Alzheimers News & Features

November 11, 2024 — Older people whose cholesterol readings show big changes from one year to the next may be at an increased risk of cognitive problems as they age, including dementia.

November 8, 2024 — Older adults who reported excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm were more likely to develop a condition that increases the risk of dementia.

Growing evidence suggests long-term use of anticholinergic medications could harm your brain health and may raise your risk of dementia.

October 1, 2024 — More science is finding that having purpose and meaning in life may influence dementia and Alzheimer’s risk.

August 12, 2024 — Researchers have identified two new ways that people can reduce their risk of getting dementia. Here's what to know.

July 30, 2024 — With the term “cognitive test” now part of everyday conversation, brain health experts are welcoming the chance to explain exactly what these tests can and can’t do.

July 23, 2024 — Patients with dementia may instead have a brain disorder that is the treatable cause of cognitive impairment often caused by cirrhosis.

July 9, 2024 — Donanemab is the first therapy targeting amyloid plaques that can be stopped once these plaques are removed. This could potentially reduce treatment costs and the number of required infusions.

July 9, 2024 — In the 5 years before a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or similar condition, people were more likely to be late on payments, the researchers found.

June 28, 2024 — In a shifting landscape in dementia risk factors, cardiovascular health is now taking precedence, according to new research.

June 11, 2024 — An FDA advisory panel unanimously gave a green light on Monday to the Alzheimer’s disease treatment donanemab for use during early stages of the disease.

June 7, 2024 — Alzheimer’s disease researchers recently suggested that genetics alone could identify in advance up to 20% of the people who are ultimately diagnosed with the devastating form of dementia.

May 30, 2024 — Older people at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease who reported significant memory problems in the past year were more likely to have early signs of the disease in their brains, compared to people who didn’t report major memory changes, according to a new study.

If you have two copies of the APOE4 gene, new research suggests that you’re very likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Experts break down the findings and share what you can do to lower your risk.

May 7, 2024 — Consuming just a half tablespoon a day was shown to reduce the risk of dying from dementia-related causes.

March 27, 2024 — The size of the human brain has increased over time, a new finding that may help explain a previously reported decline in incident dementia.

March 13, 2024 — Dementia is three times more common among people with essential tremor, results from a longitudinal study show.

February 21, 2024 — Experts say that resistance to treatment is deeply rooted in stigma. We’re more likely to ignore hearing loss because of its connection with old age and the clunky hearing aids we remember our grandparents wearing in our youth.

February 13, 2024 — A new way of assessing proteins in a person’s blood may be able to predict the likelihood of developing dementia more than a decade later, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature Aging.

February 6, 2024 — People who live a healthy lifestyle may be more resilient to brain changes that can cause symptoms of dementia, compared to people with the same brain changes who don’t have healthy habits in five key areas, an important new study shows.

January 23, 2024 — A blood test that’s already commercially available is nearly as accurate as more invasive tests like spinal taps at detecting potential signs of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows.

December 11, 2023 — New research suggests that a person’s personality and outlook on life may affect the risk of being diagnosed with dementia. People with the lowest risk tend to be creative, curious, and agreeable. People with increased risk tend to be anxious, depressed, and frequently experience distressing or negative emotions.

December 1, 2023 — People with unusually high levels of HDL, the so-called “good cholesterol,” may be more likely to develop dementia, new research suggests.

October 25, 2023 — Most people who have mild thinking problems that could be early signs of dementia won’t get diagnosed during a primary care visit, potentially missing out on preventive treatments, according to researchers from the University of Southern California.

October 4, 2023 — Without definitive studies to say, “This causes dementia,” investigators look for associations. It’s an early form of research that can reveal a link between a risk factor and dementia/Alzheimer’s.

August 15, 2023 — About 188,000 new dementia cases annually may be linked to air pollution, according to new research from the University of Michigan. Older people who live in places with high levels of agricultural or wildfire air pollution are at a particularly higher risk.

August 10, 2023 — Prolonged use of acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors could increase the risk of developing dementia, a new study shows.

August 1, 2023 — The first direct-to-consumer blood test for an early Alzheimer’s indicator is now available from Quest Diagnostics, revealing the risk for the disease years before symptoms appear.

July 31, 2023 — People with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are visiting emergency departments at rates that suggest their caregivers are struggling and don’t have better options, according to researchers from the University of Michigan.

July 25, 2023 — People diagnosed with depression in early adulthood or middle age have a tripled risk of getting dementia, and older adults with depression have a doubled risk of the neurological disorder, according to a new study of people in Denmark.

When you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, relationship-centered care can help you maintain your relationship as the disease progresses.

Agitation and anxiety are common Alzheimer’s symptoms. Learn creative ways to calm your loved one and help take the angst out of Alzheimer’s.

July 20, 2023 — An easy-to-administer method of blood collection could make accurate diagnoses and regular monitoring easier for patients with suspected cognitive impairment.

July 18, 2023 — The highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease occur in the East and Southeast parts of the United States, according to a new analysis.

July 17, 2023 — Older people who use computers, take classes, or do crossword puzzles may be enjoying activities that ultimately reduce their risk of having dementia, a new study shows.

July 17, 2023 — International experts are proposing that Alzheimer’s disease should be diagnosed using biomarkers – traits of a person’s health obtained by taking blood, fluid, and tissue samples – rather than testing memory and observing symptoms.

July 14, 2023 — People who have vision problems but don’t wear glasses or seek treatment, such as surgery, are more likely to have dementia, according to the most comprehensive study on the topic in 15 years.

July 11, 2023 — Around 10% of people over 65 in the U.S. have anemia, or an iron deficiency in their blood. This is an important statistic, because researchers now believe that anemia may have a significant connection to Alzheimer's disease. Here's what to know.

July 7, 2023 — With no cure in sight, any new approval ushers in hope, including with an agent like Leqembi that slowed progression of the disease an average of 27% in research.

July 6, 2023 — Study data shows the drug may slow Alzheimer’s progression by 27% over 18 months.

July 6, 2023 — Older people who have large changes in the amount of fat in their blood may have a higher risk of getting dementia, a new study shows.

June 27, 2023 — Researchers at Yale University say they have found a connection between liver fibrosis, or scarring, and reduced mental ability.

Creativity may help you form a relationship with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Learn how creative care can help you reconnect to someone who has memory loss.

May 18, 2023 — People whose genes make them more likely to have certain kinds of high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.

May 4, 2023 — The anti-amyloid hopeful markedly reduced brain amyloid plaque and significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in adults with early Alzheimer's disease.

April 14, 2023 — Using artificial intelligence to analyze a recording of someone’s voice could cut the duration of an Alzheimer’s screening from several hours to less than 10 minutes.

April 7, 2023 — A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease looked at apathy in people with mild cognitive impairment, finding that apathy may be a red flag for the disease in people with the MCI.

March 24, 2023 — Restless legs syndrome may be a risk factor for dementia or a very early warning sign of dementia in older adults, new research hints.

March 16, 2023 — The number of Alzheimer’s cases in the U.S. is rising along with the country’s aging population, and experts predict the number of patients will double to almost 13 million by 2050.