A recent study conducted by UCL has identified poor navigation skills as a potential early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, well before other symptoms become apparent. Utilizing virtual reality, the research evaluated the spatial navigation abilities of 100 asymptomatic adults aged between 43 and 66. Those deemed at risk for Alzheimer’s demonstrated notable impairments in navigation, despite no issues in other cognitive areas. This significant discovery by Dr. Coco Newton and the team suggests that changes in navigation could be the earliest indicators of Alzheimer’s onset, offering hope for the development of a new diagnostic tool for early detection. The study, which also reported gender differences in navigation impairments being more pronounced in men, involved participants with a genetic predisposition or lifestyle factors that increased their risk for Alzheimer’s. Funded by the Alzheimer’s Society and an MSD research grant, their findings have been published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

In parallel, research from the British Heart Foundation conducted in Scotland has highlighted the severe risks kidney failure patients face in terms of heart attacks and strokes. Findings indicate that individuals with kidney failure are up to eight times more likely to suffer a heart attack and four times more likely to experience a stroke, compared to those without kidney issues. This elevated risk, which appears to be greater for women than for men, significantly impacts the mortality rate among this patient group. Despite a decrease in heart attack and stroke rates among kidney failure patients over the last two decades, their risk in comparison to the general population has increased. The study suggests that employing simple, cost-effective treatment strategies, such as dual anti-platelet drugs, could markedly improve survival rates for these patients. David McColgan, Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland, has called for further research to address and mitigate the heightened risk facing kidney failure patients, emphasizing the importance of advancing care for heart and circulatory diseases within this vulnerable demographic.