Dementia

An intriguing study is proposing an innovative method to treat age-related memory loss. The preclinical research shows memory decline in aging mice can be reversed by manipulating the composition of structures in the brain known as perineuronal nets.

An 11-year study has found that difficulty hearing speech in noisy environments may be an early sign of dementia. The next step will be to investigate whether treating mid-life hearing impairments can reduce the risk of dementia developing later on.

A team in the UK has found new success using an experimental approach to tackle Alzheimer's, demonstrating how metal-based molecules can be combined with ultrasound and microbubbles to prevent the build up of toxic brain plaques.

After years of preclinical work researchers have announced a new drug treatment for dementia is ready to move to human trials. Animal studies have shown the drug to improve cognition and reduce signs of neurodegeneration in several dementia-causing diseases.

New research is describing the discovery of a link between cognitive decline and a protein in red blood cells. The research found mice depleted of this protein suffered from rapid cognitive decline pointing scientists to a potential novel anti-aging treatment.

A first-of-its-kind study has explored the connections between repeated concussions and an insidious degenerative brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and shown how a new drug may be able to prevent it from taking hold.

A study is reporting a blood-based biomarker can detect the presence of 13 neurodegenerative disorders, from dementia to motor neuron disease, and determine whether those with depression are suffering from the early stages of neurodegenerative disease.

A new Alzheimer’s treatment has been controversially approved for use in the US despite an independent FDA panel reporting last year the drug’s trial results were inconclusive. The approval marks the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s in almost 20 years.

A new study, claimed to be the most comprehensive of its type, has demonstrated how concentrations of certain proteins in the blood might indicate the onset of Alzheimer's far in advance, and has pinpointed one that may even help trigger it.

A very small pilot study has found several treatments of low-dose radiation, delivered from a CT scanner, could increase alertness and responsiveness in people suffering severe late-stage Alzheimer’s disease. However, the research is still preliminary.

A study has found four distinct patterns of toxic protein spread in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The findings indicate the patterns correspond with specific symptoms and it's hypothesized the variants could respond to different treatments.

Machine learning has been used to develop algorithms that can analyze driving data and detect dementia in a driver. The researchers say it could be possible in the future to detect early signs of dementia using devices incorporated into car systems.