Category Archives: Research

Sildenafil and shingles vaccine show surprising promise against Alzheimer’s, suggests study

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Researchers have pinpointed three already approved medications that may be repurposed to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Instead of starting from scratch, scientists examined medicines that are currently used for other conditions to see whether any could help protect the brain.

The study, funded by Alzheimer’s Society and led by the University of Exeter, was published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy. Among the drugs reviewed, a shingles vaccine (Zostavax) emerged as the most promising candidate. Viagra (sildenafil) and a medication used to treat motor neurone disease (riluzole) also showed strong potential.

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Eye tests could spot signs of Alzheimer’s years before symptoms first appear, new research suggests

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A routine eye test could spot signs of Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms first appear, promising research has suggested.

Experts from City St George’s, University of London say early stage cognitive decline could soon be picked up by an AI tool rolled out in opticians and ophthalmologist offices that measures changes to blood vessels in the back of the eye.

The tool, which is being tested using the health records of more than 500,000 Britons, could help dementia patients be identified and treated before the disease significantly damages their brain.

Read all about it HERE

Early Alzheimer’s increased connectivity lowered by cancer drug in the lab

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Published in Translational Psychiatry, the study then demonstrated that a cancer medication has the potential to reverse this early-stage hyperconnectivity.

The research, conducted in brain cells of rats, showed that low levels of the protein amyloid-beta could induce hyperconnectivity and this pattern closely resembled changes seen in the brains of people of people with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Amyloid-beta is thought to be instrumental in Alzheimer’s disease, where it creates plaques – or sticky clumps of amyloid-beta proteins – around the neurons.

These new findings suggest that low levels of amyloid-beta alone are enough to trigger early, disease-relevant changes in how brain cells connect.

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Researchers explore surgical treatment’s potential in Alzheimer’s

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Researchers are calling for more studies to determine whether lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA), a surgical procedure that helps clear molecular waste from the brain, might benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease.

“LVA represents a novel therapeutic strategy that may complement existing treatments, offering new hope for addressing the [disease biology] of [Alzheimer’s disease]. Through collaborative, long-term clinical trials, LVA may emerge not only as an adjunct to current [Alzheimer’s] therapies but also as a potential treatment avenue for other neurodegenerative diseases,” Khong Yik Chew, MD, a senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital, said in a press release.

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Mayo Clinic researchers identify key DNA changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a study published in Nature Communications, Mayo Clinic researchers have identified specific DNA-level changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using advanced biological analysis, the team mapped alterations in the brain’s regulatory landscape that may help explain why Alzheimer’s presents and progresses differently from person to person. The findings could also open new avenues for understanding other neurodegenerative diseases.

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Brain can keep producing new neurons in old age, but Alzheimer’s may disrupt the process

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New research reveals the adult brain generates fresh nerve cells in the hippocampus, vital for memory. This ability declines in Alzheimer’s patients. Scientists observed this process in postmortem brain samples. Healthy older adults show continued neuron production.

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/brain-can-keep-producing-new-neurons-in-old-age-but-alzheimers-may-disrupt-the-process-study/articleshow/128914343.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst