Gut bacteria can influence brain health, according to a study of mice genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s-like brain damage. The study, by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, indicates that gut bacteria produce compounds that influence the behavior of immune cells, including ones in the brain that can cause neurodegeneration. The findings suggest a new approach to treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Tag: alzheimer disease
Patients with Alzheimer’s dementia and related disorders who also have delirium incur greater healthcare costs that increase over time
Alzheimer’s Dementia and Related Disorders (ADRD) affects upwards of 5 million people in the United States, with no known treatments to stop or prevent its progression.
Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes: Synthetic peptides may suppress formation of harmful amyloid aggregates
In Alzheimer’s disease, the degeneration of brain cells is linked to formation of toxic protein aggregates and deposits known as amyloid plaques.
Breaks in ‘junk’ DNA give scientists new insight into neurological disorders
New study identifies how oxidative breaks form and are repaired in what scientists thought to be ‘junk’ DNA
Study points to new approach to clearing toxic waste from brain
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a new druggable pathway that potentially could be used to help prevent Alzheimer’s dementia.
Sanders-Brown director receives funding to advance work on potential drug
Linda J. Van Eldik, Ph.D., director of the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, is part of a $1.5 million grant to help further research into a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. A four-year grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health to Northwestern University includes a $611,676 subaward to UK. Van Eldik, the Dr. E. Vernon Smith and Eloise C. Smith Alzheimer’s Research Endowed Chair, serves as principal investigator on UK’s award.

UK HealthCare, Community Leaders Celebrate Opening of New Sanders-Brown Clinic
Today (July 25), UK HealthCare and community leaders celebrated the full opening of the Sanders-Brown Memory Clinic at Turfland. The new, larger clinic replaces the former Sanders-Brown facilities along North Broadway in Lexington.
The world looks to The University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging for answers to the mysteries of dementia, and the elderly rely on them for help in charting their path to a healthy and vigorous senior lifestyle. After outgrowing their old space, leaders at UK decided it was time that Sanders-Brown’s home for clinical research and patient care reflects their reputation — building them a new home on UK HealthCare’s Turfland Campus.
University of California-led Study Finds Three Factors That Raise the Odds for Alzheimer’s
A new analysis led by researchers with the University of California has found the top threats to Americans today regarding dementia in old age are obesity, physical inactivity, and lack of a high school diploma.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Reduces Social Activity
Despite the belief that early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is crucial, a new Rutgers study found that the diagnosis may unintentionally impact social relationships and activity.
Increase in registration of dementia as a cause of death
Over the past 20 years an increasing number of deaths have been registered with dementia as the underlying cause of death.

Science Snapshots: COVID-19, power outages, Alzheimer’s disease, and optical antennas
March Science Snapshots from Berkeley Lab

Nanoparticles Help Untangle Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid Beta Plaques
ROCKVILLE, MD – Scientists are still a long way from being able to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, in part because the protein aggregates that can become brain plaques, a hallmark of the disease, are hard to study.
Nobody finds the Alzheimer’s Germ in $1 Million Challenge, but eight researchers split $200K, says Dr. Leslie Norins of Alzheimer’s Germ Quest
There is now keen interest in deeper investigation of infectious agents as the trigger of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s Association again endorses Biogen drug despite mystery data analysis and financial conflict of interest, says Dr. Leslie Norins of Alzheimer’s Germ Quest
Although an expert FDA panel voted ten to one to withhold approval for a Biogen anti-Alzheimer’s drug candidate, the Alzheimer’s Association endorsed the compound. Serious questions have been raised about why, including conflict of interest.
Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Protein that Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Detailed predictive analyses and functional studies show that the VGF protein protects against onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, paving the way for future drug discovery efforts
University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Facilitates First Participant in Worldwide Drug Study
Researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA) recently screened the first participant in the world for what is known as the AHEAD 3-45 study. This work is looking at a study medication, BAN2401, to determine if it can help prevent worsening memory and thinking among individuals who might be at risk for future decline. They are hoping this study finds that BAN2401 does just that and will ultimately help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s study shows promise in protecting brain from tau
In the search for an Alzheimer’s cure, the scientific community has focused on drugs to lessen the buildup of amyloid protein in the brain. But new research published today in Science Translational Medicine finds that targeting tau pathology shows promise.The discovery came by looking at what could make worms resistant to pathological tau protein. That’s when researchers discovered the role of the MSUT2 gene. The latest study applied to mice as well. And held true in autopsy samples of Alzheimer’s patients.
Can Healthy Lifestyle Reduce Dementia Risk?
Rush is part of national study to test effects of lifestyle intervention on older adults at risk for dementia.

IU School of Medicine awarded $36 million NIH grant for Alzheimer’s disease drug discovery center
The IU-led center is one of only two multi-institution teams in the nation selected as part of a new federal program intended to improve, diversify and reinvigorate the Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline.

Alzheimer’s missing link ID’d, answering what tips brain’s decline
Brain’s immune cells form nexus between two damaging Alzheimer’s proteins Years before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear, two kinds of damaging proteins silently collect in the brain: amyloid beta and tau. Clumps of amyloid accumulate first, but tau is particularly…