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: 30-Oct-2025 18:11 ET (30-Oct-2025 22:11 GMT/UTC)

New PET tracer delivers high-quality images of brain inflammation activity

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A newly developed PET radiotracer has shown the ability to produce high-quality images of real-time brain inflammation, according to research presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 Annual Meeting. By identifying activated immune cells in the brain, the tracer may pave the way for earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment of a range of neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and multiple sclerosis.

Journal: Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Meeting: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 Annual Meeting

International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine tackles trending health topics from ultra-processed foods to Ozempic in Washington, DC, Aug. 14-16

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Meeting Announcement

Are some ultra-processed foods good for you? Could diet change be better than Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss? What role does nutrition play in breast and prostate cancers, menopause, and Alzheimer’s disease? These are just a few of the trending nutrition topics that more than 25 of the world’s leading nutrition experts will examine at the 13th annual International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine from Aug. 14 to 16 in Washington, D.C.

Alzheimer’s protective mutation works by taming inflammation in the brain

Weill Cornell Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A rare gene mutation that delays Alzheimer’s disease does so by damping inflammatory signaling in brain-resident immune cells, according to a preclinical study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The finding adds to growing evidence that brain inflammation is a major driver of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s—and that it may be a key therapeutic target for these disorders.

Journal: Immunity

Simple blood test predicts cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients, new study shows

Beyond
Reports and Proceedings

While insulin resistance has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, its role in how quickly the condition progresses has received less attention. This study aimed to fill that gap by focusing on its impact during the prodromal mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage, when patients follow highly variable trajectories.

Meeting: European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025

Novel brain imaging platform combines upright PET and AR eye tracking to advance cognitive disorder research

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A cutting-edge brain imaging platform that integrates upright PET scanning, an augmented reality (AR) headset, and motion tracking enables researchers to study brain function in a more natural and dynamic way. Presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 Annual Meeting, the new system—called Motion-tracked Immersive functional PET (MIf-PET)—allows participants to sit upright and interact with immersive tasks during scans. This approach offers a more realistic view of brain activity and holds promise for earlier and more accurate detection of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Journal: Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Meeting: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 Annual Meeting

Alzheimer disease in breast cancer survivors

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This cohort study of breast cancer survivors found a lower risk of Alzheimer dementia (AD) compared with cancer-free controls, despite common concerns about cognitive decline after treatment. The findings suggest certain cancer treatments potentially have benefits for lower AD risk. Further research is needed to assess the long-term risk of AD in this population.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

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