Diagnosis and Treatment
Texas Public Radio: Diagnosing CTE before death
December 4, 2024
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a rare neurodegenerative disease that develops in people who have many years of hits to the head. We often hear about CTE in former football players, but it can also occur in rodeo riders, soldiers, or someone who has experienced years of intimate partner violence. According to Jeremy Tanner, MD, assistant […]
UT Health San Antonio finds higher levels of leptin indicate brain protection against late-life dementia
September 23, 2024
New research is more closely linking obesity to dementia. Higher levels of leptin, a hormone that helps maintain normal body weight, is associated with better signal-transmitting brain white matter in middle-aged adults, according to a study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). “The findings support the […]
UT Health San Antonio finds genetic risk-factor overlap between Alzheimer’s disease, and all-cause and vascular dementias
September 23, 2024
Researchers achieve largest-ever genome-wide association study of its kind In landmark research, scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) have reported the largest-ever genome-wide association study of dementia from all causes, revealing an overlap of genetic risks including neurodegeneration, vascular factors and cerebral small-vessel disease. Genome-wide […]
KRGV-TV: Medical Breakthroughs: New device helping patients diagnosed with dystonia
September 3, 2024
Okeanis Vaou, MD, associate professor and chief of the movement disorders division in the Department of Neurology, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, is featured in this KRGV-TV report about the university’s doctors implanting the first rechargeable, sensing deep brain stimulation […]
Antiretroviral drug used to prevent HIV or hepatitis B shows promise for Alzheimer’s disease treatment in early clinical trials
August 7, 2024
A pilot study led by scientists from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) shows promise for people with mild cognitive changes treated with lamivudine, a Food and Drug Administration-approved antiretroviral drug. The study reveals significant improvement in neurodegeneration and inflammation. Lamivudine is an antiviral medicine that prevents […]
Antiretroviral drug shows potential for Alzheimer’s disease treatment in early clinical trials
July 31, 2024
Scientists from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also known as UT Health San Antonio, led a pilot study of the Food and Drug Administration-approved antiretroviral drug lamivudine, to determine if it could be a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Almost half of what makes up the human genome are mysterious […]
Texas Public Radio: New Alzheimer’s drug will be available to San Antonio patients but is not suitable for all
July 12, 2024
The Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio will soon offer Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment patients the new FDA-approved medication, donanemab, to slow cognitive decline. However, the cost and the drug being administered intravenously means it may not be easily accessible for all patients. Sudha Seshadri, MD, director of […]
Research finds causal evidence tying cerebral small-vessel disease to Alzheimer’s, dementia
June 21, 2024
Research led by in part by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) finds that the most common cerebral small-vessel disease feature seen in brain magnetic resonance imaging is a primary vascular factor associated with dementia risk. Results of the major international study emphasize the significance of that […]
Texas Public Radio: Fighting Alzheimer’s at the eye doctor
April 2, 2024
Margaret Flanagan, MD, is a neuropathologist at the Biggs Institute — an expert in brain tissue and how it changes in the presence of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Dr. Flanagan is working on a test to help detect dementia early at the eye doctor’s office. Listen here to learn more: Science & Medicine: Fighting Alzheimer’s at the […]
Studying a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease in those with Down syndrome
March 21, 2024
How the connection of Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease could be the start to a vaccine against Alzheimer’s. Significant levels of amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles in the brain are classic hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. These precursors are also prevalent in the understudied population of those with Down syndrome. Although nearly all people […]