Tag Archives: Dementia

Metal, microbubbles and ultrasound combine to fight Alzheimer’s plaques

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Brain imaging shows the accumulation of a metal-based molecule in the region of the brain targeted with ultrasound

Among the more interesting ways scientists hope to tackle the roots of Alzheimer’s disease is by using microbubbles to prise open the blood brain barrier and sneak in drugs that bust apart toxic plaques. A team in the UK has found new success using this experimental approach, demonstrating how the technique can be combined with ultrasound and a novel metal-based molecule to prevent this type of plaque buildup in its early stages.

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Metal, microbubbles and ultrasound combine to fight Alzheimer’s plaques

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Brain imaging shows the accumulation of a metal-based molecule in the region of the brain targeted with ultrasound

Among the more interesting ways scientists hope to tackle the roots of Alzheimer’s disease is by using microbubbles to prise open the blood brain barrier and sneak in drugs that bust apart toxic plaques. A team in the UK has found new success using this experimental approach, demonstrating how the technique can be combined with ultrasound and a novel metal-based molecule to prevent this type of plaque buildup in its early stages.

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Dementia-fighting experimental drug moves to human trials

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A new drug called SAK3 has shown promising preclinical results in animal models of Alzheimer's and Lewy Body dementia

After years of preclinical work, Japanese researchers have announced a new kind of drug treatment for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is ready to move to human clinical trials. A number of animal studies have shown the novel drug to improve cognition and reduce signs of neurodegeneration in a number of dementia-causing diseases.

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Age-related cognitive decline may be linked to key blood cell protein

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New research published in the journal PLOS Biology is describing the discovery of a link between cognitive decline and a protein in red blood cells. The research found mice depleted of this protein suffered from rapid cognitive decline, and a potential… Continue reading Age-related cognitive decline may be linked to key blood cell protein→

Experimental drug prevents dangerous brain tangles following concussion

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The repeated concussions experienced by athletes in contact sports can have grave consequences later in life, increasing chances of developing a range of neurodegenerative diseases. A new study has explored the connections between these brain injuries … Continue reading Experimental drug prevents dangerous brain tangles following concussion→

Blood biomarker detects whether depression is due to neurodegeneration

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A test could be used as a rapid screening tool in clinics to determine whether a patient's cognitive problems are due to neurodegeneration.

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications is reporting a single blood-based biomarker can detect the presence of 13 neurodegenerative disorders, from frontotemporal dementia to motor neuron disease. The test cannot specifically distinguish each disorder but instead is proposed as a way to determine whether patients with memory problems are suffering from the early stages of neurodegenerative disease.

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First new Alzheimer’s drug in decades receives controversial FDA approval

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Approval of a new Alzheimer's drug comes after a FDA advisory panel last year overwhelmingly concluded there is not enough evidence to claim it is effective

A new Alzheimer’s disease treatment has been controversially approved for use in the United States despite an independent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel reporting last year the drug’s Phase 3 trial results were inconclusive. The approval marks the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s in almost 20 years.

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Massive blood sampling study identifies predictors of Alzheimer’s risk

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Scientists have identified a new set of blood-based biomarkers that may help predict Alzheimer's risk

While the exact causes behind Alzheimer’s are still unknown, research is beginning to demonstrate how biomarkers of the disease might reveal themselves long before symptoms appear, raising the prospect of earlier diagnosis and better treatments for patients. A new study, claimed to be the most comprehensive of its type, has demonstrated how concentrations of certain proteins in the blood might indicate the onset of the condition far in advance, and has pinpointed one that may even help trigger it.

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Small pilot study claims low-dose radiation may treat severe Alzheimer’s

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The idea low-dose radiation can be a treatment for Alzheimer's disease is still controversial with little clinical evidence backing it up

A compelling pilot study has found several treatments of low-dose radiation, delivered from a CT scanner, could increase alertness and responsiveness in people suffering severe late-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The research is still preliminary but there are several larger clinical trials currently underway investigating radiation as a treatment for Alzheimer’s.

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Four distinct variants of Alzheimer’s identified in brain imaging study

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Researchers have detected four types of Alzheimer's by tracking different patterns of tau protein accumulation in the brains of patients

A new international study has found four distinct patterns of toxic protein spread in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The findings indicate these patterns correspond with particular symptoms, and the researchers hypothesize these four variants could respond to different treatments.

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