dementia | DD News

March 16, 2026 4:02 PM

Scientists discover ALS protein that links DNA repair to cancer and dementia: Study

Researchers at Houston Methodist have discovered that a protein tied to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also helps control a critical DNA repair process, according to a press release issued by ScienceDaily. This repair system, known as DNA mismatch repair, corrects mistakes that occur when cells copy genetic material. The discovery suggests that the protein may influence both brain diseases and cancer, potentially reshaping how scientis...

February 11, 2026 11:25 AM

Caffeinated beverages may help protect the brain, study says

Drinking a few cups of caffeinated coffee or tea every day may help in a small way to preserve brain power and prevent dementia, researchers reported on Monday. People with the highest daily intake of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest such intake, according to a study based on responses to questionnaires by 132,000 U.S. adults spanning four decades. The study, published in JAMA, also found that the people with the highest intake h...

December 6, 2025 5:40 PM

Shingles vaccine reduces risk of death from dementia, study finds

People with dementia who received a shingles vaccine were significantly less likely to die from dementia than those who didn’t get the shot, according to findings of a large study, suggesting the vaccine could slow progression of the disease. Overall, nearly half of the more than 14,000 seniors in Wales who had dementia at the start of the vaccination program died from dementia during nine years of follow-up. But receipt of Merck's MRK.N Zostavax vaccine lowered the risk of death from deme...

October 12, 2025 4:14 PM

National strategy on ageing, mental health key to fight Alzheimer’s in India, say experts

India needs a national strategy on ageing and mental health to address the rising cases of Alzheimer’s disease in the country, according to health experts. In an editorial published in the Indian Journal of Public Health, experts from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with M.M. Medical College and Hospital, Himachal Pradesh, highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive National Dementia Plan aligned with the World Health Organization’s global framework. “India needs t...

September 12, 2025 1:37 PM

Australia dementia cases to top one million by 2065

More than one million Australians are projected to be living with dementia by 2065, more than double today’s figure, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) said in a report released on Friday. The 'Dementia in Australia' report estimated the number of people with the condition will rise from about 425,000 in 2024 to 1.1 million in four decades. Women are disproportionately affected, with cases expected to grow from 266,000 in 2024 to 662,000 by 2065, compared with 159,000 to 39...

July 19, 2025 12:03 PM

Scientists find over 200 hidden proteins that may drive Alzheimer’s: Study

A groundbreaking study has uncovered more than 200 previously undetected misfolded proteins in the brains of aging rats with cognitive decline, offering new insights into the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Unlike the well-known amyloid and tau proteins that clump into visible plaques, these newly identified proteins do not form detectable aggregates, making them harder to identify—but potentially just as damaging to brain function. Scientists belie...

June 1, 2025 1:11 PM

Study finds common gene variant that doubles dementia risk for men

Australian researchers have identified a common genetic variant that significantly increases the risk of dementia in men, potentially paving the way for more personalised approaches to prevention and treatment. The research team from Curtin University found that a variant of the HFE gene, known as H63D, is carried by approximately one in three people in a single copy and by one in 36 in a double-copy form. Published in the journal Neurology, the study revealed that men who carry two copies of ...

April 26, 2025 5:17 PM

Even light exercise may help slow cognitive decline in people at risk for Alzheimer’s: study

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Wake Forest University have found that both low- and moderate-high-intensity exercise can be effective tools in slowing cognitive decline among people at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The findings, published in two papers in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, are based on the EXERT study (Exercise in Adults with Mild Memory Problems)—a multi-site clinical trial involving sedentary older adults d...

March 5, 2025 4:09 PM

Long-term use of anti-inflammatory pills may lower dementia risk: study

A study published on Wednesday suggests that long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Previous research has suggested that inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of dementia. NSAID medications, due to their anti-inflammatory effects, may help protect against dementia, which affects more than 55 million people worldwide. “Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammato...