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:

 

Alzheimer’s: Carriers of Risk Gene Show Brain Changes in Their 20s – Here’s Why We Shouldn’t Worry

Along with the ability to quickly assess our genes through commercial test, modern science has been able to show us that brain changes can be identified in certain individuals who are as early as 20 years old. However, thankfully, the high-risk gene for Alzheimer’s is not a guarantee for early brain changes, nor does it guarantee Alzheimer’s diagnosis later in life. Read more here.

 

New Research Finds That Eye Tracking Tests Can Accurately Detect MCI

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) describes a small decline in memory and reasoning skills that, while not serious enough to interfere with a person’s daily life, can often develop into Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia – sometimes as fast as 3 years.  Researchers have newly developed a test that observes a person’s eye movement for any signs of impairment, which would indicate early stages of Alzheimer’s. Read more here.

 

Could Marriage Stave Off Dementia?

Interestingly enough, there has been a strong correlation found between dementia and marital status. Not only are married people less likely to experience dementia through aging compared to those who are not married, but those who have been divorced are twice as likely to experience it than those who are married. It is an interesting social risk to consider, as our population now leans more towards singledom, complex marital histories, and unconventional relationship statuses. Read more here.

 

Origins of Alzheimer’s: The Life and Research of Dr. Alois Alzheimer’s

Nowadays, most people are at least somewhat familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, what it is, and who it affects – but did you ever learn about the disease’s origins, and the very person it is named after? In 1906, asylum director Dr. Alois Alzheimer presented a lecture on a new disease he observed throughs symptoms of memory loss, disorientation, and hallucinations that stemmed from neurofibrillary tangles. Read more here.

 

Technology Brings Dementia Detection to the Home

This article by Alzforum discusses the history of the role of technology in detecting and assessing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In the earlier days of cognitive research, cognitive training was done largely through computer games, which was considered a means of dementia-prevention. Now, researchers in Finland have developed the FINGERS – the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability – a multifaceted intervention program that will test 1,260 participants aged 60-77. Read more here.