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Posted on 20 Jan
A third of people would want to know they have Alzheimer’s 15 years before symptoms
Over a third of people would want to know they had Alzheimer’s disease 15 years before symptoms show, according to new findings from Alzheimer’s Research UK. Today (29 December) the UK’s leading dementia research charity publishes a report, Detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, revealing the public’s attitudes towards early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the […]
Posted on 17 Jan
New report highlights critical areas of investment for Government’s ‘Dementia Moonshot’
Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched an ambitious spending plan for the government’s ‘Dementia Moonshot’ funding pledge – with the charity outlining six priority research areas that must receive investment, if we are to find a life-changing treatment. Following the Conservatives’ election promise to double government funding for dementia research to over £160 million a year, […]
Posted on 09 Jan
A night of no sleep increases Alzheimer’s marker in blood
Researchers from Sweden have found that one night of no sleep increases levels of the Alzheimer’s disease biomarker tau in healthy young men. The results of the small study are published today (Wednesday 8 January) in the scientific journal Neurology. The 15 men who took part in the study had an average age of 22 […]
Posted on 07 Jan
New study to recruit former professional footballers to look at dementia risk
Today (Tuesday 7 January) sees the University of East Anglia (UEA) announce a new study to test memory and thinking skills in former professional football players to see if they show any cognitive changes due to concussions and head injuries. Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “Recent research has highlighted […]
Posted on 01 Jan
Alzheimer’s protein predicts future brain shrinkage
Scientists in the US have shown that scans to visualise a hallmark Alzheimer’s protein, tau, can be used to predict brain shrinkage around 15 months in advance. The study is published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine. Our expert’s reaction Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “Tau is one of two proteins […]
Posted on 19 Dec
‘Just Dance Memories’ campaign raises £60,000 for dementia research
Ubisoft, creator and publisher of the video game, Just Dance®, has donated £60,000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK – doubling the initial fundraising target for their #JustDanceMemories campaign. Last month, the two organisations announced that they had joined forces to protect the precious memories the game helps families to create, launching the #JustDanceMemories social media campaign […]
Posted on 18 Dec
UK health records point to midlife obesity link to dementia risk
Scientists from the University of Oxford, using NHS health records, have found obesity in women’s midlife is associated with increased dementia risk. The researchers published the findings in the scientific journal, Neurology. What did the researchers do? The researchers looked at over one million volunteers taking part in the Million Women study – a group […]
Posted on 05 Dec
Potential new Alzheimer’s drug presented at clinical trial conference
Today the pharmaceutical company, Biogen presented further analysis from two phase III trials of the potential new Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab. Results were presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference in San Diego. Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “Since Biogen announced unexpected positive results from two phase […]
Posted on 04 Dec
Blood-brain barrier breakdown leads to increased activation of immune system
Scientists have found that faults in the blood-brain barrier lead to increased immune activity in the brain of mice. The researchers published the findings in two scientific papers in Science Translational Medicine. Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “A barrier between the blood and brain is an important protection against […]
Posted on 23 Nov
Alzheimer’s Research UK responds to Conservative Party pledge around dementia
Alzheimer’s Research UK welcomes the Conservatives’ pledge to double investment in dementia research as a ‘step in the right direction’. Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK and costs the economy more than cancer and heart disease combined. Despite this, funding for dementia research lags far behind other health conditions. Currently, the […]