Scientific Advances
Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk
An NIA-supported study found that adopting multiple healthy lifestyle choices—such as exercise, not smoking, moderate drinking, a good diet, and mental activities—can significantly lower Alzheimer’s risk. Data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) and the Memory and Aging Project (MAP) revealed that having two to three of these factors reduced the risk by 37%, and four to five factors cut it by 60%. These results suggest lifestyle changes might help prevent or slow Alzheimer's, though further research is needed.
Blood test shows promise in predicting pre-symptomatic disease progression in people at risk of familial Alzheimer's
An NIA-funded study found that measuring the protein neurofilament light chain (NfL) in blood can predict Alzheimer’s disease progression in individuals at risk for familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). NfL levels increased up to 16 years before symptom onset, with higher levels indicating closer to symptom onset and correlating with other Alzheimer’s-related brain changes. This suggests blood tests for NfL could offer a less invasive, more accessible method for predicting Alzheimer’s risk compared to current, more invasive procedures.
Lower blood pressure target greatly reduces cardiovascular complications and deaths in older adults
An NIH-funded study, supported by NIA and known as the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), found that intensive blood pressure management in adults aged 50 and older significantly reduced cardiovascular disease and death rates. The study showed that targeting a lower blood pressure than commonly recommended cut cardiovascular events—like heart attack and stroke—by nearly a third and reduced death risk by almost a quarter. These findings influenced the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology’s 2017 hypertension guidelines.
Featured Research Studies
First tau biomarker approved as Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic tool
Before biomarker tests, diagnosing Alzheimer’s required an autopsy, but recent advances allow for diagnosis using brain imaging and lab tests. In May 2020, the FDA approved flortaucipir, the first radioactive tracer to detect tau protein tangles, a key Alzheimer's hallmark. Supported by NIA, the key study showed that flortaucipir, used with PET imaging, accurately identifies tau tangles and late-stage Alzheimer’s. This development improves diagnostic accuracy, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis and better treatment options for Alzheimer’s.
Intensive lowering of blood pressure reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and may slow age-related brain damage
The SPRINT Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (MIND) trial, supported by NIA, found that intensive blood pressure control slowed the buildup of white matter lesions, which are linked to brain damage, more effectively than standard treatment. Although this approach did not significantly lower dementia risk, it did reduce mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to dementia. These findings suggest that aggressive blood pressure management may help protect brain health and reduce MCI, offering insights into managing age-related cognitive decline.
Daily low-dose aspirin found to have no effect on healthy lifespan in older people
An NIA-funded trial found that daily low-dose aspirin does not extend healthy, independent living for older adults without vascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease. The study revealed that aspirin did not reduce dementia or physical disability risk but increased the likelihood of death compared to non-users. While aspirin did not raise cancer diagnosis rates, it was linked to more advanced cancer cases and higher cancer mortality. These results contributed to the 2019 guidelines by the American Heart Association against routine aspirin use in healthy older adults.
Scientists reverse age-related vision loss, eye damage from glaucoma in mice
NIA-supported researchers demonstrated that cellular reprogramming could restore youthful function and reverse glaucoma-induced eye damage in aged mice by converting mature cells into regenerative immature cells. By modifying the reprogramming approach to remove harmful epigenetic markers, they extended the method’s safety and avoided aggressive cell growth and cancer risks. Although promising, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies in different animal models before considering human trials. If validated, this approach could lead to therapies for tissue repair and age-related diseases.
Blood test method may predict Alzheimer's protein deposits in brain
Researchers, partially funded by NIA, have developed a blood test that detects phosphorylated-tau-181 (ptau181), a biomarker indicating pathological Alzheimer’s disease. This test identifies abnormal tau protein levels in individuals with dementia symptoms, potentially offering a less invasive and more cost-effective diagnostic tool compared to current methods. While similar blood tests for amyloid protein were introduced in 2019, this new test could accelerate dementia research and clinical trials by enabling faster and broader screening of participants.
Daily low-dose aspirin found to have no effect on healthy lifespan in older people
An NIA-funded trial found that daily low-dose aspirin does not extend healthy, independent living for older adults without vascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease. The study revealed that aspirin did not reduce dementia or physical disability risk but increased the likelihood of death compared to non-users. While aspirin did not raise cancer diagnosis rates, it was linked to more advanced cancer cases and higher cancer mortality. These results contributed to the 2019 guidelines by the American Heart Association against routine aspirin use in healthy older adults.