What’s in the past doesn’t always stay buried. A new study suggests that a hormone therapy harvested from human corpses may be linked to a rare, controversial form of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the drug was discontinued more than 40 years ago, researchers are urging doctors to watch for signs of cognitive decline in the thousands … Read more
The future just got brighter, thanks to the sunshine vitamin. Scientists in Ireland have added to a growing stack of research on the relationship between vitamin D levels in the blood and a possible lower risk of dementia. A 16-year study found that higher vitamin D intake during middle age could have something to do … Read more
Scientists have long been racking their brains to crack the mechanism behind Alzheimer’s disease progression. They may have finally found a crucial clue. A research team from Heidelberg University in Germany recently uncovered a hidden “switch” that acts like a death trigger for brain cells and plays a key role in cognitive decline. The study … Read more
Scientists may have sniffed out a breakthrough when detecting Alzheimer’s. The degenerative disease, which affects millions of Americans and gradually destroys memory, thinking skills and the capacity to perform basic tasks, is still notoriously difficult to detect, especially in its initial stages. But researchers have created a breakthrough nasal swab test that can pick up early signs, … Read more
Scientists have long searched for ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Chief among these strategies has been targeting amyloid beta, a toxic protein that forms plaque-like deposits when it accumulates abnormally in the brain. This accumulation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Now, scientists say a smaller peptide, a “cousin” of amyloid beta, … Read more
A simple blood test could predict not only a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but also the year symptoms will begin. Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to determine if levels of a specific protein in the blood could be used as a “biological clock” to predict when … Read more
People with greater exposure to air pollution could face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by Emory University in Atlanta. Air pollution has previously been established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as well as other chronic conditions, like hypertension, stroke and depression, the researchers noted. Since those other conditions … Read more
Well, it’snot good news for most people. Some 90% of the population picks their nose — sometimes several times a day. This may seem like a harmless habit, but frequently digging for gold may have dire consequences. Dirty fingers can introduce bacteria into the nose, causing infections that can lead to crusting, tissue damage and … Read more
With over 7 million people over 65 dealing with the degenerative disease — and the number expected to almost double by 2050 — Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. But two new groundbreaking drugs could pull the reins on the memory impairment and overall brain decline associated with the disease. While there’s no … Read more
The first study to evaluate the link between Alzheimer’s disease and body weight found a significant association. Researchers at Washington University Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, discovered that Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers increased 95% faster in people with obesity than in non-obese individuals. The study, which was presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America … Read more
Want to stay sharp into old age? You might want to start hitting the gym. New research suggests that a hidden trait in your body could hold the key to maintaining a younger brain — and the implications are huge. “Better brain health, in turn, lowers the risk for future brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s,” … Read more
Increasing physical activity in midlife or later may reduce the chances of developing dementia by up to 45%, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health analyzed data from more than 4,300 people in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring, all of whom were dementia-free at the … Read more
Scientists may have found a way to stop Alzheimer’s damage before it starts — by “melting” the tiny protein clumps that are the early triggers of the disease. Alzheimer’s has long been linked to harmful tau protein fibrils that build up in the brain and interfere with cognitive function, but researchers have now discovered soft, small clusters … Read more
Scientists have discovered what could be a breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Over 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, which slowly erodes memory, cognitive skills and the ability to perform simple tasks. Early attempts at treating or managing Alzheimer’s have concentrated on neurons and other brain cells. Newer approaches have been exploring how other … Read more
Stand at attention for an off-kilter sign of this particular kind of dementia. Nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, which gradually destroys memory, thinking skills, and the capacity to perform basic tasks. While Alzheimer’s disease remains the most common form of dementia, another prevalent type of cognitive decline includes a singular symptom. LBD patients can … Read more
Levels of iron in the brain could be a warning sign of future Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. High levels of the chemical element have been shown to increase brain toxins and trigger neurodegeneration, resulting in cognitive decline — especially when they interact with the abnormal amyloid and tau proteins that are the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer’s … Read more
Better powder than pie when it comes to Alzheimer’s prevention. A team of British researchers has discovered a way to turn a popular stone fruit into a potential safeguard against the devastating degenerative disease. An estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, which slowly erodes memory, cognitive skills and the ability to perform simple tasks. Previous … Read more
A team of researchers at Harvard Medical School has identified a deficiency they believe could be the root cause of Alzheimer’s. Better yet, they believe a drug could prevent and reverse the crippling disease. Published in Nature, the findings are based on 10 years of research that includes lab mice and analysis of human brain … Read more
These seniors are having a moment. Life expectancy in the US hovers around 78.4 years — there’s a special group of people who surpass this mark with flying colors. The retirees, known as “SuperAgers,” exhibit the memory and cognitive abilities of people in middle age. A new report out of Northwestern University reveals unique traits … Read more
Erin Kelly is likely going to forget her eight-year-old daughter Evie’s name before her little girl finishes high school. At just 29-years-old, the Australian mom has been diagnosed with a rare hereditary form of Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common form of dementia in Australia – making up 70% of all cases – and is a condition. “We can’t … Read more