Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

An investigational Alzheimer’s treatment called bryostatin-1 failed to meet its primary goal — lesser evidence of dementia in people with more severe disease — in a Phase 2 clinical trial, Neurotrope, the company developing the therapy, announced in a press release. Bryostatin-1 is a molecule that activates protein…

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to three companies that sell cannabis-based products containing cannabidiol (CBD), cautioning them that making unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of CBD could lead to legal action. The agency “urges the companies to review all claims made for their…

A gene associated with a rare balance disorder also may be involved in susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, a new study in mice shows. The study, “Loss of Ataxin-1 Potentiates Alzheimer’s Pathogenesis by Elevating Cerebral BACE1 Transcription,” was published in the journal Cell. Mutations that affect a gene’s…

Better understanding the mathematics behind how protein clumps form — and how therapies interfere with this process — may improve treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s, and other diseases, new research suggests. The study, “Optimal control strategies for inhibition of protein aggregation,” was published in PNAS. Protein aggregation is…

Having close relatives with Alzheimer’s disease is linked to poorer memory, a new study has found. The study, titled “Family history of Alzheimer’s disease alters cognition and is modified by medical and genetic factors,” was published in eLIFE. Having a family history of Alzheimer’s disease and…

Differences in how proteins move in the brain at older ages may explain why the risk of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age, according to a new study in mice. The study, “Experimental evidence for the age dependence of tau protein spread in the brain,” was published…

A diet low in carbohydrates may have cognitive benefits for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, a small study suggests. “Preliminary Report on the Feasibility and Efficacy of the Modified Atkins Diet for Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer’s Disease” was published in the Journal…

A connection discovered between Alzheimer’s and the bacteria that cause gum disease suggests that improved oral hygiene may decrease the risk of developing the disorder, a study reports. The study, “Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors,” was…