Research News

An international research collaboration has uncovered some clues to macular degeneration’s onset, namely, the discovery of a microscopic mineral “scaffolding” around which drusen deposits—a hallmark sign of the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—begin to form.

BrightFocus-funded Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui is the senior author on a groundbreaking publication that reported the ACE protein, which can increase blood pressure to dangerous levels in the body’s blood stream, can actually help to clear beta-amyloid in the brain by stimulating the immune system.

Experts have long recognized that the number of deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) tends to be underreported. Now a new study published in Neurology attempts to quantify that under-reporting and projects the AD mortality rate to be five to six times higher than official estimates, suggesting that AD may be responsible for more than 500,000 annual deaths in the United States.

A group of researchers based at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have shown that when cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) such as elevated glucose and high blood pressure begin in early adulthood, they are associated with significantly worse cognitive function in middle age compared with having no CVRF.

University of California, Irvine (UCI) researchers, led by BrightFocus researcher Frank M. LaFerla, PhD, have published positive findings from mice studies that suggest cell therapy slows down brain changes and symptoms linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

A large clinical trial aimed at screening and early treatment for Alzheimer’s disease holds the potential to be groundbreaking—if enough volunteers can be recruited to get it off the ground.

There’s been a steady stream of news from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Copenhagen, held July 12-17, 2014. The international summit brings together 4,500 professionals from 80 countries involved in Alzheimer’s treatment, patient care, and research.