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 (304 of 349). 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 349). 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” (34 of 349). 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. 265 of 349 items have one.
Dementia research must include voices of those with lived experience
A new Canadian study has found that people living with dementia (PLWD) are often excluded from research due to assumptions of incapacity and variations in institutional processes. …
Why it matters: A new Canadian study shows people living with dementia are often excluded from research due to assumptions of incapacity and institutional variations.
Read at Medical Xpress →One-third of dementia cases are linked to non brain-related diseases, study finds
Dementia is a term used to describe memory loss, impaired reasoning, difficulties communicating and other mental impairments that can be caused by Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disease, strokes, severe infections, head injuries or various other conditions. …
A 25-year study found an unexpected link between cheese and dementia
A massive Swedish study tracking nearly 28,000 people for 25 years found an unexpected link between full-fat dairy and brain health. Among adults without a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s…
Read at ScienceDaily → Archived copy (7 Oct 2026), Internet ArchivePregnancy, breastfeeding associated with higher levels of cognitive function for postmenopausal women
Female brains have historically evolved to adapt to pregnancy, undergoing structural and functional changes. But the cognitive health implications of these adaptations have long been overlooked—until now. …
Read at Medical Xpress → Archived copy (5 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveThis brain discovery is forcing scientists to rethink how memory works
A new brain imaging study reveals that remembering facts and recalling life events activate nearly identical brain networks. Researchers expected clear differences but instead found strong overlap across memory types. The finding challenges decades of memory research. …
Read at ScienceDaily → Archived copy (3 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveASA: 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.
Alzheimer’s scrambles memories while the brain rests
When the brain rests, it usually replays recent experiences to strengthen memory. Scientists found that in Alzheimer’s-like mice, this replay still occurs — but the signals are jumbled and poorly coordinated. …
Read at ScienceDaily → Archived copy (1 Feb 2026), Internet ArchiveA 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 ArchiveObesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia
A new genetic study suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may play a direct role in causing dementia, not just increasing the risk. By analyzing data from large populations in Denmark and the U.K.…
Alzheimer’s may trick the brain into erasing its own memories
Alzheimer’s may destroy memory by flipping a single molecular switch that tells neurons to prune their own connections. Researchers found that both amyloid beta and inflammation converge on the same receptor, triggering synapse loss. …
Read at ScienceDaily → Archived copy (26 Jan 2026), Internet ArchiveThis one gene may explain most Alzheimer’s cases
Alzheimer’s may be driven far more by genetics than previously thought, with one gene playing an outsized role. Researchers found that up to nine in ten cases could be linked to the APOE gene — even including a common version once considered neutral. …
Read at ScienceDaily → Archived copy (23 Sep 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 ArchiveScientists find ‘master regulator’ that could reverse brain aging
Researchers have identified OTULIN, an immune-regulating enzyme, as a key trigger of tau buildup in the brain. When OTULIN was disabled, tau vanished from neurons and brain cells remained healthy. …
Read at ScienceDaily →Safe, 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.
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