Alzheimer's Disease Archive

Aducanumab is a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s disease with the potential to reduce amyloid-beta plaque buildup in the brain. There are other medications being studied to see if they can reduce amyloid-beta, such as a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid-beta before it forms plaques, and a monoclonal antibody that takes aim at plaque that has already formed. Other experimental approaches try to prevent tau tangles in brain cells, reduce brain inflammation, or reduce the amount of amyloid-beta that is produced.

Many cases of memory loss aren't related to dementia, but stem from other, treatable conditions.

You've been forgetting things lately — your keys, or maybe names. Sometimes you struggle to find the right word in conversations or repeat yourself to others. You may worry: are these signs of dementia?

If this sounds like you, you're not alone. Many people find their way into Dr. Tammy Hshieh's office wondering the same thing. But most of the time, it's not dementia causing their problems, says Dr. Hshieh, a geriatrician at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

News briefs

We all want to improve memory and thinking skills. But taking supplements that promise to boost cognition could be dangerous, according to a Harvard-led study published Sept. 23, 2020, in Neurology Clinical Practice. Scientists analyzed 10 different products that were marketed online to enhance thinking skills, and discovered all of them contained prescription drugs not approved for use in the United States, such as omberacetam, aniracetam, vinpocetine, phenibut, or picamilon. These medications are used in other countries — including Russia, Germany, and China — to treat conditions such as alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, brain injuries, concussion, dementia, insomnia, and strokes. Many of the supplements contained a cocktail of several drugs — combinations never tested in humans — that weren't always reported on the label. Also missing: the actual dosages, which scientists say were four times greater than doses doled out at foreign pharmacies. "And you can't figure out how much unapproved drug you're getting by reading the label," says lead researcher Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies dietary supplements. "Taking these drugs can have direct effects on your body, plus side effects and interactions with your other medications." A safer bet: Get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking) every week, and eat a Mediterranean diet. Both have been shown to support brain health.

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