By Erica K. Salamida 

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and new research is offering encouraging news for people concerned about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. 

This summer, more than 13,000 researchers, clinicians, and dementia professionals gathered in London for the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Among the most promising findings were advances in reducing dementia risk, detecting Alzheimer’s disease earlier, and improving care for people living with the disease. 

Healthy Habits Can Make a Difference

One of the clearest messages is also one of the simplest: Healthy lifestyle choices may help protect the brain. A study of older adults in 11 Latin American countries found that a structured program of exercise, brain-healthy nutrition, cognitive activity, and regular health monitoring improved memory and thinking among people at risk for cognitive decline. Participants who also received coaching and peer support showed 55% greater improvement over two years than those in the self-guided program. The findings align with a similar U.S. study and suggest that these lifestyle changes can benefit people across different cultures and communities. 

Researchers are now building on the idea. The Alzheimer’s Association announced a $100 million commitment to a global clinical trial to examine whether combining healthy lifestyle changes with medications that target metabolism—including the class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy—might further reduce dementia risk. 

Blood Tests May Provide Earlier Answers

Another major area of progress is blood testing. Researchers studying a blood marker called p-tau217 found that it may help identify people at increased risk of cognitive decline years before symptoms appear. In another study in Sweden, primary care physicians using an Alzheimer’s blood test diagnosed the disease with 93% accuracy, compared with 65% without the test. Their accuracy approached the 94% achieved by specialists. For families who can spend months or even years seeking answers, a reliable blood test could eventually make diagnosis faster and more accessible. 

Helping People with Advanced Dementia

Researchers are also exploring ways to improve quality of life for people with later-stage dementia. Agitation—including restlessness, aggression, or emotional distress—can be especially challenging for patients and caregivers. In a Phase 2 clinical trial of 120 hospice-eligible participants, a combination of THC and CBD significantly reduced agitation, with 87% showing overall improvement in symptoms. While larger studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn about its broader use, the findings offer hope for improving comfort and care. 

Reasons for Hope

There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, but progress is occurring on many fronts—prevention, earlier detection, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. Some important steps can begin today: exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, stay mentally and socially active, and manage conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. 

For more information, visit https://www.alz.org, or join a local Walk to End Alzheimer’s event near you. 

Erica K. Salamida is the Director of Community Engagement for the Coalition of New York State Alzheimer’s Association chapters.