Finding unexpected because women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s more often than men Scientists at the University of Alberta have discovered that important risk factors in Alzheimer’s disease affect males and females very differently. “Two types of risk for Alzheimer’s disease work differently for males and females, and dramatically so,” says Mackenzie Heal, neuroscience master’s student…
Pilots, athletes, dementia patients and more could benefit from this brain boost
Imagine putting on a helmet embedded with tiny electrodes that sit on your scalp, delivering a gentle electrical current to certain areas of your brain. After about 10 to 20 minutes, you might find yourself with a better ability to focus, sharper memory and a host of other cognitive benefits. That’s the idea behind a…
Understanding how the brain forms real-world memories has been elusive
When you think of a vivid personal memory, you don’t merely recall the bare facts of what happened – you remember additional details like the emotions you felt, perhaps where you were standing when things unfolded, scents and sounds in the air. “Memories play such a key component in shaping who we are,” said Peggy St.…University of Alberta research highlights potential pathway for new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
Scientists at the University of Alberta have identified a mechanism for a protein that decreases the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease – a discovery that highlights a new potential avenue for developing therapeutic treatments. The protein, called CD33, is known for its connection to Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility, but its exact role was unclear until now.…
There is no magic bullet, but a national action plan can improve care and quality of life
By Howard Feldman University of British Columbia and Carole Estabrooks University of Alberta Canada needs a national action plan to address dementia and Alzheimer’s. One of the biggest threats to quality of life and health in aging is the loss of cognitive abilities and autonomy associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Today, 750,000 Canadians live with dementia and…
As research continues, it is likely that more and more effective treatments will be developed
One of the first questions to arise after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease almost always deals with treatment. People want to know what treatments are available, how they work, what they will mean in terms of symptom improvement and the length of time left for the patient to live independently. Three medications available for Alzheimer’s…
Research will hopefully lead to more successful treatments and possibly a cure for this devastating illness
In my previous column, I dealt in general with Alzheimer’s disease and the growing problem it is becoming for our aging population. Today I want to discuss in a little more detail exactly what we know about what happens inside the brain as the disease progresses. Research in this field is rapidly advancing and will…
While there is no way to stop the disease, it is possible to improve quality of life
Alzheimer’s is an ailment of the brain that touches almost everyone. Most of us know a friend or family member who suffers from this common and devastating disease. Once considered rare, Alzheimer’s is now known to be the leading cause of dementia in the aging population and is one of several disorders that cause loss…
But memory loss can also be a symptom of treatable disorders such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse
A very common concern among my patients aged 45 and older is a fear that they are losing their memory and may be on their way to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Although these are possibilities, some memory loss is common as we age and not associated with a degenerative dementia. This kind of memory…