Alzheimer's and Dementia Archives

Mar 23

Study: Newly Discovered Beneficial Mutation in Mitochondrial DNA Appears to Help Alzheimer’s Gene Carriers Live Longer, Stay Sharper and Represents a New Direction in Drug Discovery

By Beth Newcomb Alzheimer's and Dementia, Featured, Health and Wellness, Mitochondria, Research

Findings suggest the rare variant prevents Alzheimer’s onset by clearing away amyloid-beta buildup in long-lived carriers of APOE4, the gene most strongly associated with disease risk.

Mar 22

Neurons in Alzheimer's disease. 3D illustration showing amyloid plaques in brain tissue, neurofibrillary tangles and destruction of neuronal networks

Study: Neurotransmitters are Involved in Memory Aging in Different Ways

By Beth Newcomb Alzheimer's and Dementia, Featured, Research

International collaboration of USC and Max Planck Institute for Human Development investigates the role of noradrenaline and dopamine in memory loss.

Mar 05

Portrait of Francesca Falzarano with her title beside it, Assistance Professor of Gerontology

Assistant Professor Francesca Falzarano: Improving the health and well-being of family caregivers

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alzheimer's and Dementia, Caregiving, Podcast

Francesca Falzarano is an assistant professor of gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School. Her research is inspired by her personal experience as a caregiver to her parents and explores how to improve the mental health and well-being of family caregivers, including through the use of technology.

Jan 31

Aristotle statue located at Stageira of Greece (birthplace of the philosopher)

Did the ancient Greeks and Romans experience Alzheimer’s?

By Beth Newcomb Alzheimer's and Dementia, Featured, Research

Medical texts from 2,500 years ago rarely mention severe memory loss, suggesting today’s widespread dementia stems from modern environments and lifestyles, a new USC analysis shows.

Jan 29

Study: Dementia Diagnoses Increased after Medicare Risk Adjustment

By Beth Newcomb Alzheimer's and Dementia, Featured, Health and Wellness, Policy

Dementia diagnoses increased after Medicare Advantage (MA) began calculating plan payments to account for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, according to a recent USC study.

Jan 11

Illustration of faces with different characteristics such as hair, skin colour and facial features.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alzheimer's and Dementia, Diversity, Featured, Health and Wellness, Policy, Research

How the sexes age differently, and what that might mean for scientists, doctors and patients.

Jan 11

Chanelle Mizrahi injecting liquid into a small set of containers

Supporting the Future of the Field

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alzheimer's and Dementia, Diversity, Featured, Lifespan Health, Research, Students

The Gerontology Enriching Medicine, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (GEMSTEM) to Enhance Diversity in Aging program supports the next generation of gerontology researchers.

Jan 10

Portrait of Shelby Bachman, Nichole Lighthall and Amin Haghani

Passion, Hard Work & Determination

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alumni, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Careers in Aging, Elder Abuse, Featured, Policy

How the sexes age differently, and what that might mean for scientists, doctors and patients.

Jan 08

Illustration of three people meditating at a park

Breathe Deep, Defend the Brain

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alzheimer's and Dementia, Faculty, Health and Wellness, Research

The breathing exercise sessions involved inhaling for five seconds, exhaling for five seconds, and repeating the sequence for 20 minutes twice daily.

Nov 01

Television Producer Earns Master of Arts in Gerontology to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease

By USC Leonard Davis Communications Alumni, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Featured

Alexandra Gleysteen spent a career producing television news stories. With a master’s in gerontology, she’s working to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in women.