Feature Channels: Alzheimer's and Dementia

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Released: 30-Mar-2017 10:05 AM EDT
Link between Common Prostate Cancer Treatment, Dementia Detailed in New Study
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

A new analysis of patients who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer shows a connection between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) – a testosterone-lowering therapy and a common treatment for the disease – and dementia, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

23-Mar-2017 11:00 AM EDT
Protein That Regulates Brain Cell Connections Could Be New Target for Treating Alzheimer's Disease
Johns Hopkins Medicine

In experiments with a protein called Ephexin5 that appears to be elevated in the brain cells of Alzheimer's disease patients and mouse models of the disease, Johns Hopkins researchers say removing it prevents animals from developing Alzheimer's characteristic memory losses. In a report on the studies, published online March 27 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers say the findings could eventually advance development of drugs that target Ephexin5 to prevent or treat symptoms of the disorder.

Released: 24-Mar-2017 4:40 PM EDT
Sniffing Out a New Strategy Against Alzheimer’s Disease
RUSH

Neurologists at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center are conducting an 18-month clinical trial testing a type of insulin delivered in a nasal spray – which is used to treat diabetes in some patients – in the Study of Nasal Insulin to Fight Forgetfulness (SNIFF).

Released: 24-Mar-2017 1:05 PM EDT
Gene Discovered Associated with Tau Pathology
RUSH

Investigators at Rush University Medical Center and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston reported the discovery of a new gene that is associated with susceptibility to a common form of brain pathology called Tau that accumulates in several different conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, certain forms of dementia and Parkinsonian syndromes as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy that occurs with repeated head injuries.

Released: 23-Mar-2017 12:05 PM EDT
California Researchers Awarded $100,000 Potamkin Prize for Dementia Research
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

The American Academy of Neurology is awarding two California researchers the 2017 Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases for their work in dementia research. Claudia Kawas, MD, of the University of California, Irvine, and Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, both members of the American Academy of Neurology, will be honored at the American Academy of Neurology’s 69th Annual Meeting in Boston.

Released: 23-Mar-2017 10:05 AM EDT
Researchers Focus on Cell Membranes to Develop Alzheimer's Treatments
University of Michigan

Thin parts of the cell membranes of neurons turn out to be particularly vulnerable to a protein that collects in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease, according to a University of Michigan researcher.

21-Mar-2017 12:05 AM EDT
Study Identifies Brain Cells Involved in Pavlovian Response
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

UCLA scientists have traced the Pavlovian response to a small cluster of brain cells -- the same neurons that go awry during Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Tourette syndrome. The research could one day help scientists find new approaches to diagnosing and treating these neurological disorders.

16-Mar-2017 2:05 PM EDT
Genetic Assessment Developed to Determine Risk for Age-Associated Alzheimer’s Disease
UC San Diego Health

An international team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and University of California San Francisco, has developed a novel genetic score that allows individuals to calculate their age-specific risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), based upon genetic information.

Released: 16-Mar-2017 4:05 AM EDT
NUS Study: Daily Consumption of Tea Protects the Elderly From Cognitive Decline
National University of Singapore (NUS)

A study led by Assistant Professor Feng Lei from National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has found that regular consumption of tea lowers the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly, and this is especially so for APOE e4 gene carriers who are genetically at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Released: 13-Mar-2017 9:00 AM EDT
FAU’s Brain Institute Commemorates ‘Brain Awareness Week’
Florida Atlantic University

From human behavior such as mother/infant bonding, addiction and communication disorders to devastating brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, neuroscientists and other researchers from FAU’s Brain Institute are at the forefront of innovative research that will generate knowledge to benefit society.

8-Mar-2017 7:05 AM EST
Rapid Blood Pressure Drops in Middle Age Linked to Dementia in Old Age
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Middle-aged people who experience temporary blood pressure drops that often cause dizziness upon standing up may be at an increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia 20 years later, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

7-Mar-2017 12:05 PM EST
Molecules Form Gels to Help Cells Sense and Respond to Stress
University of Chicago Medical Center

A specific protein inside cells senses threatening changes in its environment, such as heat or starvation, and triggers an adaptive response to help the cell continue to function and grow under stressful conditions, according to a new study by scientists from the University of Chicago.

7-Mar-2017 10:00 AM EST
Researchers Identify How Inflammation Spreads Through the Brain After Injury
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Researchers have identified a new mechanism by which inflammation can spread throughout the brain after injury. This mechanism may explain the widespread and long-lasting inflammation that occurs after traumatic brain injury, and may play a role in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Released: 7-Mar-2017 11:05 AM EST
Caffeine Boosts Enzyme That Could Protect Against Dementia
Indiana University

A study by Indiana University researchers has identified 24 compounds -- including caffeine -- with the potential to boost an enzyme in the brain shown to protect against dementia. The research appeared March 7 in the journal Scientific Reports.

28-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
Study Finds New Mechanism to Control Information Flow in the Brain
NYU Langone Health

Specialized nerve cells, known as somatostatin-expressing (Sst) interneurons, in the outer part of the mammalian brain (or cerebral cortex) — play a key role in controlling how information flows in the brain when it is awake and alert. This is the finding of a study published online in Science March 2 by a team of neuroscientists at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Neuroscience Institute.

Released: 28-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
Mayo Clinic Publishes Genetic Screen for Alzheimer’s in African-Americans
Mayo Clinic

A Mayo Clinic research team has found a new gene mutation that may be a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in African-Americans.

Released: 27-Feb-2017 5:05 PM EST
NeuroVision Announces Participation in Landmark Alzheimer’s A4 Study Evaluating Its Novel Retinal Imaging Technology
PR Pacific

NeuroVision Imaging LLC (“NeuroVision”) today announced its participation in a new substudy with investigators at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine (UC San Diego) and the University of Southern California (USC) to be part of the landmark Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s (or “A4”) clinical trial. The purpose of the A4 study is to test whether a new investigational treatment that may reduce beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain can also slow memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

   
Released: 24-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
Alzheimer’s Drug Prescribed ‘Off-Label’ for Mild Cognitive Impairment Could Pose Risk for Some
UCLA School of Nursing

Donepezil, a medication that is approved to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease, should not be prescribed for people with mild cognitive impairment without a genetic test.

Released: 23-Feb-2017 3:05 PM EST
New Mobile App Helps Families, Individuals Cope with Dementia
University of Illinois Chicago

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing have developed a free mobile app for individuals suffering from dementia, their families and caregivers, as a way to improve the quality-of-life, well-being and knowledge of the disease that affects nearly 48 million people worldwide.

Released: 22-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
New Study to Document Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Factors in Latinos
RUSH

Rush University Medical Center has launched a unique, cohort study called Latino Core to learn about the aging process and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in older Latino adults.

17-Feb-2017 12:55 PM EST
Cedars-Sinai Investigators Identify Human Brain Processes Critical to Short-Term Memory
Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai neuroscientists have uncovered processes involved in how the human brain creates and maintains short-term memories. This study is the first clear demonstration of precisely how human brain cells work to create and recall short-term memories. Confirmation of this process and the specific brain regions involved is a critical step in developing meaningful treatments for memory disorders that affect millions of Americans.

Released: 16-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
A Method Based on Artificial Intelligence Allows to Diagnose Alzheimer's or Parkinson's
University of Granada

Researchers from the UGR and UMA have designed a technique that aims to model high-level data abstractions to make computers learn to differentiate the brain of a healthy person from that of an ill person by extracting the affected regions.

Released: 15-Feb-2017 5:05 PM EST
Kennesaw State University Scientists Conducting Cutting-Edge Research
Kennesaw State University

Two Kennesaw State University scientists have received a total of $737,364 in National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health grants for developmental biology research into autism and birth defects.

   
10-Feb-2017 9:15 AM EST
Study: Hormone Therapy May Not Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

The latest study on hormone therapy and Alzheimer’s disease shows no relationship between taking the drugs and whether you may develop the disease years later. Some previous studies have shown that hormone therapy may increase the risk of the disease, while others have shown that it may reduce the risk. The new study was published in the February 15, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

8-Feb-2017 8:05 AM EST
Imbalance of Calcium in a Cell's Energy Factory May Drive Alzheimer's Disease
Biophysical Society

Calcium in the mitochondria -- the energy factory of cells -- may be one of the keys to understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Researchers at Temple University have now identified how an imbalance of calcium ions in the mitochondria may contribute to cell death and, specifically, neurodegeneration in brain cells during Alzheimer's and dementia. The findings could eventually point to new therapies for preventing or delaying these diseases. The team will present its work during the 61st Meeting of the Biophysical Society.

   
9-Feb-2017 1:05 PM EST
New Understandings of Cell Death Show Promise for Preventing Alzheimer’s
Biophysical Society

Currently, the predominant theory behind Alzheimer’s disease is the “amyloid hypothesis,” which states that abnormally increased levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides outside of brain cells produce a variety of low molecular weight Aβ aggregates that are toxic to the nervous system. These Aβ aggregates interact directly with target cells and lead to cell death. During the Biophysical Society’s meeting, being held Feb. 11-15, 2017, Antonio De Maio will present his work hunting for the specific mechanisms behind Aβ-induced toxicity to cells, or cytoxicity.

Released: 13-Feb-2017 4:15 PM EST
Alzheimer’s May Be Linked to Defective Brain Cells Spreading Disease
Rutgers University

Rutgers scientists say neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s may be linked to defective brain cells disposing toxic proteins that make neighboring cells sick. In a study published in Nature, Monica Driscoll, distinguished professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, and her team, found that while healthy neurons should be able to sort out and rid brain cells of toxic proteins and damaged cell structures without causing problems, laboratory findings indicate that it does not always occur.

9-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
Cellular Quality Control Process Could Be Huntington’s Disease Drug Target
Duke Health

The loss of motor function and mental acuity associated with Huntington’s disease might be treatable by restoring a cellular quality control process, which Duke Health researchers have identified as a key factor in the degenerative illness.

Released: 10-Feb-2017 4:05 PM EST
Leon Thal’s Enduring Leadership in AD Research
UC San Diego Health

A remembrance of Leon Thal, MD, an early giant of Alzheimer’s disease research and treatment by Howard Feldman, MDCM, current director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Released: 6-Feb-2017 4:25 PM EST
Alzheimer’s Disease Researchers Solve Mystery of Beguiling Protein
Case Western Reserve University

Leading neuroscientists have clarified the role of a controversial immune system protein in Alzheimer’s disease, showing it has opposing effects in early and late stages of the disease. Their discovery unites previous studies that left researchers conflicted and showed the protein both exacerbates and ameliorates disease symptoms. The updated model of disease progression, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, also highlights the need to align certain therapies with disease stages when treating the 1 in 9 Americans over 65 living with Alzheimer’s.

Released: 6-Feb-2017 1:00 PM EST
Photo Gallery: USC Stevens Hall Installs the First Next-Generation 7T MRI Machine in North America
Keck Medicine of USC

Photo Gallery: Magnet the Weight of 30 Elephants Lowered Through Roof of USC Stevens Hall for Next-Gen 7T MRI Machine

Released: 30-Jan-2017 12:05 PM EST
Mayo Clinic Researchers Find Mental Activities May Protect Against Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mayo Clinic

PHOENIX – Mayo Clinic researchers have found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities, even late in life, may protect against new-onset mild cognitive impairment, which is the intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia. The study found that cognitively normal people 70 or older who engaged in computer use, craft activities, social activities and playing games had a decreased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. The results are published in the Jan. 30 edition of JAMA Neurology.

20-Jan-2017 12:05 PM EST
Drug Compound Halts Alzheimer’s-Related Damage in Mice
Washington University in St. Louis

In some people, the brain protein tau collects into toxic tangles that damage brain cells and contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a drug that can lower tau levels and prevent some neurological damage.

Released: 24-Jan-2017 6:00 AM EST
Georgetown Clinical Trial of Nilotinib in Alzheimer’s Disease Begins
Georgetown University Medical Center

A clinical trial to examine the effect of nilotinib on clinical outcomes and biomarkers in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease has opened at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Released: 23-Jan-2017 2:30 PM EST
This Man Is Revolutionizing Our Understanding of Motor Neuron Diseases and Dementias
Case Western Reserve University

Xinglong Wang’s team published a study in the January 2017 issue of Molecular Therapy that is seen as confirming the relevance of this neurotoxic pathway, according to an accompanying editorial by Eloise Hudry, PhD, of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit at Harvard Medical School. This paper also confirms TDP-43 inhibition as a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of neurologic disorders, including Alzheimer disease.

23-Jan-2017 2:15 PM EST
Deep Brain Stimulation Studies in Alzheimer’s Disease Pose Ethical Challenges
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Promising, early studies of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease have paved a path for future clinical trials, but there are unique ethical challenges with this vulnerable population regarding decision making and post-study treatment access that need to be addressed as they ramp up, Penn Medicine researchers argue in a new review in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Released: 19-Jan-2017 3:05 PM EST
Older Adults with Arthritis Need Just 45 Minutes of Activity Per Week
Northwestern University

Older adults who suffer from arthritis need to keep moving to be functionally independent. But in an examination of a goal that is daunting for most of this aging population, a new Northwestern Medicine study found that performing even a third of the recommended activity is beneficial.

18-Jan-2017 9:05 AM EST
In Alzheimer’s, Excess Tau Protein Damages Brain’s GPS
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have linked excess tau protein in the brain to the spatial disorientation that leads to wandering in many Alzheimer's disease patients. The findings, in mice, could lead to early diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's and point to treatments for this common and troubling symptom.

Released: 18-Jan-2017 1:05 PM EST
Study Identifies Molecular Signal for Maintaining Adult Neuron
 Johns Hopkins University

Research in mice points to better understanding of how the structure of nerve cells in the adult hippocampus may deteriorate, which can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders.

16-Jan-2017 11:05 AM EST
Delirium Could Accelerate Dementia-Related Mental Decline
University College London

When hospitalised, people can become acutely confused and disorientated. This condition, known as delirium, affects a quarter of older patients and new research by UCL and the University of Cambridge shows it may have long-lasting consequences, including accelerating the dementia process.

11-Jan-2017 6:00 AM EST
Steroid Originally Discovered in the Dogfish Shark Attacks Parkinson’s-Related Toxin in Animal Model
Georgetown University Medical Center

A synthesized steroid mirroring one naturally made by the dogfish shark prevents the buildup of a lethal protein implicated in some neurodegenerative diseases, reports an international research team studying an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. The clustering of this protein, alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein), is the hallmark of Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies, suggesting a new potential compound for therapeutic research.

Released: 11-Jan-2017 12:05 PM EST
Researchers Find a Potential Target for Anti-Alzheimer's Treatments
University of Luxembourg

Scientists at the University of Luxembourg have identified a gene that may provide a new starting point for developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Released: 10-Jan-2017 8:05 AM EST
Couch Potatoes Face Same Chance of Dementia as Those with Genetic Risk Factors: Research
McMaster University

Sedentary older adults with no genetic risk factors for dementia may be just as likely to develop the disease as those who are genetically predisposed, according to a major study which followed more than 1,600 Canadians over five years.

Released: 5-Jan-2017 8:05 AM EST
Evidence of Alzheimer’s in Patients with Lewy Body Disease Tracks with Course of Dementia
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Patients who had a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease with dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies and had higher levels of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in their donated post-mortem brains also had more severe symptoms of these Lewy body diseases during their lives, compared to those whose brains had less AD pathology

Released: 4-Jan-2017 2:05 PM EST
First Study of Diet's Impact on Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease Begins in January
RUSH

The first study of its kind designed to test the effects of a diet on the decline of cognitive abilities among a large group of individuals 65 to 84 years who currently do not have cognitive impairment will begin in January.

Released: 3-Jan-2017 2:05 PM EST
Investigational New Drug for Alzheimer’s Scheduled for First Study in Humans
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University scientists have received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that testing in humans may proceed for an investigational new drug after more than 10 years of research by scientists at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Released: 3-Jan-2017 1:05 PM EST
The Institute for Functional Medicine Announces Collaboration with Dale Bredesen's MPI Cognition
Institute for Functional Medicine

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with MPI Cognition, founded by Dale Bredesen, MD, to train clinicians in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. The program is titled Reversing Cognitive Decline: Advanced Clinical Training in Treating MCI and Early Alzheimer's Disease, and the first offering will be March 11-12, 2017, in Huntington Beach, CA.

Released: 20-Dec-2016 4:05 PM EST
Study Details Molecular Roots of Alzheimer’s
Washington University in St. Louis

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have detailed the structure of a molecule that has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing the shape of the molecule — and how that shape may be disrupted by certain genetic mutations — can help in understanding how Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases develop and how to prevent and treat them.

Released: 20-Dec-2016 12:05 PM EST
Penn Study Confirms That “Sniff Test” May Be Useful in Diagnosing Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Tests that measure the sense of smell may soon become common in neurologists’ offices. Scientists have been finding increasing evidence that the sense of smell declines sharply in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and now a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published today in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease confirms that administering a simple “sniff test” can enhance the accuracy of diagnosing this dreaded disease



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