Category Archives: Alzheimer Overview
Why some brains with Alzheimer’s stay sharp
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have uncovered new insights into one of Alzheimer’s disease’s most puzzling questions: why some older adults remain mentally sharp despite having hallmark brain changes linked to the disease. This condition—known as asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (AsymAD )—has long been observed but poorly understood. Decoding this natural resilience could pave the way for earlier detection and new strategies to prevent memory loss before symptoms begin. The work is published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications.
“Even when the brain shows clear signs of Alzheimer’s, some people stay mentally sharp,” said co-senior author Sushil K. Mahata, Ph.D., adjunct professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and research physiologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. “We’re beginning to uncover the brain’s built-in defenses—and that could fundamentally change how we approach treatment.”
Read it HERE
From Migraines to Alzheimer, How the Menopausal Transition Affects Neurological Risk in Women
In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Carolyn Fredericks, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Yale University, highlighted at the 2026 AAN annual meeting that MRI and PET studies show women in their 40s and 50s experience changes in brain connectivity—especially in memory circuits—linked to declining estrogen during menopause.
Read more HERE
Could Alzheimer’s Begin in the Nerves, Not the Brain?
New research suggests that the balance and walking issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease may not be “top-down” problems caused by brain decay, but rather “bottom-up” failures in the peripheral nervous system.
The study utilized “human-on-a-chip” technology to prove that genetic mutations for familial Alzheimer’s can damage the connection between nerves and muscles directly, independent of the brain or spinal cord.
Read it HERE
Can you have Alzheimer’s without symptoms?
More than 30% of adults over 70 have amyloid or tau (proteins implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease) in their brains yet have no apparent cognitive problems. This may indicate greater cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to compensate for damage.
See more HERE
Alzheimer disease protection from the periphery
The apolipoprotein E ε3 Christchurch variant provides remarkable resilience against Alzheimer disease by limiting tau propagation and suppressing neuroinflammation. New research reveals that this protection extends to the periphery, where ‘lipid-loaded’ extracellular vesicles stabilize the blood–brain barrier, which offers a novel systemic mechanism for developing potent disease-modifying therapies.
Read more HERE (paywall)