News and Announcements

The news of Wendy Williams' dementia-linked diagnoses is an important reminder that the conditions are often missed initially by medical providers, according to Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a clinician and neuropsychologist at Northwestern University, who joined CBS News with a look at the medical effects.

Former talk show host Wendy Williams announced on February 22 that she has been diagnosedn frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a progressive disorder that makes it difficult for a person to understand and express language. Sandra Weintraub, PhD discusses common sympotoms of FTD and PPA.

Robert Vassar, PhD, director of the Mesulam Center, shares his journey from groundbreaking discoveries in molecular genetics to leading the charge against Alzheimer's. With FDA-approved treatments and cutting-edge research, his goal is simple — to make dementia just a memory.

A new study has found the immune system in the blood of Alzheimer’s patients is epigenetically altered, and many of these altered genes are the same ones that increase an individual’s risk for Alzheimer’s.

As questions about age and cognitive function have once again surfaced in the presidential race, Molly Mather, PhD discusses what you should know about brain health.

Concerns about age and mental fitness have been a recurring theme through the past two presidencies and are set to only mount in 2024 with two frontrunner candidates nearing or exceeding the age of 80. Experts, including Molly Mather, PhD discuss typical signs of aging.

Clinicians, led by Gil Rabinovici at UCSF, found that a rare type of early-onset dementia called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is usually linked to Alzheimer's disease. This form of dementia affects how people see and process things and often starts around age 60, particularly in women, with challenges in getting a correct diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among eye-care specialists and neurologists. Marsel Mesulam spoke on the significance of this paper and their findings. 

Marsel Mesulam, MD recently joined the Organization of Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Neurosalience Podcast to discuss his influential career and current research focuses.

On January 31, 2024, Biogen announced that they will be discontinuing production of their controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, less than 3 years after receiving FDA approval. Ian Grant, MD spoke to WGN about the discontinuation of the drug and alternative medication options, such as Lecanemab, which has shown a 27-28% slowing of cognitive decline in studies.

Sandra Weintraub, PhD and a group of researchers from around the country have spent the past few years developing the Dementia Nomenclature Initiative (DeNomI), a nationwide plan to address limitations in communicating dementia diagnoses and increase the general public’s understanding of related diseases. This first-of-its-kind framework aims to tackle stigma, naming inconsistencies, and a lack of education surrounding cognitive diseases. DeNomI separates clinical symptoms from biological changes, paving the way for improved research, therapy development, and enhanced healthcare communication.

A new Northwestern Medicine study has identified short strands of toxic RNAs that contribute to brain cell death and DNA damage in Alzheimer’s and aged brains.

The post New Cause of Neuron Death in Alzheimer’s Discovered appeared first on News Center.

Patients planning to receive anti-amyloid treatments such as lecanemab first must enroll in a registry to help clinicians draw conclusions on the drugs' safety and efficacy. But multiple registries have been established and are now asking for different data and using varied scales, raising questions about the integrity of the data collected and how it could be shared among the registries.

Remaining healthy and sharp are goals for most people as they age. But one group of people — known as “SuperAgers” — is said to have this all down as they go through life, even into their later years. Tamar Gefen, PhD shares some key behaviors that can improve your life expectancy.

Published in 2022, the “Musical Bridges to Memory” intervention, a collaboration between Northwestern Medicine and the Institute for Therapy through the Arts, revealed the power of music in connecting with individuals suffering from dementia, particularly in the later stages. Borna Bonakdarpour recently spoke about the study and potential future implications of their findings. 

Dimitri Krainc, MD, PhD, and Shana Kelley, PhD, have been named 2023 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Ian Grant, MD, assistant professor of Neurology at the Mesulam Center, recently spoke to Northwestern Medicine about Bruce Willis and his aphasia diagnosis.

MRI scans show that visceral fat, which can accumulate around the organs of even people at healthy BMIs, is associated with changes in the brain. Borna Bonakdarpour discussed how these findings stress the relationship between physical health and the risk of Alzheimer's.

A new molecular technology capable of binding to mRNA and regulating gene expression may offer a new avenue for treating diseases caused by insufficient protein levels, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

A pair of recent studies from the laboratory of Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD, have uncovered novel cellular mechanisms that are involved in two types of genetic ALS, providing support for future development of targeted therapies to treat the disease.

Northwestern investigators, clinicians, and people living with ALS convened in the Feinberg Pavilion for the 13th annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS to celebrate and share new scientific breakthroughs that improve the understanding of ALS and advancements in treating the disease.

Northwestern investigators, clinicians, and people living with ALS convened in the Feinberg Pavilion for the 13th annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS to celebrate and share new scientific breakthroughs that improve the understanding of ALS and advancements in treating the disease.

A pair of recent studies from the laboratory of Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD, associate professor in the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology’s Division of Neuromuscular Disease and of Neuroscience, have uncovered novel cellular mechanisms that are involved in two types of genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Mesulam Center faculty members shared valuable insights on brain health, dementia prevention, and the latest research developments at the Know Your Chicago's "Brain Health: Innovation and Hope" events, fostering knowledge and hope among attendees.

Self care, an often overlooked topic for many of us. Taking steps to support your own health is important whether you’re a caregiver, someone carrying a genetic variant that causes FTD, or living with FTD today. Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW discusses self care strategies. 

Feinberg investigators, students, trainees and faculty celebrated discovery and presented scientific research at Feinberg’s 17th annual Lewis Landsberg Research Day on Sept. 14.

A Northwestern Medicine pilot study led by Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour reveals the calming effect of improvisational viola music on epilepsy patients' brain waves, reducing anxiety during hospital tests. Promising results suggest broader applications for music therapy in healthcare.

Dimitri Krainc, MD, the chair and Aaron Montgomery Ward Professor of Neurology and director of the Simpson Querrey Center for Neurogenetics, has been elected president of the American Neurological Association (ANA).

Northwestern Medicine investigators have uncovered how the ALS-associated gene NEK1 disrupts neuronal function in a new study published in Science Advances.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how HIV hijacks intracellular processes to proliferate and contribute to neurodegeneration, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Northwestern Medicine investigators have uncovered how a genetic variant linked to ALS disrupts neuronal function in a new study published in Science Advances.