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ALZHEIMER’S RISK TIED TO UNCLES, AUNTS, AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS WITH THE DISEASE

Having cousins and great-grandparents with Alzheimer’s has been linked to a higher risk of developing the disease, according to a study. Scientists looked at the data on over 278,818 people included in the Utah Population Database, stretching back to the 1880s, for their work published in the journal Neurology. The participants were connected to the state's pioneers by at least three generations.

Alzheimer’s disease continues to be a growing problem

Statistics by themselves can sometimes be confusing or open to misinterpretation, so LifeTimes talked to an expert on Alzheimer’s disease about the latest numbers from the Alzheimer’s Association. We asked Dr. Amanda Smith, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences and director of clinical research at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in Tampa, to put the 2019 statistics into perspective. We also asked her what more positive news there might be in the near future.

Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) are conditions arising from stroke and other vascular brain injuries that cause significant changes to memory, thinking, and behavior. Cognition and brain function can be significantly affected by the size, location, and number of brain injuries. 

Sleep Loss Encourages Spread of Toxic Alzheimer’s Protein

In addition to memory loss and confusion, many people with Alzheimer’s disease have trouble sleeping. Now an NIH-funded team of researchers has evidence that the reverse is also true: a chronic lack of sleep may worsen the disease and its associated memory loss.

Women’s Brains Appear Younger Than Men’s. So Why Are They More At Risk for Alzheimer’s?

We know there are differences in men and women’s brains that can translate to varied reactions to environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. But a new study has found that women’s brains appear to be several years younger than the brains of men who were the same age.

Half of Adults Don’t Know the Risk Factors for Dementia

One in ten people over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with dementia. For people over 85, dementia is already a reality for 32 percent of the population. With numbers like that, you’d think that the general population would be on the lookout for ways to minimize their risk, right?

An Education Is No Defense Against Alzheimer’s, But Learning Is Still Good for the Brain

There is little that is known for sure in the realm of Alzheimer’s research, and what we do know seems like it’s always changing. Case in point: It used to be that having an education was considered a defense against Alzheimer’s. But new research is showing that presumption might not be the case.

An Alzheimer’s epidemic is coming. Here's how to prepare

The greatest emerging risk to women’s health can be summed up in this stark statistic: Every 65 seconds in the United States a new brain develops Alzheimer’s. Two-thirds of them belong to women, and no one knows why that is.

Studies explore Alzheimer’s risk factors, biomarkers in Latinos

Most people have a greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease as they age. For Latinos—the fastest-growing group of older adults in the United States—some risk factors seem to matter more than for other groups.

Jeanne Cronin: Addressing a Family History of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects more than 5 million Americans. Jeanne Cronin has an intimate experience, due to her family history. She recalls stories shared by family members about her grandmother, whose behavior resulted in her being moved from nursing home to nursing home. Thinking back Jeanne explains that, although Alzheimer’s was not part of the public conversation at the time, her behavior could very well have been symptoms of the disease.