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Alzheimer’s disease

·October 22, 2024·4 min read

Loneliness Increases Dementia Risk by 31%

A large meta-analysis of over 600,000 people shows that experiencing loneliness significantly raises the risk of developing dementia by 31%. Researchers found that loneliness is a key factor in cognitive decline, contributing to conditions like Alzheimer's disease, regardless of age or sex.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·October 18, 2024·4 min read

Disrupted Protein Clearance After TBI Tied to Alzheimer’s

A study has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by disrupting protein clearance, leading to the accumulation of toxic tau proteins in the brain. Researchers discovered that TBI downregulates BAG3, a protein crucial for clearing damaged proteins, which contributes to Alzheimer's-related tau buildup.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 18, 2024·6 min read

Alzheimer’s Progresses in Two Distinct Phases

New research has shown that Alzheimer’s disease impacts the brain in two primary phases: an early, gradual phase that damages select cell types and a late phase marked by rapid, widespread damage as symptoms emerge. In the early stage, subtle changes occur slowly, including the loss of specific inhibitory neurons, which may contribute to neural circuit dysfunction. The second phase aligns with symptom onset and the buildup of Alzheimer’s hallmarks like plaques and tangles.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 11, 2024·4 min read

HDL Cholesterol Quality, Not Quantity, Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk

Higher levels of HDL, the so-called "good cholesterol," may not protect against Alzheimer's in postmenopausal women, with the risk potentially tied to the quality, not quantity, of HDL particles. A new study shows that larger HDL particles, which increase during menopause, lose efficiency in supporting cognitive health.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 7, 2024·7 min read

Salience Network Disruption Tied to Dementia Behavior Changes

Researchers have discovered that disruptions in the brain’s salience network, often tied to tau protein buildup, correlate strongly with behavioral changes in people with early-stage dementia. Using advanced brain imaging on 128 participants, they found that as tau impairs this critical network, behavioral symptoms worsen, adding another layer to understanding dementia beyond memory loss.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 4, 2024·6 min read

Alzheimer’s Brain Shrinkage Follows No Single Pattern

A new study finds that brain shrinkage in Alzheimer's patients does not follow a uniform pattern. Researchers examined thousands of brain scans and found that individuals showed varied shrinkage patterns over time. Those with faster shrinkage in specific brain regions were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. This personalized approach to brain mapping may lead to tailored treatments based on individual brain changes.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 3, 2024·6 min read

Dual-Targeting Drug Halts Tau Accumulation in Alzheimer’s

Scientists have developed a drug that targets both major aggregation-promoting sites of the Tau protein, a key player in Alzheimer's disease. This peptide inhibitor, RI-AG03, effectively prevents Tau buildup in lab studies and fruit flies, offering hope for new Alzheimer's treatments.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·October 2, 2024·4 min read

Cannabis Pill Reduces Agitation in Alzheimer’s Patients by 30%

A new study reveals that dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, can reduce agitation in Alzheimer’s patients by 30%. Unlike current medications, dronabinol showed fewer side effects, such as delirium or seizures, making it a safer alternative.

This shows an older man looking out a window.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 2, 2024·4 min read

Time of Day Affects Key Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

New research shows that the time of day when blood samples are taken significantly impacts the levels of Alzheimer's biomarkers, including p-tau217, which is crucial for early diagnosis. Biomarker levels were found to be lowest in the morning and highest in the evening, indicating that timing could affect dementia diagnosis and monitoring.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·5 min read

Genetic Variants Linked to Alzheimer’s Trigger Inflammation in Females

Researchers have discovered that two genetic variants, APOE4 and TREM2 R47H, together cause a harmful inflammatory response in brain immune cells, particularly in females. This response leads to more severe brain damage, including tau protein clumps, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·5 min read

New Astrocyte Target for Alzheimer’s Therapy

Researchers have identified a novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease by focusing on astrocytes, non-neuronal brain cells involved in waste removal. They found that astrocytic autophagy clears amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomers, toxic proteins in Alzheimer’s patients, and helps restore cognitive functions.

This shows a brain, tomatoes and carrots.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·3 min read

Food Compound May Extend Lifespan and Reduce Alzheimer’s Symptoms

arotenoid phytoene can extend the lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by up to 18.6% and slow paralysis linked to amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. This study, which used phytoene extracts from microalgae, showed a reduction in plaque-related damage by up to 40%. These promising results pave the way for future studies to explore the mechanisms behind phytoene's protective effects. The findings highlight phytoene’s potential as a beneficial compound in food and cosmetic products for health and longevity.