EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Alzheimer's Awareness Month

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

Amyloid PET quantitation and centiloid thresholds in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease

About The Study: In this individual participant data meta-analysis, positivity cutoffs converged around 18 Centiloids (data-driven) and 27 Centiloids (visual reads). Findings from a double-cutoff analysis suggest that scans in the 11 to 26 Centiloid range should be interpreted with caution depending on the context of use.

Journal: JAMA

13-Jul-2026

Global consortium launches AI tools to accelerate Alzheimer’s research, treatments

Washington University in St. Louis
Business Announcement

A global consortium co-founded by WashU Medicine and directed by neurologist Randall J. Bateman, MD, brings together members from academia, major pharmaceutical companies and philanthropic organizations. The consortium, C-BRAIN, is launching three open-source AI tools designed to accelerate Alzheimer’s research.

12-Jul-2026

Clinicopathologic evaluation of amyloid clearance in Alzheimer disease

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this case report, areas of extensive amyloid clearance after amyloid-targeting therapy were associated with less downstream neuropathologic change. In addition, amyloid clearance appears to preferentially occur in the gyral crests. Future studies should evaluate the differential mechanisms involved in amyloid clearance from superficial and deep cortical layers and in gyri and sulci because extensive amyloid clearance may be necessary to achieve downstream neuropathologic benefit after removal of amyloid.

Journal: JAMA

9-Jul-2026

Damaged myelin generates abnormal rhythms in the sleeping brain

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
Reports and Proceedings

Scientists have discovered how damage to the myelin sheath – the insulating layer around nerve fibres – affects brain activity during sleep. In research presented on Friday at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026, Dr Mohit Dubey described how electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in mice with damaged myelin showed electrical spikes, similar to those seen in patients with epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These spikes occurred only when the mice were asleep. The findings may have implications for patients with multiple sclerosis, AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Funder: ZonMw Memorable Dementia Fellowship
Meeting: FENS Forum 2026

9-Jul-2026

Brain-body connection: Expert shares tips to reduce risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease

Mayo Clinic

The same lifestyle choices that reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer also can reduce your risk of cognitive decline. Bryan Woodruff, M.D., a cognitive neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, explains the brain-body connection, lifestyle changes to foster brain health and why work to make earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is important.

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

Latest News Releases

Amyloid PET quantitation and centiloid thresholds in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease

Global consortium launches AI tools to accelerate Alzheimer’s research, treatments

Clinicopathologic evaluation of amyloid clearance in Alzheimer disease

Damaged myelin generates abnormal rhythms in the sleeping brain

Brain-body connection: Expert shares tips to reduce risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease

UCSF screens first patients in novel Alzheimer's trial