Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

Latest Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

How does the circulating proteome influence brain health?

Researchers investigate the association between the circulating proteome and brain health.

7 Aug 2023

Childhood abuse can induce stress that changes neural networks and functions during growth

Childhood neglect and/or abuse can induce extreme stress that significantly changes neural networks and functions during growth. This can lead to mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia, but the exact mechanism and means to control it were yet to be discovered.

4 Aug 2023

$11 million NIH grant focuses on cognitive function in Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s

Neurologist Beau Ances, MD, PhD, talks with his patient, Adam Kloppenberg, who has Down syndrome, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. People with Down syndrome are at very high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Ances is involved in a project led by Jason Hassenstab, PhD, an associate professor of neurology, to develop tools to measure cognitive function in people with Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer's disease.

3 Aug 2023

Deep learning improves protein design by 10x

The key to understanding proteins - such as those that govern cancer, COVID-19, and other diseases - is quite simple. Identify their chemical structure and find which other proteins can bind to them. But there's a catch.

3 Aug 2023

Simple interview technique could help detect early signs of dementia

Research at the Florida State University College of Medicine has identified a potential low-cost method for predicting if a person is at risk of developing dementia.

3 Aug 2023

GABA-modulating treatments could help tackle cognitive, affective symptoms associated with depression

Depression is a complex condition correlated with multiple differences in brain function and mechanisms. A new paper spanning known data about the neurotransmitter GABA and its principal receptors showcases evidence of the receptors' importance in depression and potential as therapeutic targets.

3 Aug 2023

Virtual reality-based exercises found to reduce depression and anxiety among individuals treated with hemodialysis

Researchers determined the association between regular physical exercise based on virtual reality (VR) and the development of depression.

3 Aug 2023

Study highlights need for equitable access to dementia care

Patients who live in less affluent neighborhoods and those from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups are less likely than others to receive specialized care for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates.

2 Aug 2023

Moderna vaccine linked to lower risk of adverse events in older adults

While mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 have been found to be safe and effective for the general population, in-depth evidence about safety and effectiveness for older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions is more limited.

2 Aug 2023

Frequent headaches linked to bullying, suicidal tendencies in teens

Teens who have been bullied by their peers, or who have considered or attempted suicide, may be more likely to have more frequent headaches than teens who have not experienced any of these problems, according to a study published in the August 2, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Aug 2023

Study finds disparities in access to memory care clinics

Black people and people living in less affluent neighborhoods - areas with higher poverty levels and fewer educational and employment opportunities - may be less likely to be seen at a memory care clinic compared to white people and people living in neighborhoods with fewer disadvantages, according to new research published in the August 2, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Aug 2023

How does the Mediterranean Diet impact the gut microbiome and cognitive performance African American obese adults?

The effects of the Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) and intentional weight loss (IWL) on the gut microbiome.

2 Aug 2023

Vision problems linked to increased risk of dementia

Losing the ability to see clearly, and losing the ability to think or remember clearly, are two of the most dreaded, and preventable, health issues associated with getting older.

1 Aug 2023

Aromas while sleeping boost cognitive capacity

When a fragrance wafted through the bedrooms of older adults for two hours every night for six months, memories skyrocketed.

1 Aug 2023

New £3 million research unit seeks to tackle dementia

Funded by a £3 million grant from The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the DeNPRU will produce research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, care service, and workforce needs.

1 Aug 2023

Research reveals surprising genetic overlap between neurological and psychiatric disorders

Researchers compared the shared genetic risk and biological foundations of neurological and mental illnesses.

1 Aug 2023

RSV vaccines for older adults: 2023 ACIP recommendations

A recent report published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report provided clinical guidance on Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for adults ≥60 years.

1 Aug 2023

New device can detect COVID-19 in less than a minute

Benjamin Sumlin, PhD, a senior scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, blows into a device designed by researchers at the university. The device — a breath test that uses a biosensor — could become a tool for use in doctors' offices to quickly diagnose people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

1 Aug 2023

Monoclonal antibody shows promise in slowing progression of ALS

New research reveals a type of monoclonal antibody already tested in certain forms of cancer may be a promising treatment in stopping the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease.

31 Jul 2023

Low levels of 'memory strengthening protein' may serve as early predictor of mild cognitive impairment

Results of a long-term, federally funded study of cognitively healthy adults — most with a family history of Alzheimer's disease — have added to evidence that low spinal fluid levels of a protein linked to learning and memory in mice may serve as an early predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) years before symptoms appear.

31 Jul 2023