The NeurologyLive® dementia and Alzheimer disease clinical focus page provides information, podcasts, videos, and news about the latest FDA actions, clinical guideline updates, study and clinical trial findings, and interviews with physicians related to the care of patients with dementia and similar diseases, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer disease, and more.
September 1st 2025
Research reveals that increased sedentary time significantly impacts neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in older adults, especially those genetically at risk for Alzheimer’s.
Dementia Care Faces Lack of Safe and Effective Atypical Antipsychotic Treatment
March 22nd 2019Findings from a recent meta-analysis of the number of atypical antipsychotics available for treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia suggest that a clear trade-off exists between effectiveness and safety, with no clear winner emerging.
Blood-Based Signature Predicts Levels of Amyloid in CSF
March 14th 2019The research staff member at the IBM Research-Australia lab discussed how he and colleagues utilized machine learning to identify a set of proteins in blood that can predict the concentration of amyloid-beta in spinal fluid.
Head of NCI Ned Sharpless Named Acting FDA Commissioner
March 13th 2019Ned Sharpless, MD, the director of the National Cancer Institute, has been named to the position of acting FDA Commissioner. The announcement was made just a week after the current commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced his plans to resign in early April.
Addressing the Challenges in Determining Pediatric Brain Death
February 27th 2019The pediatric critical care medicine attending physician in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia spoke about how physicians can better address brain death in pediatric patients.
Antiepileptic Drugs Not Linked to an Increased Risk of Dementia
February 21st 2019AED use was not significantly associated with dementia risk in patients followed by general practitioners and neuropsychiatrists, however, the potential harmful effects of levetiracetam generic brands on cognition should be further investigated.
FDA Issues Warning About Misuse of Young Donor Plasma Infusions
February 19th 2019A joint statement from the FDA commissioner and the director of the agency’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research noted the product is being offered at a variety of establishments as a treatment for conditions for which its benefits are unproven.
FDA Issues Final Policy Framework for RMAT Designated Therapies
February 18th 2019The framework consists of 2 documents that expand on the agency’s plans for its risk-based approach for describing drugs, devices, and biologics, including those designated as regenerative medicine advanced therapies.
Drawing on Blood for Biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease
February 15th 2019The new funding initiatives and innovative programs to expedite research efforts could hasten the search for biomarkers of Alzheimer disease in the blood and, ultimately, open the door to easier, quicker, and more affordable diagnostic methods.
FDA Issues Warnings About Dietary Supplements Claiming to Treat, Cure Alzheimer Disease
February 11th 2019A number of warning and online advisory letters were issued to 17 companies selling almost 60 products claiming to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer disease, among a number of health conditions.