Researchers are studying a rare form of Alzheimer’s that runs in families, where symptoms almost always start at the exact same age. This special case helps scientists spot brain changes years before people feel sick. While doctors can now detect tiny clues in blood tests, experts still don’t fully
Most Americans see brain health as a top priority, yet very few actually know how to safeguard it. A recent study found that 88% of adults worry about losing their memory as they age, but only 9% feel well-informed about keeping their brain sharp. The gap between concern and action is striking. Whil
Researchers have spent years chasing a cure for Alzheimer’s, focusing on how proteins called amyloid clump together in the brain. Back in the 1990s, scientists, including one leading expert, realized that these clumps might harm brain cells and trigger inflammation. At first, they thought fixing thi
Alzheimer’s isn’t just about memory loss—it’s a slow shutdown of the brain’s wiring. For years, scientists have tried to fix this by sending treatments directly to the brain, but the organ’s defenses make it nearly impossible. The tricky part? Most drugs can’t cross the brain’s protective barrier, w
Vitamin D isn’t just about keeping bones strong—it could also guard your brain against dementia. A recent study tracked almost 800 adults from their 30s and 40s, measuring their vitamin D levels and later scanning their brains for signs of Alzheimer’s. Those with higher levels had noticeably less ta
A new study shows that a simple blood test can flag the risk of Alzheimer’s long before any brain scan or symptoms appear. The test measures a specific form of tau protein called pTau217 in the blood, which has been linked to the toxic tangles that form inside Alzheimer’s brains. Researchers followe
Mina Mahmood, a junior at Indiana University Northwest studying neuroscience, grew up watching her father’s memory fade. His struggle with a cognitive disorder sparked her curiosity about the brain and a desire to help. During summer 2025, Mina travelled to Indianapolis for a student research progr
Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s and similar brain diseases don’t just come from bad genes—they might also rise from invisible threats we breathe in or swallow every day. Tiny particles like lead, cadmium, and arsenic sneak into our bodies through polluted water, dusty air, or cheap food, then sl
Scientists are starting to see a surprising link between autism, usually thought of as a childhood condition, and Alzheimer’s, a disease that shows up in old age. At first glance the two seem unrelated: one is about early brain wiring, the other about later brain decay. But new studies suggest
Research papers sometimes give us conflicting answers about big questions like how Alzheimer’s disease starts in the brain. One paper suggests the APOE4 gene plays a key role, while another says it’s not a big factor at all. The problem isn’t that scientists disagree. The issue is that figuring out
