In the News

I haven’t posted much lately, especially with summer travel to the East Coast and North Cascades mountains.  But I have been watching the news on Alzheimer’s disease research.  Here are some things that caught my eye:

1. A study found that having a purpose in life was linked to lower dementia risk.  The study of “over 13,000 adults found that having a strong sense of purpose in life is linked to a reduced risk of dementia. People with a greater purpose were 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, even when accounting for genetic risk and other factors.  This was consistent across racial and ethnic groups and modestly delayed the onset of decline by more than a month over eight years. The findings suggest that building purpose through relationships, goals, or meaningful activities may help keep the brain resilient with age.”  Click here.

2. A study found that two supplements can affect levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (usually referred to as GTP), which is a protein where low levels are seen in Alzheimer’s disease.  (I didn’t know this.)  Some study findings which were published in the journal GeroScience, described how two compounds, nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) and epigallocatechin gallate (an antioxidant found in green tea), helped restore guanosine triphosphate, a key molecule that fuels energy production in brain cells. In laboratory experiments on neurons, this treatment not only reversed age-related cellular decline but also enhanced the cells’ ability to clear away amyloid protein clusters, a defining feature of Alzheimer’s.  But these findings seem to have a long way to go before we get to a protocol.  I already take nicotinamide myself, although I don’t drink green tea as often as I should.  Click here.  And here.

3.  We already knew this, but Wendy Suzuki continues to bring attention to the importance of aerobic exercise for brain health.  Click here.

4.  Researchers at St. Jude’s found that a protein, called midkine, blocks amyloid beta from forming harmful clumps linked to Alzheimer’s.  If this checks out, it could lead to breakthrough treatments.  Click here.

5.  Researchers at Harvard found a connection between lithium deficiency in the brain and Alzheimer’s disease.  “The team discovered that loss of lithium in the human brain is among the earliest alterations linked to Alzheimer’s, while in mice, reduced lithium sped up both brain damage and memory decline.”  Click here.

6.  Deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids may promote Alzheimer’s in women but not in men.  Is this why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men?  Click here.

7.  Researchers at Rush University (home of the MIND diet) believe they have found out why the MIND diet is effective.  Click here.

8.  In Beating the Dementia Monster, we said that there was a sweet spot for exercise to improve brain health.  But too much is detrimental.  Here’s new research on how it is that too much can be detrimental.  Click here.  Of course, we’re talking a lot of exercise to get over the peak for benefit to get to a downside.

9.  Can AI develop an even better diet for dementia prevention?  The Chinese say they have it.  Click here.  (China is second only to the US government in Alzheimer's research.)