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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…

A new test using patients’ saliva may be helpful in distinguishing between Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, and normal brain function, new research reports. The study, “Alzheimer’s Biomarkers From Multiple Modalities Selectively Discriminate Clinical Status: Relative Importance of Salivary Metabolomics Panels, Genetic, Lifestyle, Cognitive, Functional Health and…

A newly identified “tracer” molecule that binds to and “lights up” aggregates of tau — a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias – showed promise as a way to diagnose Alzheimer’s and measure the effectiveness of treatment in patients, researchers reported. The study, “First in‐human PET study of…

Personalized music interventions may help enhance joy and social interaction among people with dementia who attend adult day health centers, a small study reports. The study, “Results from a person-centered music intervention for individuals living with dementia” was published in the journal Geriatrics & Gerontology. Dementia, which affects a…

Extracts from three South African plants can help prevent the formation of toxic amyloid protein aggregates known to contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a research study revealed. This finding may help identify new active compounds to be explored as potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s. The study, “…

My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 15 years ago and passed away in 2013. I remember his final years well — the confusion, the despair, and the devastation on my father and uncle’s face as he would call them “sonny,” because he couldn’t remember their names.

Specific genes linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease also increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to results of a large genetic study. Researchers also found that managing the levels of lipids in the blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in…

Roughly 20 percent of Alzheimer’s disease patients in Finland combine sleeping pills (benzodiazepines) with strong painkillers (opioids), a practice that has been associated with serious risks, a study shows. These findings highlight the need for therapeutic strategies that reduce the unnecessary co-use of these compounds, according to the authors of…

  A new treatment using focused ultrasound to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease was successfully administered to a patient. The treatment, which involves incisionless surgery and no pharmaceuticals, is part of a worldwide Phase 2 trial. The trial (NCT03671889) is underway and recruiting up to 10 participants — men or…