Brain Institute Halts Research; Parkinson’s Deaths Fall; Meet the ‘Dementia Rebels’

The White Plains, New York-based Burke Neurological Institute ceased research operations, citing funding problems, The Transmitter reported.

A global brain bank study illustrated how genetic variants were associated with Parkinson’s disease pathology: GBA1 carriers had greater Lewy body burden, while LRRK2 pathogenic variant carriers had a lower Lewy body burden and longer survival. (JAMA Neurology)

Parkinson’s mortality declined among older U.S. adults from 2021 to 2024, according to CDC data. (National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief)

Higher polygenic risk scores for high pulse pressure were associated with a greater risk of dementia-related death, an analysis of data from the REGARDS cohort showed. (Neurology)

Rehospitalizations did not account for the association between post-surgery delirium and cognitive decline, a study of older adults found. (JAMA Internal Medicine)

Hospital admission was not associated with mortality rates among older adults with dementia who visited an emergency department in a study of Medicare beneficiaries. (Annals of Internal Medicine)

Living in a rural U.S. area was associated with worse outcomes for epilepsy patients, a large retrospective cohort study showed. (Neurology)

Analyses in Sweden and France suggested that the rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis was largely due to longer survival, but the rising prevalence of motor neuron disease reflected a true incidence increase. Parkinson’s prevalence grew modestly, mostly independent of incidence. (Neurology)

Drugmaker Eisai and the nonprofit group CaringKind launched an initiative to provide dietary guidance for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

In a profile of “dementia rebels,” The Guardian examined how people with dementia are challenging stereotypes and demanding better access to medical support.