Alzheimer's Disease

Research has found that some personality traits increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis, whereas others reduce it. The findings suggest that targeting these traits earlier in life may be a way of reducing dementia risk in the long term.

Research has revealed how genetic changes in a specialized population of brain cells called microglia contribute to neuroinflammation and, in turn, to Alzheimer’s disease. The findings could lead to more effective, targeted therapeutics.

Caffeic acid, derived from coffee grounds, could help shield the brain from developing diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. With six million tons of grounds dumped each year, this could be the most valuable 'upcycling' of the by-product yet.

In a significant development for brain health, scientists have found that hemorrhages can occur due to a faulty interaction between aged red blood cells and narrow capillaries. Injured or damaged blood vessels were thought to be the sole culprit.

Analyzing the functional connectivity of different brain networks, researchers found that Alzheimer’s disease disrupts areas of the brain beyond those relating to memory and produces changes distinct from those seen in healthy aging.

Because of the logistics and invasive procedures involved, many people put off getting tested for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Thanks to a new device, however, such testing could soon be performed non-invasively at just about any location.

The race is on in the search for a way to effectively extend both our lifespan and healthspan. One team of scientists is confident its mitochondria-targeted drug-like molecule has the potential to deliver on these two crucial areas of human longevity.

Researchers have found that when used on monkeys, an experimental drug slowed the process that leads the tau protein to aggregate into neuron-damaging tangles in Alzheimer’s disease. The next step is to develop a drug for use in humans.

A new study is pointing to a possible mechanism linking obesity with neurodegenerative disease. The work suggests diet-induced insulin resistance can impair the brain’s ability to clear out neuronal debris and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s.

For the first time, scientists have identified how the region of our brain that powers memory is made up of two very different sets of neurons: one that deals with previous associations, and one that is predictive, actively shaping future behaviors.

A new kind of high-frequency deep-brain stimulation has successfully stimulated neurons in the hippocampus, the region that forms, organizes and retrieves memories. This non-invasive, painless treatment is now being trialed on dementia patients.

Another large study has found a correlation between proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and an increased risk of dementia, particularly for those aged 60-69 years. But frustratingly, scientists still don’t understand exactly what that connection is.