Alzheimer's

Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzheimer's Risk, Research Shows

11:34am July 27, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

Two new human studies back earlier hints that vaccines designed to prevent respiratory infections might also provide some protection against Alzheimer's disease.

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This light micrograph from the brain of someone who died with Alzheimer's disease shows the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that are typical of the disease. A glitch that prevents healthy cell structures from transitioning from one phase to the next m

New Clues To ALS And Alzheimer's Disease From Physics

11:19am July 08, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

Structures inside healthy brain cells nimbly move from one state to the next to perform different functions. But in certain degenerative brain diseases, scientists now think, that process gets stuck.

This image shows the buildup of toxic tau proteins in the medial temporal gyrus of a human brain. Though some drugs can now remove these proteins, that hasn't seemed to ease Alzheimer's symptoms. It's time to look more deeply into how the cells work, scie

Alzheimer's Researchers Go Back To Basics To Find The Best Way Forward

11:28am June 25, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

After a decade of failure in treating Alzheimer's with drugs, the National Institutes of Health is funding a five-year effort in Seattle to learn more about how the disease starts in the brain.

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The threat of COVID-19 has meant seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia can't receive visitors at their care facilities. Online contact is sometimes the best option.

Health & Safety

For Alzheimer's Patients And Their Families, Coronavirus Can Mean Loving From Afar

3:58pm April 07, 2020

by Jonathan Hamilton

Efforts to keep coronavirus out of care facilities has left many Alzheimer's patients isolated from their families. Online contact is often the best option but it's not the same as an in-person visit.

Nancy Gustafson (right), an opera singer, used singing to reconnect with her mother, Susan Gustafson, who had dementia and was barely talking. She says her mom started joking and laughing with her again after they sang together.

Health & Safety

Her Mom Was Lost In Dementia's Fog. Singing Christmas Carols Brought Her Back

5:00pm December 24, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

A woman had become barely verbal, an effect of dementia. Her daughter, an opera singer, decided to try singing Christmas songs with her, and they reconnected.

Conceptual illustration of deciduous tree depicting Alzheimer's disease.

Health & Safety

Scientists Reach Out To Minority Communities To Diversify Alzheimer's Studies

9:00pm December 17, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Black and Hispanic people often don't volunteer for studies of Alzheimer's disease, despite their risks for developing it. Researchers are working to make studies more inclusive, but it's not easy.

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During deep sleep, waves of cerebrospinal fluid (blue) coincide with temporary decreases in blood flow (red). Less blood in the brain means more room for the fluid to carry away toxins, including those associated with Alzheimer's disease.

How Deep Sleep May Help The Brain Clear Alzheimer's Toxins

7:54pm October 31, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

A study of 11 sleeping brains sheds some light on the mysterious link between sleep problems and Alzheimer's disease. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain appears to be the key.

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A federally funded study is testing aerobic exercise as a way to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Health & Safety

Is Aerobic Exercise The Right Prescription For Staving Off Alzheimer's?

4:38pm July 18, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Researchers are testing exercise in people at high risk for Alzheimer's. The goal of a federally funded study is to learn whether aerobic physical activity can protect the brain.

In a May 19, 2015 file photo, R. Scott Turner, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Memory Disorder Center at Georgetown University Hospital, points to PET scan results that are part of a study on Alzheimer's disease at Georgetown University Hospita

Health & Safety

LGBTQ Americans Could Be At Higher Risk For Dementia, Study Finds

7:36pm July 17, 2019

by Dani Matias

Research presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Convention found that LGBTQ Americans are three times more likely to experience cognitive decline than their non-LGBTQ counterparts.

Differences in the brains of women and men may help explain why more women are living with Alzheimer's disease than men.

Health & Safety

Researchers Explore Why Women's Alzheimer's Risk Is Higher Than Men's

1:45pm July 17, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists are gaining insights into why Alzheimer's is more common in women. The answer involves genetics, hormones and sex-related brain differences.

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