Dementia News and Research

Latest Dementia News and Research

Biochemical switches could be triggered to treat pathology of IBM, ALS and FTD

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have found that the enzymes ULK1 and ULK2 play a key role in breaking down cell structures called stress granules, whose persistence leads to toxic buildup of proteins that kill muscle and brain cells.

11 Apr 2019

Scientists solve mystery surrounding common genetic cause of ALS

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have cracked the mystery surrounding the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

11 Apr 2019

Mild cognitive impairment may be present in early stages of kidney disease

The link between brain dysfunction and advanced kidney disease was first noted in 1930, so it is not a new finding.

10 Apr 2019

Innovative drug delivery may alleviate Parkinson's symptoms and stop its progression

Parkinson's disease affects between 7 and 10 million people worldwide and the number of people diagnosed is soaring due to the ageing population.

10 Apr 2019

Psychosocial difficulties related to brain disorders much more similar than expected

Do you have difficulties remembering to do important things? A sense of everything moving too fast around you? Problems getting through the day because you just do not have the energy?

10 Apr 2019

Scientists develop technique to clear abnormal tau protein from human neurons

Harnessing a probe used to image the brain in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully cleared patient-derived brain cells of an abnormal protein associated with dementia and other neurogenerative disorders.

10 Apr 2019

Lethal plans: When seniors turn to suicide in long-term care

When Larry Anders moved into the Bay at Burlington nursing home in late 2017, he wasn't supposed to be there long. At 77, the stoic Wisconsin machinist had just endured the death of his wife of 51 years and a grim new diagnosis: throat cancer, stage 4.

9 Apr 2019

Early nutritional intervention can help fight dementia

Trials have revealed significant advantages for patients who are treated with daily medical nutrient drinks, with 45 % less deterioration in the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes.

9 Apr 2019

Vascular changes in the eye reveal early cognitive impairment

Reduced blood capillaries in the back of the eye may be a new, noninvasive way to diagnose early cognitive impairment, the precursor to Alzheimer's disease in which individuals become forgetful, reports a newly published Northwestern Medicine study.

5 Apr 2019

Scientists to investigate link between sleep and dementia at UEA’s new sleep unit

Sleep disturbances are common in dementia. But it is not yet known whether Alzheimer's causes sleep problems, or whether sleep problems could be an early predictor of the disease.

5 Apr 2019

Drug that looks at Alzheimer’s differently ready for its first in-human testing

Alzheimer's disease wreaks emotional havoc on patients, who are robbed of their memories, their dignity, and their lives.

4 Apr 2019

PET scans could be used to develop best practices for dementia

The application of positron emission tomography (PET) for amyloid plaques could aid clinical decision making for patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

3 Apr 2019

Amyloid PET associated with changes in clinical management of patients with dementia

Amyloid (abnormal protein) plaques in the brain are a feature of Alzheimer disease and imaging the brain with positron emission tomography can detect them.

3 Apr 2019

Researchers explore rate of billed ACP conversations with hospitalized, older patients

As the U.S. population ages, hospitals and health systems around the country have been grappling with how to integrate advance care planning into routine practice.

2 Apr 2019

Scientists identify two, extremely rare genetic variants linked to Alzheimer disease

Researchers have identified two, extremely rare genetic variants linked to Alzheimer disease (AD) for the first time.

29 Mar 2019

Researchers develop new technology to mass produce cerebral cortex neurons

Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI, President Pann Ghill Suh) announced on Mar. 4 that its research team led by principal researcher Yoichi Kosodo developed a technology to mass produce cerebral cortex neurons utilizing Induced pluripotent Stem Cells.

28 Mar 2019

Brain can produce new cells even at the age of 90

For the first time, researchers have proven that the brain is capable of producing new nerve cells even at the age of 90 and above.

26 Mar 2019

New short-pulse ultrasound technique enhances drug delivery to brains of mice

Scientists currently use long-wave pulses of ultrasound to deliver drugs, which can cause side effects. These new findings from Imperial on shorter-wave pulses could have implications for how drugs are used to help patients of Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

26 Mar 2019

Symptomatic pharmacotherapy of elderly people should be regularly monitored

The prevalence of using antidepressants and proton pump inhibitors increases after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a doctoral dissertation from the University of Eastern Finland.

26 Mar 2019