A study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge has suggested that current generations may have a lower risk of dementia than those born in earlier years. The results are part of the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS), a large UK-based study of health and cognition in older people.

Scientists in Italy have studied patient records of more than 200,000 people and revealed that those with Alzheimer’s have a lower risk of cancer and vice versa.

Birmingham City University researchers have worked together with colleagues in China to study structural changes in the brains of people with early memory and thinking problems, detecting distinct changes in those at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

New research from the US has linked activities such as reading and writing to a slower rate of cognitive decline in old age.

US scientists have found that a new molecule, called MW108, may hold potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Doctors in the US have found that people with a history of some types of skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study is published on Wednesday 15 May in the journal Neurology online.

Researchers at the UK Health Forum in London have warned that rising levels of obesity in the UK could contribute to a huge dementia burden over the coming decades, costing the economy around £41bn a year by 2050. The research is presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), taking place in Liverpool on 12-15 May.

Researchers in Australia have taken steps towards a blood test that could be used to indicate high levels of the hallmark Alzheimer’s protein, amyloid, in the brain. The findings could lead the way towards a low-cost test to identify those at risk of developing the disease. The research is published on 30 April in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

A team of US scientists has identified a critical time window of 15 years where treatments targeting the hallmark Alzheimer’s protein amyloid might have a greater effect. The study, published in Neurology, adds to evidence that early treatment in the diseases that cause dementia holds real hope for checking their destructive course.

A new drug aimed at preventing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease has been created by scientists at Lancaster University. It’s hoped the research, which was funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, could eventually lead to clinical trials to test the compound in people. The study is published in the journal PLoS ONE.