Dementia News March 2024.
Here’s the latest dementia news, you might have missed:
- Treating Alzheimer’s and addiction with ultrasound
- Uncovering the link between essential tremor and dementia
Neurosurgeon Treats Alzheimer's and Addiction with Ultrasound
What if doctors could help people with Alzheimer’s or addiction without any scary surgeries? Dr. Ali R. Rezai is pinpointing small parts of the brain to help it heal.
Dr. Rezai has helped many people and is changing the future of medicine.
Here’s what you will find in this episode of 60 Minutes video:
Ultrasound for Alzheimer’s – By targeting the dense beta-amyloid protein in the brain, which is believed to play a significant role in Alzheimer’s, ultrasound opens the blood-brain barrier to allow medications to penetrate more effectively.
Advancements in Drug Delivery – Current FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s, like aducanumab and lecanemab, work slowly due to difficulties in crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Revolutionizing Addiction Treatment – Dr. Rezai has also adapted brain stimulation techniques, initially used for Parkinson’s disease, to treat severe addiction.
Future Potential – Despite the early stage of these treatments, the success in ultrasound therapy for Alzheimer’s and addiction hints at a significant shift in managing these conditions.
#UltrasoundInnovation
#HopeForAlzheimers
#BreakthroughInAddiction
The Link Between Essential Tremor and Dementia
This study looked at a group of seniors. They found that ET (which stands for Essential Tremor), a condition where people shake uncontrollably, was linked to a higher chance of having dementia.
When they adjusted their data to make sure they were comparing things fairly, they found that people with ET were almost twice as likely to already have dementia and about 60% more likely to develop dementia later on.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
Despite millions of people around the globe dealing with essential tremor, a cure remains elusive.
Researchers are signaling to anyone with essential tremor to pay close attention to their brain health.
Doctors are being encouraged to chat more with their patients and their families about the risk of dementia when they have essential tremor.
This will be a topic of discussion at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting. It’s happening from April 13 to 18, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. You can also check it out online by making a reservation.
#EssentialTremor
#DementiaRisk
#NeurologyResearch
Dementia News March 2024
If you’re in the Denver area and you have a family member with dementia, contact Applewood Our House for more information about memory care.