Published Monday, 3 November -Issue #8
3 Quick Bites: Last Week in Dementia News
What to Know About the Buzzy New Alzheimer’s Pill
Men’s Health – 31 October 2025 • Read it here
Story
A new pill called Valiltramiprosate (also known as ALZ-801) is being promoted as a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s, targeting people with the APOE ε4 gene. The study, published in Drugs, claims the pill, taken twice daily, slowed cognitive decline by 52% and reduced brain memory area (hippocampus) shrinkage by 18% over 78 weeks, with mild side effects like nausea.
However, neurologists are highly critical, pointing out the drug initially showed no benefit over placebo, and the new results stem from re-analyzing a subgroup data , which they argue inflates the findings basically marketing spin disguised as scientific progress!
Why it matters
A pill to slow Alzheimer’s could be life-changing, potentially giving us more time with our loved ones living with dementia. But I’m furious that this so-called breakthrough seems like a marketing stunt, reinterpreting data to make it look better than it is.
My take
I’m angry at how these results are being framed. Re-analysing the same data and repackaging it as new is misleading. This isn’t transparency, it’s selective storytelling. Until full, peer-reviewed results show meaningful benefits for real people, it’s all noise.
Listening to Music Linked to 39 % Lower Dementia Risk
Forbes – 28 October 2025 • Read it here
Story
Researchers at Monash University followed more than 10,000 adults aged 70 and older and found that those who listened to music frequently had a 39 percent lower risk of developing dementia. Playing an instrument often showed a 35 percent reduction and doing both (listening and playing) cut dementia risk by 33%. The team believes music keeps multiple brain networks active, combining emotion, memory, movement, and attention, all key areas affected in dementia.
Why it matters
Unlike experimental drugs, this is something any family can act on. It reinforces what many caregivers already know, that music calms, connects, and stimulates. Even if listening doesn’t prevent dementia, (the study only shows a connection, not proof that music prevents dementia, and relies on self-reported data), it supports emotional wellbeing and social engagement, both proven to protect brain health.
My take
Music isn’t just background noise; it’s brain exercise. You don’t need a playlist full of classical tracks, just familiar songs that comfort or energise you are enough. Something as easy as playing music could help keep your mind sharper for longer.
Men’s Brains Shrink Faster with Age, Deepening an Alzheimer’s Mystery
PsyPost – 2 November 2025 • Read it here
Story
A major MRI analysis of more than 4,700 people found that men’s brains tend to shrink a bit faster with age compared to women’s, losing more volume in areas like total brain size and specific regions, even when accounting for men having larger heads naturally. But these differences are small, and in the memory area most tied to Alzheimer’s, called the hippocampus, there wasn’t a big difference between men and women, which means brain aging alone doesn’t explain why more women get Alzheimer’s.
Why it matters
It challenges the assumption that visible brain shrinkage explains who gets Alzheimer’s. So despite faster brain shrinkage in men, it doesn’t solve the puzzle of why women suffer more from Alzheimer’s. Risk appears to be influenced by a complex mix of genes, hormones, and how long we live, meaning prevention and care must go beyond brain scans and focus on the person as a whole.
My take
Brain scans tell part of the story but not the whole one. For caregivers, it’s a reminder that biology, lifestyle, and care environment all play a part. Whether male or female, what matters most is catching changes early, keeping minds active, and supporting emotional connection throughout ageing.
I hope you found something in here that helped breakdown dementia news for caregivers written by a former caregiver. Thanks for reading!