ACTNOW: Join Research on Aging and Alzheimer’s (2024)

FAQs

What is the miracle drug for dementia? ›

Lecanemab works by removing a sticky protein from the brain that is believed to cause Alzheimer's disease to advance. “It's very exciting because this is the first treatment in our history that shows an unequivocal slowing of decline in Alzheimer's disease,” says Dr.

Their tests have shown that leptin can reduce the effects of two toxic proteins in the brain called amyloid and tau, which build up and lead to memory loss and development of Alzheimer's disease.

New Breakthrough in Alzheimer's Research: UTMB Researchers Develop Nasal Spray Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. July 3, 2024 • 2:00 p.m.

The Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is jointly based in Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida. These facilities — two of 33 centers designated and funded by the National Institute on Aging — enable Mayo Clinic experts to provide the best practices in current Alzheimer's disease care.

Anti-amyloid antibodies work by alerting the immune system to the presence of amyloid plaques and directing a cleanup crew called microglia to clear out such debris.

An alert, agile memory is not a trifle but a profound asset for seniors. The 5-word memory test serves as a tool for evaluating a person's memory by assessing how quickly they can recall 5 words.

Avoid smoking. Control vascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Eat a balanced diet — such as the Mediterranean diet — that's rich in vegetables, fruits and lean protein, particularly protein sources containing omega-3 fatty acids.

You can safely get relief with hormone therapy (HT), according to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Under some circ*mstances, low-dose HT, one of the most effective treatments for symptoms of menopause, may be appropriate for women over 65 who meet certain health criteria.

Oestrogen in the brain and dementia risk

Research in rats has shown that oestrogen helps to increase the number of connections in the memory centre of the brain. The reduction of oestrogen in post-menopausal women may make them more prone to learning and memory problems that are related to Alzheimer's disease.

In summary, dementia is an overarching term that refers to a range of symptoms affecting cognitive abilities, while Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Other types of dementia exist, each with its own distinct causes and characteristics.

Do some individuals live 20 years or longer with Alzheimer's? ›

A few people with Alzheimer's live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years. Vascular dementia – around five years. This is lower than the average for Alzheimer's mostly because someone with vascular dementia is more likely to die from a stroke or heart attack than from the dementia itself.

And, while there are a number of therapeutic treatments available to people with the disease, there's currently no cure.

Levels of one neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, are particularly low in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Over time, different areas of the brain shrink. The first areas usually affected are responsible for memories. In more unusual forms of Alzheimer's disease, different areas of the brain are affected.

The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's and other dementias is increasing age, but these disorders are not a normal part of aging. While age increases risk, it is not a direct cause of Alzheimer's. Most individuals with the disease are 65 and older.

Age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer's. Most people with Alzheimer's develop the disease when they are 65 or older, with less than 10% of cases occurring before then. As a person ages past 65, their risk of Alzheimer's increases.

Donepezil and rivastigmine

Donepezil tablets are by far the most common medication used to treat dementia. Rivastigmine tends only to be used when donepezil causes side effects, or if the person can't take it for medical reasons.

Lecanemab was fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for early Alzheimer's disease in July 2023. This means that it can now be given to patients with early Alzheimer's disease in the USA. The drug is being marketed under the name Leqembi.

A first in-human study, featured in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrates that focused ultrasound in combination with anti-amyloid-beta monoclonal antibody treatment can accelerate the clearance of amyloid-beta plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Cholinesterase inhibitors

Cholinesterase (KOH-luh-NES-ter-ays) inhibitors are prescribed to treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. These medications prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (a-SEA-til-KOHlean), a chemical messenger important for memory and learning.