NewsletterJan | 21 | 2025
We are excited to launch an ambitious program to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) – “The Pre-AD Initiative” (Prediction and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease). This initiative builds on the dovetailing of three recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research: definitive proof that beta-amyloid is the trigger for the disease, the development of a revolutionary “Alzheimer’s in a Dish™” model for drug discovery, and blood biomarkers that can diagnose and track the disease decades before symptoms appear. These advancements allow us to design safe and affordable drug and natural product combinations that could prevent Alzheimer’s disease in those at risk.
While new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla have shown promise in slowing the disease in early stages, their high costs and potential side effects make them unsuitable for preventing Alzheimer’s in healthy individuals. McCance Center-affiliated researchers have identified hundreds of FDA-approved drugs and natural products that, like these newer drugs, can clear harmful amyloid deposits from the brain. By combining these treatments into powerful, affordable “cocktails,” we aim to address the disease decades before symptoms arise. Testing in our innovative “Alzheimer’s in a Dish™” model has already identified dozens of promising combinations, and clinical trials using blood biomarkers for early detection are the next step toward making these therapies available. Blood biomarkers will allow rapid clinical trials to determine which drug cocktails are most effective in halting Alzheimer’s before symptoms develop.
The journal, Nature recently published The History of Alzheimer’s Disease, with a timeline from 1906 – 2024. Three key discoveries from McCance Center Director Dr. Rudy Tanzi’s lab are featured in the chronology in 1987,1995 and 2008.
A randomized three-year clinical trial recently released shows fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids provides statistically significant benefit for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s. McCance Center’s Dr. Gene Bowman is senior corresponding author.
Researchers have learned more about how increased levels of an enzymatic protein called HDAC6 connects to the onset of harmful brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and identified a potential treatment strategy.
Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSC, presented the McCance Center’s strategy, strengths and progress and the Brain Care Score at the Science Summit of the 78th United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York City.
The goal of REACH-ICH is to explore how social determinants of health (SDOH) affect participation in a BP management program throughout ICH recovery.
New findings offer strong support for developing irisin as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease treatment and prevention.
Our mission is to reduce suffering and maximize human potential through better brain health for all.
