Author Archives: Joana Fernandes, PhD

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease may have more bacteria — and different types — in their brains, compared to the general population, according to results of a new study. These findings support that bacterial infection and inflammation may contribute to the development of this devastating disease. The study is titled “…

Pain Therapeutics will soon launch a Phase 1 clinical trial to study the safety and efficacy of PTI-125 in treating Alzheimer’s disease. The announcement came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the company’s investigational new drug application for the therapy. It follows a recently awarded $1.7 million research grant by the…

A cell death mechanism linked to neuron loss in ALS and stroke also plays a role in neuron loss in Alzheimer’s, a study reports. The insight could lead to ways to stop neuron death in Alzheimer’s and to the development of therapies. Scientists have known that the cell death mechanism, necroptosis,…

A poor night’s sleep may increase the levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, say researchers, noting that their findings may be especially important for people with chronic sleep disorders. The study by scientists at Stanford University, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Radboud University Medical Centre in…

An enzyme called asparagine endopeptidase contributes to Parkinson’s as well as Alzheimer’s by slicing off fragments of proteins that end up being toxic, a study reports. Previous researched showed that the enzyme, also known as AEP, plays a role in Alzheimer’s. The new study indicates it plays a role in Parkinson’s,…

A mutation in the BDNF gene can accelerate loss of memory and cognitive function in people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, according to a study. The study, “BDNF Val66Met predicts cognitive decline in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention,” was published in the journal Neurology. BDNF is an…

Alzheimer’s deaths in the United States have jumped more than 50 percent in 15 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One reason for the increase is that physicians are diagnosing the condition better, adding a lot more deaths to the Alzheimer’s category. Another reason is that Americans are…

A high-fat, high-sugar diet may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people carrying the ApoE4 gene, according to a new study, “Obesity Accelerates Alzheimer-Related Pathology in APOE4 but Not APOE3 Mice,” that appeared in the journal eNeuro. Obesity is considered an environmental risk factor for Alzheimer’s, while the strongest genetic…

Higher levels of a molecule called anthranilic acid could signal that a person is at increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study. The research, “Association of amine biomarkers with incident dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the Framingham Study,” was published in the journal…

Acadia Pharmaceuticals plans to start a Phase 3 clinical program to explore the effect of Nuplazid (pimavanserin) in Alzheimer’s disease patients with psychosis. The medication was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2016 to treat similar problems with Parkinson’s patients. “We’re very pleased with…