Many of us pay close attention to the nutrients in the food we eat before deciding on our meal options. We know that we need a certain amount of iron, protein, calcium, and vitamin C as we age. But most of us don’t realize how much the foods we eat can impact our brain health, and […]
Ten Things to Know About the New FDA Approved Alzheimer’s Drug, Kisunla (donanemab)
Pat Bishara, 79, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in late 2017. Beginning in 2021, she participated in both the phase 3 trial and the extension trial for donanemab. Along with the monthly infusion, she was also regularly evaluated by a psychologist. She had her final infusion last month. When asked about her progress, Bishara […]
Red Flags When Walking and Driving May Be Indicative of Dementia
Some people take wide turns when they are walking or driving and get disoriented easily. Some drive slowly, while others are fast and erratic. Some get lost in their own neighborhood or have momentary lapses where they forget which pedal is which. For some, this is just how they walk or drive, and they may […]
How a Healthy Gut Relates to a Healthy Brain
Q. I heard that there’s a strong link between particular kinds of gut bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. Is this true, and if so, how do I know if my gut is, in fact, healthy? If not, what changes can I make to improve it, and perhaps reduce my chance of developing dementia? Thanks for your […]
New Guidelines Are Being Proposed for Diagnosing Alzheimer’s
Dear Raider, I read somewhere that someone will soon be able to receive a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s even if they have no symptoms or family history of the disease. How will this work? Thanks for your help! Diane Ganosis — Dear Diane, According to new diagnostic criteria discussed at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference […]
Can Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Be Detected while You’re Asleep?
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are both neurodegenerative diseases that currently don’t have a cure. For both diseases, great strides have been made in research, including recent findings using sleep patterns. Scientists believe that early diagnoses using this information may help slow disease progression or offer prevention. How Sleep Patterns at Home Can Enable Widespread […]
Scientists Discover What Causes Huntington’s Disease, Opening a Potential New Path for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Research
Julie Andrews, 87, star of “The Sound of Music,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Mary Poppins,” has been a stalwart advocate in the fight against Huntington’s disease for over 30 years. She has been a spokesperson and supporter of the Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF), which is committed to finding treatments and cures for Huntington’s and other […]
Is It Possible to Be Resistant to Dementia?
A unique quirk of DNA protected a Colombian man from developing a hereditary form of dementia for two decades. Researchers, who studied his brain after he died, have discovered that this type of dementia may go way back in the village where he resided. They believe that looking more closely at him and another person […]
FDA Commissioner Is “Excited” about New Alzheimer’s Treatment Results
Q. I remember reading about lecanemab, an Alzheimer’s treatment, in your newsletter earlier in the year. I have heard that there are other new treatments coming out to slow Alzheimer’s progression. Do you know what else is out there, and if it will be covered by Medicare? Thanks so much for your help! A. Good […]
FDA Approves New Alzheimer’s Drug—But Does it Work?
Q. My family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease. We heard that a new drug for Alzheimer’s was just approved by the FDA. The process for its approval seemed kind of fast and it seems that Alzheimer’s drugs in the past have been unsuccessful. Could this one be different? Should people with Alzheimer’s and their […]
Is Early Detection and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Possible Before Symptoms Arise?
Dear Angel, There’s been so much talk about the new Alzheimer’s drug that was just approved by the FDA. I’m wondering– what progress has been made when it comes to early detection of Alzheimer’s, before symptoms arise? Thanks! Earl E. Detexion — Dear Earl, June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, a time when we […]
Can a Flu Shot Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s? Get a Flu or Pneumonia Shot!
Every year, Marion contemplates whether to get her flu shot. She hasn’t gotten one in the past, but then again, she hasn’t had the flu for nearly five years. This year she is also eligible for a no-cost pneumonia vaccine through Medicare. New research has prompted Marion to change her tune and get a flu […]
Breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s Research from the Past Year
Q. It seems like there’s a new Alzheimer’s “breakthrough” almost every day. My husband and I often follow the headlines and in our attempt to pull together the true, reputable research, we have seen everything from the relationship of drinking coffee to stave off Alzheimer’s to people in the Midwest and South being more susceptible […]
$1,000,000 Reward for Anyone Who Finds the ‘Germ’ that Causes Alzheimer’s
Currently, more than 44 million people around the world are suffering from Alzheimer’s. Each day, 303 people die of the disease and each year, we lose 110,000 people to the progressive, neurological disease. Yet the cause is unknown, there is no cure, and there are no proven ways to prevent Alzheimer’s. Decades of research and […]
Is Alzheimer’s Linked to Gum Disease?
Barbara recently went for her semi-annual dental cleaning and check-up and was told she has gingivitis (gum disease). She wasn’t surprised, as she has had a history of tooth decay and gum disease since she was a child. She always took care of her teeth, but she was told she is “more susceptible” to such […]
Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs in 2018
Dear Bebe, I have read so many stories about Alzheimer’s “breakthroughs” this year. What are some of the most promising ones? Thanks, Bray Kathrews Dear Bray, Despite millions of dollars and years of research, there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s. One promising thing to note is that this past year, the National Institute of […]
A Prosthetic Brain to Improve Memory?
U.S. Army veteran, Steven, is missing his left leg from a war injury. He wears a prosthetic leg, and it enables him to walk. For those who are missing an arm or leg, an artificial limb (or a prosthesis) can often replace it. A prosthesis can help you to perform daily activities such as walking, […]
Three Ways to Predict Alzheimer’s Years Before Symptoms Begin
Evelyn believes that her father, Bill, is beginning to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s. His memory loss started out mild, but is beginning to disrupt his daily life. He gets confused often, and loses concept of place and time. At the same time, though, he can engage in a completely normal conversation, and clearly remembers the […]
How to Stave Off Dementia
Q. I am in my mid 50’s and have a history of dementia in my family. My mother, three of my aunts, and one uncle died from it, and I want to do whatever I can to protect myself from the disease, if at all possible. My cousin lives in Japan, and he told me […]
What Can Be Done with $350 million? (a lot, we hope)
Alzheimer’s research got a $350 million boost last week, when President Barack Obama signed the FY2016 budget into law. This historic amount marks the largest boost ever for federal Alzheimer’s research funding — a nearly 60 percent increase over FY2015 funding levels. Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the nation’s top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. Today, there […]