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Estimates from the University of California-Los Angeles Health Sciences suggest that by 2060 about 15 million Americans will have mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a huge increase from 6.08 million in 2017. This striking increase highlights the urgent need to identify measures that could slow the progression of disease in people with indications of neuropathological changes that could lead to AD. While more work is necessary, researchers have found promise in a compound that targets the APOE protein in the brain.
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— Barbara Worthington, editor |
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Targeting Protein Could Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
People who carry the APOE4 genetic variant are at substantial risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Now researchers have identified a compound that targets the APOE protein in the brains of mice and protects against damage induced by the Alzheimer’s protein amyloid beta.
“Scientists have been interested in APOE for years, but there are only a few examples where researchers have targeted it with a compound in living animals,” says senior author David Holtzman, MD, a professor and head of the neurology department at Washington University in St. Louis and senior author of the study in Neuron.
“Our findings indicate that APOE is not just involved in Alzheimer’s risk and disease progression, but it could potentially be a real target for treatment or prevention,” Holtzman says.
Alzheimer’s disease, which affects one in 10 people over the age 65, is marked by brain plaques made of a sticky protein known as amyloid beta. The plaques start forming in the brain years before the characteristic symptoms of memory loss and confusion appear. APOE4 raises the risk of Alzheimer’s partly by encouraging amyloid beta to collect into damaging plaques.
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Transdisciplinary Professionalism Improves Medication Management — An Urgent Call for Heightened Awareness
In recent years, the need for a “new professionalism” referred to as Transdisciplinary Professionalism has been proposed to help meet the challenges facing today’s health system. Read more »
Diet and Alzheimer’s Disease
Adherence to Mediterraneanlike or ketogenic diets may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Read more »
Brain Activity Affects Fall Risk
Brain activity patterns during dual tasks, such as walking while talking, may indicate risk of falls in high-functioning older adults. Read more » |
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Researchers Test Nicotine Patches
to Treat Early Memory Loss
Could nicotine patches be effective in treating early memory loss? A study underway at Vanderbilt University aims to determine that, according to an article in The Tennessean.
The Surprising Effects of Loneliness on Health
A New York Times article notes findings of a recent study indicating that loneliness has been linked to a decline in cognitive function.
Straight From the Patient’s Mouth: Videos
Can Clearly State Your End-of-Life Wishes
An article at Kaiser Health News suggests recognition is increasing for innovative do-it-yourself videos expressing patients’ end-of-life wishes.
Prescription Drugs May Cost More
With Insurance Than Without It
Investigative researchers found huge variations in drug prices for Medicare subscribers, with prescriptions filled via GoodRx and Blink Health often costing far less than those through Medicare plans, according to an article in The New York Times. |
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