Controversial Gene Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

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Glial-to-neuron conversion therapy decreases inflammation and restores the brain-blood barrier in Alzheimer’s disease model macaques.

In search of an innovative medicine, a group of scientists at Jinan University in Guangdong, China, has developed a disease-modifying therapy that, when tested in a non-human primate Alzheimer’s model, has shown improvements in both biological markers and clinical aspects of the disease. “These outcomes offer new hope for the tens of millions of Alzheimer’s patients worldwide,” says Wenliang Lei, principal investigator at Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR) in Jinan University, and co-corresponding author of the study published in Advanced Science.

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The Early Alzheimer’s Symptom Doctors Say Women Should Never Ignore

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Occasionally forgetting a name or appointment is not typically cause for concern, explains Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO of HealthyWomen, an organization dedicated to women’s health in midlife. For example, if you forget the name of an old TV show but remember it a few minutes later, that is not consistent with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. However, persistent changes that interfere with your daily functioning, such as repeatedly asking the same question or getting lost in a familiar place, are reasons to start a conversation with your doctor, she says.

Battaglino explains that ruling out other medical reasons for cognitive issues, as well as addressing conditions that can increase dementia risk like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and atrial fibrillation, is a good place to start.

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New Tool That Tracks How the Brain Removes Waste Could Offer Clues About Alzheimer’s

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The gold standard for studying movement within neurological networks involves injecting tracer substances into cerebrospinal fluid, the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. But due to the extra volume introduced to the brain system, extra fluid can disrupt normal brain processes and often produces only a broad picture of fluid flow rather than highlighting pathways that could be linked to neurological disease.

“These injected tracers disturb the very system we’re attempting to measure,” said Yang. “We wanted to find a better way.”

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CBD may slow Alzheimer’s by calming the brain’s immune system

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CBD may be doing far more than just easing pain or anxiety — new research suggests it could help fight Alzheimer’s disease by calming the brain’s runaway immune response. In experiments using Alzheimer’s mice, scientists found that inhaled CBD reduced key drivers of neuroinflammation, a damaging process increasingly linked to memory loss and brain degeneration.

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Getting a Diagnosis When Cognitive Problems Are a Concern

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Key takeaways

  • Primary care doctors may dismiss cognitive complaints as stress or normal aging.
  • Brief visits and limited dementia training for primary care physicians make a careful assessment hard to get.
  • Being persistent, switching doctors or seeking a specialist can help patients and their families get answers.

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What Your Genetic Risk For Alzheimer’s Means

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Scientists have long known that genetics play a role in Alzheimer’s disease risk. Some genetic markers appear to increase the likelihood of developing the condition, while others seem to offer a degree of protection against cognitive decline and brain aging.

One of the most important genes researchers study is called APOE. Everyone inherits two copies, but the specific version you carry may influence how resilient your brain is over time. In particular, one version called APOE4 is strongly linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while another, APOE2, is associated with lower risk and even exceptional longevity.

Now, new research may help explain why (and why some may be more resilient to aging than others).

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