It’s been recognized for some time that Alzheimer’s disease affects brain regions differently and that tau — a protein known to misbehave — plays an important role in the disease. Brain areas like the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus succumb early to tau tangles, while other areas, like the primary sensory cortices, remain resilient to the disease. In the quest to better understand this selective vulnerability (SV) or resilience (SR) to Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have looked to gene association and transgenic studies to identify Alzheimer’s risk genes. But past research has not shown a clear link between the location of genetic risk factors and associated tau pathology. Now, a new study by UC San Francisco researchers has made a leap toward answering that question — by combining brain imaging, genetics, and advanced mathematical modeling into a powerful new lens. The study, published July 9 in Brain, shows multiple distinct pathways by which risk genes confer vulnerability or resilience in Alzheimer’s disease.

Based on the analysis of the genotypes of 500 volunteers, the research project aims to develop a panel of prognostic biomarkers and differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from other types of dementia using blood tests.

UCLA Health researchers have identified four distinct pathways that lead to Alzheimer's disease by analyzing electronic health records, offering new insights into how the condition develops over time rather than from isolated risk factors.

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS), including transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) and auricular (taVNS) modalities, has emerged as a promising neuromodulatory therapy for a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from over 80 studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and observational research, to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of nVNS in epilepsy, depression, stroke rehabilitation, headache disorders, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The review highlights the safety, accessibility, and potential of nVNS as a therapeutic alternative, while addressing challenges such as protocol variability and the need for standardized methodologies.