Tag

Alzheimers

All articles tagged with #alzheimers

health4 days ago•6 min saved

Midlife brain-immune shift linked to dementia risk

New research finds that around age 50 the brain’s protective microglia decline and are replaced by inflammatory cells from the blood, a shift that may raise dementia risk, including Alzheimer’s, and is accompanied by deterioration of the blood–brain barrier and widespread DNA/gene changes. The study analyzed postmortem hippocampal tissue from 40 adults across ages 20–95, a small, early-stage look that cannot prove causation but suggests a possible mechanism and potential for blood-derived immune cells to be targeted for future therapies. The work, funded by NIH and published in Science, highlights variability in brain aging and the need for further research into triggers and modifiers of this immune-cell replacement.

via Fox News|

#alzheimers #blood-brain-barrier #brain-aging

science4 days ago•5 min saved

Could Alzheimer’s Pathology Be Transmitted Through Blood Transfusions?

A Lancet review explores whether amyloid-beta pathology linked to Alzheimer’s could spread via blood transfusions. While not proven, prior work hints at transferable amyloid via medical procedures, and a 2023 Danish-Swedish study found recipients of transfusions from donors who later developed brain bleeds had higher recurrence risk, a clue connected to cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Experts urge caution, noting insufficient data to quantify risk, but advocate large-scale epidemiological studies and potential safeguards (donor biomarker screening, enhanced monitoring for high-risk patients). The UK infected blood inquiry is cited as a cautionary example of delaying safety measures, underscoring the need for transparency and preparedness.

via ScienceAlert|

#alzheimers #amyloid-beta #blood-transfusion

health12 days ago•43 min saved

Alzheimer’s Sleep Breakthrough: Blocking Brain Immune Cells Reverses Sleep Loss in Mice

UK researchers found microglia drive sleep loss in an Alzheimer's mouse model; temporarily removing these brain immune cells with the drug PLX3397 for 14 days restored more than two hours of restorative sleep, without reducing amyloid plaques, suggesting inflammation—not plaques alone—drives sleep disruption and offering a new target for therapies and potential EEG-based biomarkers.

via Good News Network|

#alzheimers #brain #health

health18 days ago•18 min saved

Florida Alzheimer’s Patient Sees Brain Plaques Clear After 18 Months on Kisunla Therapy

A 79-year-old Pompano Beach man with Alzheimer's completed 18 months of Kisunla infusions to target amyloid plaques, and a final PET scan showed the plaques had cleared. Doctors say the anti-amyloid therapy slows cognitive decline but is not a cure, and Broward Health North's Memory Disorder & Alzheimer's Center is treating more than 60 patients with Kisunla.

via VINnews|

#alzheimers #amyloid-plaques #broward-health-north

neuroscience22 days ago•2 min saved

Tau's mitochondrial twist fuels new Alzheimer's drug strategy

Stanford researchers found tau can trigger reverse electron transport in mitochondria, generating reactive oxygen species and cellular stress; blocking this retrograde flow reversed harmful effects and improved learning/memory in flies and mice, suggesting a novel therapeutic angle for Alzheimer’s. Early human cell/tissue data support the idea, and two authors have started a biotech startup to pursue further validation, though results in people remain unproven.

via STAT|

#alzheimers #mitochondria #neurodegeneration

science22 days ago•23 min saved

Pitt-CMU team uncovers chromatin changes in Alzheimer's brains

Pitt and CMU researchers used multi-layered single-cell and imaging technologies to show Alzheimer’s brains have reorganized chromatin, with active and inactive genome regions mingling more and altering gene activity tied to brain function and metabolism; this holistic, first-of-its-kind Pittsburgh collaboration using GAGE-Seq and Xenium imaging provides a new view of the disease beyond DNA alone and was published in Science.

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#alzheimers #chromatin #cmu

health26 days ago•51 min saved

Caregiving Never Ends: A Daughter’s 24/7 Battle with Alzheimer’s Care

A daughter chronicles orchestrating Medicaid-funded, around-the-clock in-home care for her mother who has Alzheimer's. While grateful that professional aides manage her mom’s daily needs—meal prep, safety, medication reminders, and doctor visits—the caregiving tasks dominate her life: constant calls, paperwork, emergencies, and coordinating with multiple providers. The emotional toll is heavy—she grapples with grief for her mother's former self while feeling drained and overwhelmed by the relentless, year-after-year responsibilities of long-term caregiving.

via Yahoo|

#alzheimers #caregiving #family-dynamics

health29 days ago•2 min saved

Greenville clinic drives Alzheimer’s drug trial toward FDA decision

A Greenville, South Carolina clinic is leading trials for Remternetug, a drug aimed at slowing Alzheimer’s by targeting an abnormal protein; about 40 Upstate patients have participated. The registry is no longer enrolling, but other studies in the area are seeking volunteers as the drug nears FDA review and potential approval.

via WYFF|

#alzheimers #clinical-trial #greenville-sc

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Rutgers Study Flags Dementia Surge Among Newark’s Low-Income Black Seniors

Rutgers-Newark screened 160 Black seniors in Newark-area housing and found about two-thirds had memory decline more severe than typical for their age, with nearly half of those showing signs of dementia. The 15-minute screenings, part of Pathways to Healthy Aging in African Americans, aim to detect decline early and refer residents to care. The findings underscore a substantial, underserved need for dementia services among low-income Black residents in New Jersey, while highlighting ongoing barriers like labor-intensive care and limited reimbursement despite local resources and state subsidies for adult day care.

via Gothamist|

#aging #alzheimers #dementia

health1 month ago•5 min saved

A Decade Ahead: Blood Marker Flags Alzheimer’s Risk, But No Cure Yet

A large study of 2,684 older adults found that higher levels of the blood protein p-tau217 may predict Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade before symptoms, with about a 38% chance of cognitive impairment in five years and up to 78% in ten years for those with the highest levels. However, FDA clearance for p-tau217 tests currently covers only 55+ individuals with existing memory problems, and the test is used as a research tool rather than a clinical predictor for healthy people. While it can help identify candidates for drug trials and accelerate prevention research, there is no proven treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s yet; in the meantime, lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, sleep, and mental engagement remain the best available defense.

via Money Talks News|

#alzheimers #biomarkers #early-detection

health-and-medicine1 month ago•7 min saved

Alzheimer’s sleep breakthrough: brain immune cells offer new therapeutic angle

UK researchers report that brain immune cells called microglia drive sleep loss in Alzheimer’s; in a mouse model, turning off microglia restored about two hours of restorative sleep and could help detect early disease and slow progression, signaling a shift from neuron-focused treatments toward targeting microglia with future human trials.

via Lexington Herald Leader|

#alzheimers #biomarker #health-and-medicine

real-estate1 month ago•11 min saved

Building a Backyard ADU to Care for My Mom with Alzheimer's

A daughter on Long Island plans a 750-square-foot, ADA-compliant backyard ADU to care for her mother with Alzheimer's, moving into the ADU while her mom stays in the main house; the project, costing about $450,000, reflects careful planning around zoning, permits, and accessibility to enable aging in place.

via Business Insider|

#adu #alzheimers #caregiving

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Blood test signals Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade early

A Harvard-led study of nearly 2,700 cognitively healthy older adults found that a simple blood test measuring the p-tau217 biomarker can predict future cognitive decline up to 10 years before symptoms; very high levels were linked to about a 78% chance of impairment within a decade, and moderate elevations still carried roughly a 45% risk, suggesting the test could aid risk assessment and trial recruitment while recognizing that results must be confirmed across diverse groups and longer follow-up.

via Fox News|

#alzheimers #biomarkers #blood-test

health1 month ago•47 min saved

WHO Updates Dementia Guidelines, Emphasizing Prevention Through Lifestyle, Air Quality, and Social Engagement

The World Health Organization released its first major update since 2019 to dementia prevention guidance, stating up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, air pollution, social isolation, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. The new guidelines highlight cognitive training, lifelong brain stimulation, and social engagement as protective factors, and emphasize heart-healthy living as good brain health. They also advise against routine supplementation for dementia prevention unless a deficiency is identified. Countries are urged to integrate these recommendations into public health policy to reduce the global dementia burden.

via Newsweek|

#alzheimers #dementia #health

health1 month ago•10 min saved

Trial drug aims to halt Alzheimer's before symptoms with monthly infusions

A Roche-developed drug called trontinemab, a next-generation antibody given as monthly infusions, may remove brain plaques more effectively and could stop or prevent Alzheimer's before symptoms, with a landmark trial enrolling about 1,600 people aged 55+ at high risk and using blood biomarkers like p-tau217 to identify those most likely to benefit, while aiming to improve safety compared with earlier drugs such as lecanemab and donanemab.

via Daily Express|

#alzheimers #clinical-trial #dementia