A monthly recap of the latest research on brain health, Alzheimer’s, and dementia
Is there a ‘best’ diet to help lower Alzheimer’s risk?
A new review in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests there may be no single best diet for lowering Alzheimer’s risk, and that factors such as age, genetics, sex and activity level may shape how well a diet like Mediterranean or MIND works for each person. See the full story.
Depression may stall development of new neurons
Studying donated brain tissue, Columbia University researchers found signs that the process of forming new neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region key to memory, may stall in people with depression. See the full story.
Scientists develop high-resolution molecular maps of Alzheimer’s and related brain disorders
An NIH-supported team led by Mount Sinai analyzed more than 6.3 million brain cells from 1,494 donors to create the largest comparison yet of how Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body disease, vascular dementia and several psychiatric disorders affect the brain at the molecular level. See the full story.
Scientists discover four new Alzheimer’s risk genes
By studying about 1,300 blood proteins in more than 9,000 people, researchers identified four genes not previously linked to Alzheimer’s, including two that help regulate the immune system. See the full story.
Lower cognitive test scores among adults in their 60s may signal higher future stroke risk
A Swedish study of nearly 5,000 older adults found that people in their 60s who scored lower on tests of thinking, memory and processing speed were more likely to have a stroke years later. See the full story.
Does delirium drive cognitive decline?
In a study of 560 adults age 70 and older who had major surgery, nearly 1 in 4 developed delirium afterward, and those who did showed faster cognitive decline over the next five years. See the full story.
Alzheimer’s study finds sleep quality may matter more than hours slept
Following 60 adults living with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease for up to three years, a Concordia University-led team found that certain deep-sleep brain waves appeared to soften the link between a wakefulness-related brain chemical and worse memory and thinking. See the full story.
Dementia risk may look different for one group of Americans, study finds
A study of 808 American Indian adults from the long-running Strong Heart Study found that dementia risk factors such as high blood pressure, traumatic brain injury and depression were far more common than in the general population. See the full story.
Scientists identify new role for tau protein in brain diseases
Stanford researchers found that a toxic form of tau can enter the cell’s energy-producing mitochondria and set off a harmful cycle, and a compound that blocks this process reduced memory problems and brain damage in flies and mice. See the full story.
