A common childhood virus could be silently fueling Alzheimer’s disease in old age
A virus best known for causing cold sores may dramatically increase the risk of Alzheimer’s in people with a specific gene variant. New evidence suggests herpes reactivation in the brain may trigger the destructive changes seen in the disease.
Green tea antioxidant and vitamin B3 show promise for treating Alzheimer’s-related cellular decline
Scientists have identified a promising non-drug method for reversing key cellular features of Alzheimer’s disease. In lab-grown neurons, a combination of vitamin B3 and a green tea antioxidant restored energy levels and jumpstarted the cell’s ability to remove toxic protein...
Antidepressant vortioxetine linked to greater cognitive and mood improvements in Alzheimer’s patients
A year-long study suggests vortioxetine may offer greater improvements in both cognition and mood for people with Alzheimer’s disease and depression compared to other antidepressants, potentially making it a promising treatment option alongside standard Alzheimer’s therapies.
Surprising Alzheimer’s breakthrough: Sugar in neurons might be the missing link
Scientists have discovered that excess sugar stored in brain cells may worsen Alzheimer’s disease. Clearing this buildup in lab models reduced cell damage and extended lifespan, pointing to a surprising new target for slowing or preventing dementia.
Key Alzheimer’s protein found at astonishingly high levels in healthy newborns
What if a protein we thought caused dementia is actually essential for building a healthy brain? New research shows a key Alzheimer's protein is abundant in newborns, flipping our understanding of the disease and its biological triggers on its head.
Persistent apathy predicts faster functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease
In a large longitudinal study, researchers identified apathy as the most consistent predictor of functional decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that this often-overlooked symptom may play a more central role in disease progression than previously recognized.
Frequent egg consumption linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s dementia, study finds
Older adults who ate more than one egg per week had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia and showed fewer Alzheimer’s-related brain changes. About 39% of this association was explained by higher dietary choline intake from eggs.
New research identifies four distinct health pathways linked to Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers identified four common disease pathways—centered on mental health, brain disorders, cognitive decline, and vascular issues—that often precede Alzheimer’s, showing that the sequence of conditions may better predict risk than individual diagnoses alone.
Small folds in the brain may hold key insights into Alzheimer’s and aging-related cognitive decline
Smaller, shallow brain folds in the posteromedial cortex show greater thinning with age and Alzheimer’s disease, and their structure is closely linked to memory and executive function, suggesting they may be key markers of cognitive decline.
Poor sleep may shrink brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, study suggests
Spending less time in slow wave and REM sleep may accelerate brain atrophy in regions affected early in Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research. The findings support sleep quality as a potential factor in preserving brain health.
Common sleep aid blocks brain inflammation and tau buildup in Alzheimer’s model
Scientists have found that lemborexant not only increased restorative sleep in male mice but also reduced levels of toxic tau and brain inflammation. The findings suggest that targeting the brain’s orexin system may help slow Alzheimer’s progression.
Mediterranean diet appears to weaken the depression–Alzheimer’s connection
A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet may reduce the biological impact of depression on the brain. In older men, depressive symptoms were linked to higher Alzheimer’s biomarkers—except in those with strong adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet.
Long-term SSRI use linked to reduced Alzheimer’s pathology but mixed effects on cognition
A new study suggests long-term SSRI use may reduce markers of Alzheimer’s disease and restore brain function in affected regions, but the impact on cognitive performance remains mixed depending on how it’s measured.
Cannabidiol shows promise for treating Alzheimer’s in mice by targeting brain hyperactivity
In a study using an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model, researchers found that cannabidiol reduced memory loss and brain abnormalities. The compound worked by enhancing the function of glycine receptors, which help regulate neuronal activity in the brain's memory center.
Scientists find 16 new Alzheimer’s-linked genes using multi-ancestry genome data
A groundbreaking genome-wide analysis has revealed new genetic regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease—many missed in past studies focused on European populations. The findings point to underexplored biological pathways and highlight the value of studying diverse ancestry groups.
