Facts
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Science & Education -
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Dementia is a complex brain disease
A lot has happened in dementia research in the past year. Dementia is an incredibly complex brain disease. Research contributes to more knowledge and understanding of the disease and brings us closer to a world in which dementia can be prevented or treated. It is time to look back at the most important events in the research field of the past year.
1. Results of Alzheimer’s drugs.
You can’t ignore it: Alzheimer’s drugs have been in the news a lot last year. First there were results from Aducanumab and later in the year from Lecanemab. Both drugs can slow down Alzheimer’s to some extent. However, the effect is limited, sometimes with a risk of serious side effects. At the moment, these are mainly hopeful results for science. It provides knowledge that will hopefully lead to increasingly effective treatment. Aducanumab is not marketed in the Netherlands. This is uncertain for Lecanemab. If approved in Europe, it will not be available on a small scale for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease until 2025 at the earliest
2. Development of blood tests for better diagnostics.
An early diagnosis is very important, especially when there are medicines or treatments. Blood tests can then play an important role in the diagnosis process. Several researchers are finding more and more proteins in the blood that can diagnose the disease. Taking blood is quick, easy and cheap. In the current diagnosis process, with no drugs available, the role of blood tests is limited. Partly for this reason, blood tests are currently not yet available from general practitioners, but they are already being tested in practice at a number of memory clinics for scientific research.
3. Discovery of genes involved in the development of Alzheimer’s
Researchers are discovering more and more genes that can influence the risk of Alzheimer’s. A total of 75 places on the DNA are now known to increase or decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s. Although the changes in risk are very small, the genes do provide information about the processes involved in dementia. Future treatments and drugs may intervene in these processes.
4. More and more is known about a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of dementia.
More and more research shows that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of dementia. Nutrition is a theme that was often discussed, including the interesting results of the MIND diet. The knowledge synthesis commissioned by Alzheimer Nederland shows that more attention needs to be paid to maintaining healthy habits in practice.
5. Largest funders of dementia research are joining forces.
In 2022, Alzheimer Nederland worked intensively with government financiers ZonMw and Health~Holland in the establishment of research consortia. For example, in 2022 we started financing a research consortium into practical solutions and are contributing to a consortium for technology in dementia care. In addition, we play an important role in much research in the communication, implementation and participation of people with dementia and their loved ones. In total, more than 30 million euros in research funding has been committed to seven large consortia, of which more than 4 million from Alzheimer Nederland.
Grateful for the support to Alzheimer Nederland
Researchers all over the world are working hard on knowledge and understanding of dementia. In 2022, Alzheimer Nederland made a lot of important dementia research possible again in the Netherlands into the different forms of dementia. Thanks to the support of our donors, we have been able to award a total of more than 8.5 million euros to more than 50 research projects. We are very grateful that we were able to make as much research as possible and will continue to do so in 2023.
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https://www.alzheimer-nederland.nl/nieuws/de-5-belangrijkste-hoogtepunten-uit-dementieonderzoek-van-2022 - Original title:
The 5 key highlights from 2022 dementia research - Target audience:
Healthcare professionals, policy makers, informal carers, students - Datum:
2023-01-17