Sometimes doctors take samples of spinal fluid using a lumbar puncture, to help make a diagnosis of a form of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. Here, Dr Cath Mummery aims to answer your questions about lumbar punctures, what the procedure involves and why it is used. What is cerebrospinal fluid? Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, […]
As we take time today to celebrate International Women’s Day and the incredible women who are helping to #pressforprogress in research and science, we must also reflect on a hard reality – women are a marginalised majority when it comes to dementia. Not only are women far more likely to end up as carers of […]
You may have seen reports in today’s papers about a link between long-term alcohol misuse and risk of dementia. This study published in the Lancet found: That alcohol misuse is linked to an increased risk of dementia. That more than 57% of people who developed dementia before the age of 65 had at some point […]
You may have seen stories in the media that a nutritional drink can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by reducing brain shrinkage and improving memory, but what is this drink and what is the science behind these claims? What is the nutritional drink? The drink is called Souvenaid, which contains a special blend of essential fatty […]
Dementia affects many of us, with devastating effects on individuals, families and friends. While we currently lack effective treatments to prevent the condition, new research is constantly advancing and changing our understanding of the diseases which lead to it. Just last week we reported news of a study from the US reporting that women who […]
In awareness-raising messages about dementia, the spotlight typically rests on Alzheimer’s disease as the most common cause of dementia, helping people to learn more about the condition and working to break down the stigma that surrounds it. However, at Alzheimer’s Research UK, you’ll often see “the power to defeat dementia” next to our logo because […]
Coconut oil as a treatment for Alzheimer’s? It’s one of those claims that has rumbled on for a few years now, but so far research has been inconclusive so there’s little evidence to say it can be of any help. Companies selling nutritional drinks and making claims about their effects don’t count. And while anecdotes from […]
With each heartbeat, blood vessels deliver around 15% of your blood up into your brain. This energy-hungry organ can only keep going thanks to the constant supply of nutrients and oxygen that are carried to it in the blood. Hundreds of miles of arteries, veins and capillaries circulate blood around every inch of the brain. […]
As one of the world’s leading dementia charities, we take serious our role of communicating the impact of dementia on society, on families and, of course, the individual. While our scientists have a battle on their hands finding new ways to fight the disease processes behind dementia, there’s another battle to win in moving the […]
Hopefully you’ve had the chance to take a look at our thought-provoking new campaign film #sharetheorange featuring ARUK supporter Christopher Eccleston. Why have we taken this unusual approach to communication? And what’s with the orange? There’s a simple answer to the first question: if there’s one health issue that would benefit from different way of […]
