FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Memory loss and confusion often provide the first clues to the onset of dementia. But recent research suggests that physical -- not mental -- impairment may be an earlier harbinger of trouble.

In a study involving more than 2,200 adults aged 65 and older, walking and balance problems were early indicators of future dementia. Poor handgrip was a later sign of developing dementia.

The findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, suggest a link between brain health and physical fitness.

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- It's one step forward, one step back in the search for treatments against Alzheimer's disease.

In one of two studies in the July 19 issue of The Lancet, an older drug called dimebon significantly improved Alzheimer's symptoms. But in a second report, a once-promising vaccine failed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's -- even though it cleared dementia-linked amyloid plaques in the brain.

By Amanda Gardner
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Long-anticipated results from a trial on an experimental Alzheimer's therapy look promising, at least in a certain group of patients.

Findings that are slated to be presented Sunday at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago suggest that while the drug, bapineuzumab, showed only a modest trend towards a benefit in patients with the ApoE4 gene, there were more notable improvements in the degree of cognitive decline in individuals lacking the gene.

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Researchers found a new gene that puts older people at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The finding could lead to new and better treatments for the condition.

The investigators explain the new gene – dubbed CALHM1 – serves as a channel for calcium in the brain. But certain variations of the gene can also influence amyloid-ß peptides, which are responsible for the deadly plaque build up characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
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By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've discovered a gene that may make it easier for people to develop Alzheimer's disease, and it could become a target for drug treatments.

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- In experiments with mice, researchers have found a protein in the liver involved in regulating the production of fat molecules.

The finding could provide a new target for treating high cholesterol or fatty liver disease.

"We identified a novel transcription factor that regulates lipid synthesis in the liver," said lead researcher Ann-Hwee Lee, from the Harvard School of Public Health. "This transcription factor is activated in response carbohydrate intake."

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- A class of drugs called gamma-secretase modulators shows potential for treating Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

A hallmark of Alzheimer's is so-called amyloid plaque, which develops tangles in the brain. The gamma-secretase modulators reduce the production of long pieces of amyloid beta protein that stick together and form clumps. At the same time, the drugs increase the production of shorter amyloid beta that blocks longer amyloid beta from sticking together, the researchers explained.

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Hispanic high school students are more likely to engage in risky health behaviors, including sexual intercourse, drug use, and suicide than white or black teens, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

While there have been substantial improvements in many behaviors among high school students, Hispanic students remain at higher risk for some risky sexual behaviors than their black and white counterparts, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- An antioxidant found in green tea appears to prevent the development of amyloid fibrils, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, a new study finds.

Amyloid plaque is commonly seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and appears to disrupt the function of cells. Strategies to prevent the development of amyloid plaque are one avenue being explored in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's.

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- People who keep up active social lives as they age may be doing their brain a favor, a new study finds.

Being socially active may increase feelings of self-worth and emotional validation that could end up helping maintain memory, researchers say. Social interaction may also present older minds with new challenges, keeping the brain more agile.