VA’s Office of Research and Development has highlighted significant research findings on Alzheimer’s disease, Veterans transitioning from nursing care, and pancreatic cancer.

Researchers at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center have developed a molecular compound that blocked the onset of Alzheimer’s and restored cognitive function in mouse models. They discovered that a drop in the enzyme NAD+ contributes to the disease’s progression. Their treatment restored NAD+ levels, suggesting that Alzheimer’s could be treatable by addressing brain energy balance.

A pilot program called “Nursing Home to Home” has helped Veterans transition from nursing homes back to their own homes, honoring their wishes while saving costs. This program assisted 24 Veterans, showing high satisfaction among participants and caregivers, with an average savings of $5,500 per Veteran each month compared to nursing home care.

In pancreatic cancer research, Kansas City VA scientists created a biodegradable nano-capsule to deliver the chemotherapy drug tunicamycin directly to cancer cells, minimizing toxicity. This method showed promise in reducing tumor growth and improving survival rates in mouse models, indicating a potential new first-line treatment for one of the deadliest cancers.