Alzheimer’s-affected brains are riddled with so-called amyloid plaques: protein aggregates consisting mainly of amyloid-β. However, this amyloid-β is a fragment produced from a precursor protein whose normal function has remained enigmatic for decades. A team of scientists at VIB and KU Leuven led by professors Joris de Wit and Bart De Strooper has now uncovered that this amyloid precursor protein modulates neuronal signal...
Tag: <span>Alzheimers</span>
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Alzheimer’s: 9 new genetic risk factors found
New research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, identifies new genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. It also uncovers novel biological mechanisms that may lead to this neurodegenerative condition. About 5.7 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. A recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that by the year 2060, this number...
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Gingko Biloba
What is Ginkgo Biloba? Ginkgo biloba is a tree that is native to China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine for centuries. Extracts of Ginkgo biloba are often sold as food supplements with potential medicinal uses ranging from treating high blood pressure to altitude sickness. The efficacy of Ginkgo extracts for...
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New compound shows promise in treatment of Alzheimer’s
Yale researchers have identified a drinkable cocktail of designer molecules that interfere with a crucial first step of Alzheimer’s and even restores memories in mice, they report Jan. 2 in the journal Cell Reports. The binding of amyloid beta peptides to prion proteins triggers a cascade of devasting events in the progression of Alzheimer’s—accumulation of...
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Study shows dementia care program delays nursing home admissions, cuts Medicare costs
New research shows that a comprehensive, coordinated care program for people with dementia and their caregivers significantly decreased the likelihood that the individuals would enter a nursing home. The study also shows that the program saved Medicare money and was cost-neutral after accounting for program costs. The research, conducted at the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia...
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Driving with dementia—New guidance for doctors
New guidance on when people living with dementia should stop driving has been published to support doctors and other health care professionals. ‘Driving with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment’ helps medical teams with the appropriate assessment and management of patients. Researchers from Newcastle University, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical...
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Alzheimer’s drug may help battle antibiotic resistance
Dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria could soon be targeted with a drug initially developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. University of Queensland-led research investigated the antibacterial properties of metal transport drug, PBT2. IMAGE: DANGEROUS ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA COULD SOON BE TARGETED WITH A DRUG INITIALLY DEVELOPED TO TREAT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND Professor Mark Walker from UQ’s School...
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New study suggests Alzheimer’s is not one disease but six different conditions
A large team of researchers has developed a new way to classify patients with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting we should think of the disease as six distinctly different conditions instead of one single disease. Based on a new study, researchers are aiming to reclassify Alzheimer’s disease into a set of six biologically different conditions(Credit: ADragan/Depositphotos) Currently Alzheimer’s disease...
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Researchers find biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment in saliva samples
The discovery of three biomarkers that detect mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s has the potential to lead to the development of a saliva test to diagnose the chronic neurodegenerative disease. Roger Dixon (left) and Liang Li are working together to develop a saliva test for Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: John Ulan University of Alberta scientists Liang...
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New Study Explains How Coffee Protects The Brain From Disease
Can coffee protect drinkers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s? A new study finds an evidence that certain types of coffee could prevent mental decline later in life. Plenty has been said about the benefits and risks of coffee, a common beverage that a large portion of the population consumes on a regular basis. In the United...