Latest news with #CentreforDiscoveryBrainSciences
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Weight loss jabs 'could lower risk of dementia', scientists find
A new study found weight loss injections may help reduce the risk of dementia and stroke in people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes Weight loss injections could potentially prevent dementia and stroke, a recent study suggests. The research also indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity who use these medications may have a lower risk of premature death. Academics note the benefits of drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight and blood sugar management are well-documented, but that other potential health benefits remain "unclear". The study involved Taiwanese experts analysing data from 60,000 global participants, averaging 58-years-old, all of whom had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Approximately half were administered GLP agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide – marketed as Wegovy and Mounjaro respectively. Semaglutide is also the primary component in the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic. GLP agonists can curb appetite, slow digestion, decrease liver-produced sugar, and stimulate insulin production when necessary. The remaining participants used alternative anti-diabetic drugs. Over a seven-year follow-up period, it was observed that those given the GLP agonist drugs seemed to have a 37% lower risk of dementia and a 19% reduced risk of stroke, reports Plymouth Live. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. Further analysis revealed even greater benefits among participants aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. And when researchers looked at the data further they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Reacting to the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.'
STV News
13 hours ago
- Health
- STV News
'People think my wife is drunk but she's living with a rare brain disease'
Glenn Stewart is a full-time carer to his wife Rona, who lives with progressive supranuclear palsy The little-known neurological condition is often mistaken for drunkenness as it causes people to lose their balance Scientists in Edinburgh say a recent study could mark a step forward in slowing the disease's progression They have examined how a crucial protein, called tau, spreads in the brain Glenn and Rona say more awareness of the condition is needed in Scotland An Edinburgh couple have welcomed new research into a rare and little-known neurological condition that is often mistaken for drunkenness. Glenn Stewart is a full-time carer to his wife Rona, who lives with progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP. Researchers say the condition is like a mixture of motor neurone disease and Alzheimer's, affecting around one in every 18,000 people. It cannot be cured but scientists at the University of Edinburgh believe they may be on the cusp of a breakthrough. Glenn and Rona have been together for over 50 years. They were high school sweethearts who built a life in Edinburgh. STV News Glenn and Rona Stewart have been together since high school. But when Rona began to fall regularly, it soon became clear something was seriously wrong. 'My balance is terrible,' Rona told STV News. 'I can't get up from the chair anymore. Glenn does everything. I sit and do nothing. It's horrendous, it's very frustrating.' Now Glenn is her full-time carer, helping Rona to the bathroom every half an hour. They face the same quiet battle daily – not just with the disease, but with how people perceive it. 'When she would fall in public, people just assumed she was drunk,' said Glenn. 'One time she fell backwards on the steps and broke her vertebrae. I wasn't there to catch her. 'It's one of those situations where people don't step in to help because they think it's something else. We need more awareness in Scotland. Most of the research is happening down south.' Supplied Glenn Stewart and his wife Rona. PSP is a degenerative brain condition that affects movement, balance, vision and speech. Researchers describe it as a cross between motor neurone disease and Alzheimer's. There is no cure but scientists at the University of Edinburgh say a recent study could mark a step forward in slowing the disease's progression. STV News Scientists in Edinburgh believe they may be on the cusp of a breakthrough. Thanks to brain tissue donations, researchers are now able to examine how a crucial protein, called tau, spreads in the brain. Its buildup is known to contribute to both PSP and Alzheimer's. Scientists examined synapses in donated post-mortem brain tissue samples from people who died with PSP. They found evidence of tau inside synaptic connections and its presence was linked to synapse death, suggesting the toxic protein was killing these connections. Tara Spires-Jones, professor of neurodegeneration and director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'We want to understand why synapses are dying and how tau moves from one part of the brain to another. 'Wherever tau goes, brain cells die. Age is the biggest risk factor and science is the only way to fight back.' The team hope their work could eventually lead to a treatment that slows PSP's march, giving patients more time and independence. It's a discovery that's come too late for Rona, but she and Glenn are determined to make the most of every moment together. 'We've been together for 56 years,' said Glenn. 'We love one another. That's what keeps us going.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Leader Live
a day ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Weight loss jab Mounjaro linked to lower dementia risk
Academics said the benefits of drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – including for managing weight and blood sugar levels – are well known, but other health benefits of the popular drugs remain 'unclear'. People with type 2 diabetes and obesity who are taking the drugs are also less likely to die prematurely, researchers found. The study saw experts from Taiwan examine date on 60,000 people from around the world, with an average age of 58, who had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Key differences between three weight-loss injections: Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. Around half were given GLP agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide – which are sold under the brand names Wegovy and Mounjaro. Semaglutide is also the main ingredient for the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. GLP agonists can reduce a person's appetite; slow down their digestion; reduce the amount of sugar the liver makes and they help the body to make more insulin when needed. The other half used other anti-diabetic medication. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: During a seven-year follow-up period, researchers found that people given the GLP agonist drugs appeared to have a 37% lower risk of dementia and a 19% reduced risk of stroke. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. And when researchers looked at the data further they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They found no differences in Parkinson's disease or brain bleeds. The academics said their findings suggest 'potential neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits' of the drugs but they called for more studies to confirm the findings. Recommended reading: 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Commenting on the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. 'It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.' Recommended reading: Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'It is well established that diabetes and obesity can increase your risk of developing dementia. 'This study supports existing evidence that shows these drugs may reduce dementia risk, particularly for people aged 60 and over who are living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'Although interesting, we can't draw conclusions from this study alone as it is an observational study, only a small number of people who took part went on to develop dementia and as the impact of these drugs on different types of dementia is not clear. 'There are clinical trials currently looking at whether drugs like these can be used to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease, so this is a really exciting area being explored in the research fight against dementia.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hidden health benefits from weight-loss shots revealed
Weight-loss injections, including popular drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, may offer a protective shield against serious conditions such as dementia and stroke, a new study has indicated. The research also suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity who are prescribed these medications could face a reduced risk of premature death. Academics behind the study noted that while the efficacy of GLP agonist drugs – such as semaglutide (found in Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) – in managing weight and blood sugar levels is widely recognised, their wider health benefits have remained less understood. The comprehensive study, conducted by experts in Taiwan, examined data from 60,000 people worldwide, with an average age of 58, all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Roughly half of the participants were given GLP agonist drugs. These medications function by curbing appetite, slowing digestion, reducing the liver's sugar output, and enhancing the body's insulin production when required. The other half used other anti-diabetic medication. During a seven-year follow-up period, researchers found that people given the GLP agonist drugs appeared to have a 37 per cent lower risk of dementia and a 19 per cent reduced risk of stroke. Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy are available on the NHS to obese patients They were also 30 per cent less likely to die during the follow-up period. When researchers looked at the data further, they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They found no differences in Parkinson's disease or brain bleeds. The academics said their findings suggest 'potential neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits' of the drugs but they called for more studies to confirm the findings. 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Commenting on the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. 'It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.'
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
Living human brain tissue used to mimic Alzheimer's in breakthrough study
Scientists have used living human brain tissue to mimic the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, in a breakthrough that will accelerate the hunt for a cure. In a world first, a British team successfully exposed healthy brain tissue from living NHS patients to a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer's – taken from patients who died from the disease – to show how it damages connections between brain cells in real time. The groundbreaking move offered a rare and powerful opportunity to see dementia developing in human brain cells. Experts said the new way of studying the disease could make it easier to test new drugs and boost the chances of finding ones that work. Dementia presents a big threat to health and social care systems across the world. The number of people affected is forecast to triple to nearly 153 million by 2050, which underlines why finding new ways to study the disease and speed up the search for treatments is a health priority. In the study, scientists and neurosurgeons in Edinburgh teamed up to show for the first time how a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer's, amyloid beta, can stick to and destroy vital connections between brain cells. Tiny fragments of healthy brain tissue were collected from cancer patients while they were undergoing routine surgery to remove tumours at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Living brain tissue cultures are placed inside an incubator set at 37C to mimic body temperature. Scientists dressed in scrubs were stationed in operating theatres alongside surgical teams, ready to receive the healthy brain tissue, which would otherwise have been discarded. Once the pieces of brain were retrieved, scientists put them in glass bottles filled with oxygenated artificial spinal fluid before jumping into taxis to transport the samples to their lab a few minutes away. 'We pretty much ran back to the lab,' said Dr Claire Durrant, a Race Against Dementia fellow and UK Dementia Research Institute emerging leader at the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. There, samples were sliced into thin pieces, less than a third of a millimetre thick, and laid out in small dishes. Each piece of living brain tissue was kept in a nutrient-rich liquid, inside an incubator at 37C to mimic body temperature. 'And then we start experiments almost straight away,' Durrant said. Fragments of human brain were kept alive in dishes for up to a fortnight, with the patient's permission. Researchers extracted the toxic form of amyloid beta from people who died from Alzheimer's disease and then applied it to the healthy living brain tissue in their dishes. 'We're trying to mimic Alzheimer's disease,' said Durrant. From left: Dr Claire Durrant, Sir James Dyson and Sir Jackie Stewart. Photograph: Douglas Robertson Unlike when exposed to a normal form of the protein, the brain did not attempt to repair damage caused by the toxic form of amyloid beta, her team found. Even small changes in natural levels of amyloid beta – increasing or decreasing – were enough to disrupt brain cells. This suggests that the brain requires a finely tuned sweet spot of the protein to function properly, Durrant said. 'Working alongside the neurosurgical team at the University of Edinburgh, we have shown that living human brain slices can be used to explore fundamental questions relating to Alzheimer's disease,' she said. Read More Scottish government wants drug possession to be legal skip past newsletter promotion Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion 'We believe this tool could help accelerate findings from the lab into patients, bringing us one step closer to a world free from the heartbreak of dementia.' The breakthrough will enable scientists to home in on drugs with the best chance of preventing the loss of synapses – connections that allow the flow of messages between brain cells and are vital to healthy brain function. Alzheimer's attacks synapses and their loss strongly predicts reduced memory and thinking abilities. Durrant's team also found that brain slices taken from the temporal lobe, a region known to be affected early in Alzheimer's, released higher levels of tau, another key disease protein. This may explain why this part of the brain is particularly vulnerable in early Alzheimer's, as increased tau release may enable toxic forms of this protein to spread faster between cells. The research was backed by Race Against Dementia, a charity formed by Sir Jackie Stewart after his wife's dementia diagnosis, and a £1m donation from the James Dyson Foundation, a charity supporting medical research and engineering education. Dyson said the breakthrough represented progress 'towards solving one of the most devastating problems of our time'. 'Working with brain surgeons and their consenting patients to collect samples of living human brain and keep them alive in the lab is a groundbreaking method,' he said. 'It allows researchers to better examine Alzheimer's disease on real human brain cells rather than relying on animal substitutes, such as mice.' Prof Tara Spires-Jones, group leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute, hailed the important development. Seeing early Alzheimer's in real-time provided a new tool for scientists to better understand the disease and how to treat it, she said. She said: 'The use of living human tissue samples generously donated by people undergoing surgery to remove brain tumours allows scientists to probe how living human brain reacts to toxic proteins produced in Alzheimer's, and in future will allow testing of whether new treatments are effective in human brain.'
