Who Funds Alzheimers And Related Dementias Research
The National Institutes of Health is made up of Institutes, Centers, and Officesthat conduct and fund research into all aspects of human health. The National Institute on Aging leads NIHs efforts in clinical, behavioral, and social research in Alzheimers and related dementias through efforts aimed at finding ways to treat and ultimately prevent the disorder. NIA collaborates closely with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , which manages a research portfolio targeting Alzheimers disease-related dementias.While some of this research takes place in NIH laboratories, the vast majority of NIH support is provided through a competitive grants process to institutions and small businesses across the country. Other federal agencies support a range of activities focused on public health and community programs.
The Basics Of Alzheimers Disease
Scientists are conducting studies to learn more about plaques, tangles, and other biological features of Alzheimers disease. Advances in brain imaging techniques allow researchers to see the development and spread of abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the living brain, as well as changes in brain structure and function. Scientists are also exploring the very earliest steps in the disease process by studying changes in the brain and body fluids that can be detected years before Alzheimers symptoms appear. Findings from these studies will help in understanding the causes of Alzheimers and make diagnosis easier.
One of the great mysteries of Alzheimers disease is why it largely affects older adults. Research on normal brain aging is exploring this question. For example, scientists are learning how age-related changes in the brain may harm neurons and affect other types of brain cells to contribute to Alzheimers damage. These age-related changes include atrophy of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, production of unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction .
Thwarting A Protein Reverses Brain Decline In Aged Mice
Impeding VCAM1, a protein that tethers circulating immune cells to blood vessel walls, enabled old mice to perform as well on memory and learning tests as young mice, a Stanford study found. Senior author Tony Wyss-Coray, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, co-director of the Stanford Alzheimers Disease Research Center, is quoted in this piece.
Also Check: How To Make A Donation To The Alzheimer’s Society
Can Major Surgery Increase Risk For Alzheimers Disease
Dr. Greicius and colleagues in anesthesia , have shown that p-tau181, a blood-based Alzheimers biomarker, increases significantly during surgery and rises to levels typically seen in patients with Alzheimers disease. The p-tau181 levels slowly decline after surgery but remain elevated in some patients for at least two days after surgery. The study paves the way for future work that will try to link molecular changes induced by surgery to the longer term post-operative decline that occurs in some surgical patients.
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor
The decline in memory with the reduction in hippocampal volume corresponding with high A levels has been already reported in healthy individuals Lim et al. showed that BDNF Val66Met worsens these conditions more in the preclinical stage of AD . In the study conducted in healthy adults having a high A level and carrying the Met allele, the rate of HV reduction was significantly more. A greater reduction rate in HV was observed in Val/Val homozygotes who were having high A levels than with low A, irrespective of their BDNF Val66Met polymorphism over 36 months. In another study, BDNFMet carriers exhibited greater memory decline and hippocampal atrophy in a span of 36 months compared to BDNF Val homozygotes. While increased memory decline and hippocampal atrophy have been reported previously in adults with an MCI and high A, Lim et al., provided a preliminary report and linked high A and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in prodromal AD suggesting them as important prognostic markers of increased memory decline and hippocampal atrophy .
Don’t Miss: Why Do Alzheimer’s Patients Want To Go Home
New Study: Risk Factor For Developing Alzheimers Disease Increases By 50
Older people who were infected with COVID-19 show a substantially higher riskas much as 50% to 80% higher than a control groupof developing Alzheimers disease within a year, according to a study of more than 6 million patients 65 and older.
In a study published today in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, researchers report that people 65 and older who contracted COVID-19 were more prone to developing Alzheimers disease in the year following their COVID diagnosis. And the highest risk was observed in women at least 85 years old.
The findings showed that the risk for developing Alzheimers disease in older people nearly doubled over a one-year period following infection with COVID. The researchers say it is unclear whether COVID-19 triggers new development of Alzheimers disease or accelerates its emergence.
The factors that play into the development of Alzheimers disease have been poorly understood, but two pieces considered important are prior infections, especially viral infections, and inflammation, said Pamela Davis, Distinguished University Professor and The Arline H. and Curtis F. Garvin Research Professor at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, the studys coauthor.
Since infection with SARS-CoV2 has been associated with central nervous system abnormalities including inflammation, we wanted to test whether, even in the short term, COVID could lead to increased diagnoses, she said.
Blood And Urine Biomarkers Of Ad
Plasma A42 and A40 levels are now established biomarkers for AD. In AD transgenic mouse models, plasma and CSF levels of A42 and A40 increase with age but later decrease with A accumulation in the brain leading to onset of cognitive impairment. Schupf et al. determined the predictive value of A levels in elderly people, and investigated the change in these biomarkers over time with the onset of cognitive impairment or AD. Monitoring the levels, it was seen that those with increased A42 levels over the follow-up period, compared with decreasing levels were three times more likely to develop AD . Yang et al. showed increased risks of AD in individuals with high arsenic or low dimethylarsinic acid percentage with a study based on propensity-score match . In another study, an immunoinfraredsensor was used for the extraction of the total A fraction from plasma samples, wherein the biomarker amide I band were significantly lower for AD individuals. Amide I biomarker could detect AD before its clinical diagnosis and without dementia symptoms in individuals. The test had a positive likelihood ratio of 7.9 , which indicated good evidence of this biomarker to identify AD in the general population .
Don’t Miss: Does Meredith Grey Get Alzheimer’s
What Causes Alzheimers Disease
In recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimers and the momentum continues to grow. Still, scientists dont yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease in most people. In people with early-onset Alzheimers, a genetic mutation may be the cause. Late-onset Alzheimers arises from a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. The causes probably include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimers may differ from person to person.
Setting The Federal Research Agenda
NIH takes a collaborative, methodical approach to reviewing progress, identifying gaps, and setting the future agenda for research into Alzheimers disease and related dementias. NIH funding in this area is guided by gaps and opportunities identified in researchsummits, which alternate yearly to focus on Alzheimers disease, Alzheimers disease-related dementias, or dementia care and services.Smaller, focused workshops are held more frequently on specific aspects of this research.
NIH outlines its Alzheimers research efforts in theNIH AD/ADRD Research Implementation Milestones, a research framework detailing specific steps and success criteria toward achieving the goals of theNational Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. The milestones also showcase funding initiatives, accomplishments, and highlights of progress toward accomplishing the National Plan goals.
NIHs research progress is highlighted in the annualAlzheimers and related dementias professionaljudgment budget, which is submitted to Congress each year.
Also Check: When Is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month 2020
Love Island Star And Olympian Greg Oshea To Run London Marathon For Alzheimers Research Uk In Memory Of Grandmother
Love Island favourite and former international rugby player Greg OShea will run the TCS London Marathon in October to support the work of Alzheimers Research UK. Greg, who won the hit reality show in 2019, will be running in memory of his grandmother, Monica Ho, who passed away with dementia while he was in the
Clinical Research Study Participation
Voluntary participation in clinical research studies is needed to help researchers find better treatments and possibly a cure for Alzheimers disease. There are many reasons to participate in a clinical research study. Participants may want to help others who may be at risk for Alzheimers disease or to learn more about their memory and health. Clinical study participants receive a thorough cognitive assessment and followup over time. Participants also learn about interventions for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimers disease that are being tested in clinical studies. We are seeking all kinds of volunteers to participate in our research studies, including people who are concerned about their memory, are at risk of developing memory problems or have family members with memory problems, as well as people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Recommended Reading: How Fast Does Alzheimer’s Progress
Current Strategies In The Treatment Of Alzheimers Disease
Till date, efforts are made to target and counterbalance the neurotransmitter disturbances aimed to relieve symptoms of the disease. A major drawback for the unavailability of a specific treatment for the underlying pathology is that the emergence of AD-related pathologic changes begins quite early, almost a decade before the person shows the symptoms.
Alzheimers Disease Research Center Renamed For Asad Jamal Iqbal Farrukh
The Good Planet Foundation has pledged to establish an endowed fund within the Stanford University Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences. Endowment income will be used to support the Asad Jamal and Iqbal Farrukh Alzheimers Disease Research Center. The Good Planet Foundation has also made a gift to establish the Asad Jamal and Iqbal Farrukh Professorship, with Dr. Michael Greicius designated as the inaugural holder.
Recommended Reading: How To Test For Alzheimer’s Disease
National Institute On Aging Awards $15 Million To Stanfords Alzheimers Disease Research Center
The National Institute on Aging has awarded a $15 million grant to the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which investigates Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases and related disorders. The center is led by director Victor Henderson, professor of health research and policy and of neurology and neurological sciences, and associate director Katrin Andreasson, professor of neurology and neurological sciences.
What Is A Professional Judgment Budget
Each year NIH submits a professional judgment budget that estimates the additional funding needed to advance NIH-supported research into the treatment and prevention of Alzheimers disease and related dementias. The report also summarizes progress and promising research opportunities. Only two other areas of biomedical research cancer and HIV/AIDS follow a similar process designed to accelerate research discovery. This approach is often referred to as a bypass budget because of its direct transmission to the President and then to Congress without modification through the traditional federal budget process.
Recommended Reading: When Was Johnny Crawford Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Disease
New Study Points To Targetable Protective Factor In Alzheimer’s Disease
From the NIH Directors Blog by Dr. Francis Collins
If youve spent time with individuals affected with Alzheimers disease , you might have noticed that some people lose their memory and other cognitive skills more slowly than others. Why is that? New findings indicate that at least part of the answer may lie in differences in their immune responses.
Researchers have now found that slower loss of cognitive skills in people with AD correlates with higher levels of a protein that helps immune cells clear plaque-like cellular debris from the brain . The efficiency of this clean-up process in the brain can be measured via fragments of the protein that shed into the cerebrospinal fluid . This suggests that the protein, called TREM2, and the immune system as a whole, may be promising targets to help fight Alzheimers disease.
The findings come from an international research team led by Michael Ewers, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, and Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The researchers got interested in TREM2 following the discovery several years ago that people carrying rare genetic variants for the protein were two to three times more likely to develop AD late in life.
This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG044546, P01AG003991, RF1AG053303, R01AG058501, U01AG058922, U01AG024904, AG047644, R01AG051812, and R01AG054672.
Stanford To Open Alzheimer’s Research Center
A new Stanford ADRC will receive nearly $7.3 million in funding over a five-year period to conduct interdisciplinary research on Alzheimers disease and related disorders. Victor Henderson, professor of health research and policy and of neurology and neurological sciences, will direct the center Tony Wyss-Coray, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, will serve as co-director Frank Longo, the George E. and Lucy Becker Professor and professor and chair of neurology and neurological sciences and Jerome Yesavage, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, will serve as associate directors and Michael Greicius, associate professor of neurology, will lead the center’s imaging core.
Recommended Reading: Are Hallucinations Common With Dementia
Medications To Maintain Mental Function In Alzheimer’s Disease
Several medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat symptoms of Alzheimers. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimers. Donepezil, memantine, the rivastigmine patch, and a combination medication of memantine and donepezil are used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimers symptoms. All of these drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. They may help reduce symptoms and help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs dont change the underlying disease process. They are effective for some but not all people and may help only for a limited time.
Alzheimers Prevention And Preparedness Task Force
Sharon Sha, MD, clinical associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, was appointed as a member of the Alzheimers Prevention and Preparedness Task Force for the State of California by Governor Gavin Newsom and Task Force Chair Maria Shriver. The purpose of task force is to present recommendations to the Governor on how local communities, private organizations, businesses, government and families can prevent and prepare for the rise in the number of cases of Alzheimers disease and all its consequences. The work and recommendations of the Task Force will be in parallel and incorporated in the Governors Master Plan for Aging.
You May Like: How Do Cluttered Spaces Generally Make Clients With Dementia Feel
How Is Alzheimers Disease Diagnosed
Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine whether a person who is having memory problems has Alzheimers disease.
To diagnose Alzheimers, doctors may:
- Ask the person and a family member or friend questions about overall health, use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diet, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality.
- Conduct tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language.
- Carry out standard medical tests, such as blood and urine tests, to identify other possible causes of the problem.
- Perform brain scans, such as computed tomography , magnetic resonance imaging , or positron emission tomography , to support an Alzheimers diagnosis or to rule out other possible causes for symptoms.
These tests may be repeated to give doctors information about how the persons memory and other cognitive functions are changing over time.
People with memory and thinking concerns should talk to their doctor to find out whether their symptoms are due to Alzheimers or another cause, such as stroke, tumor, Parkinsons disease, sleep disturbances, side effects of medication, an infection, or another type of dementia. Some of these conditions may be treatable and possibly reversible.
In addition, an early diagnosis provides people with more opportunities to participate in clinical trials or other research studies testing possible new treatments for Alzheimers.
New Developments In Alzheimers Disease Therapeutics
R. Scott Turner, PhD, MD Memory Disorders Program, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Aducanumab
On June 7, 2021 the FDA granted accelerated approval of the anti-amyloid antibody aducanumab . This approval was based on reduction of amyloid load in the brains of treated individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimers disease . Almost 20 years have passed since thelast new drug was FDA-approved for the treatment of AD .
While controversial, Aduhelms approval represents a milestone in AD therapeutics the first disease-modifying treatment available for prescription use. The initial approval was for individuals with AD . However, this was revised July 8 to more closely match the population in the two phase 3 studies leading to its approval namely, individuals with MCI or mild dementia due to AD .
Recommendations regarding what characteristics make a patient appropriate to receive Aduhelm include:
Biogen is collecting additional data in an ongoing open-label study of Aduhelm for individuals who were enrolled in prior trials. A new study announced by Biogen will collect real-world experience with Aduhelm post-approval and a Phase 4 study is in the planning stages. The next question is whether Medicare will cover Aduhelm a decisionanticipated January 2022 . In the meantime, competing anti-amyloid antibodies to treat AD are now following the same regulatory pathway.
Donanemab
Lecanumab
Gantenerumab
Memory Disorders Program
Also Check: Why Is There No Cure For Alzheimer’s Disease
Clinical Research Into Alzheimers And Related Dementias
No major advance in Alzheimers and related dementias treatment, prevention, or care will be possible without robust clinical research. Clinical research includes studies that involve people so scientists can learn more about disease progression, how behavior and lifestyle factors may affect health, and the safety and effectiveness of an intervention. Advances made through clinical research rely on the volunteers who participate in these types of studies. NIA is working on multiple initiatives to enhance recruitment and retention of diverse populations in clinical research. View some of those resources below.
NIA-funded clinical research includes both observational studies through which researchers gather important information, and clinical trials in which researchers test interventions to treat or prevent disease, improve care and caregiver support, and enhance quality of life for people living with dementia.NIA is currently funding more than 200active clinical trials.
NIA also funds more than 30 Alzheimers Disease Research Centers across the country. Scientists at these centers conduct clinical research to improve diagnosis and care for people with dementia and their families, and to find a treatment or prevention.