News
What's happening in Alzheimer's care, research funding, and treatment — summarized simply, each item linked to the original reporting.
Free to read, “May need a subscription” and “Archived copy”: what they mean
Whether an article is free to read is a guess, not a test of your access. Each item is one of three:
- No label: free to read (308 of 354). The publisher’s page marks it free, or the outlet publishes free to read: Medical Xpress, ScienceDaily, NIH (incl. NIA and PMC), Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's News Today, NPR, Alzheimer's Disease International, or a .gov site.
- May need a subscription (11 of 354). The publisher’s own page marks the article as not free to read, or — when the page says nothing — the outlet sells subscriptions: The New York Times, STAT, Scientific American, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Wired, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Times, The Telegraph, New Scientist, Endpoints News, Science. Each badge says which.
- “Free to read? Not known” (35 of 354). The outlet is on neither list and its page said nothing. We do not call these paywalled.
Archived copy links go to a copy the Internet Archive (web.archive.org) saved, dated the day it was saved. We show one only where the Internet Archive reported a working saved copy when we checked; an archived copy of a subscription article sometimes shows only its opening. 266 of 354 items have one.
ASA: White matter hyperintensity burden tied to future decline in older adults' driving ability
White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden predicts functional decline in real-world driving among older adults, according to a study scheduled to be presented at the annual American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference, held from Feb. 4 to 6 in New Orleans.
Why it matters: White matter hyperintensity burden predicts functional decline in real-world driving among older adults, offering insight into their future driving ability.
Read at Medical Xpress →Common bacteria discovered in the eye linked to cognitive decline
Chlamydia pneumoniae—a common bacterium that causes pneumonia and sinus infections—can linger in the eye and brain for years and may aggravate Alzheimer's disease, according to a study from Cedars-Sinai. …
Why it matters: A study shows Chlamydia pneumoniae can persist in the eye and brain for years and may aggravate Alzheimer's disease.
Shingles vaccination associated with delayed dementia onset in older adults
Every three seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, develops dementia. The number of people living with the condition is projected to rise dramatically, doubling from 78 million in 2020 to 139 million by 2050, making dementia an urgent public health concern of our time. …
Why it matters: Dementia is an urgent public health concern with cases projected to double from 78 million in 2020 to 139 million by 2050, as someone develops it every three seconds.
Study recommends better continuity of care with GPs for people with dementia to save NHS money
Better continuity of care with GPs for people with dementia who are in their final year of life can save the NHS money, according to new research from academics at the Cicely Saunders Institute, part of the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King's College London.
Why it matters: Better continuity of care with GPs for people with dementia in their final year of life can save the NHS money, according to new research from King's College London.
A nerve-based approach to helping older adults bounce back after surgery
After surgery, some older adults don't simply recover—they unravel. Confusion, inattention, and agitation can set in, a condition known as postoperative delirium. …
Hippocampus does more than store memories: It predicts rewards, study finds
A preclinical study published in Nature has found evidence that the hippocampus, the brain region that stores memory, also reorganizes memories to anticipate future outcomes.
Why it matters: A preclinical study shows the hippocampus not only stores memories but also reorganizes them to predict future outcomes.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (6 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveBrain 'hazmat' protein cleans up tau: Could it prevent dementia?
Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a hazardous waste collector in the brain that disposes of the toxic clumps of tau protein that can lead to dementia. Neurons with more of this garbage collector, technically known as CUL5, are less vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters: UC San Francisco researchers found that neurons with more CUL5, a brain waste collector, are less vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.
Protein buildup in brain blood vessels linked with increased 5-year risk of dementia
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a condition where protein (called amyloid) builds up in the brain, making blood vessels weak. People with CAA are four times more likely to develop dementia within five years, regardless of whether they have had a stroke…
Why it matters: People with cerebral amyloid angiopathy are four times more likely to develop dementia within five years, regardless of whether they have had a stroke.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (15 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveNew risk assessment tool may help predict dementia after a stroke
A new risk calculator accurately estimated the likelihood of adults developing dementia within 10 years after a stroke, according to a preliminary study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026, held in New Orleans, Feb. 4–6, 2026.
Why it matters: A new risk calculator accurately estimated the likelihood of adults developing dementia within 10 years after a stroke, according to a preliminary study.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (15 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveNew report projects 64% increase in dementia across Europe by 2050
Alzheimer Europe has launched the "The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe 2025" report, which provides updated prevalence figures for the number of people living with dementia both for Europe as a whole, as well as the countries within. …
Why it matters: The report provides updated prevalence figures for people living with dementia across Europe, projecting a 64% increase by 2050.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (30 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveSmoking, blood pressure and diabetes each show distinct dementia-related brain changes
Almost half of all dementia cases can be attributed to risk factors that we can potentially influence ourselves, such as smoking and high blood pressure. …
Why it matters: Almost half of all dementia cases can be attributed to risk factors that we can potentially influence ourselves, such as smoking and high blood pressure.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy should be recognized as a distinct cause of dementia, study finds
The largest study of its kind from the Boston University CTE Center reveals that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) should be recognized as a new cause of dementia. …
Why it matters: The largest study of its kind reveals that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) should be recognized as a new cause of dementia.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (27 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveTerry Pratchett's novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests
The earliest signs of dementia are rarely dramatic. They do not arrive as forgotten names or misplaced keys, but as changes so subtle they are almost impossible to notice: a slightly narrower vocabulary, less variation in description, a gentle flattening of language.
Why it matters: A new study suggests that subtle language changes in Terry Pratchett's novels may have held early clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (26 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveNitrate in drinking water linked to increased dementia risk while nitrate from vegetables is linked to a lower risk
New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and the Danish Cancer Research Institute (DCRI) investigated the association between the intake of nitrate and nitrite from a wide range of different sources, and the associated risk of dementia.
Why it matters: New ECU and DCRI research links nitrate intake from drinking water to higher dementia risk, while vegetable nitrate is linked to lower risk.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (27 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveAlzheimer's disease can be evaluated with brain stimulation, finds study
As individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) move from the mild cognitive impairment stage to moderate and severe dementia, complex awareness deteriorates although lower-level sensory awareness is relatively maintained. …
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (22 Jan 2026), Internet ArchivePeople with obesity may have a higher risk of dementia
People with obesity and high blood pressure may face a higher risk of dementia, according to a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Why it matters: A new study indicates that people with obesity and high blood pressure may face an increased risk of developing dementia.
Not all sitting is the same when it comes to brain health
Passive activities such as watching television have been linked to worse memory and cognitive skills, while 'active sitting' like playing cards or reading correlate with better brain health, researchers have found.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (20 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveSeniors with dementia being prescribed dangerous mind-altering drugs, study says
Many seniors with dementia are being put at risk by brain-altering medications linked to falls, confusion and hospitalization, a new study says.
Why it matters: Many seniors with dementia are put at risk by brain-altering medications linked to falls, confusion, and hospitalization, according to a new study.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (17 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveSuper agers tend to have at least two key genetic advantages, study finds
The gene variant posing the greatest genetic risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is called APOE-ε4. A different variant of the same gene, APOE-ε2, is thought to confer protection against AD.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (6 Mar 2026), Internet ArchiveSafe, low-cost Alzheimer's drug demonstrates efficacy against sickle cell anemia
Memantine, a long-approved and cost-effective drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, could also benefit patients with sickle cell anemia in the future. …
Why it matters: Memantine, a long-approved and cost-effective Alzheimer's drug, shows potential to benefit patients with sickle cell anemia in the future.
Read at Medical Xpress →Depression might signal brain disease risk among seniors
Depression in old age could be an early sign of serious brain disease, a new study says.
Why it matters: A new study indicates that depression in old age might be an early sign of serious brain disease.
New ALS treatment target identified: STAUFEN-1 protein reduction protects brain cells from death
University of Utah researchers at the Pulst-Scoles Laboratory have discovered that reducing levels of the STAUFEN-1 protein can prevent neuron death caused by DNA damage and p53 activation in neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters: Reducing STAUFEN-1 protein levels can prevent neuron death caused by DNA damage and p53 activation in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
Read at Medical Xpress →Key phospholipid points to potential treatment for vascular dementia
A possible new treatment for impaired brain blood flow and related dementias is on the horizon. Research by scientists at the University of Vermont Robert Larner…
Why it matters: Research by scientists at the University of Vermont Robert Larner points to a potential treatment for impaired brain blood flow and vascular dementia.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (3 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveHidden 'switches' in DNA reveal new insights into Alzheimer's disease
A tiny percentage of our DNA—around 2%—contains 20,000-odd genes. The remaining 98%—long known as the non-coding genome, or so-called 'junk' DNA—includes many of the "switches" that control when and how strongly genes are expressed.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (17 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveAlzheimer's disease more prevalent in older people than previously thought
New research, published in Nature, has provided the first ever population-based data on the frequency of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes (ADNC)—a key causal factor behind the development of dementia…
Why it matters: New research in Nature provides the first population-based data on Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes, showing higher prevalence in older people than thought.
Engineers decode dementia type using AI and EEG brainwave analysis
Dementia is a group of disorders that gradually impair memory, thinking and daily functioning. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, affects about 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older in 2025. …
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (14 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveMiddle-aged brains show capacity for repair when treated with therapeutic intervention
Normal aging is characterized by deficits in the cognitive domains of learning, memory and executive function. Specifically, there are age-related changes in recall of information, speed of processing, visuospatial skills and cognitive flexibility. …
Why it matters: Normal aging brings cognitive deficits in learning, memory, and executive function, but middle-aged brains demonstrate a capacity for repair when treated with therapeutic intervention.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (29 Dec 2025), Internet ArchivePill form of semaglutide fails to slow Alzheimer's in large trial
A pill version of semaglutide, the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, did not slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease, drugmaker Novo Nordisk announced on Nov. 24.
Why it matters: A pill form of semaglutide failed to slow Alzheimer's disease progression in a large trial, Novo Nordisk announced on Nov. 24.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (6 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveNovel discovery reveals how brain protein OTULIN controls tau expression and could transform Alzheimer's treatment
Scientists have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a brain enzyme called OTULIN controls the expression of tau, the protein that forms toxic tangles in Alzheimer's disease. …
Why it matters: Scientists uncovered a surprising mechanism by which the brain enzyme OTULIN controls tau expression, which could transform Alzheimer's treatment.
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (25 Nov 2025), Internet ArchiveAPOE gene raises delirium risk even without dementia, global analysis reveals
A major genetic risk factor for delirium has been identified in a study that analyzed the DNA of more than 1 million people worldwide.
Why it matters: A study analyzing DNA from over 1 million people worldwide identified a major genetic risk factor for delirium.
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