Gait impairments often are prevalent in the early stages of cognitive decline. Researchers quantitatively compared straight walking and curved walking – a more natural yet complex activity – in healthy older adults and adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A depth camera detected and tracked 25 joints of body movement and signals were processed to extract 50 gait markers. Intriguingly, curved walking illuminated notable disparities between the study groups.
Tag: Dementia
Wrist Device That Monitors Activity Could Help Provide Early Warning of Alzheimer’s
Monitoring daily activity patterns using a wrist-worn device may detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
People with Essential Tremor May Have Increased Risk of Dementia
Dementia may be three times more common among people with essential tremor, a movement disorder that causes involuntary shaking, than the general population, according to research released today, March 6, 2024. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting taking place April 13–18, 2024, in person in Denver and online.
Four University of Michigan research teams selected for virtual tournament of science
Four University of Michigan research teams have made the bracket of 64 teams for STAT Madness, a virtual tournament of science. They were picked for their groundbreaking work on brain cancer, heart transplant, dementia care and deadly fungal infections published in 2023.
Doctor discusses a recent study about dementia.
Tresa Mcneal, MD, at Baylor Scott & White Health, discusses a recent study about dementia. What You Need to Know: Dementia affects thinking, memory and social ability. Stroke can cause dementia. Dementia risks increase for those who are sedentary. Reduce…
Study Detects Cognitive Changes in Older Drivers Using In-vehicle Sensors
Continuous, unobtrusive sensors and related monitoring devices are installed in older drivers’ vehicles to detect changes in highly complex activities over time. A driver facing camera, forward facing camera, and telematics unit provide video in real-time to enable researchers to analyze abnormal driving such as getting lost, reaction time and braking patterns as well as travel patterns such as miles driven, miles during the night and daytime, and driving in severe weather. Detecting changes in behavior could generate early warning signs of possible changes in cognition.
Risk of hospital readmission after surgery is high for older Americans
A new Yale study finds an increased risk of hospital readmission for older Americans within 180 days of undergoing major surgery — a risk that is particularly acute for individuals who are frail or have dementia.
AI Finds Key Signs That Predict Patient Survival Across Dementia Types
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and others have harnessed the power of machine learning to identify key predictors of mortality in dementia patients. The study, published in the February 28 online issue of Communications Medicine, addresses critical challenges in dementia care by pinpointing patients at high risk of near-term death and uncovers the factors that drive this risk. Unlike previous studies that focused on diagnosing dementia, this research delves into predicting patient prognosis, shedding light on mortality risks and contributing factors in various kinds of dementia.
Researchers make precious headway into a genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease
UC Santa Barbara researchers and collaborators in Colombia, Brazil and Germany are progressing toward an understanding of mechanisms that underlie Alzheimer’s disease, in particular an early-onset, genetic form that has afflicted generations of an extended family in Colombia.
May I have a quick word? Study shows talking faster is linked to better brain health as we age
As we get older, we may start to notice it takes us longer to find the right words. This can lead to concerns about cognitive decline and dementia.
Yoga provides unique cognitive benefits to older women at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, study finds
A new UCLA Health study found Kundalini yoga provided several benefits to cognition and memory for older women at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease including restoring neural pathways, preventing brain matter decline and reversing aging and inflammation-associated biomarkers – improvements not seen in a group who received standard memory training exercises.
Air Pollution Linked to More Signs of Alzheimer’s in Brain
People with higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution were more likely to have high amounts of amyloid plaques in their brains associated with Alzheimer’s disease after death, according to a study published in the February 21, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Drug Repairs Systems That Drain Alzheimer’s-Causing Waste From Brain, Study Shows
Rutgers study led by undergrads and gap-year students breaks ground in the field of neuroscience and suggests experimental medication could treat dementia.
New genetic therapy holds promise for ALS and frontotemporal dementia
Neuroscientists at Macquarie University in Australia have developed a single-dose genetic medicine that has been proven to halt the progression of both ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in mice – and may even offer the potential to reverse some of the effects of the fatal diseases.
Podcast: Experts in Health: The menopause and the controversial ‘male menopause’
Professor Eef Hogervorst, Professor of Biological Psychology at Loughborough University, sits down to discuss the factors influencing the menopause, what the best treatment options are, the relationship between oestrogen and dementia, and the controversies surrounding the andropause (the ‘male menopause’).
Dementia Researchers Share Recruitment Strategies for Pragmatic Clinical Trial
The Dementia Care (D-CARE) Study (2019-2023), which was conducted at four clinical trial sites in the U.S., compared three approaches in dementia care. Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, D-CARE successfully enrolled 2,176 racially/ethnically diverse persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their caregivers.
Language barriers could contribute to higher aggression in people with dementia
Immigrants living with dementia were more likely to present with agitation and aggression compared with their non-immigrant counterparts, a new study by Edith Cowan University (ECU) in collaboration with The Dementia Centre, HammondCare, found.
Certain Older Americans Show Hesitation Around Brain Scan Research
Rutgers Health researchers find differences among Asian older adults’ support of research and inclination to receive MRI results.
Dr. Claudia Padilla discusses Alzheimer’s and a new treatment.
Claudia Padilla, MD, at Baylor Scott & White Health, discusses Alzheimer’s and a new treatment. What You Need to Know: Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. The most common sign is short-term memory loss. New medication targets the protein…
The Medical Minute: Hearing impairment can lead to depression, isolation, dementia
Left unchecked, hearing loss can lead to lead to social isolation and depression – two conditions proven to hasten dementia. A Penn State Health expert sounds off on what you can do about it.
Residents of Rural ‘Glades’ Take a ‘Leap of Faith’ to Combat Dementia
Compared to urban dwellers, racially/ethnically diverse older adults face up to an 80 percent greater risk of cognitive impairment in older age, and 2.5 times potentially preventable Alzheimer’s-related (ADRD) hospitalizations.
Vaccines May Protect Against Alzheimer’s, But How? Asks Domenico Praticò, MD, FCPP
Commonly used vaccines may also protect against dementia, according to a recent paper published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease [J. Alzheimer’s Disease 2023; 95(2): 703–718)]. The authors found that after receiving the tetanus/diphtheria vaccine and whooping cough (aka, pertussis)…
High biological age may increase the risk of dementia and stroke
People who have a higher biological age than their actual chronological age have an increased risk of stroke and dementia. The findings suggest that by slowing down the body’s aging processes, it may be possible to reduce or delay the onset of disease.
Number of dementia cases could be 42% higher than previously estimated by 2040
Up to 1.7 million people could be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040 – over 40% more than previously forecast – finds a new UCL-led study.
Higher Levels of Triglycerides Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia
Older people who have higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, may have a lower risk of dementia and a slower cognitive decline over time compared to people who have lower levels, according to new research published in the October 25, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Undiagnosed: More than 7 million Americans unaware they have mild cognitive impairment
Two new USC Dornsife studies suggest that of the 8 million Americans who have MCI, more than 90% don’t know it — an especially worrisome finding since early diagnosis is key to delaying onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
After 50 years of pioneering research in rural Louisiana, study pivots from heart to brain
A study spent 50 years tracking the health of a rural Louisiana town’s children into adulthood and found that heart disease starts in childhood. Now the study hopes decades of heart research can unlock the origins of dementia.
Fluctuating blood pressure: a warning sign for dementia and heart disease
The link between high blood pressure and a range of health problems is well known, and Australian researchers have now found that fluctuating blood pressure can be just as risky and a potential precursor to dementia and vascular disease.
Both High and Low HDL Cholesterol Tied to Increased Risk of Dementia
Having either high or low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol, is tied to a small increased risk of dementia in older adults, according to a study published in the October 4, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, seizures, and epilepsy: Dr. Brin Freund
Sixty percent of patients with dementia on autopsy studies have cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) pathology. This episode discusses the relationship between CAA and epilepsy through the lens of a recent publication. Dr. Alina Ivaniuk talks with Dr. Brin Freund.
New $81M NIH grant will help U.S. answer urgent need for better dementia care
Fueled by new five-year funding expected to total $81 million from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging, a multi-institution team will work to improve understanding of the health care workforce that cares for people with dementia, through surveys and other methods that will produce data for clinicians, researchers, policymakers and others to use.
Rutgers Receives $4.2 Million to Develop Center for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research in Asian and Pacific Americans
The Resource Center for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research in Asian and Pacific Americans will work to advance behavioral, social and economic research related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias especially in older Asian and Pacific Americans.
Dementia risk in adults with intellectual disability
Both genetic and acquired factors contribute to the onset of intellectual disability (ID), and people with ID are presumed to be at a higher risk of developing dementia.
FAU Receives $1.3 Million Grant for Alzheimer’s Outreach in Broward County
The three-year, $1.3 million grant from the Administration for Community Living’s Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative will support a groundbreaking project designed to advance health equity and improve quality of life for individuals living with or at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers.
FAU Receives $750,000 Philanthropic Grant for Alzheimer’s Disease
A $750,000 philanthropic grant from the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation will help FAU develop partnerships and programs that will establish best practice for coordinated care and research for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Emily Rogalski joins UChicago to lead new center for healthy brain aging, Alzheimer’s and related diseases
The new University of Chicago Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care (HAARC) Center will focus on building deep multidisciplinary expertise and bridging the gap between scientific disciplines to accelerate breakthroughs in cognitive resilience.
Eye-tracking technology helps give a voice to older people living with dementia
More than 50% of Australians living in residential aged care facilities have a dementia diagnosis, with aged care services around the world preparing for the number of older people aged 65 years and above to double in the next 30 years.
The Signs of Dementia and What Can Be Done to Stave It Off
Brent Forester, the Dr. Frances S. Arkin Chair of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and psychiatrist-in-chief and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center, focuses his research on geriatric psychiatry and neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, late-life depression, and older adult bipolar disorder.
FAU Lands $4.2 Million NIH Grant for Air Quality and Alzheimer’s Risks Study
Lake Okeechobee rural residents are subjected to repeated, intermittent exposures to air pollution during agricultural fires.
Stem Cell Therapy Rescues Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Promising preclinical results from UC San Diego show hematopoietic stem cell therapy was effective in rescuing memory loss, neuroinflammation and beta amyloid build-up in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Long-Term Use of Certain Acid Reflux Drugs Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia
People who take acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors for four-and-a-half years or more may have a higher risk of dementia compared to people who do not take these medications, according to new research published in the August 9, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This study does not prove that acid reflux drugs cause dementia; it only shows an association.
AI model isolates olive oil ingredients that may fight Alzheimer’s
A growing body of evidence suggests extra virgin olive oil can help prevent cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. In a new study, Yale School of Medicine researchers led by Natalie Neumann, MD, trained a machine learning algorithm on current…
FSU researcher finds potential new tool for early identification of dementia risk
By analyzing data from nearly 13,000 subjects who participated in a long-term aging study, Florida State University researchers found that an interviewer’s rating of a cognitively healthy person’s memory successfully predicted the likelihood of developing dementia over a 15-year period.
Minds & eyes: Study shows dementia more common in older adults with vision issues
A new study lends further weight to the idea that vision problems and dementia are linked. In a sample of nearly 3,000 older adults who took vision tests and cognitive tests during home visits, the risk of dementia was much higher among those with eyesight problems – including those who weren’t able to see well even when they were wearing their usual eyeglasses or contact lenses.
New study reveals why defense against brain corrosion declines in people with Alzheimer’s disease
A new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University revealed that the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be slowed by suppressing a specific protein in the brain that causes corrosion.
Opting for Olive Oil Could Boost Brain Health
A new study suggests that incorporating olive oil into your diet could help reduce the risk of dying from dementia.
Volunteering in late life may protect the brain against cognitive decline and dementia
Volunteering in late life is associated with better cognitive function — specifically, better executive function and episodic memory, according to a new UC Davis study.
Majority of older adults with cognitive impairment still drive
The majority of older adults with cognitive impairment are still driving, despite concerns raised by caregivers and others, a study finds. Researchers say it’s best for caregivers to start conversations surrounding driving earlier while the care recipient is able to understand and actively participate in the discussion.
‘Fastball’ test to detect Alzheimer’s earlier gets major £1.5 million funding boost
A simple but revolutionary test to improve early detection for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease could soon be helping patients and their families, thanks to a significant £1.5 million funding boost awarded to the universities of Bath and Bristol.
FDA Grants Alzheimer’s Medication Lecanemab/Leqembi Full Approval, Opening Door For Medicare & Health Insurance Coverage
Hackensack Meridian Health Physicians react to FDA approval of Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab/ Leqembi. Available to discuss its uses, side effects and instances when they have prescribed it.