The Alzheimer's drug pipeline is healthier than you might think
OF ALL THE medical challenges that scientists have faced, Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, has been one of the trickiest. Between 1995 and 2021 private money spent on Alzheimer's research totalled $42.5bn, but more than 140 trials failed to deliver a single drug capable of slowing the disease. Yet the tide may be turning. There are two working drugs, offering modest benefits, on the market. A new review paper suggests more could soon follow.
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Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
Hidden in plain sight, chronic stress is key to increased dementia and Alzheimer's risk
The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought. For instance, a 2025 study that tracked a large sample of American adults across more than three decades found that their average likelihood of developing dementia between ages 55 to 95 was 42%, and that figure was even higher among women, Black adults and those with genetic risk. Now, a great deal of attention is being paid to how to stave off cognitive decline in the aging American population. But what is often missing from this conversation is the role that chronic stress can play in how well people age from a cognitive standpoint, as well as everybody's risk for dementia. We are professors at Penn State in the Center for Healthy Aging, with expertise in health psychology and neuropsychology. We study the pathways by which chronic psychological stress influences the risk of dementia and how it influences the ability to stay healthy as people age. Recent research shows that Americans who are currently middle-aged or older report experiencing more frequent stressful events than previous generations. A key driver behind this increase appears to be rising economic and job insecurity, especially in the wake of the 2007-2009 Great Recession and ongoing shifts in the labor market. Many people stay in the workforce longer due to financial necessity, as Americans are living longer and face greater challenges covering basic expenses in later life. Therefore, it may be more important than ever to understand the pathways by which stress influences cognitive aging. Social isolation and stress Although everyone experiences some stress in daily life, some people experience stress that is more intense, persistent or prolonged. It is this relatively chronic stress that is most consistently linked with poorer health. In a recent review paper, our team summarised how chronic stress is a hidden but powerful factor underlying cognitive aging, or the speed at which your cognitive performance slows down with age. It is hard to overstate the impact of stress on your cognitive health as you age. This is in part because your psychological, behavioral and biological responses to everyday stressful events are closely intertwined, and each can amplify and interact with the other. For instance, living alone can be stressful – particularly for older adults – and being isolated makes it more difficult to live a healthy lifestyle, as well as to detect and get help for signs of cognitive decline. Moreover, stressful experiences – and your reactions to them – can make it harder to sleep well and to engage in other healthy behaviors, like getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. In turn, insufficient sleep and a lack of physical activity can make it harder to cope with stressful experiences. Prevention efforts A robust body of research highlights the importance of at least 14 different factors that relate to your risk of Alzheimer's disease, a common and devastating form of dementia and other forms of dementia. Although some of these factors may be outside of your control, such as diabetes or depression, many of these factors involve things that people do, such as physical activity, healthy eating and social engagement. What is less well-recognised is that chronic stress is intimately interwoven with all of these factors that relate to dementia risk. Our work and research by others that we reviewed in our recent paper demonstrate that chronic stress can affect brain function and physiology, influence mood and make it harder to maintain healthy habits. Yet, dementia prevention efforts rarely address stress. Avoiding stressful events and difficult life circumstances is typically not an option. Where and how you live and work plays a major role in how much stress you experience. For example, people with lower incomes, less education or those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods often face more frequent stress and have fewer forms of support – such as nearby clinics, access to healthy food, reliable transportation or safe places to exercise or socialise – to help them manage the challenges of aging. As shown in recent work on brain health in rural and underserved communities, these conditions can shape whether people have the chance to stay healthy as they age. Over time, the effects of stress tend to build up, wearing down the body's systems and shaping long-term emotional and social habits. Lifestyle changes The good news is that there are multiple things that can be done to slow or prevent dementia, and our review suggests that these can be enhanced if the role of stress is better understood. Whether you are a young, midlife or an older adult, it is not too early or too late to address the implications of stress on brain health and aging. Here are a few ways you can take direct actions to help manage your level of stress: Follow lifestyle behaviors that can improve healthy aging. These include: following a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity and getting enough sleep. Even small changes in these domains can make a big difference. Prioritise your mental health and well-being to the extent you can. Things as simple as talking about your worries, asking for support from friends and family and going outside regularly can be immensely valuable. If your doctor says that you or someone you care about should follow a new health care regimen, or suggests there are signs of cognitive impairment, ask them what support or advice they have for managing related stress. If you or a loved one feel socially isolated, consider how small shifts could make a difference. For instance, research suggests that adding just one extra interaction a day – even if it's a text message or a brief phone call – can be helpful, and that even interactions with people you don't know well, such as at a coffee shop or doctor's office, can have meaningful benefits. Play Lifelong learning A 2025 study identified stress as one of 17 overlapping factors that affect the odds of developing any brain disease, including stroke, late-life depression and dementia. This work suggests that addressing stress and overlapping issues such as loneliness may have additional health benefits as well. However, not all individuals or families are able to make big changes on their own. Research suggests that community-level and workplace interventions can reduce the risk of dementia. For example, safe and walkable neighborhoods and opportunities for social connection and lifelong learning – such as through community classes and events – have the potential to reduce stress and promote brain health. Importantly, researchers have estimated that even a modest delay in disease onset of Alzheimer's would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for every American affected. Thus, providing incentives to companies who offer stress management resources could ultimately save money as well as help people age more healthfully. In addition, stress related to the stigma around mental health and aging can discourage people from seeking support that would benefit them. Even just thinking about your risk of dementia can be stressful in itself. Things can be done about this, too. For instance, normalising the use of hearing aids and integrating reports of perceived memory and mental health issues into routine primary care and workplace wellness programs could encourage people to engage with preventive services earlier. Although research on potential biomedical treatments is ongoing and important, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, if interventions aimed at reducing stress were prioritised in guidelines for dementia prevention, the benefits could be far-reaching, resulting in both delayed disease onset and improved quality of life for millions of people.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Light pollution is making you sick, fat. Yet regulatory practices remain scant
Around 80% of the world's population lives under skies classified as "light-polluted," according to the World Atlas of Artificial Sky Luminance (2016).While establishing a direct causal relationship between light pollution and metabolic diseases in India is challenging due to the lack of controlled studies, there is ample global evidence showing that light pollution has severe health impacts, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer's practice has consistently shown that hormonal imbalances and metabolic dysfunctions, including diabetes, have increased manifold in areas with high exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN). Experts have flagged stress, disrupted sleep, and circadian rhythm imbalances, all of which are exacerbated by light pollution, as major contributors.A team of researchers from the School of Planning and Architecture, in their study "Light Pollution in India: Appraisal of Artificial Night Sky Brightness of Cities", identified Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai as the most light-polluted cities in India. Experts have flagged stress, disrupted sleep, and circadian rhythm imbalances, all of which are exacerbated by light pollution, as major contributors. () advertisementThey classified light pollution as a side effect of rapid urbanisation, and the researchers further highlighted how increased use of outdoor lighting and rising night-sky brightness pose significant threats to both human health and environmental SPIKESA 2024 paper published in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal described light pollution as an "alarming trend", stating that pervasive use of ALAN is emerging as a disruptor of natural circadian rhythms, potentially leading to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as poor sleep and erratic eating patterns. Read the full paperGerman researchers Jorien Laermans and Inge Depoortere, renowned for their work on circadian biology and metabolism, found that urban light pollution is a major circadian disruptor, and an emerging risk factor for artificial light at night is increasing by about 6% annually, and researchers such as Hlker, Fonken, and Nelson have all acknowledged its impact on rising obesity AND CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONAnd that's just the beginning of the damage.A Spanish study found higher risks of breast and prostate cancer among people exposed to elevated levels of artificial light at night. An Israeli study recorded a 73% increase in breast cancer incidence in areas with high night-time illumination. ALAN is believed to subdue melatonin, an essential hormone for regulating circadian rhythms. Globally, artificial light at night is increasing by about 6% annually. () This influences cancer development either through hormonal disruption, or impaired DNA repair, or even increased cell proliferation, and chronic IN ACTION: REGULATIONStreetlights, illuminated billboards, neon signage, white industrial and office lighting at night, and household lights are known to be major sources of light about 1 crore smart LED streetlights have been installed in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, HP, Haryana and other states (annual energy savings of 6.71 billion kWh and reduction of GHG emission by 4.63 million tCO2 every year), light pollution itself remains largely so long ago, in April 2025, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is no statutory framework in India to regulate light pollution, highlighting a critical policy in December 2024, the Panchtatva Foundation had also filed a case citing ALAN's disastrous impact on human circadian health. The NGT proactively sought responses from relevant ministries but till date no concrete regulatory action has been light at night may be invisible to the eye as a pollutant, but its impact on public health, ecology, and climate is undeniable. It's time policymakers took ALAN seriously before our cities become even brighter, fatter, and Watch
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Emotional scenes as Westlife stars turn up to support Louis Walsh as he pays final farewell to mum after health battle
WESTLIFE stars turned up to support Louis Walsh as the band manager paid his final farewell to his beloved mum. Maureen, nee Healy, who lived in Kiltimagh, Co , passed away on Monday, June 2, aged 94 following a lengthy illness. 6 Louis Walsh' mother Maureen passed away this week Credit: Brian McEvoy 6 Kian Egan showed his support for Louis Walsh at the funeral today Credit: PaulMealey 6 Shane Filan and his wife Gillian were pictured walking into the funeral mass Credit: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin The mother-of-nine had been battling Alzheimer's for the past decade, with She was remembered locally as the 'warmhearted matriarch' of a large and close-knit family. The funeral mass took place in the nearby Church of the Holy Family at 12 noon today and was followed by the burial in Kilkinure Cemetery. Apart from Louis, Maureen, who was predeceased by her husband, Frank, is also survived by daughters Evelyn (O'Connor), and Sara (Keogh), sons, Paul, Frank, Eamon, Padraic, Joseph and Noel and their extended family members. read more on louis walsh She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Louis, who wore a black suit with a white shirt and black tie, looked distraught as he walked beside the coffin to the church. Kian was pictured with his arm around Louis after the funeral mass. read more on the irish sun While Shane and his wife Gillian both looked emotional as they walked hand-in-hand together to the ceremony. Former Louis Walsh comes out of the Big Brother House from Celebrity Big Brother 2024 and tells all In a touching eulogy, one of Maureen's daughters, Sara Keogh described her as 'extraordinary'. She stated: 'We celebrate all the 94 years of the extraordinary woman Maureen was and the incredible mark she left on all of us. 'We had a great upbringing. We wanted for nothing. She pushed us to make the best of ourselves - she didn't do a bad job, I think." Sara spoke of the lifelong hospitality shown by her mother to all comers, at all hours, her ability as a cook and homemaker. She recalled her mother going to work for Western Care Association, which provides services to people with intellectual disabilities and neurodiverse needs, in the 1970s. 'KINDNESS AND LOVE' She added: 'This gave her a new lease of life. She loved every minute of it. This was where she made some of her best friends in life'. Her son Frank, told mourners, Maureen was at the heart of her family's lives. He said: 'We all loved her, respected her. She was a woman of great strength, loyalty and grace. 'Her life was not one of enormous gestures but countless small actions of goodness, kindness and love. 'She was hardworking, had great faith and found joy in the simple things. Mourners were told that GAA matches, playing cards; 25 and Bridge, as well as country music, set dancing, and fancy dress were amongst the loves of Maureen's life. Fr Michael Quinn, chief celebrant of the funeral Mass, spoke of the immense loss to Maureen's family; her eight children, 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He went on to describe her as a person of great faith with particular devotion to Padre Pio. Symbols carried to the altar included Maureen's Rosary beads, a picture of Padre Pio, a Mayo flag, a transistor radio noting the endless satisfaction she got from listening to local Midwest Radio, a rolling pin (love of baking), a family photo, a pack of cards and a copy of her favourite reading material, Ireland's Own magazine. 6 Dozens of mourners flocked to the church to pay their respects today Credit: 6 Louis' mum was remembered for her 'kindness' Credit: 6 Louis Walsh walked behind the remains of his mother Credit:
