Published Monday, 29 September 2025 -Issue #3
Dementia News & research moves fast. But caregivers don’t need more noise, we need clarity, relevance, and real ideas we can act on. Each week, I share three dementia research news stories with one goal: make sense of what matters for real families living with dementia now or in the future.
3 Quick Bites: Last Week in Dementia News
1. New Protein Map Reveals Fresh Clues to Unlock Alzheimer’s Mechanisms
Mount Sinai News Release -25 Sept 2025 • Read it here
Story: Researchers studied the brains of over 200 people who had Alzheimer’s after they passed away. They discovered that proteins, the tiny building blocks that keep the brain working,were breaking down, especially in the support cells that help communication between brain cells. The scientists made a map of how these proteins interact and found one major player, AHNAK, that is highly involved in how the disease progresses.
In lab experiments, they found that lowering this protein improved brain activity. This points to AHNAK as a potential target for treatments.
Why it matters:
Shifts the focus beyond plaques and tangles. This study shows it’s actually about much broader problems in the brain’s communication system.
The discovery of AHNAK and over 300 other key proteins may help us understand why your loved one’s brain changes the way it does.
This research also looked at unique differences in how men and women experience Alzheimer’s, as well as how your genes (like APOE) impact what’s happening inside the brain. This may lead to more personalized Alzheimer’s therapies.
Takeaway:
Alzheimer’s research is progressing toward understanding how networks of proteins break down, not just isolated pieces like amyloid plaques. This study offers fresh clues for therapies but is still in early stages, limited to lab experiments. The fact that researchers are sharing their data with the world means that this discovery could speed up new therapies for your loved ones.
2. Could Cycling Really Help Prevent Dementia?
Cycling Weekly -24 Sept 2025 • Read it here
Story: A large study (nearly half a million participants, followed for 13 years) looked at how different everyday travel choices, like walking, driving, or cycling, relate to brain health and dementia risk.
People who cycled (or combined cycling with other modes of travel) had a noticeably lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s and even young-onset dementia. They also showed healthier brain structure, such as a larger hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps with memory.
Why it matters:
It highlights that movement built into daily life can matter as much as planned exercise. Choosing to cycle, even short trips, may support long-term brain health. Walking alone didn’t show the same benefit. Driving also appeared more supportive of brain health than relying only on public transport.
My take:
You don’t need an Olympics training plan. But the benefit seemed strongest when the activity involved more effort or cognitive engagement, like riding a bike whilst navigating routes.
Takeaway:
For caregivers, this reinforces the value of everyday movement that combines both body and mind, whether it’s cycling, adapted exercise, or activities that challenge coordination and focus. This research suggests that encouraging loved ones to keep up with active, engaging forms of movement, cycling or activities that combine physical effort and mental focus, could help protect brain health
3. Alcohol and Dementia: Even ‘Moderate’ Drinking Carries Risk
BMJ Group -23 Sept 2025 • Read it here
Story: A new Oxford, Yale and Cambridge led study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, found that any amount of alcohol, even within the current UK guidelines, increases dementia risk. They combined data from over half a million people in the US and UK, and then layered in genetic analysis from more than 2 million individuals
Why it matters:
For years, “a glass of wine a night”, especially red wine, was seen as harmless, even healthy. But this study is clear: the lower the alcohol intake, the lower the risk. There was no safe threshold. People who were in the early stages of dementia often cut back on alcohol as their health declined. This “reverse causation” made it look like moderate drinking was protective, when in reality it was dementia reducing alcohol use.
My take:
Many people use a drink as a way to decompress. But the better option is recognising that even small shifts, fewer drinks per week, alcohol-free days, could protect your brain long-term and possibly reduce your dementia risk. For those with dementia already, avoiding alcohol altogether might be a safer choice.
Takeaway:
Think less about cutting everything out and more about making small changes. Try switching out a few drinks for non-alcoholic options, or setting a weekly limit. For families already touched by dementia, this research also clears up confusion. If your loved one doesn’t drink, or has had to stop because of health changes, you don’t need to feel they’re missing out on some “protective” benefit. The science shows it was never real protection to begin with.
Why I Write This
I’ve been where you are. Lost in news that feels more confusing than helpful. I’m hoping these research updates become useful for you. They’re the things I wish someone had broken down for me while I was caring for my mum. If one line here gave you something to reflect on, then it’s worth it.
Found it useful?
This is your weekly dose of dementia research in plain English. Share it with a friend or read the blog version here:
https://dementiawho.com/memory-matters-weekly-3/
Kat @dementiawho