All articles tagged with #alzheimers
A Nature study finds that super-agers (80+) have roughly twice as many new neurons in the hippocampus as older adults with normal memory, and about 2.5 times more than people with Alzheimer’s, suggesting adult neurogenesis may help explain their exceptional memory and cognitive resilience.
New research shows that the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s may appear in the peripheral retina, with Müller glia changes and increased Aquaporin-4 signaling indicating heightened glymphatic activity; this could enable non-invasive wide-field retinal imaging as an early diagnostic tool years before cognitive symptoms.
The article explains that agitation is a common, brain-based symptom of Alzheimer's caused by brain changes that disrupt emotion regulation and by imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. It notes caregivers often blame themselves, but agitation increases with disease progression (about 56% in early stages to 68% in moderate-to-severe stages). Environmental stressors, like large gatherings or disrupted routines, can worsen it. The piece offers practical management tips—maintaining daily routines, avoiding arguments, using calming approaches, and consulting healthcare providers about treatments—while emphasizing caregiver support and self-care.
Researchers are testing non-invasive 40 Hz flickering lights paired with precise audio to modulate memory-related brain activity in Alzheimer’s patients, with the goal of slowing cognitive decline rather than reversing it. A Phase 3 trial conducted by Cognito Therapeutics involves about 700 participants across 70 sites; earlier feasibility studies showed changes in brain signals and potential slowing of decline, though safety concerns are mostly headaches and the approach is intended to be a low-risk, accessible treatment alongside drugs.
A ScienceAlert weekly briefing highlights a Mars organics puzzle unsolved by non-biological processes; TLC-2716 reduces remnant cholesterol by up to 61% in a short trial; an implant-based sleep apnea treatment reports a 93% success rate; Alzheimer's linked to disrupted brain replay in mice; brain-aging reversal seen in lab by boosting DMTF1; and a Milky Way core model proposes fermionic dark matter rather than a black hole.
A 20-year ACTIVE trial analysis found an adaptive, speed-focused brain game (Double Decision) reduced dementia diagnoses by about 25% in adults over 65 who completed the initial training plus booster sessions; memory and reasoning training did not lower risk. The benefit seems tied to booster sessions and may reflect increased brain connectivity and cognitive reserve, but causality is not proven and diagnoses were based on health records rather than clinical dementia subtypes. The study underscores brain health as part of a broader lifestyle approach.
In a mouse study, tumors produced the protein cystatin-C, which traveled to the brain, bound toxic amyloid oligomers, and activated microglia via the TREM2 receptor to clear plaques, improving cognitive tasks. While promising as a novel research path beyond amyloid-lowering strategies, whether these effects translate to humans remains unknown and more work is needed; the study warns against pursuing cancer as a therapy and emphasizes early-stage findings.
The Hollywood Reporter’s review of Fox’s Memory of a Killer (starring Patrick Dempsey as a suburban hitman whose Alzheimer’s complicates his double life) finds the premise risible and the writing clunky, though Dempsey’s slick performance and Michael Imperioli’s menace add some edge; the Belgian-adapted drama is stylish but ultimately feels more flashy than substantive for a broadcast TV series.
The piece argues Alzheimer's may be primarily an autoimmune disorder of the brain rather than just a brain disease, challenging the traditional beta-amyloid focus and the controversial aducanumab approval. It posits beta-amyloid may be part of the brain’s immune response that goes awry, driving dementia, while other theories (mitochondrial dysfunction, infections, metal handling) gain traction. With Alzheimer's affecting tens of millions worldwide, the article calls for new immune- and mechanism-based therapies and directions.
An international trial enrolling about 1,000 volunteers over 60 in the UK, US and Canada is testing whether a simple finger-prick blood test can detect Alzheimer's-related biomarkers to diagnose the disease more quickly and non-invasively, potentially replacing or reducing reliance on expensive brain scans and lumbar punctures; results are expected in 2028.
A study from University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland VA reversed advanced Alzheimer's in mice by stabilizing brain NAD+ energy balance with the compound P7C3-A20, achieving full cognitive recovery and suggesting a potential amyloid-independent therapy for humans. While promising, results in animals don’t guarantee human success; the team aims for phase I safety trials within about 18 months and envisions broader use for neurodegeneration, alongside lifestyle measures and caregiver support.
In nine elderly monkeys, daily 40 Hz sound for one week increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of β-amyloid by about 200%, suggesting the brain’s waste-clearance system was more active and the effect lasted five weeks. The results are preliminary, focusing on biomarkers rather than memory outcomes, and human trials are needed to determine real-world therapeutic potential.
Johns Hopkins researchers found that loss of the brain enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), which makes hydrogen sulfide, causes memory loss and Alzheimer’s-like brain damage in mice, highlighting CSE as a potential drug target to boost brain health and slow neurodegeneration.
A recent study in mice suggests that restoring NAD+ levels with the compound P7C3-A20 can reverse brain damage and cognitive decline associated with advanced Alzheimer's disease, challenging the notion that the disease is irreversible. The findings highlight the potential for treatments targeting brain energy balance to repair damage and improve function, though further research in humans is needed.
Researchers suggest that targeting the Apoe gene, particularly its harmful variants Apoe3 and Apoe4, could potentially prevent most cases of Alzheimer's disease, although challenges remain due to the gene's vital functions and widespread presence in the population.