Alzheimer’s disease
Study identifies 10 risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists led by a team in China have identified 10 risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. The 10 factors are diabetes, poor BMI, reduced education, high blood pressure in midlife, low blood pressure, head trauma, high levels of homocysteine, less cognitive activity, stress, and depression. Researchers published the findings today (Monday 20 July) in the Journal…
Blood-based markers help spot dementia risk in those with early memory and thinking problems
Today (Monday 30 November) researchers in Sweden found levels of certain blood-based proteins predicted worsening memory and thinking in a group of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). What is MCI? MCI is an umbrella term given to a noticeable and measurable decline in a person’s memory or thinking, which does not interfere with activities…
Brain’s ‘speedometer’ could help solve part of dementia puzzle
Nearly one million people in the UK have dementia. People living with the most common form, Alzheimer’s disease, can experience difficulties working out where they are, meaning they often get lost even in familiar environments. Today (Friday 27 November) research funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK at the University of Exeter Medical School sheds new light…
Changes to how new drugs are assessed could help dementia treatments get to people sooner
Alzheimer’s Research UK says proposed changes to the way new treatments are assessed could give the dementia drugs of the future ‘a better chance of getting to the people who need them’. NICE has today (6 November) launched a public consultation that sets out the case for change to the methods it uses to develop…
Potential Alzheimer’s treatment to be reviewed ‘within a year’ for use in EU
Today (Friday 30 October 2020) the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted Biogen’s application to review a potential Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab for use in the EU. The drug will need to be approved by regulators before it could be offered more widely to the general population. What is aducanumab? Aducanumab is an antibody designed to target…
Dementia leading cause of death in September
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today (23 October) revealed ‘dementia and Alzheimer’s disease’ were the leading cause of death in September. Collectively they accounted for 11.2% of all deaths in England and 11.1% of deaths in Wales. Coronary heart disease, itself a risk factor for dementia, was the second leading cause of death…
Dementia deaths in private homes soar by 79%
More people are dying at home from dementia than ever before, as new figures reveal a shocking 79% increase in deaths compared to previous years. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed there were 2,095 excess deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in private homes, registered between March 14 and September 11, in England.…
Air pollution particles in brains linked to Alzheimer’s
New research published in the scientific journal, Environmental Research, links air pollution to brain changes associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s. What our expert said: Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Director of Research from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Air pollution is linked to many adverse health conditions and a growing body of evidence suggests this includes our risk…
Cardiff dementia researcher supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK
Research into a crucial protein linked to the development of Alzheimer’s has been supported by a £76,000 grant from South Wales Freemasons. The grant is funding an Alzheimer’s Research UK PhD student, Aurora Veteleanu, at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Scientists know that small changes to a gene that provides the instructions…
Genetic evidence for the role of antioxidants in Alzheimer’s disease
New research published today (Wednesday 16 September) in the journal Neurology suggests genetic evidence for the role of the antioxidant, glutathione. What did the researchers investigate? The researchers looked at information collected from 486 people who are part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) – a long-running dementia study. They looked at the genetic…
