UCI MIND Director, Dr. Joshua Grill was recently interviewed by the OC Register about the Institute’s role in being a reliable source of information about Alzheimer’s disease. Read the full article here Related posts: Untreated Sleep Apnea May Increase Dementia Risk Healthline – “There is a lot of evidence that links sleep apnea to Alzheimer’s disease risk,” added Bryce Mander, Ph.D, assistant professor, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. “But there is limited data on the beneficial effects of sleep apnea treatment on risk… Healthy, Drug-Resistant Microglia Reinvigorate Mouse Brain UCI MIND faculty member…

“Music can really affect the brain in ways that are medicinal” says Dr. Joshua Grill of UCI MIND, in an interview with CNN. Watch the video here. Related posts: Learning Alzheimer’s Risk The actor Chris Hemsworth recently publicly disclosed that he learned that he carries two copies of the Alzheimer’s disease risk gene Apolipoprotein  (APOE) e4 (https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/chris-hemsworth-discovers-risk-alzheimers-disease-series-limitless-93442609). We’ve previously discussed direct-to-consumer genetic testing that includes the option for APOE testing on the UCI MIND blog (https://mind.uci.edu/fda-approves-23andme-limited-direct-consumer-genetic-risk-testing/). APOE is the strongest known genetic… The Link Between Air Quality and Your Longevity Smoggy air can hurt your health even after the smoke…

Consumers can order blood tests from the laboratory testing behemoth Quest Diagnostics to check their iron or vitamin D levels, learn whether they have a sexually transmitted disease, or determine whether their thyroid is functioning properly. And now, for $399, plus a $13 “physician service fee,” they can order a blood test that promises to help assess their risk of Alzheimer disease. In a press release, Quest Diagnostics noted that its AD-Detect Test for Alzheimer Disease is the first blood test available for consumers to purchase that measures a biomarker linked to the most common form of dementia. The test uses liquid…

Treating high blood pressure in older adults reduces their risk of dementia, an analysis of previous research shows, providing more evidence that heart health and brain health are intimately connected. In a new meta-analysis, published Sept. 12 in JAMA Network Open, researchers found that older adults with untreated high blood pressure were 42% more likely to develop dementia during the study period compared to healthy older adults. This was true even among 70- and 80-year-olds. […] “The study suggests that successful treatment of hypertension [high blood pressure] might bring down the risk of developing dementia to the level of individuals with no hypertension,” said Dr. S….

Dear Colleagues, I am thrilled to announce and celebrate four outstanding individuals who have been honored with Lauds & Laurels awards. These individuals have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also demonstrated exceptional dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Dr. Tamera Hatfield, PhD, an alumna of our school, has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni award. Dr. Hatfield’s academic journey at the School of Biological Sciences and the UCI School of Medicine has culminated in her becoming a board-certified, fellowship-trained UCI Health obstetrician. Andrea Wasserman, the Chief Administrative Officer of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments…

Small trial of Bemdaneprocel, which aims to replace dopamine-producing neurons, raises hope for treatment Scientists have reported early success in a trial of an experimental cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, raising hope for patients. Bemdaneprocel therapy is at an early stage, and the year-long trial involved just 12 patients, but the positive outcome is viewed as significant after decades of setbacks in the hunt for an effective treatment. Developed by BlueRock therapeutics, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company Bayer, it was shown to be safe and the data gave a tantalising suggestion that patients may have benefited. “The data from…

UCI MIND faculty member and professor of pathology, Elizabeth Head, PhD, is quoted in last week’s Alzforum article about Alzheimer’s disease immunotherapies and the high rates of cerebrovascular pathology in people with Down syndrome.   To read the story, visit Alzforum from August 25th. Related posts: UCI MIND faculty finds connection between air pollution from traffic and Alzheimer’s disease Masashi Kitazawa, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health, and his team found exposure to traffic-related air pollution led to memory loss and cognitive decline and triggered neurological pathways associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Read the article here…. Direct…

Smoggy air can hurt your health even after the smoke has cleared. But you can lower your risk. Some animal research suggests that fine particles can make their way into the brain, says Masashi Kitazawa, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine. He recently co-wrote a study that found that older mice who were exposed to polluted air were at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who got purified air. Even the younger mice who were exposed to polluted air had some memory loss and cognitive decline, he says. “As long…

More Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders sought for studies on aging August 2, 2023—With a $16 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Irvine will work with community partners to improve the representation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults in research on aging, caregiving, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The new project builds on a previous effort by academic leaders and a large variety of community-based organizations with strong ties to the AANHPI population. The Collaborative Approach for AANHPI Research and Education successfully established…