The Most Fascinating Alzheimer’s Research Discoveries of the Last Year

Alzheimer's Disease was first described by doctors in 1906. It's been over 100 years since Alzheimer's first entered the research sphere and advancements in knowledge, detection, and treatment have progressed since it was first described. Doctors now have a better understanding of what causes Alzheimer's Disease and which people are most at risk for developing the condition. New studies showing the risk factors, effects, and causes are being released each day. It can be hard to keep up with the new research. We've compiled the most recent Alzheimer's research that has been released to the public.

To populate this list we looked at credible sources on Alzheimer's research such as the Alzheimer's Association, which publishes news releases related to Alzheimer's research as it breaks. We focused on peer-reviewed studies and other academic sources on Alzheimer's that we could find instead of hearsay and non-reputable sources. By ensuring that the research was done to the highest standard of rigor and repeatability, we can present details about new Alzheimer's research, treatments, and risk factors that can help people identify signs early and seek appropriate treatment.

Those who regularly eat processed red meats such as bacon and bologna have a significantly increased chance of developing Alzheimer's Disease, according to a new study. Depending on how much of the processed meat you consume, you could be at a higher risk for both Alzheimer's and dementia. For those who eat around ¼ of a serving of processed red meat per day (around two servings per week), the chance of developing Alzheimer's or dementia increases by around 14%. Conversely, swapping those servings of processed red meat for nuts, beans, or tofu doesn't just mitigate the increased risk; alternative, plant-based protein sources actually decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's or dementia by 20%, a very significant decrease.

The study followed the health outcomes of over 130,000 people for 43 years to determine additional lifestyle risk factors for developing Alzheimer's or dementia. After following the patients for most of their adult lives, the research team was able to conclude that each additional serving of processed red meat in a patient's diet caused their brain to age by 1.6 cognitive years.

Doctors typically use GLP-1 receptor agonists to manage diabetes and weight gain. These medications mimic the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide, a hormone that the body releases shortly after eating. However, a new study conducted on Alzheimer's patients shows that the GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, might have a protective feature for brain function, volume, and cognition. The study followed 204 Alzheimer's patients seen at 24 clinics, treating them with a medication called liraglutide. Doctors monitored the patients participating while taking the medication and cognition and brain volume and structure.

102 patients in the study got a daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide, while the other half got a placebo. After 52 weeks of treatment, the results were measured. Patients treated with liraglutide showed 18% slower declines in cognition and retained more of their brain volume than patients who were given a placebo. The benefits of treating Alzheimer's patients with liraglutide suggest that the medication protects the brain and overall cognition much like statins protect the heart.

It's no secret that smoke is bad for you, regardless of where it comes from. However, a new study shows that exposure to wildfire smoke may increase one's risk of dementia later in life. A 10-year study performed on over 1.2 million people from Southern California followed their lives after exposure to wildfire smoke and determined that this represented an additional risk factor for developing dementia and other signs of cognitive decline.

One interesting thing that the study found was that the risk of cognitive decline from smoke inhalation was much more pronounced when the source of the smoke was a wildfire, compared to motor vehicles or cigarettes. The study also found that the risk of cognitive decline associated with air pollution was most significant with PM2.5 fine particulate matter in the air, such as that from smoke. The risk from PM2.5 fine particulate matter was much more pronounced than other types of air pollution.

Detecting Alzheimer's disease has been challenging since it was first described. Since the physical changes from Alzheimer's and dementia occur in the brain, they aren't as readily apparent, and determining both the presence and cause can present issues for providers making a diagnosis. Researchers have been looking for ways to detect the presence of Alzheimer's or dementia in patients using routine testing methods and data for decades with only marginal success. However, the hard work of those pioneers is finally paying off as advancements in routine Alzheimer's testing have finally yielded fruit. Soon, providers may be able to detect Alzheimer's and dementia-related brain chemistry changes through non-invasive, routine blood tests.

Scientists are now reviewing a new, routine blood test and evaluating it for efficacy. It showed an accuracy rate of 90%. Conversely, physician opinion alone was only 63–73% depending on whether the physician is a primary care or specialist practitioner. The blood test can even identify Alzheimer's biomarkers before the patient begins to show signs of cognitive impairment. Making these tests more widely available could improve access to more accurate tests such as PET scans by confirming a significant risk of Alzheimer's onset in patients who have not yet begun to decline. When combined with more aggressive protective therapies for the brain, this could slow the onset of the disease and improve their overall outcomes as they age.

One barrier that many Alzheimer's and dementia patients face is the lack of early intervention treatment. With degenerative diseases like these, early intervention is crucial to secure a slower progression of illness in the patient. However, not all degenerative diseases have effective early intervention treatments. Alzheimer's was one such disease with few effective early-stage treatments and large walls of red tape around those that existed. In July, the FDA approved Kisunla, also known as Donanemab and Eli Lilly, for use by Alzheimer's patients.

In clinical trials, using Kisunla on patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer's slowed cognitive decline by up to 35% compared to those treated with a placebo. Approving this drug marks another early-stage intervention for people with Alzheimer's. Interventions like Kisunla can help people with Alzheimer's take control of their lives and continue to live independently for longer. It allows them to continue to do the things they love and spend more time with the people they love even after the diagnosis.

While not exactly "Alzheimer's research" by definition, this information is so important we included it anyway. Brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans are a critical tool for diagnosis and monitoring Alzheimer's onset. However, until recently, Medicaid and Medicare did not always cover the scans for those whose doctors recommended it. In October 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) announced that they would be expanding coverage of PET scans to make them more accessible for patients who relied on their insurance.

This is a crucial development as the majority of patients requiring PET scans are older, on a fixed income, and rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their health insurance. Improving access to PET scans not only improves the outcomes and quality of life for Alzheimer's patients, but it can also improve the prognosis of the whole health sector. If it is easier to diagnose the patients, there will be more patients who get a formal diagnosis and treatment. This extends to experimental treatments and clinical studies which have historically struggled to recruit patients to participate.

In some cases, the recruitment issue stems from a lack of access to diagnostic testing. There is no point in recruiting a patient for a study if they do not have confirmation of the pre-requisite diagnosis. Improving access to diagnostics not only improves care received by current patients but contributes to future care advancements as well.