News

African-Americans have lower expression of two biomarkers of Alzheimer’s, suggesting a possible race-dependent biological mechanism that contributes to the development of the disease, a study shows. This discrepancy between African-American and white patients is particularly relevant for those who carry the ApoE4 variant of the ApoE gene. The study, “…

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…

With a new $5-million commitment, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s (ADDF) Diagnostics Accelerator initiative is expanding its focus on frontotemporal degeneration, the most common form of dementia for individuals under 60. The funds come from a new research pledge of $2.5 million from The Association for Frontotemporal…

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…

Inhibiting a protein called NHE6 is a potential strategy to prevent the damaging effect of ApoE4 and the associated risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests. The study, “Reversal of ApoE4-induced recycling block as a novel prevention approach for Alzheimer’s disease,” was led by University of…

A study has identified the gene that explains why excitatory neurons — brain cells that excite their targets — are more vulnerable to accumulations of abnormal tau protein aggregates, which are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. The research article, “A tau homeostasis signature is linked with the cellular and…

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…

Brain nerve cells of Alzheimer’s disease patients can produce thousands of variants of the APP gene, which codes for β-amyloid protein, a hallmark of the disease, researchers say. An enzyme important to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a key player in APP’s genetic diversity, supporting the potential…