Alzheimers News
Why Finding Your Purpose Could Be Crucial to Brain Health
- Dementia Risk: Two Newly Identified Factors You Should Know
August 12, 2024 — Researchers have identified two new ways that people can reduce their risk of getting dementia. Here's what to know.
- Understanding Cognitive Tests: What They Can and Can't Do
July 30, 2024 — With the term “cognitive test” now part of everyday conversation, brain health experts are welcoming the chance to explain exactly what these tests can and can’t do.
- Treatable Condition Misdiagnosed as Dementia in Many Cases
July 23, 2024 — Patients with dementia may instead have a brain disorder that is the treatable cause of cognitive impairment often caused by cirrhosis.
- Newly Approved Alzheimer's Drug Offers More Promise
July 9, 2024 — Donanemab is the first therapy targeting amyloid plaques that can be stopped once these plaques are removed. This could potentially reduce treatment costs and the number of required infusions.
- Falling Behind on Bills Could Be Sign of Coming Dementia
July 9, 2024 — In the 5 years before a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or similar condition, people were more likely to be late on payments, the researchers found.
- Cardiovascular Health Becoming a Major Risk Factor for Dementia
June 28, 2024 — In a shifting landscape in dementia risk factors, cardiovascular health is now taking precedence, according to new research.
- Independent FDA Panel Endorses New Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
June 11, 2024 — An FDA advisory panel unanimously gave a green light on Monday to the Alzheimer’s disease treatment donanemab for use during early stages of the disease.
- APOE4 Testing: To Know or Not to Know Alzheimer's Risk
June 7, 2024 — Alzheimer’s disease researchers recently suggested that genetics alone could identify in advance up to 20% of the people who are ultimately diagnosed with the devastating form of dementia.
- Brain Scans After Memory Shifts May Show Alzheimer's Risk
May 30, 2024 — Older people at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease who reported significant memory problems in the past year were more likely to have early signs of the disease in their brains, compared to people who didn’t report major memory changes, according to a new study.
- Olive Oil May Lower Your Risk of Dementia-Related Death
May 7, 2024 — Consuming just a half tablespoon a day was shown to reduce the risk of dying from dementia-related causes.
- Human Brains Getting Bigger: Good News for Dementia Risk?
March 27, 2024 — The size of the human brain has increased over time, a new finding that may help explain a previously reported decline in incident dementia.
- Essential Tremor Tied to Greater Risk of Dementia
March 13, 2024 — Dementia is three times more common among people with essential tremor, results from a longitudinal study show.
- For Many, Stigma of Hearing Loss Brings Trouble; Here's What May Help
February 21, 2024 — Experts say that resistance to treatment is deeply rooted in stigma. We’re more likely to ignore hearing loss because of its connection with old age and the clunky hearing aids we remember our grandparents wearing in our youth.
- New Blood Analysis May Predict Dementia 10 Years in Advance
February 13, 2024 — A new way of assessing proteins in a person’s blood may be able to predict the likelihood of developing dementia more than a decade later, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature Aging.
- Five Lifestyle Factors That May Help Prevent Dementia
February 6, 2024 — People who live a healthy lifestyle may be more resilient to brain changes that can cause symptoms of dementia, compared to people with the same brain changes who don’t have healthy habits in five key areas, an important new study shows.
- Inexpensive Blood Test Can Screen for Alzheimer’s: Study
January 23, 2024 — A blood test that’s already commercially available is nearly as accurate as more invasive tests like spinal taps at detecting potential signs of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows.
- Positive Personality Traits May Protect Against Dementia: Study
December 11, 2023 — New research suggests that a person’s personality and outlook on life may affect the risk of being diagnosed with dementia. People with the lowest risk tend to be creative, curious, and agreeable. People with increased risk tend to be anxious, depressed, and frequently experience distressing or negative emotions.
- HDL Cholesterol Levels Linked to Dementia Risk
December 1, 2023 — People with unusually high levels of HDL, the so-called “good cholesterol,” may be more likely to develop dementia, new research suggests.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Underdiagnosed, Research Suggests
October 25, 2023 — Most people who have mild thinking problems that could be early signs of dementia won’t get diagnosed during a primary care visit, potentially missing out on preventive treatments, according to researchers from the University of Southern California.
- Infographic: In 2023, Dementia Risks Are Everywhere, It Seems
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.
- Air Pollution Linked to Higher Dementia Risk: Study
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.
- Long-Term Use of Acid Reflux Drugs Linked to Dementia 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.
- Alzheimer’s Blood Test Becomes Available to Consumers
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.
- Dementia Patients Sent to ER at Staggering Rates: Study
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.
- Depression Triples Risk of Dementia for Adults Under Age 60, Study Says
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.
- Finger-Prick Blood Test Promising for Alzheimer's Diagnosis
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.
- New Report Shows U.S. Counties With Highest Alzheimer’s Rates
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.
- Crosswords, Crafts Linked to Dementia Prevention: Study
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.
- Major Change Proposed in How Alzheimer’s Is Diagnosed
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.
- Untreated Vision Problems Linked to Dementia Risk
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.
- The Link Between Anemia and Alzheimer’s: What to Know
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.
- FDA OK of Alzheimer’s Drug Brings Hope, Some Safety Concerns
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.
- FDA Approves New Drug to Slow Alzheimer’s Disease
July 6, 2023 — Study data shows the drug may slow Alzheimer’s progression by 27% over 18 months.
- Dementia Risk Linked to Cholesterol Fluctuations: Study
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.
- Study Finds Link Between Liver Disease and Brain Health
June 27, 2023 — Researchers at Yale University say they have found a connection between liver fibrosis, or scarring, and reduced mental ability.
- Cholesterol, Blood Pressure Genes Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk
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.
- Experimental Drug Significantly Slows Alzheimer's: 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.
- AI Voice Analysis Could Boost Alzheimer’s Detection
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.
- Apathy May Be Alzheimer’s Red Flag in Some People
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.
- Restless Legs Syndrome May Boost Dementia Risk
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.
- Alzheimer’s Cases Will Double by 2050, Association Says
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.
- Mediterranean Diet Cuts Dementia Risk, Regardless of Genetic Risk
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.
- VHA to Cover Cost of Drug for Early Alzheimer’s
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.
- Black People Less Likely to be Prescribed Dementia Medications
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.
- Mediterranean Diets Reduced Signs of Alzheimer’s in Brain Tissue
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
- Taking Vitamin D Reduces Likelihood of Dementia: Study
March 2, 2023 — Taking vitamin D may help prevent dementia, a large new study suggests.
- ChatGPT's AI Could Help Catch Alzheimer's Early
February 3, 2023 — The AI everyone's talking about identified Alzheimer's 80% of the time by analyzing people's speech.
- Social Isolation Increases Risk of Dementia for Older People, Study Says
January 18, 2023 — Older people who are socially isolated face a 27% higher risk of developing dementia, a new Johns Hopkins study says.
- What to Know About Newly Approved Alzheimer's Drug
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.