Plaques of a certain protein, called amyloid beta, are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, but whether these are a cause or consequence of the condition is still debated in the scientific community. Research focused on how the plaques form could resolve this issue, and new work has shown that an additional protein may play a key… [Continue Reading]
Proteins Identified to Play a Role in Plaque Formation in Alzheimer’s Disease Models
April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A Second Language Protects Mental Functions
April 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Working the language centers of the brain may help protect from dementia, researchers have found. In studies of bilingual adults, experts report that speaking multiple languages has a positive impact on cognitive abilities and mental flexibility. New research explains how speaking more than one language may translate to better mental health. A paper published by… [Continue Reading]
Turmeric Compound Helps Extend Life in Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In a model of Alzheimer’s disease using fruit flies as a model, researchers have found that the compound curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, can extend lifespan and mobility. While scientists saw no reduction in protein plaques in the brain, thought to be a significant cause of symptoms, they reduced the quantities of a… [Continue Reading]
High Calorie Diet Linked to Memory Loss and Decreased Cognitive Skills
February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
High calorie diets are associated with significant reductions in cognitive abilities, such as learning and memory, according to a new study. The risk of cognitive decline was doubled in people consuming more than 2100 calories per day. New research suggests that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day may double the risk of memory… [Continue Reading]
Drug Effective to Block Alzheimer’s Disease in Mouse Model
February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A drug that has been used to treat certain cancers for years is effective in reversing Alzheimer’s symptoms in a mouse model, scientists have found. The new study, published in one of science’s top journals, shows that cognitive defects can be reversed, and plaques that characterize the disease can be cleared. Neuroscientists at Case Western… [Continue Reading]
Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Give Insights into Spread of Disease
February 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
New models of Alzheimer’s disease are helping scientists better understand how the condition progresses in the brain. Researchers have discovered part of the process through which a key protein is transferred between brain cells. Further insights into the movement of the protein could suggests ways to stop disease progression. Two different research groups have independently… [Continue Reading]
Simulating Development of Alzheimer’s Disease Could Help Scientists Find Treatments
January 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Alzheimers’ disease is a major cause of dementia, and is characterized by the build-up of protein plaques. Scientists are trying to develop drugs that prevent the formation of these plaques, and it essential to understand exactly how they happen. A new report has modelled the process using computer software to gain new insights into the… [Continue Reading]
Hormone Produced By Fat Cells Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A long-term study examining factors that might predict the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has found a link between a certain hormone and the conditions. The hormone adiponectin is involved in regulating sugar metabolism and insulin function, and higher levels in the body correlate with an increased risk of dementia. A hormone derived from… [Continue Reading]
Gene Variants Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Mutations in the gene that codes for apolipoprotein E are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. New research suggests that a group of other genes can also contribute to developing sporadic forms of the disease. One of our genes is apolipoprotein E (APOE), which often appears with a variation which nobody would want to have: APOEε4, the… [Continue Reading]
Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms Can Be Reversed in Mouse Model
December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A loss of the ability to smell is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers have now shown the link between small plaques in the brain and the symptom. In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, a drug that breaks up protein plaques was able to reverse the mice’s loss of smell. Researchers… [Continue Reading]