AMSTERDAM, July 21, 2023 – New research reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2023 covered the breadth of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research, including advancements in treatment, early and accurate diagnosis, and our understanding of risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
AAIC is the premier annual forum for presentation and discussion of the latest Alzheimer’s and dementia research. This year’s conference took place both virtually and in-person in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and attracted over 10,000 attendees and more than 3,000 scientific presentations.
Research presented includes:
Blood Tests: The Next Frontier in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Advancements in technology and practice reported for the first time at AAIC 2023 demonstrate the simplicity, transportability and diagnostic value of blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s.
Researchers from University of Gothenburg, Sweden reported results from a simple, finger prick blood test that shows promise in the ability to detect markers of Alzheimer’s using a single drop of blood dried on spot cards and shipped overnight between two countries, without temperature control or cooling. If validated through additional research, this test could offer a quick, noninvasive and cost-effective option that is simple enough to be performed independently, or by caregivers. It may be particularly valuable for use in rural districts or other lower resourced areas.
New Use of Opioids and Mortality Among Older Adults With Dementia
New opioid use in older adults with dementia is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, including an eleven fold increase in the first two weeks, according to research presented at AAIC 2023. Researchers from the Danish Dementia Research Centre used data from everyone in Denmark aged 65 and older diagnosed with dementia between 2008 and 2018, including both home-living and nursing home residents. Of that group, 42% of those diagnosed with dementia redeemed a prescription for an opioid at a pharmacy.
Chronic Constipation Associated With Cognitive Decline
New research demonstrating the relationship between gut health and the brain were revealed at AAIC. A researcher from University of Massachusetts, Amherst found individuals with chronic constipation (bowel movements every three days or more) had significantly worse cognition, equivalent to three years more of chronological cognitive aging, than those with healthy bowel movement patterns.
First-ever Nationwide Estimates of U.S. County-Level Alzheimer’s Prevalence
The first-ever nationwide estimates of the county-level prevalence of people with Alzheimer’s dementia — in all 3,142 United States counties — were revealed at AAIC 2023. Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that the eastern and southeastern U.S. have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Volunteering Later in Life May Promote a Healthy Brain
Reported for the first time at AAIC 2023, researchers from University of California, Davis examined volunteering habits among an ethnic and racially diverse population of older adults and found that volunteering was associated with better baseline scores on tests of memory, thinking and planning. The researchers stated volunteering may be important for better cognition in late life and could serve as a simple intervention in older adults to protect against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
