Alzheimer’s Disease – Page 17

“Harbinger” molecules could predict dementia up to 5 years in advance

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Nick Lavars

Red blood cells in vein or artery, flow inside inside a living organism. 3d rendering

Earlier detection of dementia could open up far more effective ways to treat and manage the condition, and one place scientists are increasingly turning to for warning signs is the blood. A new study has further broadened the possibilities in this area, pinpointing a set of molecules the authors describe as a “harbinger” of the condition two to five years ahead of onset, and may even provide new targets for advanced therapies.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Blood

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Missing link between severe COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease discovered

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Rich Haridy

The gene variant plays a role in heightened inflammatory responses influencing both Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19

Early in the pandemic researchers saw disproportionately high rates of dementia patients suffering from severe COVID-19. A common hypothesis was that memory impairments associated with neurodegeneration affect a person’s ability to consistently follow infection control measures such as social distancing and mask wearing. But a new study led by scientists from University College London is proposing a key gene variant, known to heighten one’s risk for Alzheimer’s, stimulates the body’s inflammatory responses and can lead to greater susceptibility to severe COVID-19.

Category: Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle

Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Brain, Inflammatory, The Immune System, University College London

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Failed Alzheimer’s drug finds new life as anti-obesity pill

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Rich Haridy

Since the drug already has an established safety profile the researchers suggest human clinical trials for obesity could swiftly commence

An experimental drug originally designed to treat Alzheimer’s has been found to reduce obesity and improve heart function in mice. The drug was previously found to be ineffective at treating dementia, but the researchers suggest it could be useful in stimulating fat metabolism.

Category: Science

Tags: Obesity, Weight Loss, Fat cells, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cardiovascular, metabolism, John Hopkins University

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Cancer drug restores blood-brain barrier to reverse Alzheimer’s in mice

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Nick Lavars

Preserving the blood-brain barrier might prove to be an effective way of preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease

As researchers continue to search for the causes behind Alzheimer’s disease and age-related dementia, one possibility is that a leaky blood-brain barrier could have a role to play, allowing for the easy passage of harmful proteins. A new study has explored how this defense might be shored up through the use of an existing anti-cancer drug, with the authors demonstrating some promising results around the reversal of cognitive decline in mice.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Blood-brain barrier, University of British Columbia, New Atlas Audio

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Landmark study presents evidence Alzheimer’s disease begins in the liver

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Rich Haridy

Using a newly developed preclinical model, new research demonstrates how toxic amyloid proteins are produced in the liver and then travel to the brain

An impressive new study is presenting robust evidence showing the toxic proteins thought to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease may be produced in the liver and travel through the blood before landing in the brain causing neuron damage.

Category: Science

Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Liver disease, Dementia, Brain, Curtin University, Neuroscience, New Atlas Audio

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Clues of link between neurodegeneration and herpes virus infections

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Rich Haridy

New research presents a novel mechanism that could help explain how viral infections lead to neurodegenerative disease

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications is suggesting a novel causal link between neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and infection with the herpesvirus. The preclinical research indicates a deficiency in a key protein allows the virus to trigger neuronal damage.

Category: Science

Tags: Brain, Dementia, Neuroscience, Virus, The Immune System, Alzheimer’s Disease, New Atlas Audio

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Alzheimer’s discovery reveals “Achilles’ heel” of synapse degeneration

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Nick Lavars

Researchers have uncovered a signaling pathway that could be targeted to prevent the synapse degeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease

Scientists believe one of the key culprits behind the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s are amyloid beta proteins that clump together and disrupt the brain’s synaptic connections, but how they carry out such degeneration has remained unclear. A new study has shone compelling new light on this phenomenon, with the authors demonstrating how these toxic agents take aim at the “Achilles’ heel” of synapses, and better yet, how they might just be stopped.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: UC San Diego, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Brain

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New research suggests diabetes drug could slow Alzheimer’s progression

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Rich Haridy

The research found a link between slower cognitive decline and diabetic patients taking drugs called gliptins

A new study published in the journal Neurology is reporting an association between a particular class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes and decreased Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. It is unclear exactly how these diabetes drugs could exert neuroprotective effects, but Alzheimer’s experts are calling for large-scale clinical trials to explore these potential treatments in non-diabetic groups.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: Diabetes, Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Brain, Neuroscience, New Atlas Audio

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Can Alzheimer’s be tackled by cutting cholesterol in the brain?

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Nick Lavars

Scientists have uncovered a mechanism that may allow Alzheimer's to be tackled by controlling cholesterol levels in the brain

One interesting area of Alzheimer’s research focuses on the relationship between cholesterol in the brain and onset of the disease, with studies suggesting the compound can greatly accelerate the buildup of troublesome brain plaques. A new study has expanded our knowledge of this phenomenon by observing it in action in live mice, with the scientists even finding they could intervene in cholesterol production to make the plaques all but disappear.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: Scripps Research Institute, Cholesterol, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, New Atlas Audio

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AI analyzes gray matter loss to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Nick Lavars

Scientists have developed a new machine learning algorithm that analyzes gray matter density in the brain as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's

Advances in artificial intelligence promise to open up all sorts of possibilities when it comes to health care, and analyzing medical images for signs of trouble is already proving to be a great strength of the technology. Scientists at Cambridge University have demonstrated a new type of machine learning algorithm they say can detect structural changes in the brain that are indicative of early dementia, and can be combined with standard memory tests to calculate the likelihood of someone going on to develop Alzheimer’s.

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Brain, New Atlas Audio

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