It can seem like there’s a new Alzheimer’s “breakthrough” almost every day. We sift through the headlines and pull together the relevant, reputable research updates.
Here are five major things you should know from the past few months:
1. Obesity and brain changes in those with dementia
A new study from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom analyzed the relationship between obesity and the brain across varying stages of cognitive health. The team looked at three groups: cognitively healthy, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild Alzheimer’s disease using the two indicators of obesity body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The team then investigated whether or not there were any associations between these indicators and brain structure changes. The study found that people with mild Alzheimer’s disease who maintained a healthy body weight may have retained more essential brain structures (gray matter volume, white matter integrity, blood flow), while the cognitively healthy participants with obesity, exhibited potentially degenerating brain structures. On the other hand, the cognitively healthy participants and those with MCI displayed a negative association between obesity and both gray matter volume and blood flow. Read more at Medical News Today, Neuroscience Science News, and find the study here.
2. Genetic risk variants found among African Americans with Alzheimer’s
African Americans have about double the risk of dementia as their non-Hispanic white peers – new research points to several novel DNA regions that are associated with that risk. In a joint study, researchers at the University of Miami and the University of Columbia conducted a large genome-wide association study (GWAS). GWAS is a research approach that connects DNA differences, called genetic variants, in a group of people with a certain disease. Using data from more than 8,000 African Americans, with and without Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found that the main biological pathways linked to Alzheimer’s risk in African Americans largely overlapped with those in non-Hispanic white individuals. However, but there were several disease-associated genetic loci in these pathways that differed. Read more at AlzForum, NIA and find the study here.
3. The genetic similarities between Lewy Body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
In a study led by National Institutes of Health researchers, scientists found that five genes may play a critical role in determining whether a person will develop Lewy body dementia (LBD). Lewy bodies are also a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The results not only supported the disease’s ties to Parkinson’s disease but also suggested that people who have Lewy body dementia may share similar genetic profiles to those who have Alzheimer’s disease. Read more at AlzForum, NIH, Parkinson’s News Today and find the study here.
4. Processed meat and dementia risk
Scientists from the University of Leeds used data from 500,000 people, discovering that consuming a 25g serving of processed meat a day, the equivalent to one slice of bacon, is associated with a 44% increased risk of developing the disease. But their findings also show eating unprocessed red meat, such as beef, pork, or veal, could be protective, as people who consumed 50g a day were 19% less likely to develop dementia. The data included how often participants consumed different kinds of meat, with six options from never to once or more daily. Meat consumption has previously been associated with dementia risk, but this is believed to be the first large-scale study of participants over time to examine a link between specific meat types and amounts, and the risk of developing the disease. Read the study here. Read more at Science Daily, Medical News Today.
5. Sleeping too little in middle-aged persons associated with increased risk of developing dementia
Sleeping six hours or less per night in your 50s and 60s is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to a new study of nearly 8,000 British adults followed for more than 25 years. Researchers from the French national health-research institute INSERM analyzed data from a long-term study by University College London, which has followed the health of 7,959 British individuals since 1985. The study showed a higher risk of dementia in those sleeping six or fewer hours per night at the ages of 50 or 60, compared to those who have a “normal” seven hours in bed. There was also a 30 percent increased dementia risk in those with consistently short sleeping patterns from the age of 50 to 70, irrespective of cardiometabolic or mental health issues, which are known risk factors for dementia. Tips on impactful sleep hygiene practices to promote more sleep can be found here. Read more at New York Times, Medical Express, Very Well Health and find the study here.
To learn about Alzheimer’s research in San Diego County, click here or contact Alzheimer’s San Diego at 858.492.4400.
