A weekly recap of the latest news about Alzheimer’s and dementia
Alzheimer’s Orange County compiles a weekly roundup of the latest news stories and developments about Alzheimer’s and dementia to keep you updated on what’s happening locally and all around the world. Check out this week’s headlines below:
Dementia Care Program Improves Mental Health of Patients, Caregivers
UCLA reported findings of a comprehensive dementia care program that improved the mental and emotional health of its patients and caregiving staff. While the program did not notably slow Alzheimer’s progression, it is still an important step in improving the treatment of patients and caregivers as well as the general model of care. Read more here.
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Scientists One Step Closer to Cure After Major Discovery
Medical researchers have closely studied oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), a stem cell which helps repair myelin, a nerve fiber coating. They noticed that through the aging process, OPCs begin to deteriorate, leading to mental decline and often the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Further research has found rejuvenating effects in mice that were subjects of OPCs experiments. Read more here.
Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Can Learn, Benefit From Mindful Meditation
Mindful meditation is being looked into as a safe, non-pharmacological treatment for those suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Meditation is when the participant maintains a moment-by-moment, non-judgemental awareness of their thoughts, emotions, environment, etc. Studies surrounding mindful meditation seem to conclude that doing so boosts cognitive reserve. Read more here.
Alzheimer’s Targets Brain Cells That Help People Stay Awake
Researchers have discovered that Alzheimer’s disease destroys the brain’s command centers. These command centers are what help people stay awake, possibly explaining why the disease can bring daytime drowsiness. These results, drawn from a sample of people with late-stage Alzheimer’s, could potentially refocus dementia research onto the sleep-wake control centers in the brain stem. Read more here.
