Alzheimer Disease/Dementia

Previous studies have shown a link between sleep stages and mental decline. This is the first to show that certain sleep features are related to brain changes.

Growing evidence suggests a link between obesity and dementia, but risk may be heightened or lowered, depending on age. In this study, early to mid-life obesity was linked with increased risk of later dementia.

In the news: respiratory disease underdiagnosed, Alzheimer biomarkers, Crohn disease microbiome, migraine device, sleep apnea and diabetes.

Vitamin E given daily was effective in slowing patients’ functional decline and in reducing caregiver time.

Omega-3 fatty acids in dietary supplements can cross the blood-brain barrier in persons who have Alzheimer disease, affecting known markers for the disease and for inflammation, a study shows.

Brain cell damage similar to that seen in Alzheimer disease and other disorders results when a gene that controls the sleep-wake cycle and other bodily rhythms is disabled.

Peanut butter and a ruler may turn out to be tools that offer an inexpensive, sensitive, and specific olfactory means of screening for Alzheimer disease. Details here.

The drive to screen older persons for minor memory changes is leading to unnecessary investigation and potentially harmful treatment, according to some experts.

As biomarkers to detect signals of Alzheimer disease improve at providing clinically meaningful information, a majority of Alzheimer researchers support disclosing results to research subjects who have these tests.

Researchers have devoted themselves to devising ways of blocking the production or accumulation of beta-amyloid. Now scientists are studying other protein targets, including tau.

If drugs could be developed to target tau, they might prevent much of the neurodegeneration that characterizes Alzheimer disease and help prevent or delay dementia.