28 January 2016
Evidence of a lipid link in the inherited form of Alzheimer's disease
Australian researchers have found biochemical changes occurring in the blood, in the rare inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease. Changes in these fat-like substances, may suggest a method to diagnose all forms of Alzheimer’s disease before significant damage to the brain occurs. In an article published today in JAD, the Australian team led by Professor Ralph Martins from the CRC for Mental Health and Edith Cowan University, examined the lipid profiles of 20 people who carry a mutation responsible for the rare inherited form of Alzheimer’s, known as familial Alzheimer’s disease.
20 January 2016
Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Complicated by History of Reading Problems
Correctly diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease remains a challenge for medical professionals. Now, a new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reveals a new clue to possible misdiagnosis. The study found that older adults with a history of reading problems perform similarly on some neuropsychological tests to those who show signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) associated with early Alzheimer’s disease. The finding, based on the results of a Stony Brook University-led research team in collaboration with Boston University School of Medicine, emphasizes the need for professionals to take into account developmental history and have a broad understanding of neuropsychological testing when interpreting the meaning of low memory test scores.
18 January 2016
Omega-3 levels affect whether B vitamins can slow brain’s decline
While research has already established that B vitamin supplements can help slow mental decline in older people with memory problems, an international team have now found that having higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in your body could boost the B vitamins’ effect. The team, from the Universities of Cape Town, Oslo, Oxford and the UAE, studied more than 250 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Oxford. MCI is when brain function is below what is normally expected for a person’s age but is not significant enough to interfere with daily life. While it is not as serious as dementia, if untreated it often progresses to become dementia.
5 January 2016
Study finds cerebrovascular disease to be major determinant of psychosis in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Toronto —About half of all patients with Alzheimer’s disease develop symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions or hallucinations.
16 December 2015
Link Between Anemia and Mild Cognitive Impairment
In a large population-based study of randomly selected participants in Germany, researchers found that participants with anemia, defined as haemoglobin less than 13 g/dl in men and less than 12 g/dl in women, showed lower performances in verbal memory and executive functions. Furthermore, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred almost twice more often in participants diagnosed with anemia. This study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
15 December 2015
Alzheimer’s disease progression linked to changing protein levels in immune system
New research has identified changing levels of proteins in the blood which are associated with increasing mental impairment over time in people with Alzheimer's disease. The findings could ultimately help develop new drugs for the condition, by allowing better monitoring of the effects of drugs and improvements in clinical trials.
9 December 2015
Early stage dementia patients referred to specialists are institutionalized twice as often as those who are not
A new epidemiologic study showed that patients with early stage dementia, who had been referred to a specialist, have twice the risk of institutionalization compared to those who are not, according to a research study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month. The research suggested the influence of early specialist referral for dementia patients on institutionalization risk and demonstrated that the benefits of early dementia diagnosis may lead to challenging issues.
9 December 2015
Singing is beneficial for memory and mood especially in early dementia
Researchers led by Dr. Teppo Särkämö at University of Helsinki, Finland have revealed that caregiver-implemented musical leisure activities, particularly singing, are cognitively and emotionally beneficial especially in the early stages of dementia. The findings could help improve dementia care and better target the use of music in different stages of dementia.
11 November 2015
Reproductive history and risk of cognitive impairment in elderly women: a cross-sectional study in eastern China
Researchers led by Professor Jun-Fen Lin at Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention have found that reproductive history, an important modifier of estrogen exposure across women’s lifetime, is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women. These findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
10 November 2015
Changes in humour may be an early sign of dementia
Researchers at University College London (UCL) have revealed that a change in sense of humour could be an early sign of dementia. The findings could help improve dementia diagnosis, by highlighting changes not commonly thought to be linked to the condition. The study was funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council (MRC) and NIHR Queen Square Dementia Biomedical Research Unit. The research was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease on 10 November 2015.
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