Alzheimer's: The more cardiovascular risk factors, the greater the cognitive decline

Herzkreislauf-Erkrankungen gelten als Risikofaktoren für Demenz. Wenn mehrere davon zusammenkommen, verstärkt das den geistigen Abbau umso mehr? Diese Frage haben Forscher*innen aus Taiwan in Bezug auf die Alzheimer-Demenz untersucht. Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen verstärken Studien zufolge die Entwicklung einer Alzheimer-Demenz. Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass beispielsweise Bluthochdruck, Diabetes, Übergewicht sowie zu wenig Bewegung im mittleren …

Medications for hereditary Alzheimer's dementia have failed

Ein weiterer Rückschlag für die Alzheimer-Forschung: In einer großen internationalen Studie wurden zwei Arzneimittel getestet, die den geistigen Abbau bei der erblich bedingten Form der Alzheimer-Demenz verlangsamen sollten. Beide Arzneimittel sollten die Beta-Amyloid-Ablagerungen im Gehirn vermindern, die typisch für die Alzheimer-Erkrankung sind. Den geistigen Abbau haben sie jedoch nicht verhindert. …

New dementia disease: LATE

A new form of dementia is occupying researchers. The symptoms are consistent with Alzheimer's disease. However, the beta-amyloid or tau deposits typical of Alzheimer's do not form in the brain. Instead, there is an accumulation of the protein TDP-43. Scientists call this new clinical picture “LATE,” and it primarily affects people over 85 years of age. An international...

Air pollution and dementia

Can air pollution increase the risk of dementia? Previous studies have already established a connection. Two recent studies from Canada and Taiwan add to these findings.   If people are exposed to harmful emissions over a long period of time, does it increase their risk of developing dementia? Han-Wei Zhang and colleagues wanted to find out. …

How do people with dementia cope with their illness?

People with dementia face numerous changes, losses, and fears over the course of their illness. To maintain their joy of life, sense of purpose, and daily life as much as possible, it is important how those affected cope with their situation. What coping strategies do they use? Norwegian researchers have analyzed this. Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf and colleagues evaluated...

Dementia diagnosis via video consultation?

A doctor's appointment via video consultation – for many people, this idea is still unusual. However, the field of telemedicine is continuously expanding and is also strengthened by the new Digital Care Act (DVG). US researchers have investigated the role of telemedicine in neurological diseases, including dementia. Background and benefits of telemedicine...

What helps with sleep disorders for people with dementia?

People with dementia often suffer from sleep disorders during the course of their illness. Waking up at night, excessive daytime napping, or long periods of falling asleep are a major burden for those affected and their relatives. Experts from the Munich Klinikum rechts der Isar explain the causes and which therapies are useful. Approximately ...

Dementia in nursing homes: Sedating medications increase the risk of fall events with injury

Wenn eine Demenzerkrankung weit fortgeschritten ist, lässt sich der Übergang in ein Pflegeheim häufig nicht mehr vermeiden. Aufgrund ihrer Symptome und zum Teil begleitender Erkrankungen erhalten Menschen mit Demenz dort oft eine Vielzahl von Medikamenten, die sich auch auf die Sturzgefahr auswirken können. Forscher*innen des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen / der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität …