Friday, March 31, 2017

Preventing Alzheimer’s: A Mind and Body Approach

Mice with Alzheimer’s who are unable to produce the protein Ephexin5 have no memory problems, despite having brains littered with the amyloid beta protein that has been linked to the disease, a study reports.

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Could flashing light treat Alzheimer’s? Fresh approaches to treating the disease: VIDEO

Alzheimer's disease is one of the biggest unanswered questions in medicine.

Five million Americans are currently estimated to have the mind-ravaging disease, a number expected to triple by 2050 without effective interventions. But the track record in drug development has been terrible: a success rate of less than 1 percent.
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Labels: Video

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Improving memory with magnets

Researchers gave 17 individuals auditory memory tasks that required them to recognize a pattern of tones when it was reversed, while being recorded on MEG and EEG.
Credit: Philippe Albouy

Discovery expands our understanding of how we remember sound

The ability to remember sounds, and manipulate them in our minds, is incredibly important to our daily lives -- without it we would not be able to understand a sentence, or do simple arithmetic. New research is shedding light on how sound memory works in the brain, and is even demonstrating a means to improve it.
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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Protein That Regulates Brain Cell Connections Could Be New Target for Treating Alzheimers Disease

Experiments removing Ephexin5 protein prevented deficits in animal models of the memory-robbing disease

Release Date: March 27, 2017

Protecting against synapse loss in an Alzheimer’s disease model prevents learning and memory deficits

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• New protein culprit identified in #Alzheimer’s - Click to Tweet
• Shutting down a key protein could slow or halt #Alzheimer’s - Click to Tweet

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Monday, March 27, 2017

‘Blockbuster’ Alzheimer’s drug Xanamem to be tested on Australian patients

Devoted couple. Alan Gravolin’s wife Lyn developed Alzheimer’s disease in her mid 50s and is now in care. Picture: Supplied

A NEW drug to beat Australia’s second biggest killer Alzheimer’s disease will be trialled on Australian patients within months.
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Sunday, March 26, 2017

The brain up close: Radical microscope reveals nerve synapses firing in breakthrough that could shed light on Alzheimer's and depression

The closest view yet of multiple working synapses. Using a custom-built microscope, the scientists achieved the closest view yet of working nerve synapses - the junctions between neurons that dictate how they communicate. The image is color coded, where brighter yellow spots represent multiple vesicle releases at different synapses. This image was obtained following extensive simulation of vesicle release while using a fluorescent marker 

The closest image yet of working nerve synapses has been captured by researchers.

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Saturday, March 25, 2017

Focused Ultrasound Trialed for Alzheimer's Disease

Image Source: GIGAMEN

Aim is to modulate blood-brain barrier to make anti-amyloid drugs more effective

Researchers have successfully used focused beams of ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier in patients with Alzheimer's disease, the first step in a study to see whether the technology can facilitate ablation of beta-amyloid plaques associated with the illness.
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Friday, March 24, 2017

Researchers focus on cell membranes to develop Alzheimer's treatments

Diagram of the brain of a person with Alzheimer's Disease. Credit: Wikipedia/public domain.

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.
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Thursday, March 23, 2017

Are You at Risk for Alzheimer’s? New Genetic Test Could Provide Answer

The ability to determine the risk of contracting any disease is powerful information to have for both patients and healthcare providers. For Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in which risk factors have been notoriously elusive, any potential insight into who may be at risk to develop the neurodegenerative disorder could help alleviate a significant amount of burden on the patient and family, as early preparations or even preventive steps could be taken.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

When might you get Alzheimer's? New gene test may tell

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting some 47 million people worldwide, and has no cure and no effective treatments (AFP Photo/SEBASTIEN BOZON)

International researchers said Tuesday they have found a way to assess a person's genetic risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by a given age, a tool that could lead to better diagnosis and treatment.

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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

A Drug That Could Slow Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Is Heading to Major Testing

A drug that has already been approved to treat leukemia is now closer to being approved for use against the debilitating brain diseases, parkinson’s and alzheimer’s. There are more than 5 million people currently living with Alzheimer’s disease in the US and another million living with parkinson’s. This drug has the potential to change the lives of not just these millions of sufferers, but also their countless friends and family who suffer along with them.
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Monday, March 20, 2017

Alzheimer's Association New Interactive "LiveWell" Series Offers Online Tools to Empower People to Live Well with Dementia

Image Source: ALZHEIMERSASSOCIATION

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Alzheimer's Association 
Mar 16, 2017, 11:40 ET

- Tools and resources address five key components of early-stage Alzheimer's -

- Series designed with input from people living with the disease -

CHICAGO, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association announced today new online resources to help those in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias to live well. The Association's new "LiveWell" resources offer interactive tools, including video insights from those living with the disease, to help users navigate the personal and emotional challenges that accompany an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Alzheimer’s ‘tsunami’ among Latinos raises concerns over costs, caregiving

Florence Marquez liked to describe herself as a cannery worker, even though she was best known in her East San Jose neighborhood as a community activist.

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Saturday, March 18, 2017

Richard Bice awarded for shining light on darkness of Alzheimer's disease

Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette Richard Bice of Marion, holding a portrait with his late wife, Carolyn, has been named Iowa Alzheimer's Association's 2017 Advocate of the Year. His wife died of the disease in 2013, and he spent 11 years as her caregiver in their home.

Advocacy started with wife's diagnoses, extended to others

Certificates of appreciation and congratulations for jobs well-done from the Optimists, Toastmasters and politicians line the walls of Richard Bice’s Marion home. Nearby bookshelves share space with photos, memorabilia and even his Woodward High School athletics letter and medals.
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Friday, March 17, 2017

Cancer Drug That Might Slow Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Headed For Bigger Tests

A colored magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain of a 76-year-old patient with dementia shows the brain has atrophied and the dark brown fluid-filled spaces have become enlarged.
Zephyr/Science Source

Scientists are hoping that a single drug can treat two devastating brain diseases: Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
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Thursday, March 16, 2017

A new trial for early Alzheimers hopes to slow down the illness: AUDIO

A new trial for early Alzheimers hopes to slow the progression of the illness.
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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Diabetes Therapy Symlin Could Lead to Faster Diagnostic Tests for Alzheimer’s

The diabetes drug Symlin (pramlintide) may help scientists develop novel and faster diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a study indicates.

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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Never before seen images of early stage Alzheimer's disease

Images that predate the formation of toxic clumps of beta-amyloid, the protein believed to be at the root of Alzheimer’s disease, have now been captured by researchers.

Credit: Illustration: Per Uveal

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have used the MAX IV synchrotron in Lund -- the strongest of its kind in the world -- to produce images that predate the formation of toxic clumps of beta-amyloid, the protein believed to be at the root of Alzheimer's disease. The unique images appear to contradict a previously unchallenged consensus. Instead of attempting to eliminate beta-amyloid, or so-called plaques, the researchers now suggest stabilizing the protein.

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Labels: study

Monday, March 13, 2017

Scientists identify first sign of Alzheimer's disease: VIDEO

Memory loss and cognitive decline are commonly thought to be the earliest signs of the neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer's, but a new study has found declines in glucose levels in the brain come even sooner — before the first symptoms appear. Even better? The same team also believes they have figured out a way to stop these levels from falling in the first place, a finding that could potentially prevent Alzheimer's.
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Labels: Video

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Top Alzheimer's researcher explains how you can help protect your brain: VIDEO

Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D., appeared on “CBS This Morning” to discuss how to protect against Alzheimer’s CBS NEWS

Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease.

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Labels: Video

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Big Alzheimer's research roadblock: Federal government: VIDEO

Promising new research conducted last year at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies has shown that marijuana extracts may hold a key to treating Alzheimer's disease. The next step: To conduct tests on mice and, if the results are promising, move on to human trials.
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Labels: Video

Friday, March 10, 2017

Top Alzheimer's researcher explains how you can help protect your brain: VIDEO

Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D., appeared on “CBS This Morning” to discuss how to protect against Alzheimer’s CBS NEWS

Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more »

Labels: Video

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Scientists Identify First Sign Of Alzheimer's Disease

Memory loss and cognitive decline are commonly thought to be the earliest signs of the neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer's, but a new study has found declines in glucose levels in the brain come even sooner — before the first symptoms appear. Even better? The same team also believes they have figured out a way to stop these levels from falling in the first place, a finding that could potentially prevent Alzheimer's.
Read more »

Labels: study

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Despite earlier failure, Roche doggedly presses on with MorphoSys Alzheimer's candidate

New trials are expected to use a new high-concentration liquid formulation of gantenerumab.

Roche is planning new trials of its Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug gantenerumab, despite an earlier phase 3 failure and a rising body count among other drugs targeting amyloid beta.
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Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Has Alzheimer's research reached crisis point?

Despite the failure of a major clinical trial, there is still hope for sufferers of Alzheimer's CREDIT:  ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

When scientists at Merck announced last week that they were putting an end to late-stage trials of their latest Alzheimer’s drug, it wasn’t just patients and families that were devastated. With verubecestat, a once-promising therapy, declared as having no positive effect, its failure set alarm bells ringing across the entire drug research community.
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Monday, March 6, 2017

AAD: A Skin-Based Test for Alzheimer's Disease?

Image Source: SCITECHDAILY

Small study show high Tau protein levels in buccal swabs

Patients with Alzheimer's disease had significantly higher levels of the disease-associated protein phosphorylated Tau (P-tau) in buccal mucosal swabs as compared with a normal control group, a small preliminary study showed.
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Labels: study