Depression worsens over time for older caregivers of newly diagnosed dementia patients

 Caring for a partner or spouse with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's or related dementia is associated with a 30 percent increase in depressive symptoms, compared to older adults who don't have a spouse with dementia -- and these symptoms are sustained over time, a new study found.

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Delivering The Dementia Moonshot: A Plan To Find Life-Changing Treatments

This report calls on government to invest in six priority research areas, which will help to deliver a life-changing treatment for dementia by doubling research funding and speeding up trials for new treatments. Click here for link to King's Fund blog

Tau Protein Tangles May Predict Sites of Brain Degeneration in Alzheimer’s

Brain imaging of tau-protein “tangles” predicts the location of future brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s patients a year or more in advance, according to a new study.  Click here to read further.

Regular Exercise May Avert Physical Markers For Those at Risk for Alzehimer’s

Regular moderate exercise is not only good for memory as people age, it also appears to help prevent the development of physical signs of Alzheimer’s, known as biomarkers, in those who are at risk for the disease, according to new research.  Click here to read further.

Apathy: A Common but Understudied Symptom of Dementia

In a new U.K. study of 4,320 people with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found that 45% of study participants had apathy — the absence of emotion, interest, concern or passion — and that the condition was often distinct from depression.  Click here to read further.

Depression Symptoms, Protein Buildup in Brain Tied to Later Cognitive Decline

Depression symptoms in cognitively healthy older adults together with brain amyloid — protein deposits which are a biological marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) — could trigger changes in memory and thinking over time, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.  Click here to read further.

Adults With Family History of Alzheimer’s Show Reduced Scores in Memory Test

In a new study of more than 59,000 people who completed an online memory test, researchers found that adults with a first-degree relative with Alzheimer’s disease performed worse than participants without a family history of the disease.  Click here to read further.

Study: Spread of Abnormal Proteins Explain Gender Difference in Alzheimer’s

New research suggests the way in which abnormal proteins spread throughout the brain may help explain why the prevalence of Alzheimer’s is higher in women than in men. If the results are confirmed, a need for sex-specific approaches for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease may be indicated.  Click here to read further.

Untreated Diabetes Tied to Faster Dementia Progression

In a new study, psychologists from the University of Southern California (USC) found that patients with untreated diabetes developed signs of Alzheimer’s disease 1.6 times faster than people without diabetes. Read PsychCentral article here

Leaky Blood Vessels in Brain May Signal Dementia Early On

Leaky capillaries in the brain may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine. Read PsychCentral article here

World Alzheimer Report 2018: The State Of The Art Of Dementia Research: New Frontiers

This report looks at a broad cross section of research areas including basic science; diagnosis; drug discovery; risk reduction and epidemiology. With the continued absence of a disease modifying treatment, the report also features progress, innovation and developments in care research. It highlights an urgent need for increased and sustainable funding for dementia research.Read King's Fund blog here

Calorie Restriction May Help Prevent Age-Related Diseases

A new study published in the journal Cell Metabolism shows that cutting caloric intake by just 15 percent for two years has the ability to slow aging and metabolism and protect against age-related diseases.  Click here for news item.