News

High levels of air pollution particles may increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in older women, according to results of a new study. These particles, found in emissions from power plants and cars, increase the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, by as much as 92%, especially in women…

Low glucose levels in the brain are known to lead memory problems and cognitive decline, and new research suggests they do so by triggering a series of molecular reactions that ultimately kill neurons. These findings provide fresh insight into changes that set the stage for Alzheimer’s disease. The research also identified a protein that appears…

Dan Gasby, a television producer, author, and Alzheimer’s disease advocate, is teaming up with the nonprofit American Brain Foundation (ABF) to support and advance research into brain and nervous system disorders, especially for African-Americans. He’ll undoubtedly be a strong voice on the ABF’s board of directors, to which he was recently appointed.

Researchers believe that processes that can be used to control immune reactions toward a virus may also be used to prevent neurodegeneration in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. To achieve this, researchers blocked the protein PLSCR1 in the brain — a move that prevented immune cells called microglia from attacking…

Neuronascent has been issued a U.S. patent for methods of stimulating neurogenesis and/or inhibiting neuronal degeneration that have potential therapeutic applications in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. The biopharma Neuronascent discovers and develops novel therapeutics aimed at halting or reversing neurological disorders. The…

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) are recruiting participants for a clinical trial to evaluate the cancer drug Tasigna (nilotinib) in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02947893) will evaluate how low doses of Tasigna impact safety, biomarkers, and…

Meditating or listening to music may benefit adults with preclinical memory loss, including those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a new study found. A West Virginia University research team, led by Kim Innes, PhD, conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial in 60 adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD),…

Cognitive decline can be triggered by the ApoE4 gene variant, but that trigger depends on environmental factors, a new study reports. This finding supports the idea that certain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, are influenced by the interaction between a person’s genes and environment. The study, “Apolipoprotein E4 Is Associated…

Selonterra researchers have discovered that the APOE4 gene impacts Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mechanisms in an entirely different way than previously believed. The mutation does not change the behavior of the protein itself, but triggers the activation of nearby genes, which may contribute to Alzheimer’s. The study,…

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and the Harrington Discovery Institute are calling for proposals for their 2017 ADDF-Harrington Scholar Award, which supports innovative research that aims to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Applicants are eligible to receive financial support over two years of up…