2025 Alzheimer's

• Adults with a father who had Alzheimer’s showed greater tau buildup, a key marker of the disease.

• Women in the study had more widespread tau in their brains than men.

• Findings could help guide personalized prevention strategies before memory loss begins.

We’ve all heard how having a parent with Alzheimer’s could bump up our own risk of developing the disease — but what if it matters which parent? 

A recent study by the American Academy of Neurology reveals something surprising: it might actually be your dad’s history, not your mom’s, that correlates more strongly with a specific Alzheimer’s marker in the brain. While previous research often pointed to maternal inheritance, this study flips the narrative, focusing on how tau protein — not just memory decline — might have its own “family story.”

“We were surprised to see that people with a father with Alzheimer’s were more vulnerable to the spread of tau in the brain, as we had hypothesized that we would see more brain changes in people with affected mothers,” study author Sylvia Villeneuve, Ph.D. said in a news release. 

The study

Researchers tracked 243 cognitively healthy adults, all around 68 years old, who had at least one parent (or two siblings) with Alzheimer’s. Importantly, none of the participants had any thinking or memory issues when the study began. 

They underwent brain scans and memory testing, then were followed for almost seven years. Over that time, 71 people developed mild cognitive impairment — often seen as an early step toward Alzheimer’s. 

The team measured two key protein markers in the brain: beta-amyloid and tau. Tau buildup is especially linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The results

The researchers discovered a paternal pattern throughout the study. 

Participants whose fathers had Alzheimer’s showed a greater spread of the tau protein in their brains. This was a surprising finding— especially since the team expected maternal influence to be stronger. 

Additionally, gender mattered too. Women in the study had a heavier tau buildup than men — and were more likely to show widespread tau protein spread.

It’s important to note that these findings are associations, not proof of direct cause. Additionally, the study participants were mostly white, so the findings may not apply equally across all races and ethnicities.

However, the researchers explained that these insights might help health care professionals design personalized interventions that protect those at higher risk before symptoms even surface.

“Better understanding these vulnerabilities could help us design personalized interventions to help protect against Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Villeneuve said.

• A shingles vaccine was tied to a 20% drop in new dementia cases over seven years.

• The U.K. rollout created a natural experiment using birthdate eligibility.

• Reduction was especially strong in women, beyond the effects on shingles itself.

Researchers at Stanford Medicine dove into health records from older adults in Wales to explore the link between the shingles vaccine and the risk of dementia. 

They focused on those eligible for the live-attenuated shingles vaccine (Zostavax) based on an exact birthdate cutoff: anyone born on or after September 2, 1933 was eligible, while those born just before weren’t. 

Because both groups were nearly identical in age, health, and behavior — except for vaccine eligibility — this setup acted like a “natural randomized trial.” 

The result? Receiving the shingles vaccine was associated with a 20% lower chance of developing dementia over the next seven years, even after accounting for who actually got vaccinated.

“All these associational studies suffer from the basic problem that people who get vaccinated have different health behaviors than those who don’t,” researcher Pascal Geldsetzer, M.D., Ph.D., said in a news release. “In general, they’re seen as not being solid enough evidence to make any recommendations on.”

The study

For the study, the researchers used a regression discontinuity design — it allows them to compare people who are alike except for being eligible for vaccination. By looking at those born just before and after the September 1933 cutoff, they ensured both groups were very similar. One group had a 47.2% vaccination rate, while the other had only 0.01%.

Health records were tracked for seven years, noting new dementia diagnoses. To make sure the vaccine itself was the key difference, they checked that the groups didn’t differ in other diseases, doctor visits, or preventive health behavior. They even used alternative analyses to confirm the findings held up no matter how they looked at the data .

The study

The researchers found that there were fewer dementia cases overall. Being eligible for the vaccine cut new dementia diagnoses by 1.3 percentage points, or about 8.5% fewer cases.

In participants who actually got the shot, the reduction jumped to 3.5 points, a 20% drop in dementia risk.

“It was a really striking finding,” Dr. Geldsetzer said in the news release. “This huge protective signal was there, any which way you looked at the data.”

The team also learned that women had greater protective cognitive benefits than men. Though the vaccine lowered dementia risk for both sexes, the effect was significantly stronger in women.

What this means for you

The findings highlight a bonus to getting your shingles vaccine: the potential to protect your brain. Scientists are still trying to figure out why it works — whether it’s because the vaccine stops inflammation-causing shingles outbreaks, or if the vaccine primes the immune system in a way that wards off dementia.

While the study is robust, with careful methods that reduce bias, it’s still observational. That means it can show a strong connection, but not absolute proof. The researchers stress the need for randomized clinical trials before making firm claims. 

• UCLA Health researchers mapped four distinct pathways leading to Alzheimer’s disease using electronic health records.
  

• The findings suggest that tracking diagnostic sequences predicts Alzheimer’s risk better than analyzing isolated conditions.
  

• The study, validated with a nationally representative cohort, could transform early detection, personalized prevention, and intervention strategies.

Who is most at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease? If doctors knew the definitive answer, it might lead to earlier treatment and diagnosis. Researchers at UCLA may have uncovered some helpful clues.

Writing in the journal eBioMedicine, the researchers at UCLA Health said they have identified four unique diagnostic pathways that can lead to Alzheimer's disease, offering a more nuanced understanding of how the neurodegenerative condition develops over time. 

By analyzing electronic health records from nearly 25,000 patients, the study sheds light on how specific sequences of medical conditions – not just individual risk factors – can influence a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. The research marks a significant departure from traditional approaches that focus on isolated risk conditions. 

Instead, UCLA scientists mapped the step-by-step clinical trajectories that precede an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, offering new tools for early detection and prevention.

Patterns, not just risk factors

“We found that multi-step trajectories can indicate greater risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease than single conditions,” said first author Mingzhou Fu, a medical informatics pre-doctoral student at UCLA. “Understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how we approach early detection and prevention.”

The study identified four primary diagnostic trajectories:

1. Mental Health Pathway – Psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety that eventually lead to cognitive decline

2. Encephalopathy Pathway – Disorders involving brain dysfunction that worsen progressively

3. Mild Cognitive Impairment Pathway – A gradual decline in memory and cognitive functions, often preceding Alzheimer's
   

4. Vascular Disease Pathway – Cardiovascular conditions like hypertension that heighten the risk of dementia
   

Each pathway was linked with distinct demographic and clinical features, suggesting that different subgroups of the population may be predisposed to different disease routes.

Chronology of conditions

The researchers found that 26% of all diagnostic sequences showed a consistent, directional order. For instance, patients with hypertension frequently developed depressive episodes before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. These patterns, according to the team, may be key to identifying at-risk patients earlier in their disease progression.

“Recognizing these sequential patterns rather than focusing on diagnoses in isolation may help clinicians improve Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis,” said Dr. Timothy Chang, the study’s senior author and assistant professor of Neurology at UCLA Health.

The team validated their findings using the All of Us Research Program, a diverse and nationally representative database. The confirmation of these patterns across a wide population enhances the study’s relevance and applicability to clinical practice nationwide.

The study concluded that the innovative use of longitudinal electronic health data signals a promising shift in Alzheimer’s research, moving toward predictive and personalized care models that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

• A new study links prolonged sedentary behavior to increased risk of cognitive decline and brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Even daily exercise does not offset the negative impact of extended sitting, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s.

• Researchers emphasize the importance of reducing total sitting time as a strategy to support brain health in aging adults.

Studies from a decade ago suggested “sitting is the new smoking,” suggesting that a sedentary lifestyle was bad for your health. Now, a new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh reveals that spending too much time sitting, even for those who exercise regularly, can significantly increase the risk of cognitive decline and brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the research explores the effects of sedentary behavior in aging adults and its link to neurodegeneration. The findings carry serious implications for the more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and the millions more at risk.

Tracking movement, measuring impact

Admittedly, it was a small sample. The research, led by Dr. Marissa Gogniat, assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh, involved 404 adults aged 50 and older.

Participants wore activity-tracking devices for a week, providing detailed data on how much time they spent sitting or lying down. The researchers then analyzed this sedentary behavior against cognitive tests and brain imaging over a seven-year period.

The results were clear: individuals who were more sedentary experienced greater cognitive decline and notable shrinkage in brain regions critical for memory and Alzheimer’s development. These effects were observed regardless of participants’ exercise routines.

Genetic risk increases the threat

The study found that individuals carrying the APOE-e4 allele—a known genetic marker for Alzheimer’s disease—were particularly susceptible to the negative effects of sedentary behavior. This suggests that lifestyle modifications may be especially vital for those with an elevated genetic risk.

“Reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is not just about working out once a day,” Gogniat said. “Minimizing the time spent sitting, even if you do exercise daily, reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

The research was supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging and adds to a growing body of evidence that daily habits—beyond structured workouts—play a pivotal role in long-term cognitive health.

Key Takeaways:

• Physical fitness may reduce risk of brain atrophy: A new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center finds that high cardiorespiratory fitness can help preserve brain volume and cognitive function as people age.

• Exercise linked to brain region key for cognition: Physically fit adults showed greater preservation of the right superior parietal region of the brain, associated with reasoning, memory, and fluency.

• Benefits apply to both sexes: The protective effect of physical fitness on brain volume was consistent in both men and women, supporting the importance of lifelong physical activity for cognitive health.

A study conducted by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that maintaining high levels of physical fitness may help protect the brain from age-related shrinkage and cognitive decline. 

The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, suggest that individuals who stay physically active may be better equipped to preserve brain volume and fend off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

“Age-related brain atrophy is one of the significant risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD),” Dr. Rong Zhang, senior author of the study, said in a press release. “This study suggests that engaging in activity to improve one’s physical fitness may reduce the risk of ADRD.”

The study

The study focused on 172 healthy but sedentary adults, aged 22 to 81, from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Participants underwent cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) testing, cognitive assessments, and brain MRI scans. The CRF was measured through peak oxygen consumption, an established indicator of cardiovascular and pulmonary efficiency during physical exertion.

Researchers observed that aging generally corresponded with a decline in gray matter volume and cortical thickness. However, the data showed that individuals with higher levels of CRF experienced significantly less volume loss in the right superior parietal region—a brain area vital to cognitive functions such as reasoning, memory, and verbal fluency. The association held steady even after controlling for factors such as sex, education, and intracranial volume.

The preserved brain volume in this area correlated with stronger performance on cognitive tests, indicating that high physical fitness levels may contribute to maintaining sharper mental abilities with age. This protective effect was evident in both men and women, further highlighting the broad benefits of physical activity.

Policies to slow dementia

With over 6 million Americans currently living with ADRD—a number projected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2060—researchers say these findings could influence public health strategies aimed at slowing the progression of dementia through lifestyle changes.

Lead author Dr. Junyeon Won, a postdoctoral research fellow, conducted the study in collaboration with the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas and cognitive researchers at UT Dallas. The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health.

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan Medicine found a link between heart health and cognitive health. 

According to their findings, heart failure could accelerate the onset of cognitive decline. 

“Heart failure is a disease that never goes away, and treating it relies heavily on a patient’s ability to follow specific instructions, monitor their symptoms, and keep up with many different medications,” researcher Supriya Shore, MBBS, MSCS, said in a news release. 

“Seeing this cognitive decline among patients, and how it worsens over time after a diagnosis of heart failure, should be a warning for providers to assess a patient’s cognitive ability early and factor it into the care plan.”

The study

The researchers analyzed data from nearly 30,000 adults enrolled in six U.S.-based population studies between 1971 and 2019. 

When the study began, none of the participants had heart failure or cognitive decline. The researchers then tracked the participants' health outcomes to get an idea of how heart health can impact cognitive health. 

Understanding the risks

The study found that a heart failure diagnosis was associated with a significant decrease in cognitive health, including both global cognition and executive functioning. Global cognition includes everything from attention, memory, reasoning, and language, while executive functioning includes higher-level tasks like working memory, self-regulation, time management, planning, and more. 

Within seven years of a heart failure diagnosis, participants mentally aged the equivalent of 10 years. Additionally, the researchers explained that people with heart failure are likely to experience meaningful cognitive decline six years earlier than those with optimal heart health. 

The researchers found that global cognition declined most significantly in participants who were white, women, and older. 

It’s also important to note that the researchers accounted for the risk factors that are associated with poor cognitive health – high blood pressure and heart attack. These factors weren’t associated with the participants’ cognitive decline. 

“Regular cognitive monitoring of older adults with heart failure would help identify individuals with the earliest signs of cognitive decline who require supportive care,” senior author Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., said in the news release. 

“We need a better understanding of the mechanisms driving accelerated cognitive decline after heart failure to develop interventions that halt or slow the decline.”

Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine and Lund University have identified a highly accurate blood test that can both diagnose and assess the severity of Alzheimer’s disease. 

“This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,” co-senior author Randall J. Bateman, MD, said in a news release. 

“In clinical practice right now, we don’t have easy or accessible measures of Alzheimer’s tangles and dementia, and so a tangle blood test like this can provide a much better indication if the symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s and may also help doctors decide which treatments are best for their patients.”

Setting up the test

The researchers explained that there are two primary proteins that are closely associated with Alzheimer’s – amyloid and tau. A buildup of amyloid in the brain is typically the first indicator of Alzheimer’s, while the presence of tau on a scan typically happens later in the disease progression.

Additionally, patients often need either spinal taps or brain scans for accurate diagnoses – both of which can be difficult to obtain. 

To simplify and streamline the process, the researchers tested a new blood test on nearly 200 patients enrolled in two study cohorts – the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center and Swedish BioFINDER-2 cohort. 

The participants presented with a range of Alzheimer’s symptoms. Some were yet to show symptoms but had high levels of amyloid in their brains, others had mild symptoms, and others had more serious dementia symptoms. 

The researchers had the participants undergo this new blood test and compared the results with brain scans for efficacy. They also compared all of the results to a group of cognitively healthy individuals, and a group of individuals with cognitive impairments unrelated to Alzheimer’s. 

The results 

The researchers were most interested in seeing the participants’ MTBR-tau234 levels. This protein is directly linked to the level of tau tangles found in the participants’ brains. 

Ultimately, the blood test was 92% successful at detecting MTBR-tau234 levels that reflected the level of tau tangles found in the brain scans. 

Additionally, the blood test showed that those in later stages of dementia had the highest levels of the protein, whereas those in the earlier stages still had elevated levels, but not as high as those further along in their disease progression. The researchers found that those who had progressed to the dementia stage had as much as 200 times more MTBR-tau234 than those who had mild cognitive impairments. 

The findings also indicated that cognitively healthy people, those who were pre-symptomatic, and those who had cognitive issues unrelated to Alzheimer's all had healthy levels of MTBR-tau234. 

The future of Alzheimer’s treatment

With these positive study results, the researchers are hopeful that the future of Alzheimer’s care will be directly geared towards patients’ needs. 

“We’re about to enter the era of personalized medicine for Alzheimer’s disease,” researcher Kanta Horie, Ph.D., said in a news release. “For early stages with low tau tangles, anti-amyloid therapies could be more efficacious than in late stages. But after the onset of dementia with high tau tangles, anti-tau therapy or one of the many other experimental approaches may be more effective. 

“Once we have a clinically available blood test for staging, plus treatments that work at different stages of the disease, doctors will be able to optimize their treatment plans for the specific needs of each patient.”

Cognitive decline may have many causes but new research suggests environmental factors may play a significant role in development of dementia.

A study from the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health has found that certain surroundings, such as air pollution, proximity to green spaces, and walkability, significantly influence the risk of developing dementia. 

The study, a meta-analysis compiling data from 54 research papers, highlights the dangers of environmental pollutants while emphasizing the benefits of accessible green and blue spaces, such as parks and bodies of water.

For example, the analysis found that living near major roadways increased dementia risk by approximately 10%, while exposure to fine particulate matter—a byproduct of vehicle and industrial emissions—was linked to a 9% increase. Similarly, nitrous oxide exposure and noise pollution were each associated with a roughly 10% and 9% rise in risk, respectively.

But living in greener environments was found to be protective. Communities with ample green or blue spaces reduced dementia risk by about 6%. Neighborhoods with higher walkability and access to essential amenities like healthcare centers and food stores contributed to better cognitive health.

Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that people visit parks or forests more often and also live further from major roads.  

Implications for Urban Planning

The study’s findings have far-reaching implications for city planning and public health policy. The study’s authors conclude that data-driven urban planning could help create communities that support cognitive well-being.

By using objective environmental measurements rather than subjective reports, the study may provide a more reliable foundation for future research on how living conditions impact dementia risk.

The highest risk factor for dementia is age. There are several types of dementia but Alzheimer’s disease is among the most common.

As of 2023, the Alzheimer’s Association estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia. This number is expected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060.

Getting older brings with it a number of health risks, including dementia. Now, a new study shows that the risk of developing dementia after age 55 among Americans is significantly higher than previously estimated, with a lifetime risk now pegged at 42%. 

This statistic, more than double the figures reported in older studies, translates to an estimated 500,000 new dementia cases in 2025, potentially rising to one million annually by 2060. The study, published in Nature Medicine, highlights the profound impact of an aging U.S. population on the number of dementia cases.

Dementia, characterized by progressive declines in memory, concentration, and judgment, is increasingly linked not only to aging but also to genetic factors and lifestyle-related health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and mental health challenges. The study attributes previous underestimations of dementia risk to unreliable documentation and underreporting, particularly among racial minority groups who are disproportionately affected.

The study was conducted by NYU Langone Health, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and other institutions. It draws on data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS). 

Followed 16,000 participants since 1987

This long-term study has monitored the vascular health and cognitive function of nearly 16,000 participants since 1987, making it the longest-followed cohort of African Americans for cognition and heart health.

From 1987 to 2020, 3,252 participants in the ARIC-NCS were documented as having developed dementia, leading to the conclusion that the overall lifetime risk for middle-aged Americans is 42%.

Notably, the risk is higher for women (48%) compared to men (35%), attributed to women's longer life expectancy. The study also found elevated risks among Black adults and individuals carrying the APOE4 gene variant, a significant genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

"Our study results forecast a dramatic rise in the burden from dementia in the United States over the coming decades, with one in two Americans expected to experience cognitive difficulties after age 55," said Dr. Josef Coresh, the study's senior investigator and founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone. 

New policies needed?

Coresh emphasized the need for health policies that address both heart disease prevention and cognitive decline, as well as strategies to manage the anticipated increase in dementia cases.

The study also underscores the importance of addressing racial inequities in healthcare, noting that while dementia rates among White individuals are expected to double, rates among Black individuals could triple over the next four decades. Coresh supports enhanced efforts in Black communities to improve education and nutrition, which have been shown to help prevent cognitive decline.

Additionally, the study highlights the link between hearing loss and dementia risk, with only a third of Americans with hearing loss using hearing aids. Coresh suggests increased monitoring and testing, along with potential government assistance programs to make hearing aids more accessible and affordable.

As the U.S. braces for a surge in dementia cases, the study calls for comprehensive health policies that not only mitigate the severity of dementia but also expand healthcare services for those affected. The researchers say their findings serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to prioritize strategies that support healthy aging and address the growing dementia burden.