Alzheimers News & Features

October 4, 2023 — Without definitive studies to say, “This causes dementia,” investigators look for associations. It’s an early form of research that can reveal a link between a risk factor and dementia/Alzheimer’s.

August 15, 2023 — About 188,000 new dementia cases annually may be linked to air pollution, according to new research from the University of Michigan. Older people who live in places with high levels of agricultural or wildfire air pollution are at a particularly higher risk.

August 10, 2023 — Prolonged use of acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors could increase the risk of developing dementia, a new study shows.

August 1, 2023 — The first direct-to-consumer blood test for an early Alzheimer’s indicator is now available from Quest Diagnostics, revealing the risk for the disease years before symptoms appear.

July 31, 2023 — People with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are visiting emergency departments at rates that suggest their caregivers are struggling and don’t have better options, according to researchers from the University of Michigan.

July 25, 2023 — People diagnosed with depression in early adulthood or middle age have a tripled risk of getting dementia, and older adults with depression have a doubled risk of the neurological disorder, according to a new study of people in Denmark.

When you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, relationship-centered care can help you maintain your relationship as the disease progresses.

Agitation and anxiety are common Alzheimer’s symptoms. Learn creative ways to calm your loved one and help take the angst out of Alzheimer’s.

July 20, 2023 — An easy-to-administer method of blood collection could make accurate diagnoses and regular monitoring easier for patients with suspected cognitive impairment.

July 18, 2023 — The highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease occur in the East and Southeast parts of the United States, according to a new analysis.

July 17, 2023 — Older people who use computers, take classes, or do crossword puzzles may be enjoying activities that ultimately reduce their risk of having dementia, a new study shows.

July 17, 2023 — International experts are proposing that Alzheimer’s disease should be diagnosed using biomarkers – traits of a person’s health obtained by taking blood, fluid, and tissue samples – rather than testing memory and observing symptoms.

July 14, 2023 — People who have vision problems but don’t wear glasses or seek treatment, such as surgery, are more likely to have dementia, according to the most comprehensive study on the topic in 15 years.

July 11, 2023 — Around 10% of people over 65 in the U.S. have anemia, or an iron deficiency in their blood. This is an important statistic, because researchers now believe that anemia may have a significant connection to Alzheimer's disease. Here's what to know.

July 7, 2023 — With no cure in sight, any new approval ushers in hope, including with an agent like Leqembi that slowed progression of the disease an average of 27% in research.

July 6, 2023 — Study data shows the drug may slow Alzheimer’s progression by 27% over 18 months.

July 6, 2023 — Older people who have large changes in the amount of fat in their blood may have a higher risk of getting dementia, a new study shows.

June 27, 2023 — Researchers at Yale University say they have found a connection between liver fibrosis, or scarring, and reduced mental ability.

Creativity may help you form a relationship with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Learn how creative care can help you reconnect to someone who has memory loss.

May 18, 2023 — People whose genes make them more likely to have certain kinds of high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.

May 4, 2023 — The anti-amyloid hopeful markedly reduced brain amyloid plaque and significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in adults with early Alzheimer's disease.

April 14, 2023 — Using artificial intelligence to analyze a recording of someone’s voice could cut the duration of an Alzheimer’s screening from several hours to less than 10 minutes.

April 7, 2023 — A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease looked at apathy in people with mild cognitive impairment, finding that apathy may be a red flag for the disease in people with the MCI.

March 24, 2023 — Restless legs syndrome may be a risk factor for dementia or a very early warning sign of dementia in older adults, new research hints.

March 16, 2023 — The number of Alzheimer’s cases in the U.S. is rising along with the country’s aging population, and experts predict the number of patients will double to almost 13 million by 2050.

March 14, 2023 — In a large study of older adults, close following of a Mediterranean diet was tied to a 23% lower risk of getting dementia over an average of 9 years.

March 14, 2023 — The Veterans Health Administration will cover the costs of drug treatment Leqembi, the manufacturer Eisai has announced. Veterans in the early stages of the memory-depleting disease Alzheimer’s who meet VHA criteria will be eligible, Eisai said in a statement. The company is developing the drug with Biogen.

March 10, 2023 — Black people who are diagnosed with dementia are significantly less likely than white people to be prescribed medications for the disease, according to a new study. Among five types of medications commonly used to treat dementia, the prescribing rate was as much as 19 percentage points lower for Black people than white people.

March 9, 2023 — Following the MIND or Mediterranean diet may hold back changes in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease by the equivalent of up to 18 years of aging

March 2, 2023 — Taking vitamin D may help prevent dementia, a large new study suggests.

After 30 years of intensive research, science is nowhere near a cure for Alzheimer’s disease — an illness that affects more than 55 million people worldwide. Are we doing something wrong?

February 3, 2023 — The AI everyone's talking about identified Alzheimer's 80% of the time by analyzing people's speech.

January 18, 2023 — Older people who are socially isolated face a 27% higher risk of developing dementia, a new Johns Hopkins study says.

January 6, 2023 — It's not a cure, but the drug, given intravenously every 2 weeks, has shown moderate positive effects in clinical trials in slowing early-stage disease.

January 6, 2023 — The FDA has approved lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease, even though trial results showed modest cognitive benefits and cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities

December 30, 2022 — In November, actor Chris Hemsworth announced that he would be taking a leave from acting to focus on other things after discovering he has a genetic vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease. Here's what to know.

December 29, 2022 — A new blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, researchers say. The test would be cheaper, less invasive, and more readily available than current testing.

December 28, 2022 — Researchers have developed a blood test for Alzheimer's disease that could pave the way for better research and less invasive diagnosis of the disease. Scientists are particularly hopeful that the new test will facilitate a needed increase in diversity among research study participants.

December 12, 2022 — The holiday season can be a time when extended family members notice cognitive changes in loved ones that they don't see on a regular basis. Here's what to know.

December 7, 2022 — The U.S. government is investing millions to investigate voice analysis as a tool for diagnosing a wide range of diseases, including Alzheimer’s, depression, and autism.

November 30, 2022 — The FDA is expected to decide whether to approve the drug in January. The agency has approved only one other similar treatment, the highly controversial and expensive aducanumab (Aduhelm).

Day after day, year after year, the struggles caregivers face, both big and small, take their toll.

There’s no cure for dementia-related psychosis. But there are steps you can take to help you and your loved one live with the disease and its symptoms.

Seeing signs of psychosis in a person with dementia may be harder than it seems. The first step: Asking questions of everyone involved.

It can be hard to talk with your loved one if they believe things that aren’t true. But the right skills can help you communicate with someone who has dementia-related psychosis.

Psychotic episodes -- like hallucinations or delusions -- related to dementia can be scary for all involved. But there are ways to diagnose and treat the condition.

Caregivers for people with dementia-related psychosis can play a big role in a loved one’s care plan and can help provide a better quality of life for as long as possible.

Toy dolls can bring children comfort. And they may provide a similar perk later in life for people with dementia.

Are you worried that you're at risk for the disease? See if an at-home test might give you insights into your thinking and memory skills.