Dementia News and Research

Latest Dementia News and Research

Studies provide evidence of connections between MCI and negative health outcomes

Two studies presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2012 (AAIC 2012) in Vancouver provide evidence of connections between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and negative health outcomes – increased isolation and death.

17 Jul 2012

Merck to present results from clinical studies on BACE inhibitors at AAIC 2012

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today presentations at the upcoming Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on July 14-19, 2012.

16 Jul 2012

Gait disturbances could indicate a decline in cognitive function

Gait disturbances – such as a slowing of walking pace or a more variable stride – could indicate a decline in cognitive function, according to new research studies reported today at the Alzheimer's Association's International Conference 2012 (AAIC 2012).

16 Jul 2012

Studies describe ability of targeted exercise training on cognitive impairment and dementia

Four studies reported today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2012 (AAIC 2012) describe the ability of targeted exercise training to promote improved mental functioning and reduced risk for cognitive impairment and dementia in cognitively healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

16 Jul 2012

The Alzheimer's Association recognizes four leading scientists with Lifetime Achievement Award

The Alzheimer's Association recognized four leading scientists for their extraordinary contributions to Alzheimer's disease research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC 2012) in Vancouver, Canada.

16 Jul 2012

Alzheimer's Association honors Gladstone researcher with Lifetime Achievement Award

Lennart Mucke, MD, who directs neurological research at the Gladstone Institutes, has received the Khalid Iqbal Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional contributions to Alzheimer's disease research. The Alzheimer's Association presented the award to Dr. Mucke today at the 2012 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Vancouver, Canada.

16 Jul 2012

IOM report: Nation lacks health workers trained to meet seniors' mental health needs

The Institute of Medicine report, released Tuesday, found the continued lack of health care providers will make it difficult to meet the growing demand for mental health services from the nation's growing senior population.

12 Jul 2012

Memory-binding process allows people to better understand new concepts and make decisions

When humans learn, their brains relate new information with past experiences to derive new knowledge, according to psychology research from The University of Texas at Austin.

12 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 11, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the scheduled House vote on repealing the health law as well as how stakeholders -- whether it be certain governors or wall street investors -- are responding to the Supreme Court's decision on the Medicaid expansion.

11 Jul 2012

New computer system for early diagnosis of AD

University of Granada researchers have developed a new computer system for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This study has been recently presented at the World Conference of Computer Intelligence (WCCI2012) held in Brisbane (Australia) by Alberto Prieto, a researcher at the University of Granada Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (CITIC-UGR).

11 Jul 2012

Alzheimer's Association International Conference to be held in Vancouver

Is it estimated that the number of Canadians afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will increase from about 480,600 in 2008 to 1,125,000 by 2038.

11 Jul 2012

Nutrient cocktail can boost memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment

A clinical trial of an Alzheimer's disease treatment developed at MIT has found that the nutrient cocktail can improve memory in patients with early Alzheimer's. The results confirm and expand the findings of an earlier trial of the nutritional supplement, which is designed to promote new connections between brain cells.

11 Jul 2012

Agencies place unqualified, possibly criminal caregivers in homes of vulnerable seniors

If you hire a caregiver from an agency for an elderly family member, you might assume the person had undergone a thorough criminal background check and drug testing, was experienced and trained for the job.

11 Jul 2012

Dementia diagnosis plan unveiled

GP training, improved access to memory clinics and a public campaign for awareness are necessary to improve the diagnosis of dementia in the UK, says the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia.

10 Jul 2012

Book outlines importance of Alzheimer's diagnosis and therapeutic interventions

Karger Medical Publishers Book On Cutting-Edge Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Therapy, with guidance from the Alzheimer's Association. This volume advances emerging concepts for therapeutic interventions and earlier detection and diagnosis of the global epidemic and features internationally leading experts' findings on biomarkers

10 Jul 2012

Researchers investigate whether PTSD is a brain disorder

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) are investigating whether post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a brain disorder that can affect multiple parts of the body and cause lifelong illnesses.

10 Jul 2012

Oligomers may be responsible for onset of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most dreaded and debilitating illnesses one can develop. Currently, the disease afflicts 6.5 million Americans and the Alzheimer's Association projects it to increase to between 11 and 16 million, or 1 in 85 people, by 2050.

10 Jul 2012

Combination of estrogen and MPA increases synapses in the prefrontal cortex

A new study of aged female rats found that long-term treatment with estrogen and a synthetic progesterone known as MPA increased levels of a protein marker of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region known to suffer significant losses in aging.

10 Jul 2012

AtheroNova receives U.S. patent allowance for 'Dissolution of Arterial Plaque'

AtheroNova Inc., a biotech company focused on the research and development of compounds to regress atherosclerotic plaque, announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance for its patent application for Dissolution of Arterial Plaque.

10 Jul 2012

Does alcohol kill brain cells?

Several origins have been suggested for the idea that alcohol kills brain cells. Some link it to the temperance movement, which called for prohibition of alcohol.

9 Jul 2012