dementia

March 17, 2025

Where are all the Alzheimer’s drugs?

A new study will use innovative methods developed at VUMC to look for drugs already approved for other uses that could potentially be repurposed to treat Alzheimer’s.

By Paul Govern
February 17, 2025

Weight-loss surgery associated with reduced dementia

An observational study found that bariatric surgery was associated with 63% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

By Paul Govern
March 25, 2024

Brain atlas pinpoints vulnerabilities in ALS and dementia

By Paul Govern
July 17, 2023

Alzheimer’s genetic risk tracked across sex, race

A Vanderbilt study of genetic risks for cognitive impairment later in life uses data from 32,426 research participants ages 60 and older to elaborate these risks across sex and across the intersection of sex and race.

By Paul Govern
January 24, 2023

How arterial “stiffness” may impair cognition

New findings from Vanderbilt neurologists suggest that cardiovascular disease may increase the spaces surrounding blood vessels in the brain and lead to cognitive decline.

By Kelsey Pinckard
Networked dots in the shape of a brain
October 3, 2022

Minority patients less likely to have amyloid plaques necessary for Alzheimer’s treatments

Fewer Black, Hispanic and Asian patients meet biomarker qualifications for landmark treatments that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by targeting amyloid plaques, according to new findings published in JAMA Neurology.

By Holly Fletcher
April 26, 2022

New Clinician Spotlight: Aaron McMurtray

Specializing in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, neurologist Aaron McMurtray, MD, PhD, recently joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center as associate professor of Neurology.
By VUMC News and Communications
October 1, 2021

VUMC awarded $31.7 million to harmonize Alzheimer’s research data

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a $31.7 million federal grant to harmonize research data gathered on human subjects in scores of disparate studies of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
By Paul Govern
May 6, 2021

Study finds that regulatory protein prevents signaling that triggers cell death

A protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis prevents the activation of an innate immune response that leads to cell death, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 22, 2021

Chemo for cancer lowers dementia risk

Cancer chemotherapy lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive disorders that disproportionately affect older people.
By Paul Govern
February 2, 2021

Study finds recommended ICU sedatives equally safe, effective

Sedative medications used in intensive care are associated with increased delirium, which is in turn connected with higher medical costs and greater risk of death and ICU-related dementia.
By Paul Govern
November 17, 2020

Statins to be studied for prevention of dementia, disability and heart disease 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers are enrolling adults aged 75 and over to study whether taking atorvastatin, a drug commonly used to lower cholesterol also called Lipitor®, can help maintain health by preventing dementia, disability, and heart disease.
By Craig Boerner
October 4, 2018

New center formed to treat, study ICU delirium, dementia

Millions of patients in intensive care units each year develop delirium during their hospitalization and often leave the hospital with cognitive deficits similar to those suffering from traumatic brain injury or mild Alzheimer’s disease.
By Nancy Humphrey