For more than 30 years, researchers have been identifying and quantifying genetic and lifestyle factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia. Despite extensive research, the fundamental mechanisms behind these neurodegenerative diseases are still not fully understood and effective treatment of AD is taking longer than expected. There is a critical need for new approaches to combat this long-standing disease. A special supplement in honor of the 100th volume of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (JAD), published by IOS Press (now part of Sage), provides a unique and insightful overview of the state of the field.
Aging is associated with a gradual decline in cellular stability, leading to a decline in overall health. In the brain, this process is closely linked to an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. Understanding the mechanisms of brain aging is crucial for developing strategies aimed at improving both lifespan and health. Recent developments in geroscience, the study of the relationship between aging and age-related diseases, have begun to redefine our understanding of AD and guide the development of preventive medical strategies that target the aging process itself rather than just the symptomatic manifestations of tackle the disease. .
An editorial by Virginia Boccardi, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Italy, and colleagues, presents the following modifiable lifestyle interventions that may influence disease progression or reduce risk factors:
- Healthy Diet: A nutritious diet is crucial for maintaining brain health
- Regular exercise: Mainly aerobic activities such as brisk walking for 40 minutes three times a week
- Social engagement: Prolonged social isolation can worsen neurological health and increase the risk of dementia
- Quality sleep: Disruptions in sleep patterns can increase brain proteins linked to AD
- Stress management: Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment
- Mental stimulation: Keeping the brain active builds cognitive reserves and strengthens neural connections
While lifestyle prevention holds promise for reducing the risk of dementia, the practical challenges of achieving and maintaining behavior change, especially among high-risk populations, cannot be overlooked.”
Virginia Boccardi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia
“For more than 30 years, researchers have identified and quantified genetic and lifestyle factors for AD and other forms of dementia,” adds William B. Grant, PhD, Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, San Francisco, CA, USA, in a literature study. judgement. “Genetics play an important role in the risk of AD. However, many lifestyle choices also play a role. You could say that genetics loads the gun and lifestyle/diet pulls the trigger.”
The supplement also focuses on other approaches to achieving AD risk reduction and prevention. In Improving Cognition Without Clearing Amyloid: Effects of Tau and Ultrasonic Neuromodulation, Jürgen Götz, PhD, Clem Jones Center for Aging Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland , Australia and colleagues describe the use of neuromodulation to improve neuronal connectivity and activate plasticity, as well as other mechanisms that mediate resilience and neural compensation.
The article Improved Brain Clearance of Tau and Amyloid-β in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease by Transcranial Radiofrequency Wave Treatment: A Central Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), by Gary W. Arendash, PhD, RF Longevity, Phoenix, AZ, USA, and NeuroEM Therapeutics, Inc., Tampa, FL, USA, et al., present findings from the first clinical trial evaluating the cytokine VEGF on the brain clearance of tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) in human subjects, providing evidence for transcranial radiofrequency wave treatment as a novel and non-invasive therapeutic agent that “clinically” modulates VEGF levels in and around meningeal lymphatic vessels, affecting their flow and causing the consequent removal of toxins such as Aβ and tau from the brain.
The supplement also focuses on AD assessment, genetic coding, environmental factors, symptoms, disease progression, treatment and clinical trials, early detection using recently developed approaches such as biomarkers, and patient well-being and outcomes.
Commenting on the publication of JAD’s 100th volume, George Perry, PhD, Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas, and editor-in-chief of JAD, said: “When my esteemed colleague Dr. Mark Smith and I founded JAD, we felt it was essential to have a magazine that embraced the diversity of new ideas rather than starting with dogmatic views has been maintained for almost 30 years by embracing and improving new ideas, authors and readers from the global AD community and promote careers in AD research.
“IOS Press is extremely proud to be part of JAD’s remarkable achievement, publishing 100 volumes of this highly regarded and influential journal dedicated exclusively to AD. This impressive milestone could not have been achieved without the vision and dedication of the founding editors-in-chief Dr. George Perry and Dr. Mark Smith and the support of current co-editor-in-chief Dr. Paula Moreira and the entire editorial board,” said Rasjel van der Holst, publisher at IOS Press.
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