Category: In the news
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020
Cardiovascular issues are a key risk factor for dementia. Because aspirin can be beneficial for those who have had heart attack, some studies have suggested that it may also be beneficial to the brain. Scientists have hypothesised that aspirin may reduce the risk of dementia by lowering inflammation, minimising blood clots forming, or by preventing […]
Thursday, April 16th, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, tough calls are being made to protect our most vulnerable from COVID-19. For many people over the age of 70 years old, this means strong recommendations to self- isolate at home for as long as practicable. These measures are essential to prevent the spread of the virus and more deaths, […]
Thursday, March 5th, 2020
The prevalence rate of dementia, or the proportion of people living with dementia, is decreasing. Yet, the number of people with dementia is set to double by 2050, according to a new Alzheimer Europe report out last week[1]. A Needed Numbers Update Over the past three decades, several significant pieces of work have been undertaken […]
Monday, February 17th, 2020
There are many different types of dementia, depending on the underlying cause. Each cause can damage the brain in different ways. New research out of the UK suggests that these differences may reveal themselves in the way that people walk[1]. Different Types of Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia. Other forms […]
Monday, January 13th, 2020
A dementia vaccine developed by Flinders University Professor Nikolai Petrovsky has been successfully shown to “work” in mice genetically programmed to develop dementia. Harnessing the immune response Dementia is thought to be the result of the build-up of two different types of proteins in the brain that stop neurons communicating with each other. The proteins […]
Thursday, December 19th, 2019
Air quality readings across Australia are at concerning levels right now in the wake of the bushfires. Known as PM2.5, rates of particle matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres are easy to inhale and can cause health problems. A new study suggests that these tiny pollutants particles might even change the structure of our brain. Measuring […]
Friday, December 6th, 2019
Australian scientists have used specialised eye scanning technology to detect changes in the retina that could be indicative of early Alzheimer’s Disease. Lost Opportunities for Early Intervention The presence of clumps of beta-amyloid protein in the brain is an established hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. They can accumulate long before any symptoms of dementia show up. […]
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
The highest likelihood for successful treatment of dementia may be in the early or preclinical stages of the condition, when an individual does not show any symptoms but has beta-amyloid, or toxic protein clumps in the brain thought to cause dementia. Determining the effectiveness of treatments administered during this preclinical stage requires understanding of what […]
Friday, October 11th, 2019
Making decisions about our lives and having these respected is an essential human right; and whilst this can sometimes be more difficult when a person has dementia, there are many things that can be done to help. Researchers at the universities of Western Australia and Sydney conducted a study looking into how Australian health and […]
Monday, September 30th, 2019
The B vitamins are often linked to brain health. They help to break down an amino acid in our blood called homocysteine, which contributes to cell ageing and to the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain associated with greater dementia risk. We know a rare condition called pernicious anaemia caused by low […]
