New Insights Into the Development and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

SAN DIEGO — Research released today reveals new discoveries about the pathology, development, and potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. New studies in humans and animal models highlight factors that both contribute to and offer protection from the neurological disorder. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2016, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.

Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related neurological disorder characterized by memory loss and dementia. As the number of Americans age 65 and older continues to grow, Alzheimer’s disease is affecting an increasing number of people. By 2025, the number of people with the disease in the United States is estimated to reach more than 7 million, presenting both social and economic challenges.

Despite its prevalence, the underlying causes for most cases of Alzheimer’s disease are currently unknown, and there is no preventative medicine or treatment.

Today’s new findings show that:

• Healthy elderly people with normal or superior memories can still exhibit signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains, suggesting they may possess protective mechanisms (Changiz Geula, abstract 284.1, see attached summary).
• Alzheimer’s disease may disrupt sleep-wake cycles in both humans and mouse models of the disease before other symptoms arise (Trongha Xuan Phan, abstract 205.06, see attached summary).
• A gene variant may contribute to the accumulation of brain plaques in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (Guojun Bu, abstract 225.27, see attached summary).
• A newly developed biomarker may predict response to a regenerative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (Christine Solinsky, abstract 307.03, see attached summary).

“Today’s findings represent steps forward in understanding how and why some people develop Alzheimer’s disease while others do not,” said press conference moderator Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, of the University of Southern California. “A better understanding of the contributing factors will help scientists in their efforts to prevent and treat this debilitating disease.” Brinton is also an author on one of the presented studies (abstract 307.03).

The research was supported by national funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, as well as other public, private, and philanthropic organizations worldwide. Find out more about Alzheimer’s disease at BrainFacts.org.

Read the full press release and study abstracts >>