What's New

National Institute on Aging, Industry Launch Partnership, 60 Million Dollar Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

October 2004 -- NIA, in conjunction with other Federal agencies, private companies, and organizations today launched a $60 million, 5-year public-private partnership—the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative—to test whether serial magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, other biological markers, and clinical and neuropsychological assessment can be combined to measure the progression of mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s disease.  
 

Health, Retirement Needs Challenge an Aging America

September 28, 2004 -- NIA gathered eminent researchers on September 28 to discuss with journalists, “How can we prepare to meet the challenges of an aging population?”   
 

Synthetic Prion Causes Neurological Disease in Mice

July 29, 2004 -- Scientists have produced a prion protein that can trigger the development of a neurological disorder in mice that is similar to “mad cow” disease, according to a new study supported by NIA, a part of NIH.  
 

Vital Visionaries Program: "Serious Fun" That Improves Medical Students Attitudes Towards Older People

July 27, 2004 -- Creating art with older "teammates" made first-year medical students more sensitive to older people, according to results of the Vital Visionaries Collaboration, a pilot program developed by NIA in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.  
 

Donepezil May Have Short-Term Benefit for Mild Cognitive Impairment

July 18, 2004 -- People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) taking the drug donepezil were at reduced risk of progressing to Alzheimer's disease (AD) for the first 18 months of a 3-year study when compared with their counterparts on placebo, according to a presentation of preliminary data from a recently completed clinical trial supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.   
 

Mouse Brain Stem Cells Capable of Converting Into Blood Vessel Cells

July 15, 2004 -- Adult stem cells in the brains of mice possess a broader differentiation potential than previously thought and may be capable of developing into other cell types including those involved in the formation of new blood vessels, according to a new study supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health.   
 

Studies Suggest People With Early AD Can Still Learn

July 2, 2004 -- People who have early stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could be more capable of learning than previously thought, according to two new studies supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health.   
 

Underusing Medications Because of Cost May Lead to Adverse Health Outcomes

June 25, 2004 -- Middle-aged and older Americans with heart disease who cut back on their prescribed medications because of cost were 50% more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, or angina than those who did not report cost-related medication underuse, according to a new study funded in part by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.   
 

Estrogen-Alone Hormone Therapy Could Increase Risk of Dementia in Older Women

June 22, 2004 -- Older women using estrogen-alone hormone therapy could be at a slightly greater risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), than women who do not use any menopausal hormone therapy, according to a new report by scientists with the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS).  
 

“Imagination” Helps Older People Remember To Comply With Medical Advice

June 4, 2004 -- A healthy dose of “imagination” helps older people remember to take medications and follow other medical advice, according to a new study supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health.