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Newsweek: We don’t yet know what causes dementia, but scientists believe immune cells called microglia may play a role. Now, researchers have shed light on what these cells do in our bodies. Microglia are among the cells that populate the central nervous system and are responsible for protecting the brain and spine by eating up cellular debris and dead neurons. Scientists fear the build-up of brain plaque causes microglia to vacuum up neurons in a way that triggers neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. READ MORE
Fortune: The AARP, joined by a coalition of powerhouse partners like UnitedHealth Group (the country’s largest insurer) and Quest Diagnostics (the clinical diagnostics and lab testing giant), announced a combined $75 million investment between the three organizations meant to tackle the scourge of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. AARP’s personal investment was $60 million into a broader, $350 million collaboration called the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), as part of an effort to kick off its own “Disrupt Dementia” campaign. READ MORE
Everyday Health: Strains of a virus that most people acquire in childhood may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Research published June 21, 2018, in the scientific journal Neuron revealed that levels of two types of human herpes virus (HHV-6A and HHV-7) were twice as high in the brains of patients who died with Alzheimer’s disease compared with those who did not have the disease. READ MORE
Today.Com: While many typically think of spouses or siblings as caregivers to those with Alzheimer’s disease — which nearly 6 million Americans suffer from — a new report finds many millennials are now filling that role. NBC’s Maria Shriver speaks to two of these 20- and 30-somethings caring for their loved ones, and their plan to push legislature that funds care training. READ MORE
Reader's Digest: Everything from how you cook meat to what you eat for dessert can play a role in your brain health. Here, how to eat to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s. READ MORE