Sen. Dianne Feinstein during a committee hearing in 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) No cause of death has been disclosed for Dianne Feinstein, the longtime California senator who struggled with evident health problems in her final years before her death Friday. She was absent from the U.S. Senate for nearly three months earlier this year while recovering from a case of shingles that led to encephalitis, a rare complication that causes inflammation and swelling in the brain. She was briefly hospitalized in August after falling at her home and was often seen in a wheelchair in public. Indications that Feinstein, 90, was struggling with memory problems have…

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

“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.

iStock.com/ratthanan 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…

Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images 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 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 The loss of dopamine-producing neurons with Parkinson’s causes symptoms including a tremor, slow movements and muscle stiffness. Photograph: David Davies/PA 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…

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. Dr. Elizabeth Head

Downtown Los Angeles seen in the hazy distance. Photo: Caroline Brehman/Zuma Press 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…