EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

In honor of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, we’re exploring the science and stories surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2026 22:16 ET (28-Oct-2026 02:16 GMT/UTC)

12-Aug-2026

Estrogen-only hormone therapy associated with lower risk of dementia

American Academy of Neurology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Use of hormone therapy later in life was associated with lower risk of developing dementia, according to a study published August 12, 2026, in Neurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Journal: Neurology

12-Aug-2026

Blood-thinning medication linked to slower cognitive decline

Karolinska Institutet
Peer-Reviewed Publication

People with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer’s disease who are treated with modern NOAC blood-thinning medicines may experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. This is shown by a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the European Heart Journal.

Journal: European Heart Journal

12-Aug-2026

Survey shows Americans want to start brain health habits earlier

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Reports and Proceedings

A survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found 60% of Americans want to prioritize brain health earlier in life but don’t know how.

Ohio State neurologist Douglas Scharre, MD, says regular exercise, quality sleep, healthy eating and strong social connections can help support long-term brain health.

The SAGE test can help detect early memory and thinking changes when treatment may be most effective.

11-Aug-2026

More than $1M in funding at UH College of Pharmacy to solve complex health challenges

University of Houston
Grant and Award Announcement

University of Houston College of Pharmacy researchers have secured more than $1 million in new funding to support three separate studies targeting sepsis, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and depression in patients with sickle cell disease.

11-Aug-2026

Sleep could help identify people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage

University of Liège
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team of scientists from the University of Liège (GIGA Neurosciences), supported by the Stop Alzheimer’s Foundation, has analysed the sleep patterns of more than 500 healthy people. Among middle-aged participants, a higher frequency of nocturnal micro-awakenings was found to be associated with a greater genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, whereas this link was not observed in young adults. This research, published in the journal Sleep, suggests that the study of sleep could, in the long term, contribute to the early identification of vulnerable individuals.

Journal: SLEEP

11-Aug-2026

Scientists uncover cellular mechanism driving both rare childhood dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

University of California - San Diego
Peer-Reviewed Publication

UC San Diego researchers have found a "genetic switch" triggering neurodegeneration in both a rare childhood dementia and Alzheimer's disease, pointing to new drug targets in the waste-processing system within the brain’s immune cells.

Journal: Immunity