News

Researchers have identified specific gene sites controlled by global regulator GABPa are linked to the development of metabolic and cognitive conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The study, “Human lineage-specific transcriptional regulation through GA binding protein transcription factor alpha (GABPa),” was published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Differences in gene…

New research from the University of Zurich and Vienna Medical University contradicts the conventional and more accepted theory that Alzheimer’s disease is not transmissible. Alzheimer’s-like pathology was detected in the brains of patients who received dura mater grafts and later died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The research paper, “Amyloid-β pathology and cerebral…

Dublin, Ireland-based Alkermes plc announced it will initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for its drug candidate ALKS7119 for the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer’s patients. Psychiatric symptoms such as agitation are the main cause of morbidity in Alzheimer’s patients and also a major burden among caregivers. There are currently no…

A National Football League broadcaster and former NFL player is urging Americans to “Huddle Up for New Alzheimer’s Treatments” by participating in clinical trials testing new drugs that may potentially treat the degenerative brain disease. The new educational and awareness-raising campaign teams Solomon Wilcots with Axovant Sciences, Ltd., and patient advocacy groups in…

A collaboration between researchers at the Institute for EthnoMedicine and the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank revealed that chronic exposure to an environmental toxin has the potential to increase the risk for neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. The research paper, “Dietary exposure to an environmental toxin triggers…

Buck Institute and UCLA researchers have discovered a new role for a specific genetic form (allele) of a certain gene, which might explain its status as the most important genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The research paper, “Direct Transcriptional Effects of Apolipoprotein E,” was published in…

Lack of sleep on a regular basis or waking up several times during the night may be harmful to the brain and increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to recent evidence. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease tend to sleep poorly and stay awake more often at night. However, researchers have…

PsychoGenics Inc. and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced a collaboration that opens PsychoGenics’ Alzheimer’s animal models and investigational services to recipients of ADDF grants who are working in preclinical Alzheimer’s drug discovery programs. Through the collabortion, PsychoGenics will offer its products and services to ADDF-funded biotechnology companies on “extremely favorable…

Neuralstem Inc. researchers have released the preclinical results of a human stem cell line with the potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease patients. The research paper, “Human Cortical Neural Stem Cells Expressing Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I: A Novel Cellular Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease,” was published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. Neuralstem’s…

Evotec AG has reached an important milestone concerning its TargetAD partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the transition of a product into further drug discovery process. Even though the announcement was made this year, the milestone was reached in 2015. Evotec’s TargetAD database is a customized system to provide unique information on the connection between molecular…