In Circulation: News for Your Heart & Mind September 13, 2024
This Week’s Highlights: New Connections in Alzheimer's and Vascular Health
This week, we explore groundbreaking research revealing new insights into how vascular health impacts Alzheimer’s disease progression. From the role of shared cellular mechanisms to promising advances in biomarkers for early diagnosis, these findings highlight the critical connection between cardiovascular and brain health.
And don’t forget to register for our event next week, co-hosted by Axios, to hear from experts on the need to address the connection between vascular health and cognitive health in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Top Stories
1. Alzheimer's and Heart Disease Share a Fundamental Connection
New research from UCLA Health uncovers shared cellular mechanisms between Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. The study reveals that the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain and cholesterol in arteries may stem from similar biological pathways, suggesting that managing cardiovascular health could directly impact Alzheimer's risk.
Read more (Published September 6, 2024).
Our take: This discovery underscores the importance of maintaining heart health as a preventive measure against Alzheimer’s. By managing cholesterol and vascular issues, we may be able to reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with both Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
2. Biomarker Identified for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study highlights a promising biomarker, CCR5, that can help detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. This biomarker could be used in blood tests, making early diagnosis more accessible and enabling earlier intervention. Researchers believe this could significantly improve treatment outcomes by catching the disease before cognitive decline becomes severe.
Read more (Published September 8, 2024).
Perspective: Early detection is critical for managing Alzheimer’s effectively. A biomarker that allows for earlier diagnosis means we can intervene sooner, offering better chances of slowing or preventing disease progression.
3. Dopamine Treatment Found to Alleviate Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
A study from the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has found that dopamine treatment can reduce amyloid plaques and improve memory in mice models of Alzheimer’s. By increasing levels of neprilysin, a brain enzyme that breaks down amyloid-beta, the treatment showed significant improvement in cognitive function.
Read more (Published September 6, 2024).
What it means: Dopamine’s ability to break down harmful plaques offers a potential new treatment path for Alzheimer's. While more research is needed to translate these findings to human patients, this could be a game-changer in slowing disease progression. While the reduction of amyloid plaques continues to be a focus of Alzheimer’s research, we must see advancements in the other contributors to the disease, like neurovascular health, neuroinflammation, and tau tangles.
Final Thoughts
This week’s research reinforces the strong connection between vascular health and Alzheimer's. Whether through managing cardiovascular risk factors or finding early biomarkers for diagnosis, it’s clear that addressing vascular health is a critical component in the fight against Alzheimer's.
At The Heart of the Solution, we are committed to bringing you the latest in Alzheimer's research and providing actionable insights. Together, we can make strides toward a future where Alzheimer’s is both preventable and treatable.
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This newsletter is your source for the latest in Alzheimer’s research and its connection to vascular health. Let’s continue to advance our knowledge and improve outcomes together.