Patricia Inacio, PhD, science writer —

Using a new type of approach called epigenetics, researchers were able to temporarily rescue memory and cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The study showed that epigenetic changes — external modifications to DNA to turn genes on or off without changing the actual DNA sequence — are…

Alzheimer’s disease patients who take anti-epileptic therapies have a higher number of accumulated days spent in the hospital than those not prescribed this type of medication, a study reports. The study, “Antiepileptic Drugs and Accumulation of Hospital Days Among Persons With Alzheimer’s Disease,” was published in The…

United Neuroscience’s Alzheimer’s vaccine candidate UB-311 was found safe and well-tolerated, triggering an antibody response against beta-amyloid in most of the patients, according to Phase 2a trial results. “These early results suggest a clinical response and support the continued and rapid development of UB-311. The intent of this Phase 2a study was to…

A medicine being developed to treat stroke patients may help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease by suppressing the accumulation of toxic amyloid-beta during the early stages of the disease and preventing memory loss, a mouse study shows. The study “3K3A-activated protein C blocks amyloidogenic BACE1 pathway and improves…

People 60 or older with a disrupted pattern of deep sleep — the one that helps memory formation — have a higher accumulation of the Alzheimer’s hallmark tau protein in their brains, a study reports. These findings highlight how poor-quality sleep later in life is a potential sign of brain health…

Throughout 2018, Alzheimer’s News Today brought you stories of important discoveries, treatment developments, clinical trials, and other events related to Alzheimer’s disease. As we look forward to providing more news to those living with Alzheimer’s as well as their family members and caregivers this year, here are the 10 most-read stories…

A maternal diet supplemented with choline, an essential nutrient, reduced the number of amyloid plaque deposits and improved memory across two generations of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, a study reports. These findings support the long-lasting effects of dietary choline and suggest that a maternal choline-rich diet may help…

A small molecule delivered orally for 56 days improved memory in mice carrying the ApoE4 gene, the most common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The molecule, called A03 and initially developed as a candidate therapy for depression, increased the levels of a protective protein, called sirtuin 1, in the hippocampus — a brain…

Salt together with acidic conditions can change the 3D structure of the beta2-microglobulin protein and promote the formation of amyloid fibrils — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, “Conformational properties relevant to the amyloidogenicity of beta2-migroglobulin analyzed using pressure and salt dependent chemical shift data” was published in…

An intellectually active lifestyle may help protect against neurodegeneration, delaying symptoms and loss of the brain’s gray matter, which is essential for motor control and sensory perception, a study shows. The study, “An active cognitive lifestyle as a potential neuroprotective factor in Huntington’s disease,” was published in…