News

Fasudil, a chemical inhibitor used to treat strokes, may prevent early nerve cell impairment and sustainment of beta-amyloid damaging effects, opening new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a mouse study. These findings could not only help researchers understand the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s development and progression, but also may shed light…

A previously unknown genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias has been uncovered. The culprit, known as humanin, is a neuroprotective factor known to decrease with age. It can protect brain cells from accumulating amyloid beta — a key player in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. “Because of the…

The percentage of U.S. residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias will double by 2060, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  In 2014, roughly five million adults ages 65 and over had Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). That’s 1.6 percent of the U.S.

A newly developed strategy may help researchers identify which people with mild cognitive impairment are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study, “Utilizing Semantic Intrusions to Identify Amyloid Positivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment,” was published in the journal Neurology. There is a critical need to develop disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s…

An investigational antibody effectively targeted toxic protein aggregation in the brain of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, improving memory and cognitive functions in the animals. University of the Witwatersrand researchers are now planning Phase 1 of human clinical trials with 30 to 50 volunteers who have Alzheimer’s. If the results are positive, the team hopes…

Individuals and organizations internationally are marking World Alzheimer’s Day, Sept. 21, by focusing efforts on increasing awareness and challenging stigmas about Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. For the seventh consecutive year, September is World Alzheimer’s Month. Every 68 seconds, someone somewhere develops the progressive disease that…

Nuplazid (pimavanserin) is more effective in reducing severe psychotic symptoms — particularly hallucinations and delusions — in Alzheimer’s disease patients than in those with milder symptoms, according to additional Phase 2 clinical trial results. The study, “Pimavanserin in Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis: Efficacy in Patients with…

The absolute 10-year risk of dementia varies according to age, gender, and common variation in the APOE gene, according to a large-scale Danish study. This discovery may help identify high-risk individuals who may benefit from early targeted intervention to prevent dementia’s development and progression. The study, “Absolute…

Flortaucipir, an investigational imaging agent, was able to efficiently detect Tau protein aggregates and related Alzheimer’s disease brain changes, meeting both of its primary objectives in a Phase 3 trial. Results of the trial revealed that flortaucipir demonstrated great sensitivity in identifying tau-related damage and predicting Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.

Excessive daytime sleepiness or napping is associated with increased beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, a major characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study that followed patients for more than 15 years. The study, “Excessive daytime sleepiness and napping in cognitively normal adults: associations with subsequent amyloid…