Eat This, Not That! "According to a study performed by UCI MIND and presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, there's a connection between longevity and drinking a moderate amount of alcohol. (Let's stress the "moderate.") The research involved individuals 90+ years of age. In this particular study, participants who drank approximately two glasses of wine or beer were linked to an 18% decreased risk of early mortality. So sipping in moderation can be a good thing!" Learn more here > Learn about The 90+ Study here >
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“Alzheimer’s is the most important medical condition society faces and we need an army of citizen volunteers to participate in drug trials,” said UCI MIND’s Joshua Grill, with study leader Marina Ritchie. UCI MIND When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave controversial accelerated approval to the first Alzheimer’s drug in nearly 20 years, it had a surprising impact on attitudes about research into the disease. A survey by University of California, Irvine neuroscientists has found news coverage of the FDA’s decision made the public less willing to volunteer for Alzheimer’s pharmaceutical trials. The study was conducted by the UCI…
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Contributed by Joshua Grill, PhD On the opening night of the Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) meeting, a packed room was abuzz with excitement. The evening included five presentations related to the Phase 3 CLARITY-AD trial of lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody against the beta amyloid protein that builds up in the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. The excitement and anticipation were palpable, since the sponsor of the trial, Eisai, had announced in September that the results were positive. The presentations were accompanied by the full publication of the results in the New England Journal of Medicine and coverage…
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Contributed by Joshua Grill, PhD and David Sultzer, MD An article in ScienceInsider, a news outlet published by Science magazine, reports on an unpublished case of a person who died after treatment with the monoclonal antibody lecanemab. There are two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s dementia: amyloid-beta protein deposits known as plaques, and tangles of a protein called tau, but several potential antibody therapies target just amyloid. KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE SOURCE Lecanemab is a promising investigational treatment, seemingly poised for FDA approval as a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Topline results were announced in September that indicated lecanemab had been shown to slow progression of…
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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 risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. People who carry one or two copies of the e4 allele are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, while people who carry the e2 allele are at lower risk (most people carry two copies of the e3 allele). But people with e4 don’t always develop…
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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 for dementia.” He continued: “This study offers proof of concept evidence that treating sleep apnea may reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk. also offers potential novel molecular targets for future study for those where positive airway pressure treatment is not feasible.” Read more here >
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UCI MIND Director Joshua Grill, PhD and Jason Karlawish, PhD, Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center were featured in a recent podcast episode for the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: The Case for Disclosing Biomarker Results to Alzheimer's Research Participants. Listen here > Did you know that UCI MIND has its own podcast specifically for caregivers called, Spotlight on Care? Listen to "Keeping the Holidays and Celebrations Happy, Healthy and Safe, with Dr. Miriam Galindo" and tell us what you think.
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Contributed by Joshua Grill, PhD On November 14, Roche announced negative topline results for their GRADUATE program testing gantenerumab, a monoclonal antibody against the beta amyloid protein that accumulates in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The program included two phase 3 trials (GRADUATE 1 and GRADUATE 2). As with other recent trials, the studies included patients with “early Alzheimer’s disease,” including people with Mild Cognitive Impairment and mild dementia. The trials were large and lengthy, with 1965 participants (across the two studies) who were followed for 27 months. According to the press release, participants randomized to gantenerumab demonstrated…
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Find out in this infographic from the National Institute on Aging: https://go.usa.gov/xtEmu
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"Researchers are working hard to find a cure to Alzheimer's disease … Through their efforts, new research and studies have proven helpful in ways to prevent the disease and even possible treatments. We learn about these findings from our panel of medical experts …. We also discuss The 90+ Study, which studies people over the age of ninety, how they live to that age, and whether their minds show any signs of decline. … Guests: Dr. Ahmad Sajjadi, Cognitive Neurologist, Associate Professor of Neurology and Pathology, University of California, Irvine…." Learn more here >
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