Diagnosis and Causes

Unraveling the Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease

May 5, 2009

Researchers continue to explore the link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, and two recent studies provide new clues about the connection between the two diseases...

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Shrinking Hippocampus Signals Early Alzheimer’s

May 4, 2009

People who have lost brain cells in the hippocampus area of the brain are more likely to develop dementia, researchers report.

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Having a Parent With Dementia May Affect Memory in Midlife

April 13, 2009

If your mother or father has Alzheimer's disease, you may be at increased risk of memory problems in middle age...

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Brain Factor BDNF Shows Early Promise Against Alzheimer’s

April 13, 2009

A protein made in the brain showed early promise in halting and reversing age-related brain damage in rats, mice and monkeys...

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Can Doctors Tell When It’s Time to Give Up the Car Keys?

March 9, 2009

A new study shows doctors may be able to use tests of thinking and perception to help determine whether a person with Alzheimer's disease can safely get behind the wheel.

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Alzheimer’s Often Missed as Cause of Death

January 12, 2009

Alzheimer's disease may be under-reported as a cause of death and often is not cited on death certificates...

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Bizarre Sleep Disorder Linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

January 12, 2009

People with a bizarre sleep disorder that causes them to kick, punch and cry out while dreaming are at dramatically increased risk of developing Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases...

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Blood Sugar Linked to Aging Brain

December 30, 2008

Keeping blood sugar in check is not just a key to preventing diabetes. It may also help to keep the brain sharp into old age.

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A Starved Brain May Trigger Alzheimer’s Disease

December 29, 2008

A slow but persistent lack of nutrients in the brain may be a critical factor in causing some forms of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

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Sleep Apnea Is a Concern in People With Alzheimer’s

December 29, 2008

Sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that affects some 20 million Americans, may be a problem for people with Alzheimer's, too.

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High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Cut Survival in People With Alzheimer’s

December 17, 2008

People with Alzheimer's disease who also have diabetes or high blood pressure are more likely to die sooner than people without such disorders.

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Occasional Memory Lapses Tied to Loss of Brain Volume

October 14, 2008

Are "senior moments" an early sign of Alzheimer's disease? People who occasionally forget an appointment or a friend's name may have a loss of brain volume.

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Inconsistent Memory Tests May Predict Alzheimer’s

September 22, 2008

Older people who perform inconsistently on memory tests may be at increased risk for Alzheimer's...

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Old, Frail and at Risk for Alzheimer’s

September 22, 2008

Frailty in old age may be related to Alzheimer's disease...

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PET Scans May Detect Brain Plaques of Alzheimer’s Disease

September 16, 2008

A type of brain scan known as positron emission tomography, or PET scanning, shows promise as a useful way to detect plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

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New Memory Test Cutoff May Detect College-Educated Adults With Alzheimer’s

July 22, 2008

Providing a different cutoff point on the Mini-Mental State Exam, or MMSE, a 30-question questionnaire commonly used to suggest a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, may identify more college-educated adults with early disease, a new study suggest.

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Scientists Identify New Genes That May Be Involved in Alzheimer’s

July 16, 2008

Researchers have identified four new genes that may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's, the most common form of the memory-ravaging illness that afflicts some five million Americans.

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Scientists Identify New Alzheimer’s Gene

July 16, 2008

Researchers have identified a gene, CALHM1, that may raise the risk of getting late-onset Alzheimer's...

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Lowering Blood Pressure in the Elderly May Offer Modest Protection Against Alzheimer’s

July 16, 2008

Getting blood pressure under control appears to be an important step for reducing heart disease and stroke in the elderly...

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Good Cholesterol Linked to Better Memory

July 16, 2008

Keeping cholesterol under control limits the risk of heart disease, now, research shows that HDL, the so-called good form of cholesterol, may also be good for the memory.

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In the Oldest Old, Women Are More Likely to Have Dementia Than Men

July 14, 2008

Women over age 90 are significantly more likely to have dementia compared to men in their 90s...

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Heavy Drinking, Smoking May Spur Onset of Alzheimer’s

June 3, 2008

Heavy drinkers and heavy smokers develop Alzheimer's disease years earlier than people with Alzheimer's who do not drink or smoke heavily, according to new research.

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High Cholesterol in Your 40s Increases Alzheimer’s Risk

June 3, 2008

Those with high cholesterol in their early 40s are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with low cholesterol.

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Diabetes in Mid-Life Increases Alzheimer’s Risk

May 27, 2008

Men who develop diabetes in mid-life significantly increased their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later.

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