Latest news with #VernaPorter
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Uncovered A Major Alzheimer's Finding—And It Involves Ozempic
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." It's hard to keep up with all of the potential perks of going on a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication like Ozempic. So far, researchers have found that these meds may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer, tamp down on symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and even treat addiction. Of course, that's on top of what they're designed to do—help with blood sugar control and weight loss. Now, a growing body of research suggests GLP-1s may also help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, too. And there's one more study to add to the mix. New research published in JAMA Neurology found a link between people who took GLP-1 receptor agonists and a lowered risk of Alzheimer's disease, which makes even more of a case for going on one of these medications. Here's what experts think of the new study and how it might apply to you. Meet the experts: Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA; Verna Porter, MD, neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA For the study, researchers analyzed health records of 396,963 people in Florida between January 2014 to June 2023. All of the participants were at least 50 years old and had type 2 diabetes. None had been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and related dementias at the start of the study. The researchers discovered that people who took GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic) or a type of medicine known as SGLT2 inhibitors (which are also used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes) had a statistically significant lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias compared to people who were on other medications to lower blood sugar. People with type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. (Research suggests that people with type 2 diabetes have a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia.) The reason for that could be tied to things like insulin resistance, inflammation, and a higher risk of vascular damage, which are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease—and GLP-1 receptor agonists can lower the risks of those complications, explains Verna Porter, MD, neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. But these medications can also help people lose weight, feel better, and be able to lead a healthier lifestyle, points out Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. 'When patients lose weight, risk factors [for Alzheimer's disease] like heart disease and diabetes improve, too,' he says. Dr. Porter says she has 'cautious optimism' about the latest study results, noting that she treats many patients who have both type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. GLP-1 receptor agonists work in the body in a few different ways. But these medications specifically signal to your brain to feel less hungry, making it less likely that you'll overeat, Dr. Ali explains. As a result, many people lose weight on these drugs. But the exact mechanisms of how the drug works in the brain in doing things like tamping down food noise, addiction, and now, decreasing Alzheimer's risk, is still under investigation. This isn't the first study to find a link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and a lowered risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with type 2 diabetes. A study published in October in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia found that people who took semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication) had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to people who took other medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Another study published in Nature Medicine in January found that people who took GLP-1 receptor agonist medications had a lowered risk of developing a slew of health conditions, including dementia. It's important to point out that a lot of these studies look at the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on people with type 2 diabetes. Meaning, it's not clear if taking these medications without having type 2 diabetes will have an impact on your Alzheimer's risk. But this growing body of research is definitely raising a lot of questions—and possibilities for treatment—as it unfolds. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Discovered A Potential New Alzheimer's Cause
The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease has long evaded scientists, but experts typically suggest there are likely several factors (like genetics, environment, and lifestyle) that contribute to its development. We already know that getting good sleep, exercise, a heart-healthy diet, and regular socialization can lower your risk for the disease. But no one has yet been able to pinpoint why some develop the devastating condition while others don't. Now, new research published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia suggests that there could actually be a single, simple cause of Alzheimer's disease. This hypothesis is pretty radical, and goes against what most experts in the field believe. But understanding the root cause (or causes) can help prevent, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer's in the future. Here's what one new scientific model suggests about Alzheimer's cause, and what it means for us. Meet the experts: Carol Huseby, PhD, is assistant professor in the Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at Arizona State University; Verna Porter, MD, is a neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Michal Schnaider Beeri, PhD, is the director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School The study analyzed existing research and data, including a 2022 study that found most biological pathways can be linked to Alzheimer's disease, and proposed that "stress granules" may be the reason Alzheimer's disease develops in some people and not others. Specifically, the researchers explored how the presence of these "stress granules" disrupt molecule movement between a cell's nucleus (the center part of a cell that contains genetic material) and its cytoplasm (the jelly-like substance that surrounds the nucleus where important chemical processes occur). The disruptions mess with a slew of essential biological processes, including cell survival and metabolism, and gene expression, the researchers theorized. The changes in gene expression then lead to some of the key markers seen in Alzheimer's patients: tau protein tangles and inflammation. It's important to point out that this hypothesis is based on a scientific model using available data—not something that has been tested and proven. What are "stress granules" and how are they connected to Alzheimer's? As the paper explains, "stress granules" are basically clumps of proteins and RNA (a nucleic acid in cells with similar structures to DNA) that form when a cell is under stress. These clumps form temporarily in the cell in response to stress in the environment. They help the cell press "pause" on normal functioning until it recovers. Under normal circumstances, these "stress granules" actually serve an important purpose: helping protect the cell, then dissolving when the stressful event is over. But in people with Alzheimer's disease, the granules seem don't dissolve, which keeps essential molecules from moving in and out of the cell's nucleus as they normally would, explains study co-author Carol Huseby, PhD, assistant professor in the Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at Arizona State University. 'If stress is chronic, the cell's normal business is affected, such as making new molecules, transporting molecules, and recycling of molecules,' she says. That can eventually harm the cell and could lead to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. It's important to note that the scientists are talking about biological stress here, not psychological. "The 'stress' causing these granules in biology is different from emotional stress," says Michal Schnaider Beeri, PhD, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "Biological stress refers to various challenges to the cell. Emotional stress, while it can have physical effects, is a psychological experience. While both types of stress can impact health, they operate through very different mechanisms at the cellular level." There are a lot of potential stressors that cause these granules to form, including exposure to toxins, traumatic brain injury, viruses, oxidative stress, and genetic mutations, Huseby says. Getting sick or being exposed to things like pollution and pesticides can also put stress on your body—and your cells. While this study suggests there could be a link between cell stress and Alzheimer's, there is also an established link between psychological stress and the disease. 'Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which can shrink the hippocampus,' says Verna Porter, MD, is a neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. (The hippocampus is involved in learning and memory.) Having anxiety and depression is also linked with a higher risk of dementia, she points out. Overall, 'all indications point to cell stress as occurring early in disease,' Huseby says. 'The key to understanding Alzheimer's disease is to understand when the disease is first detected before too many neurons are lost,' she continues. 'This information will lead to the most effective early treatments for Alzheimer's disease.' Again, there's a lot experts still don't know about why some people end up developing Alzheimer's disease. And this study is just one hypothesis. But taking these steps may help lower your risk, according to the Alzheimer's Association: Exercise regularly Quit smoking (or don't pick up the habit!) Manage high blood pressure and diabetes Eat a heart-healthy diet Try to maintain a healthy weight Stay socially connected Stimulate your brain with new activities and challenges Doing what you can to manage stress levels, like practicing mindfulness, meditating, or doing relaxing hobbies, may also help, Dr. Porter says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
