Showing recent highlights
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that a treatment called rTMS — which uses magnetic pulses directed at the brain to stimulate nerve activity — was being studied as a possible option for people with Alzheimer's disease, and this study looked closely at the side effects that occurred during that trial. They found that the most common side effects were general pain or discomfort and muscle twitching, and that higher levels of stimulation tended to be linked to more of these physical side effects. This matters because understanding who is more likely to experience side effects, and why, could help make the treatment safer and more comfortable for people with Alzheimer's if it moves forward. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with early Alzheimer's disease or mild memory problems who did six months of structured brain-training exercises on a computer showed meaningful improvements in memory, daily functioning, and anxiety — and also had lower levels of inflammation in their blood (inflammation is the body's overactive response that can contribute to brain damage over time). What made this especially interesting is that brain scans still showed the disease progressing, yet people's thinking and daily skills improved anyway, suggesting the brain may find new ways to cope even as it changes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 15, 2026
Researchers found that a traditional Japanese herbal formula called Yokukansan helped reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms — things like agitation, anxiety, and sleep problems — in people with Alzheimer's disease more effectively than a placebo (a dummy treatment with no active ingredients) over four weeks. However, the formula did not show a clear improvement in memory or thinking ability during that same period. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that AI systems trained to look at multiple types of information at once — such as brain scans, blood tests, genetic data, and memory assessments — were better at spotting early signs of Alzheimer's disease than systems relying on just one type of information alone. This matters because catching Alzheimer's earlier could give people and their doctors more time to plan and potentially slow the disease's progression. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that a drug called donanemab (brand name Kisunla) may help slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that it reduced the chance of people moving from mild memory problems to more serious stages of the disease — for example, cutting the risk of progressing from mild to moderate Alzheimer's by about half. This appears to be a new treatment option, not a safety update or guideline recommendation, and it works by targeting a sticky protein buildup in the brain linked to Alzheimer's.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether donanemab might help slow down the patient's memory and thinking problems if the patient has early Alzheimer disease or mild cognitive impairment.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that spending structured time with a therapy dog — sessions repeated regularly as part of a formal program — significantly reduced troubling behaviors in people with dementia, such as depression, withdrawal, and agitation (which doctors call behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, or BPSD). Compared to people who received only routine care, those who had dog-assisted therapy sessions also showed improvement in their ability to carry out everyday activities. The researchers pooled results from 10 separate studies to reach these findings.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a personalized mental exercise program — where patients work one-on-one on memory and thinking activities — helped improve memory in people with moderate Alzheimer's disease, but did not show the same benefit for those whose Alzheimer's had progressed further. This suggests that the timing of when someone starts this kind of brain-stimulating activity may matter, with earlier intervention potentially being more helpful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may help slow memory and thinking decline in people with type 2 diabetes who also have dementia or Alzheimer's disease — a condition that causes progressive memory loss. Several large research reviews pointed to real improvements in learning and thinking skills among people taking these medications. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that several treatments — both medical and non-medical — may help improve thinking and memory in people with Alzheimer's disease. Two approaches stood out as especially promising: 'photobiomodulation' (using specific light therapy directed at the brain) and 'enriching environment' (filling daily life with mentally stimulating activities, social interaction, and sensory experiences), both of which appeared to work better than standard medications or exercise alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that acupuncture may help improve thinking and memory skills in people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment — a condition where memory problems are noticeable but not yet severe enough to be called dementia. Looking at 52 studies involving more than 3,300 patients, they found that acupuncture on its own performed better than no treatment or a placebo, and that combining acupuncture with standard medications worked better than medications alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether acupuncture might help improve the patient's memory and thinking abilities, based on recent research showing it may work better than placebo treatments.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that following the MIND diet — an eating plan that emphasizes vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, and olive oil while limiting red meat, butter, and sweets — was linked to slower cognitive decline over three years in older adults who had certain biological markers in their blood associated with Alzheimer's disease risk. Researchers tracked over 600 adults between the ages of 65 and 84, and those with higher levels of these Alzheimer's-related markers in their blood appeared to benefit most from sticking closely to the MIND diet. The findings suggest that what a person eats regularly may play a role in how quickly thinking and memory change over time, particularly for those whose bodies already show early signs associated with Alzheimer's disease.
What's New
PubMed · May 30, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza (taken as a daily pill) did not slow the worsening of memory and thinking problems in people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, even though earlier hints from animal and real-world studies had suggested it might help protect the brain. The large study followed nearly 3,800 people across 40 countries for about two years, but ultimately the trials were stopped early because the treatment did not show the hoped-for benefit. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 12, 2026
Researchers found that people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease in their brain — like buildup of harmful proteins — didn't all experience the same level of memory and thinking problems. Those with more years of education, higher socioeconomic status (meaning greater financial and social resources), and healthier brain structure tended to hold onto their thinking skills better, even when those harmful protein levels were high. This matters because it suggests that factors like education and overall brain health may act as a kind of cushion, helping the brain cope longer before symptoms become noticeable. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 4, 2026
Researchers found that a simple blood test measuring a protein called p-tau217 — a marker of the brain changes seen in Alzheimer's disease — was highly accurate at detecting the condition, correctly identifying it about 85–88% of the time. This matters because current methods to diagnose Alzheimer's often require expensive brain scans or a spinal tap, which involves inserting a needle into the lower back to collect fluid — both of which can be hard to access or uncomfortable for patients. A routine blood draw could one day make earlier, easier diagnosis possible for more people. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that loneliness may play a significant role connecting Alzheimer's disease and suicidal thoughts or behaviors — people who felt lonely were nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and those feelings were also strongly linked to a higher chance of thinking about, planning, or attempting suicide. The researchers also found that feelings of being trapped, hopelessness, poor sleep, and stress were closely tied to loneliness in people with Alzheimer's disease, with depression being the most common thread running through all of these connections. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that a new experimental drug called zervimesine appeared safe and was generally well tolerated by people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The study also found a hint that people with lower levels of a specific protein linked to Alzheimer's (called p-tau217, found in a blood test) may have responded better to the drug, meaning their thinking and memory declined a little less compared to those who didn't take it. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
A study found that people with mild Alzheimer's disease who received acupuncture three times a week — on top of their regular medication — showed modest improvements in memory and thinking compared to those who received a fake version of acupuncture. However, those benefits faded after the acupuncture sessions stopped, suggesting the effects may only last while treatment is ongoing. Researchers also found that people receiving real acupuncture had fewer side effects from their Alzheimer's medication, which could matter for those who struggle with those side effects. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that music therapy — things like listening to or playing music in a structured way — helped people with Alzheimer's disease in several meaningful ways, including sharper thinking, less anxiety and emotional distress, and a better quality of life. Notably, it also appeared to ease the burden on caregivers, which is a side of Alzheimer's care that often gets overlooked. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease show distinctive changes in how their eyes move — for example, their eyes take longer to shift focus, wander less steadily, and struggle to smoothly follow a moving object — and these patterns may be detectable even in the very earliest stage of memory decline. This matters because tracking eye movements is painless, doesn't require a blood draw or expensive brain scan, and could one day help doctors spot Alzheimer's-related changes much sooner than current methods allow. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that adding a traditional Korean herbal remedy called Woohwangchungsimwon (WCW) to a common Alzheimer's medication called donepezil may help reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms — things like irritability, anxiety, and restlessness — in people with early Alzheimer's disease, without causing notable side effects. These kinds of emotional and behavioral changes can be some of the hardest parts of Alzheimer's for both patients and their families, so finding additional ways to manage them could be meaningful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that older, long-available Alzheimer's medications — like memantine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine — tend to offer good value for their cost, meaning patients generally get meaningful benefit relative to what is spent. However, three newer medications designed to slow early Alzheimer's by targeting a protein buildup in the brain — aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab — were not considered cost-effective at their current prices in any of the studies reviewed, suggesting their benefits may not yet justify what they cost. This could matter for people with Alzheimer's and their families when thinking about access, insurance coverage, and what treatments their doctor might be able to offer. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · April 28, 2026
Researchers found that carnosine — a natural compound found in foods like meat and fish, sometimes sold as a supplement — showed mixed and largely underwhelming results when it came to improving thinking, memory, and mood. Across 13 studies, most participants did not show meaningful improvements in mental sharpness or emotional well-being compared to those who took a placebo, which means someone with Alzheimer's disease or memory concerns shouldn't expect clear benefits from this supplement based on current evidence. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 16, 2026
Researchers found that people with mild cognitive impairment — an early stage of memory and thinking difficulties that can lead to Alzheimer's disease — who had higher levels of vitamin D, selenium, and antioxidants in their blood tended to have better thinking and memory outcomes. The study also looked at a specific gene variant called APOE ε4 (a genetic factor that can raise the risk of Alzheimer's), and found that it may change how the body responds to certain nutrients like B vitamins and selenium, meaning nutrition's effect on the brain might work differently depending on a person's genetic makeup. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 16, 2026
Researchers found that certain medications called amyloid-targeting antibodies — including newer drugs like lecanemab and donanemab — work by clearing a protein buildup in the brain that is linked to Alzheimer's disease, with the goal of slowing memory and thinking decline in people with early-stage Alzheimer's. The studies also looked closely at a side effect called ARIA, which is swelling or small bleeds in the brain that can show up on scans and, in some cases, cause symptoms like headaches or confusion. People with Alzheimer's or their families may want to ask their doctor whether these treatments are an option and what the risks — especially the brain scan side effects — would mean for their specific situation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might be a candidate for amyloid-beta-targeting antibodies like lecanemab or donanemab, and whether these drugs could slow down the patient's cognitive decline.
What's New
PubMed · April 10, 2026
Researchers found that a drug called etalanetug, given through an IV every four weeks, significantly reduced the levels of tau — a harmful protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and is thought to drive its progression. In a small group of people with a rare inherited form of Alzheimer's, tau protein levels in the fluid around the brain dropped by more than half over the course of the study, and those reductions held steady over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 1, 2026
Researchers found that digital tools designed to exercise and strengthen memory and thinking skills — such as computer-based brain training programs and virtual reality platforms — showed promising results for older adults in Portugal living with early memory problems or Alzheimer's disease, particularly when the programs combined mental exercises with physical activity. Even though many older participants weren't very comfortable with technology at first, they stuck with the programs and stayed motivated, partly because the tools were designed like games and built around their culture and language. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 1, 2026
Researchers found that a newer class of Alzheimer's drugs called monoclonal antibodies — which work by clearing sticky protein buildups in the brain — showed more consistent improvements in thinking and memory tests over time compared to older Alzheimer's medications like donepezil (Aricept), whose benefits appeared to fade with longer use. This difference was seen across multiple ways of measuring mental sharpness, and the gap between the newer drugs and a placebo (a dummy treatment) seemed to grow wider as time went on. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 1, 2026
Researchers found that a supplement called SAMe — a natural compound the body also makes on its own — did not slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in people with mild to moderate symptoms. Over about six months, people taking SAMe daily did not show meaningful differences in a key brain protein linked to Alzheimer's (called p-tau217, a marker found in the blood that can signal disease activity) compared to people taking a placebo, or dummy pill. On the positive side, SAMe appeared to be safe and well-tolerated, meaning participants didn't experience serious side effects. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · April 1, 2026
Researchers looked at 58 studies that used brain imaging technology to see how acupuncture affects people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment — a condition where memory and thinking decline more than expected for someone's age, but not severely enough to be called Alzheimer's. They found that acupuncture appeared to influence how different parts of the brain communicate and activate, suggesting it may have some potential as a treatment approach. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · April 1, 2026
Researchers reviewed 120 brain imaging studies from the past 20 years and found that Alzheimer's disease affects men and women differently in ways that show up clearly on brain scans — including differences linked to hormones, genetics, and even how the brain holds up under the strain of the disease. For someone with a loved one affected by Alzheimer's, this matters because it suggests that a person's sex may influence how the disease develops and how easy it is to detect early. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.