Alzheimer's

A large study of nearly 2 million older adults has found that cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a condition where amyloid proteins build up in brain blood vessels, sharply increases the risk of dementia. Within five years of diagnosis, people with this disorder were four times more likely to develop dementia than those without it, even absent a history of stroke. The findings, drawn from Medicare records, underscore the need for early cognitive screening in affected individuals.

January 26, 2026 Reported by AI

Researchers have uncovered how amyloid beta and inflammation may both trigger synapse pruning in Alzheimer's disease through a common receptor, potentially offering new treatment avenues. The findings challenge the notion that neurons are passive in this process, showing they actively erase their own connections. Led by Stanford's Carla Shatz, the study suggests targeting this receptor could preserve memory more effectively than current amyloid-focused drugs.

European scientists have developed a preliminary method to identify Alzheimer's using a drop of dried blood from a finger, achieving 86% accuracy in detecting amyloid pathology. The study, validated in 337 patients from several countries, is published in Nature Medicine and aims to simplify early diagnosis of this disease affecting over 50 million people worldwide.

January 03, 2026 Reported by AI Fact checked

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore report that “enlarged perivascular spaces” — small fluid-filled channels around brain blood vessels that can be seen on routine MRI — were more common in people with mild cognitive impairment and were associated with several blood-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in a multi-ethnic Singapore cohort of 979 participants.

Alzheimer's trials are shifting to a multi-target approach inspired by cancer research, even after failures with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. Only two drugs, Eli Lilly's Kisunla and Eisai and Biogen's Leqembi, are widely approved to slow progression. This evolution treats the brain-wasting disease as a complex system, seeking new ways to halt it amid its global impact.

December 05, 2025 Reported by AI

Eric Topol, author of 'Super Agers,' envisions AI analyzing retinal scans to detect Alzheimer's disease. In a recent interview, he highlights how such technology could transform medical diagnostics. The discussion emphasizes proactive health monitoring starting in one's forties.