the brain, and these share similarities with amyloid plaques — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. David B. Corry, a professor of medicine-immunology, allergy, and rheumatology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, is the corresponding […]
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 […]
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 […]
Mushrooms are a much-loved ingredient in cuisines around the world. They are nutritious and especially rich in antioxidants, which protect cell health. Researchers are now asking whether mushrooms can also protect against cognitive decline. Eating mushrooms may help keep cognitive decline at bay. Mushrooms are fascinating. Although some are edible and grocery stores sell them in their “vegetable” aisles, they aren’t actually vegetables. They are actually fungi, a kingdom all of its own, alongside those of plants and animals in biological classifications. Edible mushrooms — both cultivated and wild species — contain a high amount of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. New research has found that people who integrate mushrooms into their diets — even if they only consume them in small portions — appear to have a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which often precedes Alzheimer’s disease. In MCI, a person may experience some symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease — such as poor memory and issues with language and spatial orientation — but in a much subtler way that does not prevent them from continuing to lead a fully functional life. Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) near Clementi […]
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 […]
New research over a 28-year follow-up period finds significant evidence that frequent social contact at the age of 60 can lower the risk of developing dementia later on. Spending time with friends could stave off dementia for those 60 and older. The link between having a rich social life and brain health has received much attention in the scientific community. Some studies have suggested that levels of social interaction can predict cognitive decline and even dementia, while others have shown that group socializing can prevent the harmful effects of aging on memory. New research examines the link between social contact and dementia in more depth. Andrew Sommerlad, Ph.D., from the Division of Psychiatry at University College London (UCL), in the United Kingdom, is the first and corresponding author of the new study. Sommerlad and colleagues started from a critical observation of existing studies. They say that numerous findings have suggested that frequent social contact can protect the brain, either by helping to build a “cognitive reserve,” or by reducing stress and promoting more healthful behaviors. Many longitudinal studies have found an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline in people with a smaller social network or less frequent social contact. […]
By Len CanterHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When you hear the word diet, you might think only of weight loss. But a lifestyle diet can bring even greater benefits. One option that belongs on your radar is the MIND diet created by researchers at Rush University in Chicago. MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It’s a hybrid of those two heart-healthy diets, both of which reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. In initial studies, the MIND diet offered a huge additional benefit — lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 53% in participants who stuck to it rigorously and by about 35% in those who only did so moderately well. But the key is to start now, no matter your age, because it seems like the longer you follow it, the lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Do Eat: Green leafy vegetables and other vegetables Nuts Blueberries or strawberries Beans Whole grains Fish Poultry Olive oil Wine Do Limit: Red meat Butter and stick margarine to less than a tablespoon a day Cheese, pastries, sweets, fried or fast food to one serving in […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Here’s another reason to keep your cholesterol under control: New research suggests that LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol may play a role in the development of early-onset Alzheimer’s. A rare form of the disease that occurs before the age of 65, early-onset Alzheimer’s has previously been linked to a gene mutation involved in how the body processes fats and cholesterol. But that mutation only accounts for a small percentage of cases, the scientists noted. Their new research suggests that “LDL cholesterol levels [also] play a causal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead researcher Dr. Thomas Wingo. He’s an assistant professor of neurology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. “The big question is whether there is a causal link between cholesterol levels in the blood and Alzheimer’s disease risk,” Wingo said. “The existing data is murky on this point. Our current work is focused on testing whether there is a causal link.” Most early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is not explained by known gene mutations, Wingo added. The APOE genetic mutation, called APOE E4, raises levels of LDL cholesterol. High levels of this type of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Scientists have now proved that drinking certain types of coffee can be beneficial to brain health, but how does this popular brew support cognitive function? A new study identifies some of the mechanisms that allow coffee to keep mental decline at bay. What makes coffee an ally of brain health? According to data from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, about 54 percent of all adults in the United States drink coffee on a daily basis. While drinking coffee can bring both benefits and risks for a person’s health, a 2016 study from the University of Ulster in Coleraine, United Kingdom, concluded that the health benefits of moderate coffee consumption “clearly outweigh” the potential risks. One of these benefits is that coffee seems to protect the brain against cognitive impairments and boost thinking skills. How does this happen, and what is it about coffee that is so beneficial to cognitive health? These are some questions that a new study from the Krembil Brain Institute — part of the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto, Canada — aims to answer. “Coffee consumption does seem to have some correlation to a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and […]
Ketogenic, or keto, diets are low-carb and fat-rich, and many people who follow such regimens do it to shed excess weight. However, a keto diet may bring other benefits, too. In particular, it may help keep the brain healthy and young, as new research in mice seems to suggest. Can a keto diet protect brain health, and if so, how? A keto diet is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and has an adequate amount of protein. This kind of diet is meant to trigger ketosis, which is a metabolic process through which the body breaks down fat and protein and transforms them into energy, leading to weight loss. Besides triggering weight loss, a keto diet may also bring other health benefits, as studies have recently suggested. For instance, one such study argued that keto diets could help reduce the side effects of certain cancer therapies. Now, researchers from the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, are assessing evidence suggesting that keto diets may also help stave off cognitive decline. The scientists conducted two studies, both in mice. The findings indicate that keto-type diets can protect neurovascular function, as well as metabolic function, in […]
Experts have already concluded that exercise can help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their motor symptoms, but what is its effect on the cognitive symptoms of this condition? Besides boosting motor function, exercise could improve memory in people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that usually stands out for the motor symptoms that it causes, which include tremors, rigidity in the limbs, impaired balance, and a lack of control over movements. However, this condition also has numerous other symptoms that can leave their mark on a person’s quality of life. Cognitive symptoms, in particular, have been worrying researchers interested in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease. People with this condition experience cognitive impairment, which can worsen in time and eventually evolve into Alzheimer’s disease. When it comes to managing Parkinson’s, doctors often advise their patients to take up an exercise regime, since physical activity demonstrably helps improve motor symptoms. The Parkinson’s Foundation call exercise routines “a vital component” of efforts to maintain the quality of life following diagnosis. But how does physical activity affect other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, particularly cognitive ones? This is the question that a team of researchers from the German Sport University, in Cologne, […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Aug. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A simple blood test helped pinpoint the early signs of Alzheimer’s in a new study. Up to two decades before people develop Alzheimer’s symptoms such as memory loss and confusion, harmful clumps of amyloid beta protein begin to accumulate in their brain, researchers explained. But it’s possible to measure levels of amyloid beta in the blood and use that information to determine whether the protein has accumulated in the brain, they added. Combining blood amyloid levels with two other major Alzheimer’s risk factors — age and the genetic variant APOE4 — can identify people who have early Alzheimer’s brain changes with 94% accuracy, according to the scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study included 150 adults over age 50 who had no thinking or memory problems. The blood test may be even more sensitive than the current gold standard — a PET brain scan — at detecting early amyloid accumulation in the brain, according to the authors. The findings advance efforts to have a blood test to identify people who will develop Alzheimer’s before they have symptoms, and such a test could be available in […]
A common class of drugs that doctors prescribe for a number of conditions — from bladder problems to Parkinson’s disease and depression — may increase a person’s risk of dementia, a large new study concludes. Some common drugs may increase dementia risk. New research by scientists from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom has analyzed the link between a certain class of drugs and the risk of dementia. The drugs in question, called anticholinergics, work by inhibiting a chemical messenger called acetylcholine. Their effect is to help relax or contract muscles, and doctors can prescribe them to help treat bladder conditions, gastrointestinal problems, and some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In their new study, which looked at data from tens of thousands of participants, the researchers concluded that anticholinergics may increase a person’s risk of developing dementia. The National Institute for Health Research funded this study, and the scientists published their findings yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine. An almost 50% increase in risk For their study, lead researcher Prof. Carol Coupland and team analyzed the medical records of 58,769 people with dementia and 225,574 people without dementia. They were all 55 years old or above at baseline. […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, March 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most seniors expect their doctor to recommend testing of thinking and memory when it’s needed. But a new survey discovered that is rarely the case: Only one in seven seniors received a regular assessment for memory and thinking (or “cognitive”) troubles. That finding is in sharp contrast to those who receive assessments for other common health issues. Ninety-one percent of seniors said they were regularly checked for blood pressure, and 83 percent said their cholesterol levels were routinely tested. “Both doctors and patients have a strong belief that cognitive assessment is important, but there’s a disconnect about who should bring it up,” explained Joanne Pike, chief program officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, which conducted the survey. The survey found that most seniors thought that the doctor would recommend such screening when it was necessary. Meanwhile, doctors were waiting for patients or family members to report that someone might be having memory issues. Pike said that while seniors reported believing that early detection of memory and thinking issues would be beneficial, many didn’t tell their doctors about their own memory concerns. “Half of all seniors were aware […]
Researchers have previously shown that a type of light therapy could potentially reduce toxic proteins that build up in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. Now, the same team has identified what happens at cell level to achieve this result. A recent study asked why flickering light might help fight Alzheimer’s. In 2016, scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge found that shining a flickering light into the eyes of mice could reduce the toxic buildup of amyloid and tau proteins that occur in the brain with Alzheimer’s disease. Light therapy boosts a form of brain wave called gamma oscillation, which research suggests is impaired in people with Alzheimer’s disease. More recently, the MIT team revealed that combining light therapy with sound therapy extended the beneficial effects even further. Those studies also saw that light therapy can improve memory in mice genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease and spatial memory in older mice without the condition. The most recent investigation, which now features in the journal Neuron, has shown that boosting gamma oscillations can improve the connection between nerve cells, reduce inflammation, and preserve against cell death in mouse models of Alzheimer’s. It also shows that the treatment’s far-reaching […]
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 […]
A new study investigates the effect of leading a healthful lifestyle on people who have a genetic predisposition to developing dementia. Leading a healthful lifestyle can offset the genetic risk of dementia, according to a new study. Elżbieta Kuźma, Ph.D., and David Llewellyn, Ph.D., from the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom, are the joint lead authors of the new research, which appears in the journal JAMA. Llewellyn, Kuźma, and colleagues also presented their findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019, which took place in Los Angeles, CA. In their paper, the authors explain that while scientists know that genes and lifestyle both significantly affect Alzheimer’s risk and the likelihood of other types of dementia, they do not yet know the extent to which making healthful lifestyle choices can offset the genetic risk. For instance, research has shown that the E4 variant of the gene that encodes the apolipoprotein E raises the risk by threefold if a person inherits one copy and up to 15 times if they have two copies of the gene. However, a significant body of research also points to the fact that people who do not smoke, are physically active, only consume […]
By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The old saying, “TV rots your brain,” could have some validity for folks as they age. In a new study, middle-aged people who watched television for more than 3.5 hours a day experienced a decline in their ability to remember words and language over the next six years, British researchers found. What’s worse, it appears that the more TV you watch, the more your verbal memory will deteriorate, researchers said. “Overall, our results suggests that adults over the age of 50 should try and ensure television viewing is balanced with other contrasting activities,” said lead researcher Daisy Fancourt. She’s a senior research fellow at University College London. For the study, researchers relied on data from a long-term study of aging involving more than 3,600 residents of England. Participants reported the amount of hours of TV they watched daily. They also had their thinking and reasoning skills regularly tested as part of the study. People who watched less than 3.5 hours of TV a day didn’t seem to suffer any deterioration in their brain power, Fancourt said. But more than that amount, people became increasingly apt to […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, 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. […]
(HealthDay News) — If you are caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, you may develop feelings of grief as the person starts to change, the Alzheimer’s Foundation says. Latest Alzheimer’s News There are five phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance. The association suggests how to cope with grief and loss: Face your feelings and accept them. Prepare to have feelings of loss as dementia progresses. Understand that no two people grieve in exactly the same way. Talk with someone you trust about your feelings. Stay involved in activities that you enjoy. Join a support group. Accept things that you cannot change. Take care of yourself. Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR NEXT NEWS ARTICLE
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 […]
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 […]
Recent research reveals that leaky capillaries in the brain could have a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Changes in blood vessel permeability offer new clues about the onset of dementia. Dementia, the main type of which is Alzheimer’s disease, affects about 50 million people worldwide. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 5 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s. This number is expected to reach 14 million by 2050. For this reason, it is becoming more and more important to diagnose these health conditions earlier, and to locate new targets for drugs to slow down or prevent the condition. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved some drugs that help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but none of them treat the underlying cause. A new study conducted at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles could pave the way for new, more effective treatments. The findings now appear in the journal Nature Medicine. Leaky capillaries in the brain Previous studies indicated that two toxic proteins, amyloid and tau, may be “the trigger and bullet” in the development of Alzheimer’s. Findings showed that soluble forms of amyloid and tau work together to […]
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 […]
By Deborah DiSesa HirschHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Sept. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Marriage has been said to deflect depression, stave off stress, even help people live longer. Now a new study says it may also decrease your chance of developing dementia. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Married people have a far lower chance of being diagnosed with this dreaded disorder than those who are divorced or separated, widowed, or never married, according to the study. And marriage is more protective than cohabitation, the study revealed. Divorced people have more than twice the odds for mental decline compared to married folks, the 14-year study found. And divorced men have it worse: They have a 2.6 times higher chance of developing dementia than married men, while divorced women have a 30% increased risk versus married women. “There are a lot of theories about why marriage might be good for general health,” says Hui Liu, lead investigator and professor of sociology at Michigan State University. “Married people, of course, are financially better off than those who do not have a spouse,” she said. “But there are factors […]
Previous research suggested that hearing loss and abnormalities in the eye are tied to memory loss and a higher Alzheimer’s risk. New evidence now indicates that addressing hearing and sight problems can slow down cognitive decline. Opting for hearing aids and cataract surgery can make a big difference when it comes to slowing down cognitive decline. Existing studies have pointed out that there is a link between the quality of a person’s hearing and their eye health and their exposure to cognitive decline. For instance, one such study covered on Medical News Today suggested that poor hearing may correlate with a poor memory. Another one proposed that we could detect Alzheimer’s disease by looking for tell-tale abnormalities in a person’s eyes. Now, two new papers — each based on studies conducted by the same scientists from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom — look at the evidence indicating that treating hearing loss and eyesight problems can slow down the development of cognitive decline. One of the papers, published in the journal PLOS One, shows that people who have had surgery for cataract — which is condition that can lead to vision loss in the absence of a surgical […]
By Maureen SalamonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The toll of U.S. military service can be steep for female veterans, with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injury each significantly raising the odds of later dementia, new research suggests. The study, of more than 100,000 older women veterans, spotlights the risk factors stemming from military service that can lead to thinking and memory problems down the road, said study author Dr. Kristine Yaffe. “It’s really the first time anybody in the world has tried to understand women veterans and their risks for dementia,” said Yaffe, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco. “Nothing was known about these older women, yet more and more women are going into the military and more younger women are in combat,” she added. Yaffe is also a physician at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. She said her prior research showed similar effects in male veterans. “I thought we should try to understand more about older women veterans and … if some of the things we’ve shown in the past about men also relate to women,” she explained. Women accounted for more […]
A recent study concludes that social interaction might be more than just a pleasant pastime; it might help doctors predict an individual’s risk of cognitive decline and, perhaps, dementia. How does social interaction influence cognitive decline? Cognitive decline refers to a general reduction in mental abilities over time. It affects many people as they age and, in some cases, can lead to dementia. As the average age of the population rises, an increasing number of people are likely to experience cognitive decline. A group of researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, are interested in the potential role that social interaction might play. Specifically, their most recent study looked at whether there is an interaction between levels of social activity, cognitive performance, and the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is a neurological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive decline and sociability To investigate, the scientists followed 217 older adults involved in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. At the beginning of the study, participants were aged 63–89 and showed no cognitive deficits. The authors followed the group for 3 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire that ascertained their levels of social interaction; this included meeting family and friends, […]
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 […]
Scientists have uncovered a mechanism through which a toxic brain protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease can damage neurons, or brain cells. New research uncovers the mechanism that leads to the progressive loss of brain cells that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease. The team at the Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences in France that made the discovery also suggests a potential way to disarm the mechanism during the early stages of the disease. The study concerns the functioning of dendritic spines, which are the tiny structures in the branching parts of brain cells that receive signals from other brain cells. It appears that beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, triggers a mechanism that disrupts the functioning of dendritic spines. The mechanism disables a protein called cofilin 1, and the activity of this protein is crucial for the healthy functioning of dendritic spines. The Journal of Neuroscience has recently published a study paper on the research. It describes how the team used brain tissue samples from mouse models and people with Alzheimer’s disease to arrive at their findings. A key finding was that exposure to beta-amyloid peptides, which are the building blocks of […]
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 — […]
Millions of people worldwide live with a form of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there is no way to halt its progress, but clinical trials of new drugs are underway. What approach will serve specialists best? A new review of clinical trials advises on the best way forward. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people around the world live with dementia, and approximately 60–70 percent have Alzheimer’s disease. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is aging, and people ages 65 or older are the most vulnerable. Current treatments for this condition address its symptoms, such as memory loss and behavioral changes. However, more and more research aims to find a therapy that will tackle the biological changes that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. But are researchers on the right track with their investigations, and what would be the best treatment approach? A new comprehensive review published in the journal Neurology, and available online, addresses these questions. Most trials target brain pathologies In the review, specialists from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in New York, NY analyze current clinical trials for dementia drugs and advise about the best approach going forward. “Alzheimer’s is […]
A recent study has concluded that people with both higher-than-normal and lower-than-normal levels of hemoglobin have a higher risk of developing dementia as they age. A new paper looks at the link between hemoglobin and dementia risk. Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells. It is responsible for carrying life giving oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Low levels of hemoglobin normally signify anemia. Anemia is one of the most common blood disorders; worldwide, it affects an estimated 1.62 billion people. Low hemoglobin levels are linked to a number of adverse health outcomes, including stroke and coronary heart disease. However, there is little information regarding how hemoglobin levels might relate to the risk of dementia. Anemia and dementia Recently, researchers from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, decided to look for links between hemoglobin levels, anemia, and dementia. They published their findings this week in the journal Neurology. Earlier experiments had found an association between anemia and dementia, but most studies only followed participants for an average of 3 years. Because of the relatively short duration of these investigations, subtle changes in behavior, diet, or metabolism during the early phases of dementia […]
PET scans that can detect changes in the brain relating to Alzheimer’s disease could improve the diagnosis and medical care of people with dementia and similar symptoms. An innovative type of brain scan may improve care for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other forms of cognitive impairment. Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing the early results of a study that is examining the clinical impact of a new type of scan called amyloid PET imaging. The study is a nationwide trial involving more than 11,000 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia symptoms who enrolled at 595 sites across the United States. It is the first investigation of its kind, and all the participants are beneficiaries of Medicare, the U.S. federal health insurance plan. The results of the first phase of the trial, which now feature in a JAMA paper, reveal that providing doctors with amyloid PET scan results can affect the medical management of people with dementia symptoms. In almost two-thirds of cases, doctors changed their minds about medications, counseling, and other medical decisions after seeing the amyloid PET imaging results. Also, in more than a third of cases, doctors altered their diagnosis of the cause […]
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 […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — If someone you know is struggling to keep track of their finances as they age, early dementia might be the culprit. That’s the conclusion of researchers who tested 243 adults, aged 55 to 90, on their financial skills and performed brain scans to assess the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the participants had no mental decline, some had mild memory impairment and some had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Specific financial skills declined with age and at the earliest stages of mild memory impairment, with similar declines in men and women, the study authors said. “There has been a misperception that financial difficulty may occur only in the late stages of dementia, but this can happen early and the changes can be subtle,” said senior study author P. Murali Doraiswamy. He is a professor of psychiatry and geriatrics at Duke University, in Durham, N.C. After accounting for education levels and other factors, the researchers found that the more extensive the amyloid plaques were, the worse a person’s ability to understand and use basic financial concepts or to complete financial tasks, such as calculating […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Aug. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Seniors, here’s a recipe for preventing dementia: eat well, exercise and don’t smoke. The only catch, according to a new study? If you carry genes that leave you vulnerable to the memory-robbing disease, lifestyle might not be enough. In the study, researchers found that of over 6,300 adults aged 55 and older, those with healthy habits had a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over the next 15 years. That was true, at least, for people at low or intermediate risk of dementia because of their genes. Among people who carried high-risk genes, there was no evidence that lifestyle swayed the odds of developing dementia. The findings, published Aug. 26 in the journal Nature Medicine, support a number of past studies suggesting that heart-healthy habits may also protect the brain. But they are at odds with some past research, too: Other studies have suggested that lifestyle choices do, in fact, make a difference for people at high genetic risk for dementia. The reasons for the differing findings are unclear. But the age of the study participants could be a factor, according to lead researcher Dr. […]
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 […]
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 […]
One hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the massing of tangles of tau protein in the brain. Now, a new study in mice proposes that a type of brain immune cell called microglia drives the tissue damage that is linked to tau clumping. Could deactivating microglia be the key to treating Alzheimer’s disease? Brain scans of people with Alzheimer’s disease have revealed that the brain damage that accompanies forgetfulness and confusion becomes visible soon after tau tangles start fusing into a mass. A recent Journal of Experimental Medicine paper explains how the microglia become active as the tau clumps begin to form. The study authors also showed that eliminating microglia greatly reduced tau-related damage in the brains of mice genetically modified to develop protein tangles. They suggest that the findings point to a new way to delay the dementia that tau-related brain damage causes in humans. “If you could target microglia in some specific way and prevent them from causing damage,” says senior study author David M. Holtzman, a professor of neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, “I think that would be a really important, strategic, novel way to develop a treatment.” Toxic protein and […]
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 […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News TUESDAY, March 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A long-running study questions the conventional wisdom that a healthy diet may help ward off dementia. European researchers followed more than 8,200 middle-aged adults for 25 years — looking at whether diet habits swayed the odds of being diagnosed with dementia. In the end, people who ate their fruits and vegetables were at no lower risk than those who favored sweets and steaks. The findings, published March 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, stand in stark contrast to many past studies. Those studies have linked heart-healthy diets to lower odds of mental decline and abnormalities in the brain that can foretell dementia. Currently, groups like the Alzheimer’s Association suggest that people adopt those diets as one potential way to stave off dementia. Most studies, though, have followed people for only a fairly short time — less than 10 years, said lead researcher Tasnime Akbaraly, from the French national research institute INSERM. This study is the first to look at diet quality starting in middle age and the long-term risk of dementia, explained Akbaraly. Her team found that 344 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s […]
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. […]
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 […]
What is galantamine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Galantamine is in a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes tacrine (Cognex), donezepil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exelon). Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit (block) the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of several neurotransmitters in the brain, chemicals that nerve cells use to communicate with one another. Reduced levels of acetylcholine in the brain are believed to be responsible for some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. By blocking the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine, galantamine increases the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain, and this increase is believed to be responsible for the improvement in thinking. Galantamine was approved by the FDA in 2001. (The brand name of galantamine was changed in 2005 from Reminyl to Razadyne.) What brand names are available for galantamine? Razadyne, Razadyne ER Is galantamine available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: No Do I need a prescription for galantamine? Yes What are the uses for galantamine? Galantamine is an oral medication used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. What are the side effects of galantamine? The most frequent side effects seen with […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, June 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with blood pressure medication can improve blood flow to a key brain region in people with Alzheimer’s disease, a small clinical trial has found. Researchers stressed that they do not know whether the brain finding can translate into any benefits for patients. But future studies should look into that possibility, they said. The findings, published June 17 in the journal Hypertension, come from a trial of 44 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. They were randomly assigned to take either the blood pressure drug nilvadipine or inactive placebo pills for six months. In the end, patients on the drug showed a 20% increase in blood flow to the hippocampus — a brain structure involved in memory and learning that is one of the first areas damaged by Alzheimer’s. Experts said the study was too small and short-term to know whether the improved blood flow could have any effect on symptoms. But future research should try to answer that question and should focus on people with early Alzheimer’s, said Dr. Jurgen Claassen, the study’s lead author. The research is part of a larger trial that looked […]
The blood-brain barrier is a protective layer that surrounds the brain. Its main function is to prevent potentially harmful agents from leaking into this organ. However, it can also stop certain therapeutic drugs from reaching their target. Using ultrasound in new ways could open the door to better treatments for conditions that affect the brain. The blood-brain barrier prevents antitumor drugs and those that fight the symptoms of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease from reaching the brain and doing their work. Scientists can address this issue by temporarily bypassing the blood-brain barrier by using low-frequency ultrasound pulses. So far, they have only experimented with long-wave ultrasound pulses. However, these can bring on side effects, such as brain tissue damage and prolonged exposure to harmful molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier alongside the drugs. Now, research conducted at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom suggests that a new approach to ultrasound disruption of the blood-brain barrier may work better and cause fewer problems. The team — led by James Choi, Ph.D. — is focusing on the use of shorter-wave ultrasound pulses, which the scientists have recently tested in mouse models. Following the new research, the results of which appear in […]
Blocking an enzyme could put a stop to the buildup of toxic protein clumps that occurs in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. New research reveals that blocking a certain protein clears Lewy bodies — toxic structures that are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. This was the conclusion that scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) in Washington, D.C. reached after studying the enzyme, called USP13, in the brains of mice and humans. The study, which features in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, may be the first to explain USP13’s role in the toxic accumulation of protein clumps in the brain. The protein accumulations are called Lewy bodies, and they also occur in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy. “This study,” says lead author Xiaoguang Liu, an assistant professor of neurology at GUMC, “provides novel evidence that USP13 affects development and clearance of Lewy body protein clumps, suggesting that targeting USP13 may be a therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease and other similar forms of neurodegeneration.” Parkinson’s disease and Lewy bodies Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that chiefly affects movement control. Typical symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and bradykinesia, which is a slowness of movement. […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The polar vortex that has enveloped much of the United States this week poses a special danger to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. “This type of weather can be hazardous for everyone, but even more so for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, who may have difficulty noticing temperature and weather changes or knowing who to call for help,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., CEO and president of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “A few easy steps can go a long way to help family caregivers keep their loved one with Alzheimer’s disease safe,” he added in a foundation news release. It’s important for family members and caregivers to know the signs of hypothermia. Be alert for shivering, exhaustion, sleepiness, slurred speech, memory loss and clumsy motor skills, the foundation advised. Caution is needed when using electric space heaters. They can pose a fire risk, especially when used with extension cords or if they get knocked over. For Alzheimer’s or dementia patients, use space heaters that automatically turn off when they reach a set temperature or tip over, the foundation said. Don’t use electric blankets to keep people […]
New research examines the associations between migraine and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as related forms of dementia. The study finds that migraine is “a significant risk factor” for Alzheimer’s and all‐cause dementia. Could a history of migraine increase dementia risk? New research suggests so. According to the American Migraine Association, about 36 million people of all ages in the United States regularly experience migraine. That is about 12% of the population. Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia were affecting 5 million U.S. adults in 2014, according to official estimates, and the figures are only expected to increase. While dementia is the most prevalent neurological condition in older adults, headaches are the most prevalent neurological condition across all ages, and migraine headaches are the most severe form. So, new research set out to investigate whether migraine is a risk factor for dementia. Identifying what raises the risk of dementia may enable more timely treatment interventions. Detecting dementia early on and starting treatment as soon as possible can improve the effectiveness of therapies and empower people with the condition and their families to make the right decisions at the right time. Suzanne L. Tyas, Ph.D., of the University of Waterloo, in […]
By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A grandparent’s mental decline or a great uncle’s waning memory may indicate you, too, have greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease — especially if closer relatives have the condition, a new study says. Alzheimer’s in both a first-degree relative (parents, siblings) and a second-degree relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, nieces or nephews) doubles your risk of the brain-destroying disorder, researchers found. But if you have one first-degree relative and two second-degree relatives with the disease, your risk increases by 21 times. “Family history is a very powerful piece of information that can accurately predict someone’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and this study shows there are more people at risk than we know,” said the study’s lead author, Lisa Cannon-Albright. She’s a professor of epidemiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Family history is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive disease that causes difficulty in thinking and memory. Previous research has focused on close family relations, the researchers noted. The current study used a database that includes family records of Utah pioneers dating back to the 1800s. That information is also linked to health-related […]
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 […]
It is natural for a person’s memory and thinking abilities, or cognitive function, to wane as they age — even if they are in good health. However, the rate of cognitive decline can speed up if they experience heart attack or angina, according to new research. Cognitive decline may speed up after a heart attack or angina. Studies that have explored the links between circulation problems and cognitive decline have tended to focus on conditions that affect the blood supply to the brain, such as stroke. Few of these earlier studies, however, have looked at the long-term links between incident coronary heart disease (CHD), such as heart attack and angina, and cognitive decline. The recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology study is unique; it tracked cognitive decline both before and after incident CHD. “Incident CHD,” its authors conclude, “is associated with accelerated cognitive decline after, but not before, the event.” They suggest that the findings highlight the long-term relationship between cognitive decline and CHD. Lead and corresponding study author Wuxiang Xie, Ph.D., says that because there is not yet a cure for dementia, it is important to detect and treat the brain condition as early as possible in […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, working out a couple of times a week might at least slow the onset of the illness, new research suggests. Regular exercise over a year slowed the degeneration of the part of the brain tied to memory among people who had a buildup of amyloid beta protein in their brain. These protein “plaques” are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, noted researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Aerobic exercise didn’t stop plaques from spreading, but it might slow down the effects of amyloid on the brain, especially if started at an early stage, the research team suggested. “What are you supposed to do if you have amyloid clumping together in the brain? Right now doctors can’t prescribe anything,” lead researcher Dr. Rong Zhang said in a university news release. However, “if these findings can be replicated in a larger trial, then maybe one day doctors will be telling high-risk patients to start an exercise plan,” he said. “In fact, there’s no harm in doing so now.” One expert who wasn’t involved in the study agreed with that advice. “Exercise is […]
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 […]
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 […]
What is memantine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Memantine is an oral medication for treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Other medications used for Alzheimer’s disease affect acetylcholine, one of the neurotransmitter chemicals that nerve cells in the brain use to communicate with one another. These drugs – galantamine (Razadyne – formerly known as Reminyl), donezepil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and tacrine (Cognex) – inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase that destroys acetylcholine and thereby increase the effects of acetylcholine. Memantine’s effects are independent of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. It is believed that too much stimulation of nerve cells by glutamate may be responsible for the degeneration of nerves that occurs in some neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Like other neurotransmitters, glutamate is produced and released by nerve cells in the brain. The released glutamate then travels to nearby nerve cells where it attaches to a receptor on the surface of the cells called the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Memantine blocks this receptor and thereby decreases the effects of glutamate. It is thought that by blocking the NMDA receptor and the effects of glutamate, memantine may protect nerve cells from excess stimulation by […]
By the time that the symptoms of dementia emerge in Alzheimer’s disease, tissue damage is well underway in the brain. Now, scientists propose that specific psychiatric symptoms – such as depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, and loss of appetite – may serve as markers of very early brain changes in Alzheimer’s. Depression and anxiety may be signs of early-stage Alzheimer’s. Working with the Brazilian Biobank for Aging Studies (BBAS) at the University of São Paulo, investigators at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) studied results of postmortem brain tissue tests and compared them with psychiatric symptoms obtained from detailed interviews conducted with people who knew the deceased well, such as relatives and carers. They suggest that their study — a paper on which now features in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease — reveals that psychiatric symptoms are not the cause of Alzheimer’s, but more likely early indicators of the disease. Such markers could help doctors to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease much earlier and thus increase opportunities for slowing its progress, they note. Better understanding of Alzheimer’s The authors also propose that the findings could alter our understanding of how the biology of Alzheimer’s leads to psychiatric symptoms in people who […]
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 […]
By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fast tests designed to help primary care doctors rapidly spot dementia in their elderly patients often get it wrong, a new British report contends. The finding concerns three widely used quick dementia tests: the “Mini-Mental State Examination” (intended to assess mental orientation and verbal memory); the “Memory Impairment Screen” (which tests verbal memory); and “Animal Naming” (which gives patients one minute to quickly name as many animals as they can). The result: more than one-third of the patients were misclassified — as either having or not having dementia — by at least one of the rapid tests in question. “Dementia can be difficult to accurately detect, particularly in a primary care setting,” said study lead author Janice Ranson. But the rapid tests “are important screening tools to help clinicians decide who is likely to benefit from further testing for dementia,” she acknowledged. “Our results suggest that some of the misclassification is due to test biases, such as a patient’s age, ethnicity or education level,” she added. Ranson is a doctoral researcher in clinical epidemiology at the University of Exeter Medical School in England. She and her […]
As we age, we may experience a decline in our mental ability. A recent study has concluded that chronic inflammation in midlife might speed up this decline as we get older. Could influencing inflammation slow cognitive decline? The average age of the population of the United States is gradually increasing, so conditions of old age are moving into the spotlight. Growing older is associated with a progressive decline in average thinking abilities. However, it may only affect some people very mildly, while other individuals can develop significant cognitive deficits. Understanding the risk factors involved is of growing importance. We already know some risk factors; for instance, lower levels of physical activity, smoking, and obesity appear to increase the rate of decline. Recently, some scientists have turned their attention toward the potential role of inflammation. Inflammation and its consequences As a protective mechanism that prevents any damage to tissue, inflammation occurs in response to an infection or injury. However, if this acute inflammation continues for longer periods — which doctors call chronic inflammation — it can cause damage. Scientists have already linked inflammation to a range of health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma. Could inflammation also have a […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Cuddler the bear, Aibo the dog, Justocat the purring kitty: They may only be furry, lifelike robots, but they have a made a real impact in nursing homes. That’s the finding of new British research that suggests these high-tech “robopets” are the next best thing for nursing home residents unable to have a beloved pet or those suffering from loneliness. “Although not every … resident may choose to interact with robopets, for those who do, they appear to offer many benefits,” study author Rebecca Abbott, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said in a university news release. The robopets stimulate conversations and trigger fond memories of pets or past experiences, Abbott said. “And there is also the comfort of touching or interacting with the robopet itself. The joy of having something to care for was a strong finding across many of the studies.” One U.S. geriatrician who was not involved in the study said engagement with a robotpet does seem helpful. “Most importantly, it was found to decrease loneliness and increase pleasure and joy, and bring comfort,” said Dr. Maria Torroella Carney. She directs geriatrics and palliative medicine at […]
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Staying active in old age may help preserve your memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. In fact, older people who were physically active kept their minds sharp, even if their brains showed signs of lesions or other markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, researchers found. “Physical activity may provide cognitive reserve” that helps preserve the brain even in the face of dementia, said lead researcher Dr. Aron Buchman. He’s professor of neurology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Lifestyle appears to play a major role in keeping the mind sharp as we age, he said. Other studies have found that keeping socially and mentally active also improves mental skills. “Together, these suggest that a more active lifestyle, including physical, cognitive and social activities, may help maintain cognition in older adults,” Buchman said. Buchman said he doesn’t know how these factors protect the brain, what kind of exercise is best, or how much is protective. Only an association was seen in the study, and more research is needed. “Even if we don’t have treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, there’s a benefit to having […]
The results of a new study suggest that virtual reality could make life easier for people with dementia. The authors conclude that virtual reality helped the participants recall memories and contributed to an improvement in patients’ relationships with caregivers. Could virtual reality enhance the lives of people with dementia? Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions, including Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. It can cause memory loss so severe that it negatively impacts a person’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. A person’s risk of dementia increases as they get older, and a person can be more prone to developing Alzheimer’s based on their ethnicity. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans are the group most at risk for Alzheimer’s among seniors, followed by Hispanic people, then non-Hispanic white people. The CDC state that the greatest increase in Alzheimer’s disease over the coming decades will occur among Hispanic and African American people and that these increases are largely due to people living longer, as the rates of people dying from chronic diseases are decreasing. Virtual environments triggered memories In the current study, the researchers — many from the University of Kent in […]
A new study finds that people with Alzheimer’s disease who also took antidiabetes medication exhibited fewer molecular markers of the neurological condition. These findings could inform future Alzheimer’s treatments. A study examined the molecular pathways of brain tissue and the cells that line the inside of blood vessels in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s and diabetes. New research — led by Vahram Haroutunian, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, NY — analyzed the brain tissues of people who had both Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. The findings suggest that antidiabetes drugs may protect the brain against Alzheimer’s. As Prof. Haroutunian and colleagues explain in their paper, a mounting body of evidence has been pointing to a link between the risk of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. Additional studies have uncovered an association between an insulin receptor pathway in the brain and the accumulation of Alzheimer’s-specific brain pathologies. Previous studies conducted by the same Prof. Haroutunian and colleagues found that the brains of people with Alzheimer’s who had also undergone treatment for diabetes, such as insulin or antidiabetes medicine, had reduced brain pathologies. So, […]
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 […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Dec. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Those Sunday crossword puzzles may not prevent the aging brain from slowing down — but they might protect it in a different way, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at the “use it or lose it” theory on brain health. The concept holds that mentally engaging activities — from reading to crosswords to board games — may help the brain resist dementia later in life. In this study, older adults who said they enjoyed those pastimes were no less likely to show signs of mental decline over time, versus other older folks. But they did, on average, score higher on standard tests of mental sharpness. That means that while they did decline over time, they did so from a higher “starting point,” the researchers explained. “The results indicate that a lifetime of engagement lifts you to a high point from which you decline, and that can be considered as passive cognitive reserve,” said lead researcher Roger Staff, of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. “Starting from a high point,” he said, “will mean that the threshold at which you are considered impaired will be farther into […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New research is untangling the complex relationship between symptoms of depression and losses in memory and thinking that often emerge together with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the new data suggests that “depression symptoms themselves may be among the early changes in the preclinical stages of dementia syndromes,” explained study lead author Dr. Jennifer Gatchel. She works in the division of geriatric psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In the study, researchers examined brain scans and other data gathered over seven years from 276 older adults enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. All of the participants were still living independently in the community at the beginning of the study and were considered healthy. However, the analysis revealed a significant link between worsening depression symptoms and mental decline over two to seven years, and both of these trends seemed to be linked to a buildup of amyloid protein in brain tissue. The slow accumulation of amyloid has long been known as a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our research found that even modest levels of brain amyloid deposition can impact the relationship between depression symptoms and cognitive [thinking] abilities,” Gatchel said […]
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition with a wide range of effects, including problems with movement, blood pressure and thinking, and mood, sensory, and sleep difficulties. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) usually begin gradually, and they affect each person differently. The symptoms a person has will vary widely, regardless of how severe they are or how quickly they develop. Read on to find out more about the different types of symptoms and how to recognize the early symptoms of PD. Early symptoms Around 7 out of 10 people with PD experience tremor at some stage. The symptoms of PD affect individuals differently, but some can be an early sign of the disease. These are: REM sleep disorder and other sleep problems the loss of the sense of smell tremor, especially in one hand a smaller size of handwriting difficulty moving or walking or a stooping gait constipation loss of facial expression, that may make the person look emotionless a low or soft voice Primary motor symptoms The four main signs and symptoms include: slow physical movements, known as bradykinesia shaking, or tremor muscle stiffness, or rigidity problems with balance and coordination, known as postural instability Symptoms often start on […]
What brand names are available for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Fossil Tree, Kew Tree, Silver Apricot Is ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? No What are the uses for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Ginkgo biloba is used for memory improvement, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sexual dysfunction, premenstrual syndrome, dizziness, headache, glaucoma, diabetic eye problems, and vertigo. What are the side effects of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Side effects of gingko biloba are Possible serious side effects of gingko biloba include: bleeding in the eye or brain, severe bleeding after surgery, severe allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, seizures (eating fresh gingko seeds), and death (eating fresh gingko seeds). What is the dosage for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Dosing may vary with the preparation (capsules, gels, extracts). Read manufacturer’s directions before using this product. Dementia: Take 120 – 240 mg per day in divided doses, 2 to 3 times a day. Vertigo and tinnitusTake 120 – 160 mg per day in divided doses, 2 to 3 times a day. Sexual dysfunctionTake 60 – 240 mg by mouth twice a day. Premenstrual symptoms Take 80 mg by […]
Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s disease still holds many mysteries. A recent study asks whether spontaneous changes to the chemistry of proteins might help explain the neurological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. A new study looks at the chemistry of Alzheimer’s-related proteins. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia; it currently affects an estimated 5.5 million people in the United States. As it stands, there is no cure, and researchers are still trying to come to grips with what makes Alzheimer’s tick. The main focus of medical research has been plaques and tangles, the protein-based markers of the Alzheimer’s brain. A recent paper, published in ACS Central Science, asks whether these features might occur due to what they refer to as “spontaneous chemistry.” Plaques and tangles Plaques consist of a protein called beta-amyloid. Usually, this protein is cleared away by cells, but in the Alzheimer’s brain, it sticks together in clumps between nerve cells. A protein called tau forms neurofibrillary tangles, which develop inside brain cells. Tau is associated with microtubules, which are long, thin, tubular structures that provide support to the cell. In Alzheimer’s, tau is altered, and microtubules cannot form correctly; instead, they form twisted filaments. Despite a […]
A 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Regular exposure to stress can impact our physical and mental health, but how does it actually affect our brains? One new Harvard Medical School study answers that question. According to new research, high levels of stress hormones can impact how well the brain functions. Stress — especially when we experience it on a regular basis — takes a significant toll on our minds and bodies. It can make us feel more irritable and constantly tired, and it impacts our ability to focus. Chronic stress can also interfere with our sleep patterns, appetite, and libido, and it can also exacerbate a range of health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems. One study that Medical News Today covered earlier this year, in fact, saw that even minor levels of distress can increase a person’s risk of chronic disease. What impact does stress have on the brain in physiological and cognitive terms? Researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, have explored this question and reported their answer in the journal Neurology. The stress hormone affects memory In their study, the researchers worked with participants with an average age of 49 and no diagnosis of dementia. At baseline, the investigators […]
By Amy NortonHealthDay Reporter Latest Alzheimer’s News MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When older adults fall prey to scam artists, it might in some cases be an early warning of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. The study of 935 older adults found that those who appeared susceptible to scams were at higher risk of mental decline over the next six years. Compared with their more skeptical peers, they were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment — problems with memory and thinking that can progress to dementia. And they were typically twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers said it all suggests that “low scam awareness” can be a harbinger of dementia. That’s important, in part, because financial fraudsters go after the elderly. “Older adults hold most of the wealth in this country,” said Patricia Boyle, lead researcher on the study. “We know they are often the target of scam artists, and they’re vulnerable to falling victim — to the tune of about $35 billion a year.” If an older adult falls for a scam, that alone does not mean they’re on a path toward dementia, said Boyle, a neuropsychologist with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
In a new study, researchers have found that a bacterium largely responsible for gum disease also contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A bacterium involved in gum disease boosts Alzheimer’s toxicity. According to data from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 8.52 percent of adults between 20 and 64 years of age in the United States have periodontitis (gum disease). Gum disease is a widespread problem that can lead to more negative outcomes, from tooth loss to an increased risk of cancer. Now, emerging evidence suggests that one of the bacteria involved in periodontitis could also contribute to the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, which scientists have associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings have emerged from a new study in mice that researchers from Cortexyme, Inc., a pharmaceutical company that aims to develop new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease, have conducted. The results of the research — whose lead author is Dr. Stephen Dominy, Cortexyme co-founder — appear in the journal Science Advances. “Infectious agents have been implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease before, but the evidence of causation hasn’t been convincing,” notes Dr. Dominy. The bacterium that boosts brain […]
Latest Alzheimer’s News 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 […]
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