A monthly recap of the latest news about Alzheimer’s and dementia

 

Study: Alzheimer’s drug shows modest success slowing declines in memory, thinking

The drug, called lecanemab, reduced the rate of cognitive decline by 27% in a study of nearly 1,800 people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Read more here.

 

Vision impairment is associated with as many as 100,000 U.S. dementia cases

Up to 100,000 U.S. dementia cases could have potentially been prevented with improved eye care, according to an NIA-funded study published in JAMA Neurology. Read more here.

 

What causes Alzheimer’s? Study puts leading theory to ‘ultimate test’

Scientists are launching a study designed to make or break the hypothesis that Alzheimer’s is caused by a sticky substance called beta-amyloid. Read more here.

 

Scientists uncover a possible genetic tie between brain blood vessel damage and Alzheimer’s disease

High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are risk factors that may raise a person’s chances of experiencing the type of brain blood vessel damage that often underlies strokes and other neurovascular disorders. Read more here.

 

Blood Pressure Drug Could Be a Potential Treatment for Black Patients With Alzheimer’s

Black people are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life than white people. Researchers report Telmisartan, a drug used to treat high blood pressure by blocking angiotensin II, appears to be helpful in preventing or treating Alzheimer’s disease in Black individuals. Read more here.

 

Blood tests for Alzheimer’s are here. Here’s what you need to know.

Simple blood tests designed to help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s now are on the market. More are on the way. The tests are seen as an important scientific advance, but have ignited debate about how and when they should be used. Read more here.

 

The Viruses-Alzheimer’s Link Was Dismissed for Years – That’s Changing

Can a virus lead to Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s expert Ruth Itzhaki at the University of Oxford reflects on a career dedicated to one of the more controversial lines of research. Read more here.

 

How to Know if You Have a Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s

Chris Hemsworth recently revealed that he’s predisposed to dementia. Here’s how to find out if you’re at risk — and what to do if you are. Read more here.