Check out the latest in aging advances, research, and events from NIA:
- Viagra associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease — A recent study found that people who took sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
- Ritalin reduced apathy in NIA-funded Alzheimer’s clinical trial — The stimulant drug methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, safely reduced measures of apathy among adults with Alzheimer’s disease, according to an NIA-funded clinical trial.
- Family member availability predicts likelihood of unpaid care for people living with dementia — An NIA-funded study of nearly 2,900 older adults with dementia suggests that their use of unpaid care versus paid care depends on whether a spouse or adult children are available to be primary caregivers.
- Changes in a small area in the brainstem could help detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier — According to a recent NIA-supported study, a small brainstem area, sometimes called “the blue spot,” may show microscopic signs of Alzheimer’s disease before any other part of the brain. The findings may help advance early disease detection and broaden the possibilities of early treatment for Alzheimer’s.
- Researchers caution against associating animal with human fasting blood glucose levels to predict health and longevity — NIA-supported researchers found that when it comes to the common metabolic measure of fasting blood glucose, we can’t assume that what applies to animal models such as mice will also apply to humans.
- Immune system may play harmful role in Lewy body dementia — An NIA-supported study identified a certain type of T cell, a key player in the body’s immune system, may be involved in the degeneration of neurons in Lewy body dementia.
- Data shows racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis between Black and white research study participants — A large study of differences between Black and white Alzheimer’s disease study participants found race-based disparities in diagnosis and symptom severity
