Newswise Feature Channel: Alzheimer's and Dementia

Grant Will Fund Development of Vaccines to Prevent Dementia

Washington University in St. Louis — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:40:43 EST

WashU researchers are working to design vaccines that could potentially prevent the buildup of inflammatory protein accumulations in the brain, which is one of the precursors to developing Alzheimer's disease

Fluctuating Blood Pressure Tied to Problems with Thinking Skills

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:00:00 EST

Older adults whose blood pressure fluctuates over time may be more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills, according to a study published in the December 11, 2024, online issue of Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The association was found in Black participants but not in white participants in the study.

How Caregivers of People With Dementia Can Navigate the Holidays

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:25:38 EST

Although the holiday season brings joy to many, it may mean added stress for those supporting a family member with memory loss. Mary-Catherine Lundquist, the program director of Care2Caregivers, a peer counseling helpline (800-424-2494) for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders operated by Rutgers Behavioral Health Care, discusses how families can make the most of the season.

Grandma is "Still There"

Stony Brook University — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:25:07 EST

It's a challenge to celebrate the holiday season with loved ones who have dementia. But Stephen Post, PhD, a bioethicist, has a message that could change your focus when visiting these loved ones this season: There are powerful lucid moments that occur with the deeply forgetful. Hold onto them. It's worth the time.

Network-Based Analyses Uncover How Neuroinflammation-Causing Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease Form

Cleveland Clinic — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:35:48 EST

Cleveland Clinic Genome Center researchers have unraveled how immune cells called microglia can transform and drive harmful processes like neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of The Alzheimer's Association, also integrates drug databases with real-world patient data to identify FDA-approved drugs that may be repurposed to target disease-associated microglia in Alzheimer's disease without affecting the healthy type.

Living in a Disadvantaged Neighborhood Linked to Higher Blood Pressure and Lower Cognition

Wake Forest University School of Medicine — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:00:00 EST

New research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with higher blood pressure and lower cognitive scores, even among people who do not have an existing diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.

Perceived Social Acceptability of Driving While under the Influence of Cannabis and Alcohol May Sway Young Adult Behavior

Research Society on Alcoholism — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:00:00 EST

Half of 18- to 25-year-olds believe that the average young adult drives or rides in a car at least once a month while the driver is under the influence of alcohol and cannabis.

Hapvida and Bar-Ilan University Investigate the Factors That Affect Maternal Health

Bar-Ilan University — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 13:55:52 EST

A new international partnership between Bar-Ilan University and Hapvida NotreDame Intermedica (HNDI) in Brazil will facilitate innovative research on genetic and phenotypic factors that affect maternal health, including age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

What the White Spots Show

Universite de Montreal — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:00:21 EST

An international team of scientists led by UdeM wife-and-husband team Zdenka Pausova and Tomas Paus links the presence of white spots on MRI brain scans of older adults to a genetic risk of dementia.

UM Researchers Using AI to Improve Cancer Research and Early Detection of Genetic Diseases

University of Manitoba — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:50:18 EST

UM researchers recently developed a new genomics method with the potential to reveal the genetic mechanisms behind human health and disease. The recent publication in the journal Genome Biology offers an innovative new pathway to study the root causes of diseases like cancer and dementia to someday allow for early detection.

Quantifying Disease Impact and Overcoming Practical Treatment Barriers for Primary Progressive Aphasia

University of Chicago Medical Center — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:00:00 EST

Two new papers show progress in researchers' work to illuminate the struggles of those living with PPA and pioneer accessible treatment models.

Alzheimer's: A New Strategy to Prevent Neurodegeneration

Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:00:00 EST

A study led by Universita Cattolica at Rome and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, published in the prestigious journal PNAS, has revealed an important mechanism underlying Alzheimer and identified new therapeutic targets.

UW-led Research Links Wildfire Smoke Exposure with Increased Dementia Risk

University of Washington — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:10:48 EST

New research led by the University of Washington found that wildfire smoke is especially hazardous to people's memory health. An analysis of the health care records of 1.2 million Southern California residents found that higher long-term smoke exposure was associated with a significant increase in the odds that a person would be diagnosed with dementia.

University Hospitals Only Health System in Northeast Ohio Offering FDA-Approved KISUNLA(tm) for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:00:14 EST

University Hospitals Brain Health & Memory Center is now treating patients with KISUNLA(tm) (donanemab), a Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. UH is the only health system in Northeast Ohio currently offering these infusion treatments.

Listening for Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease #ASA187

Acoustical Society of America (ASA) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:15:00 EST

People with Alzheimer's exhibit a loss of motor control along with cognitive decline, and one of the earliest signs of this decay can be spotted in involuntary eye movements known as saccades. These quick twitches of the eyes in Alzheimer's patients are often slower, less accurate, or delayed compared to those in healthy individuals.

How Educational Attainment May Impact Memory and Dementia Risk Later in Life

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:50:46 EST

Rutgers Institute for Health researcher lead a study examining the impact of educational attainment on cognition later in life.

Combating Dementia with Film, Communication and Emotion

Universite de Montreal — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:00:19 EST

A doctoral student in speech-language pathology at Universite de Montreal is testing the use of audiovisual content to support communication in people with dementia.

How to Care for a Loved One with Dementia

University of Miami — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:55:02 EST

More than 11 million Americans are tasked with the responsibility of taking care of someone with cognitive decline.

New Pathways for Alzheimer's Prevention

University of Delaware — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:15 EST

A new study from the University of Delaware will look at Alzheimer's disease (AD) and examine how changes in arterial stiffness and brain tissue in midlife adults could contribute to cognitive decline. The study aims to pinpoint early risk factors and explore preventive interventions.

November Research Tip Sheet

Cedars-Sinai — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:10:48 EST

Cedars-Sinai has published a summary highlighting its research advances for November 2024.