Dementia News and Research

Latest Dementia News and Research

Tai Chi increases brain volume and improves memory and thinking in Chinese seniors

Scientists from the University of South Florida and Fudan University in Shanghai found increases in brain volume and improvements on tests of memory and thinking in Chinese seniors who practiced Tai Chi three times a week, reports an article published today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

20 Jun 2012

Mass. nursing homes miss out on federal grant to curb inappropriate sedative use

Nursing Homes In Massachusetts will not get a federal grant to help them drive down use of antipsychotic drugs. In Kansas, officials launched a campaign to encourage reporting of elder abuse.

19 Jun 2012

AFAR announces new Collaborative Research Awards Program in Alzheimer's Disease

The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) announced today a new grant program that will support collaboration among young scientists from different scientific disciplines, to help tackle some of the most vexing questions about Alzheimer's disease.

19 Jun 2012

Is curry good for you?

There have been several news stories over the years reporting that curry may be good for us. Most of them refer to a chemical in curry, known as curcumin.

18 Jun 2012

Immune system may play a key role in removing Alzheimer's protein

Recent work in mice suggested that the immune system is involved in removing beta-amyloid, the main Alzheimer's-causing substance in the brain. Researchers have now shown for the first time that this may apply in humans.

16 Jun 2012

NextGen commercializes new assay for identification of biomarkers in brain disorders

NextGen Group Plc, the AIM listed company developing its own diagnostics product pipeline and providing diagnostic biomarker development services, announces the commercialisation of a new assay for the identification of diagnostic biomarkers in brain disorders in animal models.

15 Jun 2012

$Hip fracture mortality increases with even mild cognitive decline$

Hip fracture mortality increases with even mild cognitive decline

Patients with just mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment have a high risk for nursing home admission and mortality during the first year after hip fracture, researchers report.

15 Jun 2012

Study calls for overhaul in health care practices for elderly prisoners

Soaring numbers of older, sicker prisoners are causing an unprecedented health care challenge for the nation's criminal justice system, according to a new UCSF report.

15 Jun 2012

Research examines link between metabolic syndrome and cognitive disorders

No effective treatments are currently available for the prevention or cure of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most frequent form of dementia in the elderly. The most recognized risk factors, advancing age and having the apolipoprotein E Ɛ4 gene, cannot be modified or treated. Increasingly, scientists are looking toward other risk factors to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies.

15 Jun 2012

Practical clinical tool reliable and valid in measuring severity of dementia symptoms

A new study shows that a practical clinical tool developed by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Medicine to measure severity of dementia symptoms is reliable and valid. The Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor is simple, user-friendly and sensitive to change in symptoms.

15 Jun 2012

Single gene forms common link between diabetes and Alzheimer's

In recent years it became clear that people with diabetes face an ominous prospect - a far greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Now researchers at The City College of New York (CCNY) have shed light on one reason why. Biology Professor Chris Li and her colleagues have discovered that a single gene forms a common link between the two diseases.

15 Jun 2012

IBMT linked with positive structural changes in brain connectivity

A Texas Tech University scientist studying the Chinese mindfulness meditation known as integrative body-mind training (IBMT) said he and other researchers have confirmed and expanded on changes in structural efficiency of white matter in the brain that can be related to positive behavioral changes in subjects practicing the technique for a month and a minimum of 11 hours total.

14 Jun 2012

State roundup: Mass. bill seeking Alzheimer's care standards moves forward

A proposal to create minimum standards for Alzheimer's and dementia care in Massachusetts nursing homes is one step closer to becoming law. The state Senate Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that would require the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which regulates nursing homes, to establish minimum standards for facilities with dementia care units. The House approved the proposal last month.

14 Jun 2012

Hot weather increases death risk in psychosis patients

Hot weather is associated with increased mortality rates among patients with psychosis, dementia, or substance use disorder, UK research shows.

13 Jun 2012

Omega-3 probably does not reduce cognitive decline in older people

Older people who take omega-3 fish oil supplements are probably not reducing their chances of losing cognitive function, according to a new Cochrane systematic review.

13 Jun 2012

Changes in walking speed in late life may signal MCI

A new study shows that changes in walking speed in late life may signal the early stages of dementia known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

12 Jun 2012

FDA accepts Avanir IND for AVP-923 to treat agitation in patients with AD

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the study of AVP-923, an investigational drug for the treatment of agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

11 Jun 2012

New liquid stable homocysteine kit from Randox

The new liquid stable homocysteine kit from Randox provides a convenient and accurate method for the determination of homocysteine in human serum and plasma. Homocysteine is a potential indicator of a number of disease markers and should therefore be an integral part of a laboratory’s testing menu.

From Randox Laboratories Ltd. 11 Jun 2012

LBDA launches nationwide October awareness movement

Today the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) launched its nationwide October awareness movement, "A Month To Remember." LBDA invites volunteers to join the movement by "Standing Strong with LBDA" to build awareness for Lewy body dementia in their communities.

8 Jun 2012

DiaGenic initiates [18F] Flutemetamol PET imaging clinical study in MCI

DiaGenic ASA today announced that the first patient with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) was examined with [18F] Flutemetamol PET imaging at University of Lund Sweden in the DiaGenic and GE Healthcare Research Collaboration announced March 27th 2012.

8 Jun 2012