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Senior Journal
Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, Dementia and Mental Health
Today's Dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinson's and Mental Health News for Senior Citizens
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Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Most Senior Citizens Would Agree to Family Placing
Them in Alzheimer’s Research
Uncertainty among state government’s has caused
widespread confusion for three decades
 Jan. 14, 2009 - By the time they have been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, many patients’ decision-making
ability is so impaired that they cannot give informed consent to
participate in research studies. Close family members are left with the
decision, but there is no clear policy for this so-called “surrogate”
consent. Because of that, research about the increasingly common disease
is often stalled.
Read
more...
Old Gastrointestinal Drug Slows Aging, May Alleviate
Alzheimer’s Disease
Clioquinol can reverse the progression of
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases in animal studies
Jan. 7, 2009 - Recent animal studies have shown
that clioquinol – an 80-year old drug once used to treat diarrhea and
other gastrointestinal disorders – can reverse the progression of
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Scientists, however,
had a variety of theories to attempt to explain how a single compound
could have such similar effects on three unrelated neurodegenerative
disorders.
Read
more...
Seniors, Other Parkinson Patients Gain from Deep
Brain Stimulation but Take Serious Risk
Few previous randomized trials comparing treatments,
most excluded senior citizens
| |
 Study
participant Richard Seeger tells his experience in video |
|
Jan. 7, 2009 - Patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) – 25
percent of them age 70 or older - who received deep brain stimulation
treatment had more improvement in movement skills and quality of life
after six months than patients who received other medical therapy, but
they also had a higher risk of a serious adverse event, according to a
study in today’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA).
Read
more...
Mental Deficits Appear Early in Diabetes Patients;
Last Into Old Age
 Confirms previous reports that diabetes impairs
mental process
Jan 5, 2009 - Adults with diabetes experience a
slowdown in several types of mental processing, which appears early in
the disease and persists into old age, according to new research. Given
the sharp rise in new cases of diabetes, this finding means that more
adults may soon be living with mild but lasting deficits in their
thought processes.
Read more...
Two Cardiovascular Proteins Pose a Double Whammy in
Alzheimer's Disease
Fuel AD by reducing blood flow to brain, slowing
rate of amyloid beta removal
 Dec. 22, 2008 - Scientists were surprised at their
discovery that puts two proteins known for their role in the
cardiovascular system front and center in the development of Alzheimer's
disease. The two proteins which work in tandem in the brain's blood
vessels present a double whammy in AD. Not only do the proteins lessen
blood flow in the brain, but they also reduce the rate at which the
brain is able to remove amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in
toxic quantities in the brains of patients with the disease.
Read
more...
Mental Confusion in Elderly May Be Due to High Blood
Pressure Rather than Aging Brain
Stressful situations may make it
more difficult for some seniors to think clearly
Dec. 15, 2008 – When struggling with a memory lapse
or mental confusion, most senior citizens are quick to blame it on their
“aging brain.” A new study, however, says seniors should not jump to
conclusions. The mental challenge may be due to high blood pressure.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Foundation Calls for Congressional
Policy on Dementia Screening
New report ‘shatters unsubstantiated criticism’ and
emphasizes safety and cost-effectiveness of screening
 Dec. 9, 2008 - As the nation faces a public health
crisis related to Alzheimer's disease, a new report released today by
the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) disputes an ongoing
controversy over the value and utilization of memory screenings. The
report, according to AFA, “shatters unsubstantiated criticism and
instead emphasizes the safety and cost-effectiveness of these tools and
calls on Congress to develop a national dementia screening policy.”
Read more...
Dementia Delayed by Mixing Taiji, Gigong, Cognitive
Therapy and Support Groups
Researchers are discovering multi-disciplinary
approaches have the most promise in treating people with dementia
Dec.
5, 2008 - Those diagnosed with early stage dementia can slow their
physical, mental and psychological decline by taking part in therapeutic
programs that combine counseling, support groups, Taiji and qigong,
researchers report. Some of the benefits of this approach are comparable
to those achieved with anti-dementia medications.
Read
more...links to other associated stories
Studies on How to Keep an Aging Mind Healthy are
Pointing to Three Key Steps
It’s not a stretch to think we may begin hiring brain
coaches in addition to physical fitness trainers
Dec. 2, 2008 - Think of it as a recipe for brain
boosting: Researchers are beginning to believe in a three-pronged
strategy for keeping a mental edge and retaining memory. It is the 1-2-3
of maintaining a health mind, according to a specialist in cognitive
aging. Read
more...
Elderly with Depression Tend to Develop Pot Bellies
but Little Fat Elsewhere
 Depressive
symptoms are associated with fat gain in the
visceral region: could help explain why depression is often followed by
diabetes or cardiovascular disease
Dec. 1, 2008 - Older adults in their seventies with
symptoms of depression appear more likely to “pot bellies” (abdominal
fat), but not overall fat, over a five-year study period, according to a
report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read
More...
Common Epilepsy Drug Found to Reduce Plaque
Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Small clinical trial with humans has begun, could
lead to major new treatment of AD
Oct. 27, 2008 – An honored and experienced
Alzheimer’s researcher released a study today showing a common drug used
to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder – Valproic Acid (VPA) – can
reduce brain plaque in mice with Alzheimer's disease and prevent brain
cell death.
Read
more...
Forgetting an Appointment or Name of Friend is Not
Necessarily the Beginning of Dementia
Maybe there are just too many things to remember for
the size of your brain
Oct. 8, 2008 – Most older
people that
occasionally struggle to remember the name of a friend or totally forget
an appointment are quick to conclude this embarrassment is caused by
aging - the early signs of dementia. They may be wrong, according to a
study published yesterday in Neurology, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology, which finds this happens to people without
dementia, too.
Read
more...
Death from Depression Growing Concern: Now Linked to
More Deaths Among Older Diabetics
 Patients with both diabetes and depression had
increased risk of about 36% to 38% of dying from any cause
Oct. 1, 2008 – Depression is rapidly becoming the
suspect in many deaths, particularly among older people, who are
suffering with a severe physical malady. There was a call just this week
for all heart patients to be tested for depression and, today, a new
study finds depression associated with a higher death rate among
Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
Read
more...
Mental Health, Alzheimer's, Dementia
Heart Patients Should be Screened and Treated for
Depression, Says Heart Association
No evidence that treating depression improves
coronary heart disease outcomes, but plenty shows depression worsens
outcomes
Sept.
30, 2008 - Heart patients should be screened for depression - a common
condition that can profoundly affect both prognosis and quality of life
- according to the American Heart Association's first scientific
statement on depression and coronary heart disease. The statement was
published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Monitoring the Brain’s Memory-Making Cells
Exactly how memories are recorded and recalled
remains a mystery but they are often processed and retrieved by the
hippocampus
By Vicki Contie, National Institutes of Health
Sept.
22, 2008 - The brain cells that fire when a person watches a brief film
clip are triggered again when the person thinks back on that imagery a
few minutes later, a new study shows. The research offers insights into
how the brain summons up past experiences and may also provide clues to
brain disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, that harm short-term memory.
Read more...
Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease Found to Slow
Cognitive Decline: Benefits Last Years
‘The results of this study should change the way we
treat patients with Alzheimer's disease’ - treatment might even protect
brain cells from further damage
Sept.
22, 2008 – In what some may call a “game changing” discovery,
researchers report today their testing shows that the advance of
Alzheimer’s disease can be significantly slowed by the extended
treatment with available drugs. They have also found a combination
therapy with two different classes of drugs is even better at helping
patients maintain their ability to perform daily activities.
Read more...
First Study Using Exercise to Slow Cognitive Decline
in Older Americans Finds Success
Slowing Alzheimer’s by a year could prevent 9.2
million cases, as world prepares for 106 million victims by 2050
Sept.
2, 2008 – A study to be reported in the Journal of the American Medical
Association tomorrow says testing of older Americans with memory
problems, who participated in a home-based physical activity program,
shows they experienced modest improvement in cognitive function.
Read
more...
Physical Activity Slows the Progress of Parkinson’s
in Study
U. of Michigan programs promote strengthening and
conditioning of patients
Aug.
11, 2008 - Parkinson’s, another of those diseases that primarily
strike senior citizens, is known as a disease that causes the
progressive decline of physical and cognitive function, but recent
research suggests that regular exercise may impede the progression of
this incurable disease.
Read
more...
Senior Citizens Reduce the Risk of Dementia by 50
Percent by Taking Statins, Says Study
Disputing previous study, this one says Cholesterol
drug lowered the risk of dementia in all study participants, but most
impact on high risk group with metabolic syndrome
July 28, 2008 - People at high risk for dementia –
in this study, older Mexican-Americans - who took cholesterol-lowering
statins are half as likely to develop dementia as those who do not take
statins, a new study shows. These results challenge a 2005 study that
reported statins did not reduce the risk of dementia in older people
(See link in sidebar).
Read
more...
Mayo Clinic Finds More Seniors With Mild Cognitive
Impairment Than Assumed
Another study finds help for these pre-Alzheimer's
patients; another finds diabetes treatment seems to fight brain-damaging
plaque associated with AD
July
29, 2008 – Mayo Clinic researches have found more cases of mild
cognitive impairment among older senior citizens than expected, but the
good news from another study reports a compound called AL-108 appears to
improve memory for these MCI patients. There was also good news on
reducing the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s with insulin and
anti-diabetes medicine. The studies were among those presented yesterday
at the 2008 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (ICAD 2008)
in Chicago.
Read more...
Senior Citizens with Problem Processing Sounds More
Likely to Have Dementia
Central auditory processing tests were significantly
lower in the group with dementia
July 22, 2008 - Mild memory impairment may be
associated with central auditory processing dysfunction, or difficulty
hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as hearing a
single conversation amid several other conversations, according to a
report in the July issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck
Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Tweaking Score on Dementia Test Improves Risk
Assessment for Educated Senior Citizens
Mini-mental state examination cut score of 27 changed
the sensitivity to 89%, specificity to 78%, correctly classifying
90 percent of the participants
July 14, 2008 – Changing the score necessary to be
found at high risk of dementia on the most commonly administered
screening test of cognitive function, known as the mini-mental state
examination (MMSE), may improve the effectiveness when testing highly
educated older adults, according to a report in the July issue of
Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Women Much More Likely Than Men to Have Dementia
Among Those Age 90 Plus
Findings from 90+ Study suggest changes are
needed to provide adequate healthcare resources for the 'oldest old'
July
3, 2008 - Women over 90 are significantly more likely to have dementia
than men of the same age, according UC Irvine researchers involved with
the 90+ Study, one of the nation’s largest studies of dementia
and other health factors in the fastest-growing age demographic.
Read more...
Older Adults with Diabetes Experience Memory
Declines Immediately after Unhealthy Meal
Can be offset by taking antioxidant vitamins with
meal, but healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is best defense
June
26, 2008 – Older adults with type 2 diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat
meals may experience memory declines immediately afterward, according to
new research. But, the study found this can be offset by taking
antioxidant vitamins with the meal.
Read more...
Those Treating Diabetes More Likely Get Depressed
Than Those Who Ignore It
Research also suggests possibility of depression
increasing risk of type 2 diabetes
June 17, 2008 – Researchers have found a link, or maybe
two, between type 2 diabetes and depression. It is not too surprising
that they found people with treated type 2 diabetes are at increased
risk for developing depression. It is surprising, however, that those
not treating their diabetes are less likely to get depressed. More
surprising is a modest association between persons with depression and
the risk of developing diabetes.
Read
more...
Adding Bright Light in Long-Term Care Setting Seems
to Improve Dementia in Elderly
Adding melatonin also helps these senior citizens
sleep better
June 10, 2008 - The use of daytime bright lighting
to improve the circadian rhythm of elderly persons resulted in modest
improvement in symptoms of dementia, and the addition of melatonin
resulted in improved sleep, according to a study in the June 11 issue of
the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Read more...
Middle-Age Smokers Have Worse Memory Than
Non-Smokers but Many Die Before Final Test
Those that stopped smoking also experienced more
improvement in health habits, such as drinking less alcohol, being more
physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables
June
9, 2008 – The researchers found it difficult to gather research on
middle-age smokers as they age because, for one thing, so many died.
They also appeared to be reluctant to return to have their memory and
cognitive ability tested. Nevertheless, the research has concluded that
smoking does appear to cause an increased risk of poor memory among
those in their middle years – younger boomers, basically.
Read
more...
Aging News & Information
Study of Former World’s Oldest Woman Proves Dementia
Not Inevitable with Aging
Woman, 115, had normal brain and remained mentally
alert throughout life
June 9, 2008 – The theory that proposes dementia is
an inevitable result of a long life was refuted by a reality test
reported in the August issue of Neurobiology of Aging. Researchers that
interviewed the world’s oldest living person and examined her brain
after death have found she had a normal brain with little or no evidence
of Alzheimer’s disease, and say she remained mentally alert throughout
her life. Read
more....
New Evidence that Active Social Life Delays Memory Loss for Elderly
Seniors with highest social activity had the slowest
rate of memory decline
June 4, 2008 – The evidence from respected
researchers continues to mount showing that senior citizens can preserve
their memory and cognitive abilities longer if they keep their minds and
bodies active. The latest is a new study by Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) researchers providing evidence that elderly people in the
U.S. who have an active social life have a slower rate of memory
decline. Read
more...
Antipsychotic Drugs Appear to be Potential Killers
for Senior Citizens with Dementia
They are frequently prescribed around the time of
nursing home admission
May 27, 2008 - Older adults with dementia who
receive short-term treatment with antipsychotic medications are more
likely to be hospitalized or die than those who do not take the drugs,
according to a report in the May 26 issue of Archives of Internal
Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read
more...
Justice O'Connor, Newt Gingrich Draw Aging Committee
Focus to Fight Against Alzheimer's
Both testify at Senate hearing as members of
Alzheimer's Study Group
May
14, 2008 - Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and former
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich were the
headliners today at a hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging
on Alzheimer's disease. Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) opened the hearing by
declaring AD a "growing national crisis" that America must "commit to
addressing."
Read more...
Senior Citizens With Most Education Live Longer
Without Cognitive Loss but Die Faster
As education levels increase, time with cognitive
impairment declines
May 12, 2008 - Those with at least a high school
education spend more of their older years without cognitive loss –
including the effects of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia -- but
die sooner after the loss becomes apparent, reveals a new study
appearing in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Aging and Health.
Read more...
Obesity Clearly Linked to Dementia But Risk Also
Found to Increase if Underweight
Obesity increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by
80 percent
May 7, 2008 - Obesity may increase adults’ risk for
having dementia, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health. Their analysis of published obesity and
dementia prospective follow-up studies over the past two decades shows a
consistent relationship between the two diseases.
Read more...
How Diabetes Links to Alzheimer's Found in Salk
Institute Study
Recent studies show diabetics have a 30 to 65% higher
risk of Alzheimer’s
April 30, 2008 – Recent studies have consistently
associated diabetes with a significantly higher risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease but the actual molecular connection between the two
has been a mystery. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute for
Biological Studies report they have identified the probable molecular
basis for the diabetes – Alzheimer’s interaction.
Read more...
Senior Dementia Patients in Nursing Homes See Faster
Decline if Given Incontinence Drugs
Significant problem because about 33% with dementia also take a drug for incontinence
April 30, 2008 – Older nursing home residents who
took medications for dementia and incontinence at the same time had a 50
percent faster decline in function than those who were being treated
only for dementia, according to a study from researchers at Wake Forest
University School of Medicine and colleagues.
Read more...
Parkinson's Community Steps Out to Find a Cure at
the 14th Annual Parkinson's Unity Walk
Second most common chronic neurological disorder in
senior citizens after Alzheimer's
April 23, 2008 - The Parkinson's disease community
will unite on Saturday April 26, in New York City's Central Park, in an
effort to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's disease research.
The 14th annual Parkinson's Unity Walk, a two-mile walk and educational
community day, will provide an opportunity to celebrate the more than
one million Americans - primarily senior citizens - that, along with
their friends and families, fight this condition everyday.
Read
more....
Diabetes
in Mid-Life Linked to Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease as Seniors
Follows study saying diabetes is one-third of risk
for dementia in senior citizens
April
10, 2008 – Men who develop diabetes in mid-life appear to significantly
increase their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a
long-term study published in the April 9, 2008, online issue of
Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Another study reported yesterday in SeniorJournal.com indicates that
diabetes accounts for one-third of the risk for dementia.
Read
more...
Small
Vessel Injury from Hypertension or Diabetes May Lead to Dementia
One-third of risk for dementia attributed to small
vessel disease in autopsy study
April
9, 2008 – A large autopsy study of senior citizens who had lived in the
Seattle area has found that as many as one-third of those who had
dementia before they died also had small vessel damage in their brains –
the type of cumulative injury that can result from hypertension or
diabetes. The researchers say it suggests this accounts for a third of
the risk for dementia.
Read
more...
Rush Researcher Continues to Prove Depression is
Alzheimer's Risk Factor
Latest of multi-year studies says depression does not
increase in early dementia
By
Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher
April 8, 2008 – Different looks at the same study
group with the same Alzheimer's question has been producing the same
result for years and seems to grab headlines every time. The finding is
that depression is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, not a result
of the disease. Dr. Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., of Rush University Medical
Center, Chicago, lead author of the study, has come to this conclusion
repeatedly for years.
Read more...
Parkinson’s Patients Play Nintendo to Test Occupational Therapy
Foul ball and improved walking ability brings a cheer
for Ingrid Bell
April 7, 2008 - It’s Ingrid Bell’s turn at bat. She
steps up to the plate, awaiting the pitch. A 70-mph fastball soars
toward her. She swings and connects with the ball. Foul ball! Everyone
cheers for her anyway.
Read
more...
Pittsburgh Compound-B Confirmed in Identifying
Alzheimer’s Brain Toxins
Significant step in enabling a definitive diagnosis
of Alzheimer’s in living patients
March 26, 2008 – A new study confirms that
Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) binds to the telltale beta-amyloid deposits
found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The finding by
University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s disease researchers is a
significant step toward enabling clinicians to provide a definitive
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in living patients.
Read
more...
Five Million Senior Citizens With Alzheimer’s, 10
Million Baby Boomers to Join Them
New report by Alzheimer’s Association says disease to
hit 1 of 8 boomers
March 18, 2008 – While many of the diseases that
strike senior citizens are declining, the most feared – Alzheimer’s
Disease – is increasing at an accelerating rate, according to the latest
report on the disease released today by the Alzheimer’s Association.
About five million elderly have the disease now, the organization says,
but it projects 10 million Baby Boomers will join these dreaded ranks in
the U.S.
Read more...
Broken Switch in Aging Brain May Cause the Darkness
of Alzheimer’s
Paradoxical Alzheimer's finding may shed new light
on memory loss
March 13, 2008 – Do you remember the seventh song
that played on your radio on the way to work yesterday? Most of people
don’t, even if they are not senior citizens, thanks to a normal
forgetting process that is constantly “cleaning house” – culling
inconsequential information from our brains. Researchers at the Buck
Institute now believe that this normal memory loss is hyper-activated in
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and that this effect is key to the profound
memory loss associated with the incurable neurodegenerative disorder.
Read more...
Senior Citizens’ Greatest Fear – Alzheimer’s – More
Likely if Both Parents Have It
Risk of AD increased with age – affected 31% of
those over age 60
March 10, 2008 - When it comes to disease, most
Americans fear cancer the most, but not senior citizens. Many older
people have witnessed the damage of brain-killing Alzheimer’s Disease in
a friend or relative and it has become their number one fear. New
research out today says adults whose parents - both parents - are AD
victims appear to have as high as almost four times the risk of
developing the disease.
Read
more...
Depression Raises Risk of Death for Heart Attack
Victims for Years After Attack
Only about 25 to 30% of these patients receive
antidepressant drugs, treatment
By Jim Dryden
March 3, 2008 -- Depressed heart attack patients
have a higher risk for sudden death in the months following a heart
attack. Now a team led by researchers from Washington University School
of Medicine in St. Louis has found that the risk continues for many
years.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Men Get Depressed from Low Free
Testosterone Level
Testosterone supplement may contribute to successful
treatment
March 3, 2008 – Women have a greater tendency than
men to become depressed – at least until the members of both sex become
senior citizens. At age 65 men catch up with women and scientists have
long suspected it has something to do with testosterone. A new study
pins the cause clearly on lower levels of free testosterone.
Read
more...
Antibiotic Use for Dying Nursing Home Patients with
Advanced Dementia Raises Questions
Frequent use two weeks before death may
endanger other patients
Feb. 25, 2008 - Antibiotics appear to be frequently
prescribed to individuals with advanced dementia in nursing homes,
especially in the two weeks before death, according to a report in the
February 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals. An editorial in the issue asks if this is really good for the patients and if it
does not increase risk for the other patients.
Read more...
Memory, Cognitive Loss Decreasing in Older
Americans: Great News for Seniors, Boomers
Better education, finances and cardiovascular care
may be boosting brain health for elderly
Feb. 20, 2008 - Although it’s too soon to sound the
death knell for the “senior moment,” it appears that memory loss and
thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans,
according to researchers at the University of Michigan. The new
nationally representative study shows a downward trend in the rate of
“cognitive impairment” - the umbrella term for everything from
significant memory loss to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease - among
people aged 70 and older.
Read
more...
Discovery in Diabetic Rodents May Help in Fight Against Cognitive
Impairment
Increased stress hormone from adrenal gland disrupts healthy
hippocampus
Feb.
18, 2008 - Diabetes, common among senior citizens, is known to impair the cognitive health of people.
But now scientists have identified one potential mechanism underlying
these learning and memory problems. Although the current study used
diabetic rodents, the researchers see a potential for new approaches in
preventing and treating cognitive impairment.
Read
more...
Folate Deficiency Triples Risk of Alzheimer’s and
Other Dementia in Senior Citizens
New study supports others on importance of B vitamins
in fighting dementia
Feb. 5, 2008 - Folate deficiency is associated with
a tripling in the risk of developing dementia among elderly people, says
research published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and
Psychiatry. This supports several studies published in SeniorJournal.com
over the years suggesting that folate - also known as B9, seems to offer
senior citizens protection from Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Read more...
Older Women More Likely Than Older Men to Remain
Depressed
Researchers have been unable learn why the
difference in sexes
Feb. 4, 2008 – Older women are more likely than
older men to get depressed, and more likely to stay depressed. But,
elderly women are less likely than men to die while depressed, according
to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals. There is, however, no
explanation for the difference between sexes.
Read more...
Portable Device Quickly Detects Early Alzheimer's
Disease for Faster Treatment
Detects mild cognitive impairment - earliest stage of Alzheimer’s
| |
Go to story for link to video |
|
Jan. 16, 2008 - The latest medications can delay
the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, but none are able to reverse its
devastating effects. This limitation makes early detection the key to
Alzheimer’s patients maintaining a good quality of life for as long as
possible. Now, a new device developed by the Georgia Institute of
Technology and Emory University may allow patients to take a brief,
inexpensive test that could be administered as part of a routine yearly
checkup at a doctor’s office.
Read more...
Many
Senior Citizens Fall Prey to Fraud Due to Neuropsychological Deficit
This medical problem leads to poor decision-making by
elderly
Jan.
14, 2008 - We often read or hear stories about older adults being conned
out of their life savings, but are older individuals really more
susceptible to fraud than younger adults? And, if so, how exactly does
aging affect judgment and decision-making abilities?
Read
more...
Lack of Imagination in Senior Citizens Indicates
Declining Memory
To create imagined future events, seniors must be
able to remember details of past events
Jan 8, 2008 - Most children are able to imagine
their future selves as astronauts, politicians or even superheroes;
however, many older adults find it difficult to recollect past events,
let alone generate new ones. A new Harvard University study reveals that
the ability of older adults to form imaginary scenarios is linked to
their ability to recall detailed memories.
Read
more...
How Fish Oil Helps You Avoid Brain Damaging
Alzheimer’s Plaque
UCLA study finds anti-Alzheimer's mechanism in
omega-3 fatty acids
Dec. 26, 2007 - It's good news that we are living
longer, but bad news that the longer we live, the better our odds of
developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Many Alzheimer's researchers
have long touted fish oil, by pill or diet, as an accessible and
inexpensive "weapon" that may delay or prevent this debilitating
disease. Now, UCLA scientists have confirmed that fish oil is indeed a
deterrent against Alzheimer's, and they have identified the reasons why.
Read more...
Hypertension in Elderly Appears to Cause Mild
Cognitive Impairment that Leads to Alzheimer's
How high blood pressure increases the risk of
cognitive impairment or dementia in senior citizens is not unclear
Dec.
10, 2007 – Researchers just cannot seem to find enough bad to say about
high blood pressure. A new study being released tomorrow finds that
hypertension in senior citizens – people age 65 and older - can lead to
mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with
thinking and learning.
Read
more...
Depression is a Killer for Heart Attack Victims,
Study Finds
'There is a whole series of factors that link
depression and heart disease'
Dec. 8, 2007 – Dying from depression may be a
bigger threat that many thought, particularly for older people. Depression nearly triples the risk of
death following a heart attack, even when accounting for other heart
attack risk factors, according to research presented today at the
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting.
Read more...
Elderly with Mild Memory Problems Benefit from
Cognitive Training Not Relying on Memorization
The participants averaged 74 years of age and 14
years of education
Nov. 30, 2007 - Older adults with pre-existing mild
memory impairment benefit as much as those with normal memory function
from certain forms of cognitive training that don’t rely on
memorization, according to a study published this week in the Journal of
the International Neuropsychological Society. These findings, the
researchers say, could indicate the ability for older adults to maintain
skills that allow them to carry out daily tasks and lead a higher
quality of life.
Read more...
Osteoporosis Gets an Early Start for Depressed
Younger Women
Depression linked to bone-thinning in premenopausal
women, immune system involved
Nov. 29, 2007 - Osteoporosis is almost always
linked to aging – half the women and one-fourth the men over 50 will
break a bone due to the bone-thinning disease. But new research shows
some younger women are getting an early start - premenopausal women with
even mild depression have less bone mass than their depression-free
peers and the level of bone loss is at least as high as that associated
with established risk factors for osteoporosis, including smoking, low
calcium intake, and lack of physical activity.
Read
more...
Hormone Therapy Drug Progesterone Doesn't Prevent
Alzheimer's in Older Women
Progesterone actually inhibits some of estrogen's
beneficial effects
Nov. 28, 2007 – Bah, humbug, say researchers
exploring the theory that progesterone can prevent Alzheimer's disease
for the millions of older women who take it with estrogen in hormone
replacement therapy. The study funded by the National Institute on Aging
found no clear evidence the widely prescribed hormone stops AD, at least
in female mice.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Dementia & Mental Health
Researchers Claim Omega-3 Fatty Acids Protect Brain
from Parkinson's
Protection may come from DHA omega-3 eating up
dangerous omega-6 fatty acid in brain
Nov.
26, 2007 – A new study claims to be the first evidence that omega-3
fatty acids protect the brain from Parkinson's disease. Researchers say
the omega-3 fatty acids - in particular DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a
specific type of omega-3 - replaced the omega-6 fatty acids already
present in the brains of mice in their study. A brain with a lot of
omega-6 fatty acids may be a fertile ground for Parkinson’s disease,
they write.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
PET Scans Show
Gene Therapy Normalizes Brain Function in Parkinson’s
Study focuses on power of modern brain scans
to show that gene therapy altered brain activity in a favorable
way
Nov. 20, 2007 - Brain scans used to track
changes in a dozen patients who received an experimental gene
therapy show that the treatment normalizes brain function - and
the effects are still present a year later.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Improve Memory, Mental Abilities
with Right Brain Exercises
Presentation today to Gerontological Society says
'Brain Fitness Program' does trick
Nov. 19, 2007 - The right kind of brain exercise
enhances memory and other cognitive abilities of older adults, according
to researchers presenting today at the 6oth annual meeting of the
Gerontological Society of America, a gathering of 3500 aging experts
held this week in San Francisco.
Read
more...
Senior Citizens Significantly Lower Dementia Risk
Eating Fish, Omega-3 Oils, Fruits, Veggies
Watch for omega-6 oils – they can increase your
chances of memory problems finds study of older people
Nov. 13, 2007 – A study of senior citizens – 8,085
men and women over age 65 – has determined that a diet rich in fish,
omega-3 oils, fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease, whereas consuming omega-6 rich oils could increase
chances of developing memory problems. This is certainly not the first
research to reach this conclusion.
Read
more...
Promising Plaque-Clearing Alzheimer's Drug
Caprospinol Heads to Clinical Trial
Rats treated with SP-233 perform as well or better in behavioral
tests than healthy animals
Prepared by Samaritan Pharmaceuticals
Nov. 13, 2007 - A 2006 study by MetLife found that
adults over age 55 fear Alzheimer’s disease more than cancer, and with
good reason. Alzheimer’s creeps up on patients and their families,
robbing more than half of all Americans over age 85 of their memory and
ability to care for themselves. But what is perhaps most frightening is
that available treatments for the disease are by and large ineffective.
Read more...
Prize-Winning Alzheimer's Researcher on the Trail of
Immunization that Works
A vaccination - getting the immune system to clean up
the plaques - has been considered a promising approach for AD
Nov.
12, 2007 - A new study led by one of the most respected researchers of
Alzheimer's disease has found an immunization that could offer a way to
blunt or even prevent the deadly, memory-robbing disease. Jordan Tang,
Ph.D., who led the study at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation,
has already won the most prestigious research award given by the
Alzheimer’s Association.
Read more...
High Blood Pressure, Irregular Heartbeat Appear to
Speed Progress of Alzheimer’s
Treating hypertension or atrial fibrillation may slow
memory loss
Oct. 30, 2007 – High blood pressure (hypertension),
which is common among senior citizens, or a form of irregular heartbeat,
atrial fibrillation, appear to speed up the progress of Alzheimer’s
disease, according to results of a Johns Hopkins study published in the
Nov. 6, 2007, issue of Neurology.
Read
more...
Almost 14% of Senior Citizens over 70 Have Dementia,
10% have Alzheimer’s
Dementia escalates rapidly for the elderly, passes
37% at age 90
Oct. 30, 2007 - One in seven Americans over the age
of 70 suffers from dementia, About 3.4 million people, or 13.9 percent
of the population age 71 and older, have some form of dementia – that’s
one out of seven – says a new study noting that the prevalence of
dementia increases dramatically with age. Just about 5% of those aged 71
to 79 are afflicted but that jumps to 37.4% after reaching age 90.
Read more...
SORL1 Gene Becomes Second Firmly Linked with
Late-Onset Alzheimer’s
Joins ApoE4 in list of key suspects for devastating
disease
Oct. 30, 2007 – Scientist have been feverishly
testing the 30,000 genes in the human genome searching for any that may
link to the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. They had confirmed
only one, until a new find was announced by the National Institute of
Health. A study funded the NIH’s National Institute on Aging supports
earlier findings that a variation in the sequence of the SORL1 gene is
the second association with AD.
Read more...
Ten Minutes of Conversation Improves Memory as Much
as Games
A friend may help you stay sharp just as much as a
daily crossword puzzle
Oct. 29, 2007 – Senior citizens concerned about the
loss of their mental abilities – and that is about everyone – are mostly
aware of abundant "use it or lose it" research results advising them
that to avoid dementia and Alzheimer’s they should exercise their
brains. The suggested games, particularly electronic games and puzzles, often appear
too daunting to many older people. There is new hope, however, from a
University of Michigan study that tested people as old as 96 and found it only takes about 10 minutes of
talking to someone else to improve your memory.
Read more...
High Blood Pressure Drugs May Prevent Alzheimer’s
Disease Says Study
'Significantly' effective in preventing
beta-amyloid development
Oct. 26, 2007 - A new study published in the
Journal of Clinical Investigation reports several drugs used to treat
hypertension appear to be capable of preventing Alzheimer’s disease and
cognitive deterioration. The study found these drugs “significantly”
effective in preventing beta-amyloid development in the brain, a key
element in Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Dementia Destroys Memory of Better Educated at
Faster Rate
Rate of cognitive decline accelerate 4% faster for
each year of education
Oct. 23, 2007 - People with more years of education
lose their memory faster than those with less education in the years
prior to a diagnosis of dementia, according to a study published in the
October 23, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology.
Read more...
Brain Fitness Program Clinical Trial Attracts 500
Senior Citizens
Program is designed to address the root causes of
age-related cognitive decline
Oct. 18, 2007 – More than 500 senior citizens, age
65 and over, have enrolled in a clinical trial of an innovative
computerized training program designed to enhance memory. These older
Americans are seeking to improve their cognitive health and contribute
to scientific research, according to Posit Science Corporation, sponsor
of the trial.
Read
more...
Life Expectancy Cut 25 Years for Patients with
Mental Illnesses Due to Poor Care, Cardiovascular Disease
Medicare patients hospitalized for heart attacks had
19% increase in mortality for patients with any mental disorder, 34%
increase with schizophrenia.
| |
Up
to 80% of patients with mental illness are smokers and
consume up to 44% of all cigarettes in the U.S. |
|
Oct. 17, 2007 - While death from cardiovascular
disease (CVD) has markedly declined in the U.S. during the past several
decades, a commentary by a researcher at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
shows that patients with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder and depression lose an average of 25 years or more of
life expectancy due largely to CVD and disparity in care.
Read
more...
Blood Test Coming Very Close to Predicting
Alzheimer’s Risk
Tests reaching above 90 percent in accuracy
Oct. 15, 2007 - One of the most distressing aspects
of Alzheimer's disease is the difficulty in determining whether mild
memory problems, which seem to plague most senior citizens, are the
beginning of an inevitable mental decline. Researchers at the Stanford
University School of Medicine have developed a blood test that is a step
toward giving people an answer two to six years in advance of the onset
of the disease.
Read more...
Unique Community-Wide Approach Confronting Dementia
in Indianapolis
Discovery Network building efficient, effective,
locally sensitive solutions for dementia care
Oct. 11, 2007 – Dementia, the ailment most senior
citizens fear most, is a growing burden for society as longevity
increases, propelling patients and caregivers to increasingly use the
health-care system. A year ago, local researchers, health-care
professionals, and community advocates came together to form the
Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia (IDND) to enhance dementia
care in the nation’s twelfth largest city.
Read more...
Researchers Tie Tooth Loss to Dementia in Very Old
People
Impossible to say if tooth loss has any real role in
bringing about the dementia
Oct. 10, 2007 – Although no one has the
explanation, researchers have found that tooth loss may predict the
development of dementia late in life, according to a report published in
the October issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
Read more...
Protein Injection Reverses Alzheimer's Brain Damage
in Lab Mice
Findings could lead to new approach to fight
Alzheimer's Disease
Oct. 8, 2007 – Getting an injection to erase the
brain damages of Alzheimer’s disease is a possibility raised by a new
experiment. Mice with an induced animal version of Alzheimer’s regained
their mental abilities after being injected with a special protein.
Read more...
Most Conscientious People Are Least Likely to Get
Alzheimer's Disease
Also experience slower rate of cognitive decline,
lower risk of mild cognitive impairment
Oct. 1, 2007 - Individuals who are more
conscientious - in other words, those with a tendency to be
self-disciplined, scrupulous and purposeful - appear less likely to
develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the October issue
of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Older Women Twice as Likely to Die in Five Years
After Having Panic Attack
Panic attack also makes them four times as likely to
suffer heart attack
Oct.
1, 2007 - Older women who experience at least one full-blown panic
attack may have an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke and
an increased risk of death in the next five years, according to a report
in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Theory That Alzheimer’s Disease is ‘Type 3’ Diabetes
Supported by New Discovery
Toxic protein found Alzheimer’s brains removes
insulin receptors from nerve cells making them insulin resistant.
Sept. 26, 2007 – Is Alzheimer’s Disease actually
“type 3” diabetes? That has been the basis for a growing hypothesis in
recent years as research finds that insulin may be as important for the
mind as it is for the body. Now, scientists at Northwestern University
have discovered why brain insulin signaling - crucial for memory
formation - would stop working in Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more...
Smokers in Study Were 50 Percent More Likely to Get
Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Study of 7,000 people 55 and over for seven years
Sept. 4, 2007 – A study that followed 7,000 people
age 55 and older for seven years has determined that people who smoke
are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia than
nonsmokers or those who smoked in the past.
Read more...
Experimental Drug Ketasyn Improves Memory in
Age-Associated Memory Impairment
Earlier found to improve memory for Alzheimer's
patients
Aug. 29, 2007 – Encouraging news about the ability
of Ketasyn (AC-1202) to prompt a positive and meaningful effect on
memory in older adults was released today by Accera, Inc. The results
are from a Phase II study of the company’s lead product in fighting
age-associated memory impairment (AAMI).
Read more...
Are We Ready for 60 Second Test that Determines if
We Have Alzheimer’s?
Current early diagnosis is based on study of
patient’s behavior
Aug. 22, 2007 – Are we ready for this? Do we really
want to know? Engineers say we could soon be able to diagnose the onset
of many brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s, with a quick analysis of the
tiny magnetic fields produced by neuron activity in the brain.
Read more...
Must-See Documentary on Dementia, Alzheimer’s Comes
to Public TV
There is a Bridge reveals how to
communicate with victims; begins Sept. 1
Aug. 15, 2007 – A “must-see” documentary for those
touched by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is coming to public
television stations beginning September 1. There is a Bridge
explores different ways of communicating successfully with those who
have dementia and how these emotionally profound relationships can
change our lives.
Read
more...
Aging Adults Have Choices in Confronting Perceived
Mental Decline
Minor glitches in cognitive system can loom larger
than needed
Aug. 8, 2007 - Aging adults may joke about memory
lapses and “early Alzheimer’s.” They may worry when they can’t
understand a drug plan or lose track of the characters in a novel. But they have more control over their “cognitive
vitality” than they may realize, says Elizabeth Stine-Morrow, a
professor of
educational psychology at the University of Illinois, who has spent
20 years studying learning throughout the lifespan.
Read
more...
It's How Amyloid Fiber is Built that May Set Stage
for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
Study of bacteria’s role in forming fibers leads to
new theory
July 13, 2007 - New insights into how bacteria form
fibers called curli offer intriguing clues to the formation of harmful
protein tangles in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and
Parkinson's, University of Michigan researchers report.
Read more...
Exelon Patch is First Approved by FDA to Treat
Alzheimer’s Disease
Patch also approved to treat Parkinson's disease
dementia
July 9, 2007 – Exelon Patch (rivastigmine) has
received the first worldwide approval in the United States by the Food
and Drug Administration of an innovative way to deliver an effective
medicine for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease patients through a
skin patch instead of an oral capsule, according to a news release by
the drug company Novartis. The FDA also approved it to treat Parkinson’s
disease dementia, which strikes two out of five patients with
Parkinson’s. Read
more...
Alzheimer’s Risk Seven Times Greater with Damaged
Temporal Lobe, Brain Blood Vessels
New risk factors to add to worries of senior
citizens about AD
July 6, 2007 – Senior citizens
fear Alzheimer’s
disease more than any other of the afflictions that strike older adults.
Now, they can add a new risk to that worry. Researchers have found the
risk of AD is seven times greater in cognitively normal adults with
damage to blood vessels in the brain and shrinkage or damage (atrophy)
of their temporal lobe.
Read more...
Large Study Proves Antidepressants Lower Suicide
Risk for All Adults
National Institute of Mental Health funds study of
226,866 patients
July 6, 2007 - Another red flag turns green.
Antidepressants do not increase the risk of suicide in adults with
depression, as many had warned. An extremely large study of over 200,000
patients has found antidepressants actually lower the risk of suicide
attempts, even in the youngest adults age 18 to 25.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
New Treatment in Battle Against Parkinson’s May Come
from Discovery
New protein appears to protect and rescue damaged
dopamine neurons
July 5, 2007 - A new drug to effectively treat the
debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease may emerge from the
discovery of a new protein that appears to protect and even repair
damaged dopamine neurons in an experimental model. Parkinson's disease
is a degenerative brain disease striking primarily older people and
characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons in the midbrain-area
called Substantia Nigra.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Senior Citizens with Problems Identifying Smells may
begin Cognitive Decline to Alzheimer’s
Other researchers developing medical device to sniff
out olfactory disorders
July 3, 2007 – In an update on earlier research, a
study has found that older people who have difficulty identifying common
odors may have a greater risk of developing problems with thinking,
learning and memory, or mild cognitive impairment. Previous research had
found a smell test could help identify which people with MCI are most
likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Read
more...
Team that Inspired 'Use it or lose it' Confirms
Mental Activity Protects Against Alzheimer's
Frequent brain stimulation by senior citizens reduces
risk of Alzheimer's disease
June 27, 2007 – It is unclear when the old adage
"use it or lose it" first became associated with the idea that by
keeping your mind active you could ward off dementia and Alzheimer's,
but it probably began with research by Robert S. Wilson, who has just
released new scientific evidence that it is true. The latest research in
Neurology Journal says it does not have to be activity as complicated as
computer games. Simply reading the daily paper can help keep the mind
stimulated and lower the risk of Alzheimer's, and even mild cognitive
impairment.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Parkinson’s Disease Risks Lower with High Levels of
Urate in Blood
Large Harvard study finds potent antioxidant works
against oxidative stress
June 22, 2007 - A large study at Harvard School of
Public Health has that found high levels of urate in the blood appear to
reduce the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. Urate (or uric acid) is a normal component of blood, and although
high levels can lead to gout, urate might also have beneficial effects
because it is a potent antioxidant.
Read
more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment with Gene Therapy
Shows Promise
First such clinical trial may lead to effective
management of disease that hits mostly senior citizens
June 22, 2007 – It was just a phase 1 clinical
trial and it included only a few patients but the medical researchers
think they may have made a significant breakthrough using gene therapy
in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease – one of the most feared of the
diseases that primarily attack senior citizens. This may also work in
the treatment of other neurological diseases, the report says.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Best Computer ‘Brain Games’ for Senior Citizens to
Delay Alzheimer’s Disease
Professor says these will maximize your cognitive
function
June 21, 2007 - Responding to a study estimating a
quadrupling of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease by 2050,
George Mason University professor Andrew Carle has released a list of
what he considers the best “Brain Games” available to consumers seeking
to maximize cognitive function.
Read more...
Dementia Less Likely with Improved Efforts to
Prevent Vascular Disease
Study finds mix of disease in dementia
brains, often Alzheimer’s and stroke
June 14, 2007 - Few older people die with brains
untouched by a pathological process, however, an individual’s likelihood
of having clinical signs of dementia increases with the number of
different disease processes present in the brain, according to a new
study. Alzheimer’s disease and stroke are the most common mix.
Read more...
Memory Problems More Likely for People Most Easily
Distressed
Earlier study found it may also lead to Alzheimer’s
disease
June 14, 2007 - People who are easily distressed
and have more negative emotions are more likely to develop memory
problems than more easygoing people, according to a study by researchers
at Rush University Medical Center published in the June 12 issue of
Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Read more...
Daily Yoga Meditation Shown to Improve Memory, May
Prevent Alzheimer’s
Older participants not only gained better memory but
their brains worked better
June 12, 2007 – Your memory getting faulty?
Cognitive ability not what it used to be? New research with older
people finds stopping other activity for a daily meditation session can
improve your thinking and your memory. The leader of the study thinks
these daily 12-minute Yoga sessions may even prevent Alzheimer’s
disease. Read
more...
Alzheimer’s
Experts Focus on Report of Anti-Amyloid Drug Clinical Trial
Four trials on different approaches offer some
encouragement
June 11, 2007 – Although no one has found a magic
bullet, there was some encouragement about possible Alzheimer’s
therapies from reports on four clinical trials presented today at the
2nd Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of
Dementia in Washington, D.C. Much of the attention was on the results of
the first Phase III trial of an anti-amyloid treatment using
tramiprosate (Alzhemed, Neurochem).
Read
more...
Treating Heart Disease Risk Factors - Hypertension,
Diabetes - May Slow Alzheimer’s
Late-life weight loss and “motivational reserve”
may also affect AD risk
June 11, 2007 - A new study suggests that treating
risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure
and diabetes, may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, according
to research reported Sunday at the 2nd Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington, D.C.
Two new studies further confirm the close relationship between heart
health and brain health.
Read more...
Delay of Alzheimer’s by One Year Would Reduce Cases
in 2050 by 12 Million
26.6 million had AD in 2006; predicted to pass 100
million by 2050
June 11, 2007 – If Alzheimer’s disease could be
delayed by just one year in those who develop this mind-destroying
ailment, it would reduce the number of Alzheimer's cases in 2050 by 12
million. The latest worldwide estimate of Alzheimer’s disease shows that
26.6 million people were living with the disease in 2006, according to
research reported Sunday at the 2nd Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington, D.C.
Read more...
Dementia in Older People Can Be Accurately Predicted
by New Tool
Some surprising risk factors: slim, non-drinkers,
artery bypass, moving slowly, 70 or older, poor cognitive scores
June 11, 2007 - Researchers say they have developed
a test that can predict a person’s risk for developing dementia within
six years. The test, which can be administered by any physician, has
proven to have an accuracy rate of 87 percent, say researchers at San
Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).
Read more...
Antipsychotic Drugs Increase Risk of Death in Senior
Citizens with Dementia
Widely prescribed to manage behavioral symptoms of
dementia in older people
June 5, 2007 - A new study shows that use of
antipsychotic drugs is associated with an early and sustained increase
in risk of death when used to treat disruptive behavior of older adults
with dementia. This is not, however, the first warning of the dangers of
these drugs – the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory in
April of 2005 on the death risks.
Read more...
Nuclear Medicine Confirms Beta Amyloid Link to
Alzheimer’s, Plus Brain Dysfunction in Senior Citizens
Researchers report Alzheimer’s detection long
before dementia begins
June 4, 2007 – Researchers have found how to use
new technology to clearly link the accumulation of the toxic brain
protein beta-amyloid to Alzheimer's disease. They also say beta amyloids
are associated with brain dysfunction in even normal senior citizens and
the early pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease can be detected
long before the development of dementia.
Read more...
Research Solves Mystery of Stroke Patients’
Vulnerability to Alzheimer’s
It can develop many years after recovery from the
stroke
June 4, 2007 – Scientist have known there is a link
between Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Now, researchers at the
University of Leeds have discovered that it is an incident of reduced
oxygen to the brain – caused by the stroke – that can leave stroke
patient’s vulnerable to the gradual build-up of toxic chemicals which
can cause Alzheimer’s. And, it can take years or even decades after
recovery from the stroke.
Read more...
Elderly Patients Not Responding to Depression
Therapy Improve with Second Drug
84% of depressed elderly have problems in initial
treatment
June 1, 2007 – Up to 84% of the elderly with
depression either fail to respond to the initial treatment or relapse in
the first six to 12 weeks. Chances for these people to recover have been
found to improve with the addition of a second drug to the treatment,
finds a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Patients Decline Faster after Entering a
Nursing Home
Most educated had most decline; day care experience
lessened decline
June 1, 2007 – Alzheimer’s disease patients
experienced a more rapid decline in their mental abilities after being
placed in a nursing home, except for those that had prior experience in
adult day care. These patients did not experience this faster rate of
cognitive decline according to a new study by the Rush Alzheimer’s
Disease Center.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Dementia
Engineers Say They Now Know How Brain Pacemakers
Help Parkinson’s Patients
Deep brain stimulation erases diseased messages for
thousands
May 31, 2007 – About 30,000 Americans suffering
from Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders have “pacemakers”
inserted in their heads. The brain pacemakers are working to ease the
symptoms but even clinical trials leading to their acceptance did not
clearly reveal how they achieved these results. New research has found they
seem to be drowning out the electrical signals of the diseased brains.
Read more...
New Finding Indicates Alzheimer’s Caused by Peptide
Imbalance
Yin and Yang effect challenges existing theories on
cause of AD
May 30, 2007 – A challenge to the popular theories
on the causes and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease has emerged from
researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A specific imbalance
between two peptides may be the cause of the fatal neurological disease
that affects more than five million people in the United States They say
their new hypothesis could be a key to preventing this form of dementia.
Read more...
Reports of Lower Alzheimer's Risk from Omega-3 Fish
Oil Spurs Clinical Trial
National Institute of Aging funds clinical trial that
needs volunteers
May 10, 2007 – Recent studies suggesting omega-3
fatty acids, found in the oil of certain fish, may lower the risk of
Alzheimer’s disease, has sparked the interests of the National Institute
on Aging, which will fund a clinical trial to learn more about this
possibility. They just need a few good older Americans to participate.
Read more...
Choose an ACE Inhibitor for Hypertension that also
Fights Alzheimer's
New study says some of these drugs reduce memory loss
in seniors
May 8, 2007 – If you need to take an ACE inhibitor
to fight high blood pressure, a new study says you should get one that
seems to protect senior citizens from declines in memory and other
cognitive function. These special drugs may also provide some protection
from Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Estrogen Use Before Age 65 May Cut Alzheimer’s Risk
in Half
Risk nearly doubles for senior women starting
estrogen-plus-progestin hormone therapy
May 3, 2007 - Women who use hormone therapy before
the age of 65 could cut their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or
dementia. The study found women who used any form of estrogen hormone
therapy before the age of 65 were nearly 50 percent less likely to
develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia than women who did not use
hormone therapy before age 65.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Diabetes, Mad Cow
Similar
at Molecular Level
Protein analysis may offer new diagnoses and
treatment options
April 30, 2007 - Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease, type 2 diabetes, the human version of mad cow disease, and
other degenerative diseases are more closely related at the molecular
level than scientists realized, a team reports this week in an advanced
online publication of the journal Nature.
Read
more...
Long-Term Memory Restored in Mice by Toys or Nerve
Cell Growth Drug
Promising avenues for treatment for humans with
Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases
April 30, 2007 – A new study indicates that
memories are not really erased in such disorders as Alzheimer's, but
that they are rendered inaccessible but can be recovered. Toys and other
sensory stimuli, or a drug that encourages nerve cell (neuronal) growth,
both helped mice regain long-term memories and the ability to learn,
after their brains had lost a large number of nerve cells due to
neurodegeneration. The most common risk for this loss of nerve cells is
aging. Read
more...
Drug to Stop Alzheimer's Disease May Come from
Purdue Research
Prevents first step in chain of events that
leads to amyloid plaque
By Elizabeth K. Gardner, Purdue University
April 17, 2007 - A molecule designed by a Purdue University
researcher could lead to the first drug treatment for Alzheimer's
disease. "There are many people suffering, and no effective
treatment is available to them," said Arun Ghosh, the Purdue
professor who designed the molecule.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Alerts
Parkinson's Treatment Drugs Being Withdrawn, Says
FDA
Permax (pergolide) and two generic versions may
damage heart valves
March 29, 2007 – Pergolide products used to treat
Parkinson's disease is being withdrawn from the market, according to an
announcement today from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA
said that manufacturers of pergolide drug products, which are used to
treat Parkinson’s disease, will voluntarily remove these drugs from the
market because of the risk of serious damage to patients’ heart valves.
Read more...
Lack of Recall of Current Data, Good Recall of Long
Ago May Mean Too Much Memory
New research finds that too much memory may be a
bad thing
March 29, 2007 – You cannot recall today's date,
but you do remember the date you first learned to ride a bicycle back in
the 1940s. Oh no, you think, dementia is setting in. That may not be the
case. New research says people having trouble taking in new information,
while retaining old useless information may have too much memory.
Read more...
Major Parkinson's Trial Begins Testing Energy
Booster's Ability to Slow the Disease
Creatine to be tested in 52 sites with 1,720
participants
March 22, 2007 – A major effort kicked off today to
determine if a supplement used by athletes to boost energy levels and
build muscle – creatine - can slow the progression of Parkinson’s
disease. The NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS) is launching one of the largest PD clinical trials to date in 52
medical centers that will enroll 1,720 people with early stage PD.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Alzheimer’s Cases Jump 10 Percent as 4.9 Million
Senior Citizens Now Afflicted
Someone develops Alzheimer’s every 72 seconds, says
Alzheimer’s Association report
March
20, 2007 - The Alzheimer’s Association today reports that there are now
more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s
disease, which includes 4.9 million senior citizens - people over the
age of 65. This 2007 estimated is a 10 percent increase from the
previous prevalence nationwide estimate of 4.5 million.
Read more...
Fitness & Exercise for Senior Citizens
Exercise Makes People Smarter, Slows Alzheimer’s,
Reduces Stress
Newsweek focuses on ‘Health for Life – Exercise and
the Brain’
| |
'No matter your age, it seems, a strong, active
body is crucial for building a strong, active mind.' Newsweek |
|
March 19, 2007 - A recent and rapidly growing
movement in science is showing that exercise can make people smarter,
Newsweek reports in the current issue. Last week, in a landmark paper,
researchers announced that they had coaxed the human brain into growing
new nerve cells, a process that for decades had been thought impossible,
simply by putting subjects on a three-month aerobic-workout regimen.
Read more...
First Proof that Exercise Creates New Cells in Brain
Area Affecting Age-Related Memory Loss
MRI imaging at Columbia provides first observation of
new nerve cells
March
19, 2007 – A researcher that focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and the
aging brain is the lead author of a newly released study that proves
exercise actually creates new nerve cells in the area of the brain that
affects age-related memory decline.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's & Mental Health
African-American, Hispanic Caregivers Too Often
Dismiss Alzheimer's as 'Old Age'
Survey finds misperceptions, late diagnosis among
these minorities
March
14, 2007 - African-American and Hispanic, who care for a “loved one”
with Alzheimer's disease are significantly more likely than caregivers
of other races to consider the disease a normal part of the aging
process and dismiss its symptoms as part of getting older, according to
the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's (AFA) second ICAN: Investigating
Caregivers' Attitudes and Needs survey. “This gap in understanding sheds
light on the reasons for delay in diagnosis and treatment, which is an
unnecessary setback for caregivers and individuals with the disease
alike,” says AFA.
Read more...
Australians Claim Low-Cost Gene Screening for
Parkinson's Disease
Seeks people for gene-sequencing trial,
Australia-wide gene-mapping study
Feb. 23, 2007 – The horrors of Parkinson's disease
create major fear for many older people, who are aware the disease primarily
strikes people over age 50. Scientist in Australia claim to have
developed a cost-effective diagnostic test for PD, which will also
assist researchers to understand the genetic basis of PD and to
undertake large-scale studies to identify the genes that cause this
debilitating condition.
Read more...
Fitness & Exercise for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Less Likely
to Get Alzheimer's with
Regular Exercise
Vigorous training works better to halt aging than
moderate levels
January 29, 2007 – Fitness training – an increased
level of exercise - may improve some mental processes even more than
moderate activity, say the authors of the review of exercise and its
effect on brain functioning in human and animal populations. They also
found that physical exercise may slow aging’s effects and help people
maintain cognitive abilities well into older age.
Read more...
Reduced Blood Flow Noted by Alois Alzheimer is Focus
of New Research
Changes to blood vessels had been pushed into
background of Alzheimer's research
January 22, 2007 - The two dominant proteins that
determine how much blood flows through the body's arteries have been
implicated in Alzheimer's disease, in a new study in the Jan. 16 issue
of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers
say it offers new, surprising targets against Alzheimer's disease just as
scientists are getting back in touch with the vascular roots of the
disease that were first recognized early last century by Alois
Alzheimer.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Senior Citizens and Depression is the Latest Topic
on NIHSeniorHealth
National Institute on Aging, National Library of
Medicine work together to produce special senior-friendly Website
January 16, 2007 - About two million American
senior citizens, those age 65 or older, suffer from major depression, and
another five million suffer from less severe forms of the illness. What
senior citizens can do about depression is the newest section added to
the Website on senior health published by the National Institute on
Aging and the National Library of Medicine.
Read more...
New Gene Variant Found in Senior Citizens with
Alzheimer's Disease
SORL1 joins ApoE4 as genetic variant for
late-onset Alzheimer's
January 15, 2007 – A massive international study
lasting five years indicates that a newly discovered gene –
SORL1 – is implicated in late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This is the
most common form of the disease, accounting for 90 percent of all cases
of Alzheimer's. It tends to affect senior citizens - those aged 65 and
older. With aging baby boomers now turning 60, the prevalence of
late-onset Alzheimer's is expected to double in the next 25 years.
Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Senior Citizens May Lower Alzheimer's Risk with More
Folate Intake
Combination of
dietary folate with supplements
appears to work
January 9, 2007 - Senior citizens and younger
adults who take in higher levels of
the nutrient folate through both diet and supplements may have a reduced
risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report in the
January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Appear to Have Exclusive Claim on
Alzheimer’s Disease
Boomers, young adults thinking they have
AD are probably wrong - higher risk with APOE4 gene
January 8, 2007 – Experts are generally agreed that
people with the APOE4 gene type are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s
disease. A new study of people of from age 24 to 64 has found, however,
that those who carry this gene do not show cognitive decline until later
years. They conclude the higher-risk genotype acts only in later years
to layer disease on top of normal aging.
Read
more...
Bottleneck Found in Blood Supply Makes Brain
Vulnerable to Strokes, Dementia
Accumulated damage in elderly may lead to memory loss
and a risk of larger stroke
January 4, 2007 – As people age into their senior
citizen years a puzzling damage to the brain's gray matter is often
detected in brain scans. A team of physicists and neuroscientists at the
University of California, San Diego, think they have found the answer -
a bottleneck in the network of blood vessels in the brain that makes it
vulnerable to strokes. They think it is also part of the dementia
picture in Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s patients.
Read more...
Cold Sore Virus Suspected of a Role in Causing
Alzheimer's Disease
ApoE-4 gene, leading risk factor of Alzheimer's in
senior citizens, linked with herpes
January 3, 2007 - A gene known to be a major risk
factor for Alzheimer's disease puts out the welcome mat for the virus
that causes cold sores, allowing the virus to be more active in the
brain compared to other forms of the gene. The new findings, published
online in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, add some scientific heft to
the idea, long suspected by some scientists, that herpes somehow plays a
role in bringing about Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Mild Cognitive Impairment in Senior Citizens Linked
to Higher Uric Acid
Clinical studies may probe reducing uric acid
(urate) with
drugs to help older people avoid mild cognitive deficits
January 2, 2007 - A simple blood test to measure
uric acid, a measure of kidney function, might reveal a risk factor for
cognitive problems in old age, according to researchers at the Johns
Hopkins and Yale university medical schools. Of 96 community-dwelling
adults aged 60 to 92 years, those with uric-acid levels at the high end
of the normal range had the lowest scores on tests of mental processing
speed, verbal memory and working memory.
Read more...
New Imaging Method Identifies People-At-Risk for
Alzheimer's Disease
More effective in showing patients with Alzheimer’s
or mild cognitive impairment from normal subjects
December 21, 2006 - UCLA researchers used
innovative brain scan technology to show that the abnormal brain protein
deposits that define Alzheimer’s disease can be detected in mild
cognitive impairment – a condition that increases the risk for
developing Alzheimer’s disease and affects 15 to 20 million Americans.
The study will be published in the Dec. 21 New England Journal of
Medicine. Read more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's & Mental Health
Parkinson's Linked to Low LDL Cholesterol
that is Good for Heart
People with Parkinson's have lower rate of heart
attack and stroke
December 20, 2006 – Most of us strive to lower our
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol – that's the bad stuff for
good cardiovascular health. But, a new study by University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers has found that people with low
levels of LDL cholesterol are more likely to have Parkinson's disease
than people with high LDL levels. This disorder that affects nerve cells
in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement is most common in
senior citizens.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Fewer Nerve Cells in Aging Brain's Memory Center Due
to Slower Cell Division
Scientist see new avenue for fighting cognitive
decline with aging
December 18, 2006 – A new discovery provides a new
avenue to pursue in trying to combat the cognitive decline associated
with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and with aging in general,
say neurobiologists. They have found why the aging brain produces
progressively fewer nerve cells in its learning and short-term memory
center – the hippocampus.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Identified by Protein
‘Fingerprint’ in Spinal Fluid
Test for spotting early Alzheimer’s disease could
be in the not-too-distant future
December 12, 2006 – The battle against Alzheimer’s
disease, the mind-clogging ailment most feared by senior citizens – has
often focused on finding a means of early detection, when there seems to
be more of an opportunity for treatment. Scientists have now identified
a panel of 23 protein biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a
neurochemical “fingerprint,” which doctors may be able to use someday to
identify patients living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's Disease Slowed by Existing
Anti-Hypertension Drugs in New Study
Propranololo-HCL (Inderal) targeted for
research as tsunami looms
December 6, 2006 – With the prospect of an
Alzheimer's tsunami looming as the horde of baby boomers near the danger
years, researchers have increased efforts to find more effective
treatment for the disease. A broad screening of existing drugs has found
"promising evidence" that cardiovascular anti-hypertensive agents may
decrease the incidence or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
and one, in particular, Propranololo-HCL (Inderal), is targeted for
further study.
Read
more...
Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients Offered New 'How
To' Kit
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness
Month
November
29, 2006 -- The Alliance for Aging Research has partnered with the
National Family Caregivers Association to develop a new resource to
educate family caregivers on how to care for themselves while caring for
a loved one with Alzheimer's.
Read
more...
Dementia Caregivers See Lives Greatly Improved by
Personalized Intervention
Unique program studied results with different
ethnic groups
November 29, 2006 - A program featuring personalized intervention has
been found to significantly improve the quality of life for caregivers
of people with dementia. The study, Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s
Caregiver Health II (REACH II), found differing results, however, among
ethnic groups.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Concerned About Memory but Reluctant
to Tell Anyone
Study finds many do
not even share with their doctor
November
29, 2006 – Senior citizens, even those most concerned about possible
memory loss, are not sharing this concern with their doctors. Among
those who voluntarily attended free memory screening during National
Memory Screening Day, 73 percent said they have concerns about their
memory but 30 percent said they had not shared this concern with anyone.
Read
more...
Aging News & Information
Senior Citizens Improve Memory with Rote Learning
Followed by Long Rest
Brain is like a
muscle that should be exercised in retirement years
November 27, 2006 - A new study offers senior
citizens a simple way to combat memory loss: memorization. Researchers
found that older people who engaged in an intensive period of rote
learning followed by an equally long rest period exhibited improved
memory and verbal recall. The study was presented today at the annual
meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Knowing the Stages of Alzheimer's Disease and What
the Caregiver Can Do
National Alzheimer's Awareness Month is good time
to evaluate your situation
By Marion Somers, PhD
– "Doctor Marion"
November 20, 2006 - Since November is Alzheimer’s
Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to address some basic issues
dealing with this difficult disease that affects so many people around
the globe. During my years working with caregivers, and especially over
the last decade, I am often asked how someone can tell if his or her
elder loved one has Alzheimer’s. You never want to diagnose this
yourself, and I don’t, but you should be aware of the three general
phases of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes these phases overlap, but they often
progress in this general order:
Read more...
New Tool May Lead to Treating Earliest Alzheimer's and Halting Progression
Yeast model revealed 100 years after Alois
Alzheimer discovered the disease
November 19, 2006 - A century ago this month, German psychiatrist Alois
Alzheimer formally described characteristics of the neurodegenerative
disease, which he called "presenile dementia." It ultimately came to
bear his name. While international efforts to learn about Alzheimer's
disease and develop treatments have progressed significantly in recent
years, a cure remains an elusive goal. But a new tool may lead to
stopping the progress of AD, when diagnosed early.
Read more...
Moderate Drinking May Boost Memory and Protect
Against Alzheimer's
Research grows saying
what we eat, drink impacts dementia
November 2, 2006 - In the long run, a drink or two
a day may be good for the brain, according to researchers who have found
moderate drinking – a couple of alcoholic drinks a day for humans –
improved the memories of laboratory rats and say the discovery could
have implications for Alzheimer's. The implications from this and other
recent studies (see sidebar) is that drinking juice before dinner, then
eating lots of leafy vegetables, with curry flavored fish and a couple
of glasses of wine will offer considerable protection from Alzheimer's.
Read more...
New Dementia Screening Tool Detects Early Problems
Missed by Popular Test
Test helps identify mild neurocognitive disorder on the initial visit
November 1, 2006 - A screening tool for dementia
developed by Saint Louis University geriatricians appears to work better
in identifying mild cognitive problems in the elderly than the commonly
used Mini Mental Status Examination, according to a new study.
Read more...
link to new test in story
Senior Citizen's Mental Decline May Go Undetected
When Hospitalized for Acute Illness
Ability to make
decisions about treatment may be impacted
October
29, 2006 - Many patients over the age of 65 who are hospitalized with an
acute illness experience a subtle change in their cognitive ability that
often goes undiagnosed, untreated and underreported. As a result, a
patient's ability to make decisions about his or her medical treatment
may be negatively impacted.
Read
more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Senior Citizens Can Slow Cognitive Decline by Eating
More Vegetables
It is probably the vitamin E that does the trick
October 24, 2006 - Eating vegetables, not fruit,
helps slow down the rate of cognitive change in older adults, according
to a study published in today's issue of Neurology, the
scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health News
Chemical from Curry Helps Immune System's 'PacMen'
Gobble Plaque Found in Alzheimer's
Treatment with
curcumin different from other vaccine approaches
October
5, 2006 – In a small test with senior citizens – age 65 to 84 –
researchers found that curcumin — a chemical found in curry and turmeric
— may help the immune system clear the brain of amyloid beta, which form
the plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. The UCLA/VA researchers used a
drug derived from curcumin to treat the immune system’s "PacMen" that
travel through the brain and body, gobbling up waste products, and found
them doing a better job of gobbling up the damaging amyloid beta.
Read more...
Earliest Detection of Alzheimer's May Be Found in
the Eye
Optical test detects early molecular signs of the
disease before AD pathology is present in the brain
October 3, 2006 – A new optical test can detect
early signs of Alzheimer's disease in the eye even before the evidence
appears in the brain. Lee Goldstein of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and
Harvard Medical School will present “proof of concept” evidence obtained
in tests with mice at next week's Frontiers in Optics, the annual
meeting of the Optical Society of America (OSA) in Rochester, N.Y.
Read
more...
Earlier Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Made
Possible by New Discovery
Faster detection can lead to beneficial early
treatment
September 26, 2006 – Comparing the fight against
Alzheimer's disease to a boxing match, it appears that AD just took a
blow to the body. It was not intended as a knockout, just another punch
to break down the defenses. The similar blow against AD is the discovery
of a new technique that can enable early detection of the disease, which
can lead to faster beneficial treatment.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Worried About Early Dementia May
Just Be Anemic
Study among elderly women finds even mild anemia
has impact
September 13, 2006 – Senior citizens finding it
difficult to think clearly may jump to the conclusion they are
experiencing the early signs of dementia. That may not be the case, say
researchers, it may just be lack of red blood cells, which is causing anemia.
Read more...
Study Finds Further Evidence of Rapid Weight Loss in
Senior Citizens Before Alzheimer's
It is still unclear
exactly why weight loss is associated with dementia
September 11, 2006 – A new study joins a growing
list of research reports indicating there is some association between
Alzheimer's disease and rapid weight loss in senior citizens. The latest
research has pinpointed a doubling of weight loss in the year before the
onset of Alzheimer's disease. Weight loss – the slow and steady kind –
is normal for many aging seniors but the researchers say a speed up can
indicate Alzheimer's and related dementias. (See other studies on this
subject in sidebar.)
Read more...
Drinking Fruit, Vegetable Juices Lowers Alzheimer's
Risk 76 Percent in New Study
Another study pointing to health benefits of
polyphenols
September 1, 2006 - People who drank three or more
servings of fruit and vegetable juices per week had a 76 percent lower
risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank juice less
than once per week, according to a large new study. Even drinking juice
once or twice per week was found to reduce the risk by 16 percent.
Read more...
Stress Significantly and Quickly Hastens the
Progress of Alzheimer's Disease
Stress hormones play central role in AD
development, progression
August 30, 2006 - Stress hormones appear to rapidly
exacerbate the formation of brain lesions that are the hallmarks of
Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers at UC Irvine. The findings
suggest that managing stress and reducing certain medications prescribed
for the elderly could slow down the progression of this devastating
disease. Read
more... with link to video
Alzheimer's Diseased Mice Regain Normal Memory with
Enzyme Boost
May provide a promising strategy for battling
Alzheimer's disease
August 24, 2006 - Researchers at Columbia
University Medical Center have successfully restored normal memory and
synaptic function in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The study
was published today on the website of the journal Cell.
Read more...
One Brain Cell Can Generate New Ones to Replace
Every Cell in Donor's Brain, Researchers Find
Research find healing
potential normally associated with stem cells
August 17, 2006 - University of Florida researchers
have shown ordinary human brain cells may share the prized qualities of
self-renewal and adaptability normally associated with stem cells. The
findings document for the first time the ability of common human brain
cells to morph into different cell types, a previously unknown
characteristic, and are the result of the research team’s long-term
investigations of adult human stem cells and rodent embryonic stem
cells. Read more...
High-Fat, Copper-Rich Diets Associated with
Cognitive Decline in Senior Citizens
Copper is in liver and shellfish - foods
with the highest levels - followed by nuts, seeds, legumes, whole
grains, potatoes, chocolate and some fruits
August 14, 2006 - Among older adults whose diets
are high in saturated and trans fats, a high intake of copper may be
associated with an accelerated rate of decline in thinking, learning and
memory abilities, according to a report in the August issue of the
Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Not
surprisingly, however, cognitive abilities declined in all of the senior
citizens participating in the study as they aged.
Read more...
Below are
two closely related studies that may play a major role in the
fight against Neurodegenerative diseases.
Cell Activities that
Protect against Alzheimer's Protein Buildup Found
Findings may lead to new therapies for
Neurodegenerative Diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
August 11, 2006 – Yesterday there was news of
research finding it is aging that actually causes the brain to stop
cleaning out the protein build-up that causes Alzheimer's. Today, it was
announced that those researchers have combined their work with another
group and have found new avenues to combat age-onset protein aggregation
diseases, such as AD, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and ALS.
Read
more...
Aging is the Critical Factor Allowing Alzheimer's to
Develop
Aging process plays an active role, too, in
Parkinson’s and Huntington’s
|
Half of all
people who reach age 85 will likely be affected by Alzheimer’s
disease, with the onset age usually around 75. |
August 10, 2006 – For those who have wondered if
Alzheimer's disease is a consequence of aging or if it just takes a long
time for the toxic protein aggregates that cause it to form, researchers
have the answer. A collaboration between researchers at the Salk
Institute for Biological Studies and the Scripps Research Institute
shows that aging is the critical factor.
Read more...
Genetics Used to Learn How People Reach 90 with Good
Mental Ability
August 10, 2006 - Scientists have identified genes
related to reaching age 90 with preserved cognition, according to a
study to be published in the September issue of the American Journal of
Geriatric Psychiatry. The study is among the first to identify genetic
links to mental longevity. The finding that genetics, lifestyle decision
making, and their interactions, may influence the ability to reach old
age with preserved cognition is described as "exciting."
Read more...
Drug Fully Reverses Age-Related Memory Loss by
Triggering Natural Mechanism
Study with rats shows ampakines boost brain’s
protein in government financed study
July 27, 2006 - A drug made to enhance memory
appears to trigger a natural mechanism in the brain that fully reverses
age-related memory loss, even after the drug itself has left the body,
according to researchers at UC Irvine. “This is a significant
discovery,” said Christine Gall, professor of anatomy and neurobiology.
“Our results indicate the exciting possibility that ampakines could be
used to treat learning and memory loss associated with normal aging.”
Read more...
In-Home Motion Sensors Detect Dementia Signs in
Elderly
Study shows cognitive changes can be detected by
tracking daily activity
July 27, 2006 – Motion and door sensors placed in
the homes of the elderly can help track activity patterns thought to
relate to memory changes that are early signs of dementia. The study
shows that continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of in-home activity may be
a reliable way of assessing changes in motor behaviors that may occur
along with changes in memory.
Read more...
Dementia in Older Men Associated with High Levels of
Female Hormone
High estrogen may be consequence of, or early AD sign,
rather than cause
July 24, 2006 - A new study has found that higher
estrogen levels in older men are associated with an increased risk of
dementia. By contrast, levels of testosterone were not associated with
cognitive decline. An earlier study found that older women receiving
estrogen therapy had increased risk of dementia.
Read more...
Efforts to Keep Dementia Patients from Wandering
Just Not Working
Wandering not always a problem and safe walking
should be promoted
By Becky Ham, Science Writer
Health Behavior News Service
July 21, 2006 - Everything from multicolored lights
to garden walks has been suggested as ways to keep people with dementia
from wandering, but there is little evidence to show that any of these
interventions work, according to a new analysis.
Read more...
IVIg Headlines Alzheimer's Treatments at
International Conference
Therapies show promise, address
multiple aspects of the disease
July 19, 2006 – In April of last year,
SeniorJournal.com published a story, " IVIg Therapy May Improve
Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Patients," that became one of the most
read stories the Website had ever published (see story in sidebar). Yesterday, IVIg was a hot
topic again at a conference in Madrid sponsored by the Alzheimer's
Association. It was, however, among several drugs showing promise in
the battle against Alzheimer's that were discussed at the conference.
Read more...
Deepening Connections Between Diabetes and
Alzheimer’s Revealed
Existing diabetes
therapies may help fight Alzheimer’s
July 18, 2006 - There is a growing body of
scientific evidence that links diabetes with Alzheimer’s, and which may
enable already approved diabetes therapies to be quickly tested for
effectiveness against the deadly brain disease. New data from drug
trials and long-term population studies were reported this week in
Madrid at the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and
Related Disorders (ICAD), presented by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Play Computer Game to Determine
Memory Loss
Scientists say FreeCell can be adapted to spot
early signs of dementia
July 18, 2006 – Scientists said today they are
using a popular computer card game – FreeCell – to help distinguish
between senior citizens with memory problems and those without cognitive
problems. Read
more...
Diabetes Drug Shows Promise in Treating Alzheimer’s
In
small study treatment appeared to reduce Alzheimer’s progression
July 17, 2006 – It’s a small study but the results
are intriguing – the possibility that a drug approved by the Food and
Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes may also help people with
Alzheimer’s disease to better hold on to memory and brain function over
a longer period of time.
Read more...
Researchers Uncover Genetic Clues to a Common Form
of Age-Related Dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies is second most common after Alzheimer's
July
17, 2006 - Researchers have found that genetic alterations originally
identified in people suffering from a rare disease may also be an
important risk factor for the second most common form of dementia among
the elderly - dementia with Lewy bodies. It is only exceeded by
Alzheimer's.
Read more...
Senior Citizens with Dementia Can Still Tap into
Memory to Give Advice
Dementia patients successful giving advice, teaching a cooking lesson
July 17, 2006 – Asking a senior citizen with
dementia what he or she had for breakfast may bring just a blank stare.
But ask for advice about what is the healthiest breakfast for a person
to eat and you may get more information that you expected. That is the
indication from a new study that finds dementia may rob an older person
of memory and focus, but the ability to offer timeless advice about
life's big questions seems to be preserved.
Read
more...
Weight Loss Precedes Dementia in Women
Loss of weight can
begin up to 10 years before memory loss
July 16, 2006 - Mayo Clinic researchers have found
that women who develop dementia experience a decline in weight as many
as 10 years prior to the onset of memory loss, compared to peers who do
not develop dementia.
Read more...
Many Suicidal Adults Aren't Getting Mental Health
Treatment
By Amy Sutton, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service
July 13, 2006 - Many adults who consider suicide fail to seek help
from a doctor or mental health professional, and even those who do ask
for help may find it difficult to obtain adequate treatment or
medication, according to a new study.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, News
Parkinson Studies Find More Apathy than Depression,
Experience Needed for Brain Stimulation
Parkinson disease
affects 1 of every 100 people over the age of 60
July 11, 2006 – Two studies in current scientific
journals look at Parkinson disease, which affects about one of every 100
people over the age of 60, and is the most common neurodegenerative
disease after Alzheimer's disease. One study found Parkinson patients –
often considered to be at high risk of depression – can be apathetic
without being depressed and says apathy my be a core feature of the
disease. The second study says patients undergoing the treatment known
as deep brain stimulation may benefit from the direct involvement of a
neurologist with expertise both in movement disorders and in deep brain
stimulation. Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health News
Anxious, Depressed Senior Citizens Turn More Often
to Alternative Therapies
They are not doing it
for a cure – seniors
don't believe it is treatable
July 6, 2006 – Senior citizens over age 65, who are
depressed or anxious, turn to complementary or alternative medicine more
often than other older people who are not anxious or depressed – but not
to treat their mental symptoms.
Read more...
Faulty Brain Molecule Found to Lead to Alzheimer's
Disease
Researchers say this could lead to preventive
treatment for AD
July 6, 2006 - A recent study directed by Mount
Sinai School of Medicine identifies a faulty molecule in the brain found
in cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Researchers say this faulty
molecule may be responsible for the progression of MCI to mild
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. The study, which appeared June 10th
online in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, may lead to preventative
treatments for AD.
Read more...
Researchers find 'Probable Cause' for Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's, other Brain Disorders
June 28, 2006 - Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Lou
Gehrig's disease and other brain disorders are among a growing list of
maladies attributed to oxidative stress, the cell damage caused during
metabolism when the oxygen in the body assumes ever more chemically
reactive forms.
Read more...
Alzheimer's Dementia Drug Approved for Parkinson's
Dementia
Exelon gains FDA approval as first to treat this
dementia
June 28, 2006 – Exelon (rivastigmine tartrate), a
drug already used to treat mild-to-moderate dementia associated with
Alzheimer's disease, got the nod yesterday from the Food and Drug
Administration to become the first medication available for the
treatment of this condition when associated with Parkinson's disease. It
is estimated that about 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent of senior citizens
over age 65 are affected by Parkinson's dementia and experience such
symptoms as impairments in executive function, memory and attention.
Read more...
Violence by Dementia Patients in Nursing Home
Associated with Key Factors
Depression, delusions, hallucinations and
constipation linked to aggression
June 27, 2006 - About 88,000 (6.8 percent) of U.S.
nursing home residents are physically aggressive every week - hitting,
shoving, scratching or sexually abusing others. Depressive symptoms,
delusions, hallucinations and constipation are associated with this physical
aggression among nursing home residents with dementia, according to a
report in the June 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of
the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Pre-Alzheimer's Memory Loss May Affect More of Brain
than Assumed
Follow-up
planned to this small study
revealing problems in frontal lobe
June 27, 2006 - Memory loss associated with early
Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be linked to altered activity in several
areas of the brain, and not just the temporal lobe, according to a study
in the July issue of Radiology.
Read more...
Do Alzheimer's Victims Produce Too Much Harmful
Protein, or Not Clear It Fast Enough?
Chicken or egg study could lead to answers by
monitoring protein
By Michael Purdy
June 26, 2006 - Science is now poised to answer an important and
longstanding question about the origins of Alzheimer's disease: Do
Alzheimer's patients have high levels of a brain protein because they
make too much of it or because they can't clear it from their brains
quickly enough?
Read more...
Depression in Senior Citizens Found to Diminish
Ability to Plan and Control
Late-Onset Depression emerges in people aged 60 and
older
June 23, 2006 – The ability of senior citizens to
plan and control their thoughts and actions can suffer a noted decline
if they suffer from late-onset depression. This form of depression first
emerges in people aged 60 and over, is linked to a decline in the
brain's executive functions of planning and control that leads to
repetitive, negative thought patterns a new study reveals.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's May Be Prevented by Less
Carbohydrates, Triggering Longevity Activity in Brain
Direct link between
nutrition and Alzheimer's continues to grow
June 15, 2006 – A recent study is the first to show
that restricting caloric intake, specifically carbohydrates, may prevent
Alzheimer's Disease by triggering activity in the brain associated with
longevity. Read
more....
Alzheimer’s Association Launches New Web Tool to
Help Find Best Care Options
June 14, 2006 - Millions of individuals affected by
Alzheimer’s disease are faced with the challenge of finding good care
for themselves or their loved ones. To support them, the Alzheimer’s
Association has developed a unique Web tool that helps individuals find
the right care options, from home and community-based care, to assisted
living and nursing home care.
Read more...
A Sweet Solution to Alzheimer's Disease?
Sugar restored
cognitive ability, returned mice to live normal lives
June 13, 2006 - Certain variants of a simple sugar cause
improvement in Alzheimer's-like disease in mice, according to a new
study by Canadian researchers. Although the new studies are still in
the early stages, the findings could lead to new therapies that
prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Read
more...
Senior News on Alzheimer's, Dementia
Alzheimer's Vaccine that Restores Memory in Mice
Revealed by Researchers
Shows promise of reversing memory loss, slowing
effects of Alzheimer's
May 31, 2006 – Researchers today claim to have
developed a vaccine that reverses memory loss in Alzheimer's diseased
mice. They say it is created from specialized blood cells, has no side
effects and needs to be given only occasionally.
Read more...
Older Americans Fear Alzheimer's the Most, While
Most Adults Fear Cancer
MetLife survey finds
little planning for Alzheimer’s disease
May 31, 2006 – Most Americans fear cancer the most
and Alzheimer's disease second, but this flips for those age 55 and
older, where Alzheimer's is the disease they most fear, according to a
report issued this month - “MetLife Foundation Alzheimer’s Survey: What
America Thinks,” conducted by Harris Interactive.
Read more...
Dementia Not Prevented in Older People by Lowering
Blood Pressure
Vascular
dementias was often linked to high blood pressure
By Lise Millay Stevens, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service
May 25, 2006 - Lowering blood pressure does not appear to prevent
cognitive or dementia-related disorders, a desired effect in light of
the large number of elderly adults who suffer from both cognitive
impairment and hypertension. (Editor's Note: See sidebar
stories on earlier studies suggesting lowering blood pressure does offer
dementia protection.)
Read more...
Unprepared Caregivers Increase Dementia
Activity in
Patients
Certain caregiver
styles, emotional state may bring them out
May 24, 2006- Troublesome symptoms that accompany
dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, – including wandering,
hallucinations and restlessness – may increase if the patients’
caregivers are young, less educated, over-burdened or depressed,
according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine
and colleagues.
Read more...
First Signs of Alzheimer's May Be Trouble with
Balance, Walking
Senior citizens who stayed active less likely
to develop dementia
May 22, 2006 - The first signs of dementia -
including Alzheimer's disease – may not be a faulty memory but problems
with balance and walking, according to a new study that found senior
citizens who participated were three times less likely to develop
dementia if they maintained their physical function at high levels.
Read more...
Autopsies Show Mild Cognitive Impairment Leading to
Alzheimer's
Brains
had plaques and tangles beyond what's expected in normal aging
May 8, 2006 – Autopsies of persons who had only
mild cognitive impairment revealed structural changes in the brain that
indicate these people with slight behavioral symptoms were on their way
to developing Alzheimer's disease. Mild cognitive impairment has been
considered a strong early predictor of AD but this is one of the first
autopsy studies of such patients.
Read more...
Dementia Risk Lowered in Elderly by Sustained Blood Pressure
Treatment
Study finds
protection against Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia
April 30, 2006 – Hypertension treatment for senior
citizens age 80 and older has proven successful in providing
protection from cardiovascular problems. but a new study says sustained
treatment may also
reduce the risk of dementia in old age.
Read more...
Alzheimer's 'Cocktail' Hailed as New Hope for
Patients
April
28, 2006 - MIT brain researchers have developed a "cocktail" of dietary
supplements, now in human clinical trials, that holds promise for the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease. For years, doctors have encouraged
people to consume foods such as fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty
acids because they appear to improve memory and other brain functions.
Read more...
Pharmaceutical-Funded Coalition Says Boomers Want
Action by FDA on Alzheimer's Drugs
ACT-AD Coalition calls for recognition of
Alzheimer's as urgent national health crisis
April 27, 2006 – A new coalition began an effort
today to speed up the approval of Alzheimer's treatment drugs by the
U.S. Food and Drug by releasing a survey of Baby Boomers' attitudes
about the disease. This effort by the new ACT-AD Coalition is supported by an educational grant from
two of the leading companies working to get Alzheimer's treatments
approved by the FDA – Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Elan Corporation, a
biotechnology company.
Read more...
Nine Easy Steps to Fight Age-Related Memory Loss
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
April 27, 2006 – If there is a universal concern
among senior citizens, it has to be the fear of mental decline.
Alzheimer's disease, of course, being the ultimate. The May issue of the
Harvard Men's Health Watch offers nine steps senior citizens and baby
boomers – well, any
adult, actually - can take to keep their minds healthy. Every senior
should post this list where it will remind them often of these easy
steps we can all take to fight off age-related memory loss.
Read more...
Guest Opinion
The Big 'A' - As in Alzheimer's
A disease many of us will have to reckon
with…
By Norma Sherry
April 25, 2006 - The Big A. Alzheimer’s Disease. A
dreadful looming fear that rears its ugly head every time we walk into
the other room and can’t remember why or momentarily can’t recall where
we left our car keys, or who the voice is on the other end of the phone.
These temporary lapses of memory, thankfully, are not precursors to
Alzheimer’s. We’re told they are more likely indicators that we have too
much on our minds. Read
more...
Report on Alzhemed Clinical Trial Says Alzheimer's
Stabilized in 4 of 9
Tramiprostate product reduces amyloid accumulation - major AD culprit
April 24, 2006 – A presentation Saturday on the
potential use of tramiprostate (Alzhemed) in the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease said stabilization of the disease occurred in four
out of nine patients with a mild form of AD after three years of
treatment. Read
more...
Social Contact Protects Senior Citizens from
Alzheimer's Damaging Effects
Social network
offers protection despite the tangles and plaques of Alzheimer's
April 21, 2006 - Having close friends and staying
in contact with family members offers a protective effect against the
damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease according to research by
physicians at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The study,
which is currently posted online in The Lancet Neurology, will be
published in the May print edition of the journal.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's Climbs in Leading Causes of Death for
2004
Heart disease and cancer accounted for over
half the deaths in 2004
April
20, 2006 - The 15 leading causes of death in 2004 were the same as in
2003 except Alzheimer's disease moved up a notch higher, shoving
Influenza and pneumonia down one. Alzheimer's moved up to number 7 with
65,829 deaths and was one of only two of the leading causes of death to
increase, according to a report yesterday by the National Center for
Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read more...
New Genetic Cause of Alzheimer's Found
Study
says quantity of amyloid protein is key to early dementia
April 19,2006 - Researchers from Belgium are today
claiming to be the first to show that the quantity of amyloid protein in
brain cells is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid
protein has been known to be the primary component of the senile plaques
in the brains of patients. The new discovery demonstrates that the
greater the quantity of the protein that is produced, the younger the
patient is when dementia develops.
Read more...
Alzheimer's Risk Lowered by Mediterranean Diet in
Study
April 18, 2006 - Americans who ate a Mediterranean
diet--lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, some fish and
alcohol, and little dairy and meat--had a reduced risk for Alzheimer's
disease as they aged. These findings are published in the April issue of
Annals of Neurology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons.
Read more...
Obesity in 40s Raises Risk of Alzheimer's as Senior
Citizens
April 6, 2006 – Winning the war against obesity in
your 40s can also save your mental abilities as you become a senior
citizen, and maybe even reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's
disease, suggests new research.
Read more...
Cognitive Impairment Common in Seniors: Increases
with Age, Lack of Education
April 5, 2006 - Mayo Clinic researchers have found
that mild cognitive impairment, a disorder considered a strong early
predictor of Alzheimer’s disease, is prevalent among senior citizens and
increases with age and fewer years of education.
Read more...
Three Get Big Prize for Revolutionary Alzheimer's
Research
Work with plaques, tangles and amyloid-beta
advances search for a cure
March 24, 2006 – Three scientists are to be awarded
the $100,000 Potamkin Prize, sometimes called the "Nobel Prize of
Neurology," for their work in helping advance the understanding of
Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Read more...
Loss of Insulin in Brain Triggers Alzheimer's, Says
Pioneering Study
Researcher says
insulin question must be addressed to make significant progress in
fighting AD
March 23, 2006 – A loss of insulin in the brain
triggers the onset of Alzheimer's, says the senior author of new
research supported by the National Institutes of Health. She concludes
that by specifically targeting insulin and its actions in the brain new
treatments are possible.
Read more...
Alzheimer's
Study Finds Natural 'Fishnet'
Captures Damaging Beta-Amyloid
Raises question of
does age just create more of this protein or does 'fishnet' leak
March 21, 2006 – Beta-amyloid fragments that lump
in the brain to form plaque has long been associated with Alzheimer's
disease. New research indicates that an organ in the brain called the
choroid plexus apparently plays a critical role in preventing the
accumulation of this protein, challenging a long-held theory that the
protein accumulates because it is overproduced by aging brain cells, or
neurons.
Read more...
Critical Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Delayed for Years
by Stigma and Denial
National survey finds longest delays when fear
manifested in caregiver
March 21, 2006 – The stigma and denial of the
developing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease delays treatment for more
than two years (28.7 months) on average. But, when this fear is
manifested in the caregiver, delay of diagnosis is even more severe,
averaging 6 years (71.4 months). These are findings in a new survey from
the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
Read more...
Blood Pressure Lowering Drugs Linked To Reduced Risk
of Alzheimer's
Diuretics most effective in lowering incidence of
Alzheimer's in senior citizens
March 17, 2006 - Taking medications to lower blood
pressure, particularly those known as diuretics, may be associated with
a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study of senior
citizens. Beta blockers and anti-hypertensives also were linked to a
slightly protective effect against AD, but ACE inhibitors did not.
Read more...
Graphic Shows 3-D Structure of Alzheimer's Brain as
It Zips Up Peptides
March 8, 2006 – Last November, researchers
announced the creation of a unique three-dimensional structure of the
long thread-like fibers that fill the brains of Alzheimer's disease
patients. This dynamic graphic was published in the February 2006 issue
of Inside Salk.
Read more and see 3-D image...
Researchers Find Natural Defense to Fight
Alzheimer's Disease
Feb. 16, 2006 – Canadian scientist say they have
made a significant discovery that could be an important step towards a
new therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease. They have demonstrated
that bone marrow-derived microglia infiltrate amyloid plaques that cause
AD and succeed in destroying them "most efficiently" in mice.
Read more...
Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Study Seeks Older
Volunteers
Nationwide study by the National Institutes of
Health needs 800 seniors
Feb. 10, 2006 - The Alzheimer’s Disease
Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) -- a project developed by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) -- is seeking 800 older adults to participate
in a study aimed at identifying biological markers of memory decline and
Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Ultimately, scientists hope that brain and
biological changes can be detected before memory decline and other
symptoms appear, allowing the effectiveness of drugs to be evaluated at
the earliest possible time.
Read
more...
| |
Montessori Technique Working for Seniors with Dementia
Feb. 3, 2006
– The Baltimore Sun has an interesting story about the
West End Place, an adult day care center where
therapists are finding success with a Montessori-based
approach to help senior citizens with dementia
rediscover what they once knew.
It is the
only facility of its kind in Maryland to use the program
- used nationwide for teaching children - for dementia
treatment.
Click to story. |
|
Clear Genetic Link Found for Alzheimer's in Study of
Twins
Genetics also play a role in the timing of the
disease
Feb. 6, 2006 - In a study of twins - the largest
ever - Alzheimer's disease appears to be highly heritable and genetic
factors may also influence timing of the disease, according to an
article in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one
of the JAMA/Archives journals. The researchers estimated heritability
for AD to be between 58 and 79 percent.
Read more...
Lifetime Depression Links to Alzheimer's Through
Tangles in the Brain
Increased plaque and tangles also lead to more
rapid cognitive decline
Feb. 6, 2006 - Previous studies have linked
depression and Alzheimer’s disease but a new study is adding more light
on this association. A lifetime history of depression is associated with
increased plaques and tangles in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s
disease and more rapid cognitive decline, according to a study in the
February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's Drugs Offer Modest Improvements, Equal
Effectiveness
Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon studies reviewed
By Becky Ham, Science Writer
Health Behavior News Service
Feb. 5, 2006 - The Alzheimer’s drugs Aricept,
Razadyne and Exelon can lead to small improvements in mental functioning
and the ability to carry out everyday activities in people with mild to
moderate forms of the disease, according to a new review of recent
studies. Read
more...
New Compound Stops Brain Cell Degeneration in
Alzheimer's Disease
The study has important implications for drug
discovery in neurodegenerative diseases in general
Jan. 19, 2006 - Drug discovery researchers at
Northwestern University have developed a novel orally administered
compound specifically targeted to suppress brain cell inflammation and
neuron loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. Northwestern has
patented the compound designated 188WH and has exclusively licensed the
patent rights to NeuroMedix, Inc., for clinical development.
Read more...
Exercise Significantly Reduces Risk of Dementia in
Senior Citizens
Jan. 16, 2006 – A new study, and maybe the best to
date, joins a growing library of information indicating that regular
exercise may delay or prevent dementia in senior citizens. The new
research says older adults who exercised at least three times a week
were much less likely to develop dementia than those who were less
active.
Read
more...
Memantine (Namenda)
Confirmed Effective for Advanced
Alzheimer's Disease
Clinicians, caregivers and scientific tests support
earlier FDA approval
Jan. 10, 2006 - Memantine, marketed as Namenda, was
approved in 2003 as the first drug okayed by the FDA for the treatment
of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. A new study reported today
confirms that it appears safe and effective for this use.
Read
more...
Blood Flow in Brain Takes a Twist, Affecting Views
of Alzheimer's
Are astrocytes gone wild starving neurons from oxygen
Jan. 6, 2006 - New findings that long-overlooked
brain cells play an important role in regulating blood flow in the brain
call into question one of the basic assumptions underlying today's most
sophisticated brain imaging techniques and could open a new frontier
when it comes to understanding Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Use it or Lose it?
Brain Cell Activity Increases Levels of Key
Ingredient in Alzheimer's Plaques
"Cognitive idleness is not good from the perspective
of Alzheimer's risk"
By Michael Purdy
Dec. 23, 2005 - Increased communication between
brain cells increases levels of amyloid beta, the key ingredient in
Alzheimer's brain plaques, scientists at Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis have found.
Read
more...
Scientist Make Important Step in Detecting Alzheimer's Very
Early
Neuroimaging Initiative recruiting people 55
to 90 to participate in study
Dec. 22, 2005 – As with all diseases, if
Alzheimer's can be detected early there is a better chance of
delaying its damage, and a better opportunity to learn more
about its development. Scientist announced yesterday an
"important step" in finding "biomarkers" for AD that will help
detect the disease even before signs of memory loss appear.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's Foundation Announces 'Quilt to Remember'
Dec. 16, 2005 - In the spirit of the holiday
season, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) today unveiled its
plans to bring comfort and hope to Americans with the creation of a
national quilt to remember those affected by Alzheimer's disease and
related illnesses. The program is patterned after the world famous AIDS
Memorial Quilt, which began in 1987.
Read more...
Ancient Healing Herb Gotu Kola Improves Alzheimer's
Symptoms
Herb improves memory function in a mouse model of
Alzheimer's disease
Dec. 1, 2005 - An herb traditionally used in the
ancient Hindu system of healing known as Ayurveda improved memory in a
mouse model for Alzheimer's disease, say Oregon Health & Science
University researchers. Their work adds to the evidence that
antioxidants - also found in apples and other foods - seem to hinder memory
loss. Read
more...
Dementia Patients Energized by OTC Pain Relief
Nursing home patients routinely given Tylenol are
more active
Dec. 1, 2005 – Nursing home dementia patients often
suffer chronic pain but lack the ability to communicate their suffering.
A new study says these patients will benefit from the routine
administration of over-the-counter painkillers.
Read
more...
More Evidence an Apple a Day Keeps Alzheimer's Away
Nov.
30, 2005- One of the largest studies of its kind is finding a link
between fruit and vegetable consumption and memory loss in the elderly.
The discovery supports research with rats in 2004 that found a potent
antioxidant abundant in apples and some other fruits and vegetables
protects rat brain cells against oxidative stress, a tissue-damaging
process associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative
disorders. Read
more...
Alzheimer’s Stopped in Modified Mice Brains that
Also Allow for More Study
Nov. 16, 2005 – Scientist report they have
developed a new strain of genetically modified mice that allow them to
stop the development of Alzheimer’s disease and to work on potential new
therapies for the disease.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Disease May Begin with Lapses in
Attention
Nov. 9, 2005 — People in early stages of
Alzheimer's disease have greater difficulty shifting attention back and
forth between competing sources of information, a finding that offers
new support for theories that contend breakdowns in attention play an
important role in the onset of the disease.
Read more...
National Candle Lighting for Alzheimer’s Families
Hundreds of Ceremonies to Honor Courageous Families
Touched by Disease
Nov. 7, 2005 - Jane Marx never knew what it meant
to be a "nurturer" until she was reluctantly called into action. An
energetic tour guide in New York City who never had children, Marx now
bathes, dresses and gets involved in all other aspects of caring for her
87-year-old mother who is in the late stage of Alzheimer's disease. She
has one word to sum up the practical and emotional reality of her role:
complex. Read
more...
Red Wine Reduces Alzheimer’s Disease-Causing
Peptides
It’s the resveratrol from grapes that also protect
our hearts, prevent cancer
Nov.
3, 2005 – The good news for red wine continues to mount. A new study
says resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, lowers the
levels of the amyloid-beta peptides, which cause the tell-telltale
senile plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. A study earlier this year found
it is the polyphenols, like resveratrol, that also lower the risk of
heart problems when we drink two to three glasses of red wine a day.
Polyphenols have also been identified in helping prevent cancer.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Foundation’s National Memory Screening
Day Offers Free Testing
More than 700 sites available for free memory
screening on November 15
Oct. 27, 2005 - Tens of thousands of Americans
concerned about memory loss, including the wave of baby boomers that
will start turning 60 next year and senior citizens, are expected to
take advantage of free in-person memory screenings on National Memory
Screening Day on November 15. The program is an initiative of the
Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) and is held annually during
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
Read more...
Drugs for Dementia May Be Associated with Small
Increased Risk of Death
Atypical antipsychotic drugs common to treat
aggression, delusions
Oct. 19, 2005 - Patients with dementia who took
atypical antipsychotic drugs had a slightly increased risk of death
compared to patients who took placebo, according to a meta-analysis
published in today’s issue of JAMA.
Read more...
Memory Loss Before Your Time May Be Due to Stress as
Infant
Oct. 13, 2005 – Baby boomers and young senior
citizens that are experiencing memory loss and cognitive decline before
their time, may have stress experienced as babies to blame.
Read more...
Boomers Beware
Senior Citizens Who Were Fat in Midlife More at Risk
for Alzheimer’s
Oct. 11, 2005 - Individuals who were obese at
midlife had an increased risk for dementia later in life compared to
individuals of normal weight, according to an article in the October
issue of the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Researchers Claim 95 Percent Success in Predicting
Alzheimer’s
They use relatively inexpensive, painless, and
easy-to-use tool called an EEG
Oct.
6, 2005 – One of the most pursued challenges in medicine is finding a
means of detecting Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia
for senior citizens, in its early stages. The medicines now available
work best if prescribed in the early stages of the disease, when victims
have only mild cognitive impairment. Now a new study says the earliest
manifestations of Alzheimer's can be found with a relatively
inexpensive, painless, and easy-to-use tool called an EEG
(electroencephalograph). The researchers claim a 95 percent success
rate. Read more...
Evidence Growing that Alzheimer's Risk Greatly
Diminished by Exercise
New study says exercise in middle age
important
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
Oct. 4, 2005 – A new study published today adds to
the growing evidence that exercise – particularly if it starts early and
is maintained over time - is beneficial in preventing dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease. The new study focused on the physical activity
levels of older people when they were middle aged and concludes being
physically active in midlife can significantly decrease the risk of
dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Read more...
Steady Weight Loss May Indicate Alzheimer’s Onset
for Senior Citizens
Sept. 26, 2005 – The latest theory on predicting
Alzheimer’s disease is that a steady loss of weight - body mass - over
time appears to be strongly linked to older adults' risk of developing
the disease. And, the researchers say, the greater the loss the greater
the chance of a person developing Alzheimer’s. They theorize that the
loss of body mass reflects disease processes and that change in BMI
might be a clinical predictor of the development of AD.
Read more...
Psychologists Find More Sensitive Tests for
Predicting Alzheimer's
Two news studies explore traits of those who develop
the disease
Sept. 26, 2005 - Two recent studies may help
clinicians and researchers better predict and understand the Alzheimer’s
type of dementia early in its history. These psychologists focused on
early detection, in part, because current medications are useful only
when given very early in the course of the disease.
Read more...
Severe Alzheimer’s Reversed in Mice through Gene
Therapy
Sept. 21, 2005 - In mice, that had been genetically
engineered to develop Alzheimer's disease, scientists were able to
dramatically reverse the rodents' severe memory loss by reducing the
amount of an enzyme that is crucial for the development of Alzheimer's
disease. Read
more...
Cost of Care for Vascular Dementia Higher Than
Alzheimer’s
Caused by strokes, vascular dementia second to
Alzheimer's as most common form of dementia
Sept. 12, 2005 - The most comprehensive health
economics study of vascular dementia in the U.S. has found that patients
with vascular dementia living in the community have substantially higher
healthcare utilization and costs than patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after
neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Low Blood Flow to Brain May Be A Cause of Dementia
“Diminished cerebral blood flow indeed causes brain
damage.”
Aug. 30, 2005 - The amount of blood flowing into
the brain may play a larger role in the development of dementia than
previously believed, which emphasizes the importance of monitoring both
high and low blood pressure in senior citizens, according to a study in
the September issue of the journal Radiology.
Read more...
New Dye that Binds to Alzheimer's Plaques Could
Offer Early Diagnosis
NIAD-4 dye could be ready for clinical trials in near
future
Aug. 25, 2005 – MIT scientists have developed a new
dye, called NIAD-4, that can bind to the protein deposits, or plaques,
in the brain that cause Alzheimer's, and then show fluorescence when
exposed to radiation. The potential is that this discovery can lead to
noninvasive early diagnosis, help in monitoring the progress and the
study of new treatments of Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Risk Jumps Following Bypass Surgery
Researchers say stress and trauma of surgery may be
to blame
Aug. 25, 2005 – The risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease increased significantly in patients who had coronary artery
bypass graft surgery or coronary angioplasty, according to a new study
by researchers from Boston University School of Medicine. The risk of AD
jumped 70 percent for those who had bypass surgery.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s May Begin in Early Adulthood with
Default Mode Switch
It may be the normal cognitive function of the brain
that leads to Alzheimer’s later in life
Aug. 24, 2005 – Alzheimer’s possibly begins in
early adulthood, according to researchers who made the surprising
discovery that the areas of the brain that young, healthy people use
when daydreaming are the same areas that fail in people who have
Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Namenda Alzheimer’s Medication Now Available in
Liquid
Only FDA-approved drug for moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer’s Disease
Aug. 19, 2005 – The only drug approved by the Food
and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer’s disease – Namenda (memantine HCl) - is now available in an
oral solution formulation.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Memory Loss Possibly Restored by
Ampakine CX717
Company has begun enrollments for Phase II studies
Aug. 18, 2005 – Enrollment has begun for more Phase
II studies of Ampakine CX717, a drug that may improve memory function
for people with Alzheimer’s disease and address some of the underlying
causes of memory loss. The announcement from Cortex Pharmaceuticals says
drugs available today “simply treat symptoms.”
Read more...
Vitamin B Rich Folates Significantly Reduce
Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
Beats antioxidants, like vitamin E, and other
nutrients for health of aging brain in study of senior citizens
Aug. 12, 2005- A study of senior citizens says
those who eat the daily recommended allowance of folates – B vitamin
nutrients found in oranges, legumes, leafy green vegetables and folic
acid supplements – “significantly reduce” their risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more...
Cell-Killing Acid Found in Brains of All Dementia
Patients
May serve as guide to new drug treatments for
Alzheimer’s
Aug. 5, 2005 – An acid that kills nerve cells in
the brain, quinolinic acid, was found in all the brains of dementia
patients tested in a recent study released today, which the Australian researchers say
suggests the toxin plays an important role in the progression of
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Warning Signs Show Up Years Before
Diagnosis
Aug. 1, 2005 - By combing through dozens of
Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies, psychologists have gained a clear
picture of cognitive problems in people who will develop the
degenerative brain disease. The meta-analysis reveals that people can
show early warning signs across several cognitive domains years before
they are officially diagnosed, confirming that Alzheimer's causes
general deterioration and tends to follow a stable preclinical stage
with a sharp drop in function.
Read more...
Better Alzheimer’s Drugs May Come from Discovery
Anti-inflammatory function of Alzheimer's disease
drugs revealed
July 28, 2005 - The mechanism in anti-Alzheimer's
disease drugs that inhibits the production of a destructive,
inflammation-causing protein in the brain has been revealed by
researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who say it could lead
to better treatment drugs. Read
more...
Alzheimer’s Drug May Come from Discovery of
Molecules
July 23, 2005 - A team of scientists has discovered
three molecules –– from a search of 58,000 compounds –– that appear to
inhibit a key perpetrator of Alzheimer's disease. Each of the three
molecules protects the protein called "tau," which becomes hopelessly
tangled in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's. The finding is
promising news for the development of drugs for the disease.
Read more...
Government Creates New Focus on Mental Illness
Nearly 20 percent of senior citizens 55 and older
have mental problems
July 22, 2005 – What is a hopeful sign for the
nearly 20 percent of those age 55 and older who experience mental health
problems that are not part of the normal aging process, the federal
government is aligning resources in an “unprecedented collaborative
effort” to help ensure that people with mental illness have every
opportunity for recovery.
Read more...
Life a Blur for Many Alzheimer’s Patients in Nursing
Homes
One-third of these patients are missing eyeglasses,
says study
July 20, 2005 - One in three nursing home residents
who have Alzheimer's disease are not getting their vision corrected so
they can see clearly, according to new Saint Louis University research
in the July issue of the Journal of the American Medical Directors
Association. Read
more...
Alzheimer’s Patients Find Hope in Memory Restoration
in Mice
July 14, 2005 – In another significant development
in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at the University
of Minnesota were able to reverse memory loss in mice with significant
brain degeneration for the first time. It is a breakthrough that offers
hope to the estimated 4 million people living with Alzheimer's.
Read more...
Statins Not Associated with Reduced Dementia Risk
Says New Study
July 11, 2005 - The use of statins and other
lipid-lowering agents by older adults was not associated with a reduced
risk of Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, according to a
study of people over 65 that appears in the July issue of Archives of
Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. An earlier study had
raised the possibility of statins blocking dementia, based primarily on
evidence that people with high blood pressure are more likely to develop
cognitive impairment, a mild form of dementia.
Read more...
Ispronicline Joins Effort to Find Alzheimer’s Cure
July 6, 2005 – There is a new kid on the block in
the mad race to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Ispronicline is now enrolling participants for a Phase II study after
clinical studies in which elderly people taking Ispronicline performed
better on memory and attention measures than those taking a placebo.
Read more...
Alzhemed Resumes Race for Alzheimer’s Cure with
Phase III Trial
July 5, 2005 – The Phase III clinical trial for
Alzhemed, a drug battling Flurizan for the top spot in Alzheimer’s
treatment research, is ready to begin in North America. Neurochem, Inc.,
the manufacturer, announced today the recruitment of 950 patients with
mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s Disease for the trial to be conducted in 51
U.S. and 17 Canadian clinical centers.
Read more...
Study Links Teen IQ, Activity Levels With Risk of
Dementia as Seniors
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
July 1, 2005 – A study released today says your IQ
and extracurricular activities as a teenager may forecast your memory
and thinking abilities as a senior citizen. They found those who were
active and had high IQ scores were less likely to have mild memory
problems and dementia as older adults. They reason may be that these
active, bright young people stay active as they grow older, which most
studies say reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more...
Dementia Prevention Conference
Is Flurizan the Alzheimer’s Treatment the World
Awaits?
Studies so far have shown modest results, new study
underway
June 21, 2005 – The media jumped all over the news
from the Dementia Prevention Conference about a possible treatment for
Alzheimer’s disease with the drug R-flurbiprofen (Flurizan) which is
entering a Phase III clinical trial. The results so far, however, have
been only mildly successful with the headlines on the Phase II study
being “Flurizan Phase II Trial Shows No Overall Benefit.” Still, there
is hope for this beta-amyloid altering drug being developed by Myriad
Pharmaceuticals. Read
more...
Dementia Prevention Conference
Tell-Tale Signs of Alzheimer’s Can by Detected by
New System
Researchers combined computer program with PET scan
to measure brain metabolism
June 20, 2005 – Researchers said today they have
developed a computer program they call "HipMask" that used with a PET
scan of the brain can possibly detect the tell-tale signs of Alzheimer’s
before the memory robbing disease becomes evident.
Read more...
Dementia Prevention Conference
Alzheimer's Treatment Innovations Show Promise
Drug treatments and lifestyle-based interventions
share spotlight on disease most feared by senior citizens
June 20, 2005 - A number of innovative treatment
possibilities — including a new version of an established pain drug, a
combination of traditional Chinese herbs, and what may be the next
chapter in the Alzheimer vaccine story — all show some promise for
Alzheimer’s disease as demonstrated by five new research studies
reported today in the second day of the first Alzheimer’s
Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia.
Read more...
Dementia Prevention Conference
Alzheimer’s May Result from Lifestyle Habits
Preventive measures earlier in life may reduce
cognitive decline
June 19, 2005 - A series of new research studies –
examining topics including level of social activity, heart disease risk
factors, education, consumption of fruit and vegetable juices, exercise,
and alcohol intake – add to the growing body of scientific evidence that
lifestyle habits are closely linked to risk of Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia, according to reports presented today.
Read more...
Classic Movies May Recover Memories for Dementia
Suffers
June 15, 2005 - Classic movies such as 'Casablanca'
could bring back lost memories for dementia sufferers thanks to an
innovative memory aid. Based on an interactive multimedia computer
system and a clearer understanding of how dementia sufferers respond to
social situations, the aid aims to stimulate more enjoyable, rewarding
conversation between sufferers and those who care for them.
Read more..
Discovery Could Lead to New Treatment for
Alzheimer’s
June 10, 2005 – Researchers at UCLA think they have
made a discovery that may lead to a new approach in diagnosing and
treating Alzheimer’s Disease. They say the human body has its own
defense against brain aging - the immune system - which helps to clean
the brain of amyloid-beta waste products. They have discovered that some
patients with Alzheimer's disease have an immune defect making it
difficult to clean away these wastes. This may lead to over-saturation
of the brain with amyloid beta, which form amyloid plaques, the
definitive hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
New Once Daily Alzheimer’s Capsule Hits Market
Razadyne, known as Reminyl until name changed in
April, introduces new once-a-day formula
May 24, 2005 – There is a new once-a-day capsule
for Alzheimer’s Disease patients but the identification may be
confusing. Razadyne ER is the new formula for mild to moderate
Alzheimer’s treatment. Razadyne, however, was known as Reminyl until
last month, when the name was changed.
Read more...
Doctor Who Spawned “Use it or lose it” Wins
Geriatrics Society's Award
Dr. Joe Verghese found using the mind could reduce
risk of dementia
May
13, 2005 – The man who gave new meaning to the expression “use it or
lose it,” Joe Verghese, MD., was named today as the winner of the
American Geriatrics Society’s Outstanding Scientific Achievement for
Clinical Investigation Award. He introduced evidence that intellectually
challenging activities can reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 70
per cent.
Read
more...
When Are Alzheimer’s Patients Incapable of Making
Decisions?
May 9, 2005 - People with very mild Alzheimer’s
disease are still competent to make decisions about their treatment,
while those with moderate Alzheimer’s may no longer be able to
competently make those decisions, according to a study published in the
May 10 issue of Neurology. The study also found that people who were
aware of their Alzheimer’s diagnosis, symptoms, and prognosis were more
likely to be able to make competent decisions, regardless of the
severity of their disease.
Read more...
Scientist Think Alzheimer’s Vaccine Looks
Promising
May 9, 2005 – Using a vaccine to train the
immune system to fight back against Alzheimer’s still may be a
possibility, according to researchers who studied patients that
participated in studies that were stopped in early 2002 after
brain inflammation in some patients. Participants in the test
who received the beta amyloid protein in their vaccination
performed better on memory tests than those who received a
placebo injection, according to follow-up studies.
Read
more...
New Study Adds to Evidence that Exercise Slows
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
April 26, 2005 - The
new research demonstrates
that long-term physical activity enhances the learning ability of mice
and decreases the level of plaque-forming beta-amyloid protein
fragments - a hallmark characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) - in
their brains. This is the latest of several studies in recent years
claiming exercise can slow Alzheimer’s and dementia. (For other studies
see box on left.)
Read more...
Even Alzheimer’s May Come from Infection
Infection May Trump Lifestyle in Causing Chronic
Diseases Now More Frequent with Aging Population
April 22, 2005 - The aging population increase
appears to correlate with a switch from acute infectious diseases to
chronic diseases as the major cause of illness and death. Some diseases
like ulcers and certain types of cancer, once thought to be primarily
related to lifestyle factors, are now known to be caused by
microorganisms. Other health problems, including Alzheimer’s and other
psychiatric conditions, may also have a connection to infection,
according to a report released today by the American Academy of
Microbiology.
Read more...
Brain Injections May Be Way to Stop Alzheimer’s
Plaque
April 18, 2005 – In a report being released today,
researchers will report encouraging success in reducing beta-amyloid
plaque - a key factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease – by the
injection of anti-beta-amyloid that inhibited the development of the
plaque without producing the serious side-effects seen in prior attempts
at immunization.
Read more..
Think You’re Depressed, Anxious? New Research Says
Watch for Dementia
April
14, 2005 – If you thought you were depressed before, now new research
will send you through the floor, or increase your anxiety, which is even
worse. A study presented today says people who do not have psychiatric
problems but score very high on a personality test pessimism scale have
a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia several decades
later. The same is true of individuals who score very high on the test's
depression scale. The risk is even higher -- 40 percent more -- for
individuals who score very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Risk Lowered by Exercise Variety – Not
Intensity
April 14, 2005 - The variety of leisure and
physical activity one engages in -- and not its intensity in terms of
calories expended - may reduce dementia risk in older people, according
to researchers at Johns Hopkins. An association between variety of
activity and dementia risk, however, did not hold up in those with the
so-called APOE-4 genetic predisposition to the disease found in about
one-quarter to one-third of Alzheimer's patients, according to a report
appearing in the April 1, 2005, issue of the American Journal of
Epidemiology.
Read
more...
FDA Warns Antipsychotic Drugs Dangerous to Elderly
With Dementia
April 14, 2005 - The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) this week issued a public health advisory to alert health care
providers, patients, and patient caregivers to new safety information
concerning an unapproved (i.e., “off-label”) use of certain drugs called
“atypical antipsychotic drugs.” These drugs are approved for the
treatment of schizophrenia and mania, but clinical studies of these
drugs to treat behavioral disorders in elderly patients with dementia
have shown a higher death rate associated with their use compared to
patients receiving a placebo (sugar pill).
Read more...
Important Breakthrough?
IVIg Therapy May Improve Cognitive Function in
Alzheimer's Patients
Delivered Antibodies Bind to Disease-Causing Amyloid
Proteins
April 12, 2005 - In what could prove to be an
important development in the search for a treatment of Alzheimer's
disease, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
physician-scientists say the results of an initial (Phase I) clinical
study provide encouraging evidence that antibodies derived from human
plasma can capture the beta-amyloid protein in blood and exert positive
effects on patients' thinking abilities.
Read more...
Blood Tests for Neurodegenerative Disease to Enter
Test Market
Goal is early detection of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,
ALS and more
March 28, 2005 – In what may become a significant
step in the early detection of some of the diseases most feared by
senior citizens - Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS - two companies have
entered into an agreement for the development of antibody based
diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative disease using identified protein
biomarkers.
Read
more...
Two Recent Studies
Exercise Proves Valuable in Lowering Risk for
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
March 15, 2005 – Two of the diseases most feared by
senior citizens – Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s – may be prevented or
slowed by exercise, according to two recent studies. The Alzheimer’s
study showed that middle-aged people taking regular exercise at least
twice a week could reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
by 50 percent. The Parkinson’s study found that men who exercised
regularly and vigorously early in their adult life lowered risk for
Parkinson's by as much as 60 percent.
Read more...
Quick Tips
Dementia, Alzheimer’s Can Be Delayed
March 8, 2005 - Alzheimer’s and other forms of
dementia are not inevitable with aging, says the Mayo Clinic Health
Letter. Read more...
including tips on what to do.
Alzheimer's Trigger Discovery Could Lead to New
Therapies
Clearance of beta
amyloid accumulation within neurons stops memory decline in mice
March 2, 2005 -
Researchers at UC Irvine have identified a trigger
at the molecular level that marks the onset of memory decline in mice
genetically engineered to develop brain lesions – in the form of plaques
and tangles – associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Neuron "Traffic Jam" Marks Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Feb. 26, 2005 - Early Alzheimer's disease may be
precipitated by a “traffic jam” within neurons that causes swelling and
prevents proper transport of proteins and structures in the cells,
according to new studies by Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers.
Read more...
Not Viable Anti-psychotic
Alzheimer’s Worsens for Patients Taking Quetiapine,
Researchers Say
Feb. 18, 2005 - Quetiapine, a drug commonly used in
nursing homes to treat agitation and related symptoms in people with
Alzheimer's Disease actually worsens patients' illness, speeding up
their rate of decline significantly, says a paper published on bmj.com
today. Read more...
Nicotine Could Lead to Early Diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s
Feb. 1, 2005 - The chemical nicotine--a main
ingredient in tobacco--may hold promise in the early diagnosis of
Alzheimer's disease, give insight into therapeutic interventions for
nicotine addiction and possibly complement the diagnosis of certain
forms of lung cancer, according to a study in the January issue of the
Society of Nuclear Medicine's Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Read more...
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
NPH Strikes Senior Citizens, Often
Mistaken for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
It may result in loss of any or all
brain functions
Jan. 26, 2005 – The NBC Today Show
featured a segment this morning on NPH (Normal pressure hydrocephalus),
a treatable brain disorder caused by blockage of the flow of
cerebrospinal fluid, that primarily strikes senior citizens and is often
confused with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. It may result in loss of any
or all brain functions controlled by the area of the brain which is
compressed by enlargement of the ventricles within the brain.
Read more...
Risk Factors for Heart Disease Appear to be Same for
Dementia
High cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and smoking:
the four evils for Alzheimer's and heart trouble.
Jan. 24, 2005 - High cholesterol, hypertension,
diabetes and smoking have long been considered – and aggressively
treated – as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These same
cardiovascular risk factors in middle age may also increase
significantly the risk of dementia in old age, according to Kaiser
Permanente researchers.
Read more...
Older People With the "Alzheimer's Gene" Find It
Harder to "Remember to Remember"
Jan. 24, 2005 - Carrying the higher-risk genotype
for Alzheimer’s disease appears to render even healthy senior citizens
subject to major problems with prospective memory, the ability to
remember what to do in the future. For the group studied, this could
affect important behaviors such as remembering to take medicine at a
certain time or getting to a doctor’s appointment.
Read more...
Antibody Treatment Partially Reverses Nerve Damage
In Alzheimer Disease
Jan. 21, 2005 - Researchers from Washington
University School of Medicine have shown that an antibody treatment
administered to the brain surface in mice with Alzheimer disease is
capable of rapidly reversing disease-related structural nerve damage.
The study will appear online on January 20 in advance of print
publication in the February 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical
Investigation.
Read more...
Weight Loss Begins Before Symptoms of Dementia
Become Obvious
Weight loss common in Alzheimer's
Jan. 11, 2005 – Weight loss associated with
dementia begins before the symptoms of dementia are seen – sometimes
years before - and accelerates by the time of the diagnosis, according
to a study in the January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of
the JAMA/Archives journals.
More... 1/11/05*
“Mixed Dementia”
Protecting Your Heart May Also Protect Your Brain
from Dementia
Having Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia is called
“Mixed Dementia” and strikes many seniors
Jan. 3, 2005 - Can the same actions that help
prevent a heart attack or stroke also prevent or slow the memory loss,
confusion and thinking problems of dementia? A new study suggests that
for many people, primarily senior citizens, the answer could be yes.
More... 1/03/05*
Gene Vaccine for Alzheimer’s Shows Promising Results
Dec. 14, 2004 - For years scientists have examined
the possibility of using a protein-based vaccine to slow the progression
of the disease in its early stages. Now, researchers have created a
gene-based vaccine aimed at stimulating the immune systems of mice to
potentially fight off amyloid protein in the brain that cause the
devastating plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
More... 12/14/04*
Can't smell lemons, lilac?
Top
10 Smells Predicting Alzheimer's Identified
Dec. 13, 2004 -- The inability to identify the
smell of lemons, lilac, leather and seven other odors predicts which
patients with minimal to mild cognitive impairment (MMCI) will develop
Alzheimer's Disease, according to a study presented today at the
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting. For
patients with MMCI, the odor identification test was found to be a
strong predictor of Alzheimer's Disease during follow-up, and compared
favorably with reduction in brain volumes on MRI scan and memory test
performance as potential predictors.
More... 12/13/04*
Use It Or Lose It (Brain) Gets More Support for
Preventing Dementia
Nov. 18, 2004 – Research is producing mounting
evidence that people are less likely to get dementia if they keep their
brains active. The latest study of older people says those that had
challenging jobs of responsibility seemed to have protection from the
development of dementia.
More... 11/18/04*
Apples May Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease
Nov. 16, 2004 A potent antioxidant abundant in
apples and some other fruits and vegetables appears to protect brain
cells against oxidative stress, a tissue-damaging process associated
with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, according to a
new study in rat brain cells conducted by researchers at Cornell
University in New York.
More...
11/16/04
Tuesday, November 16
Free Memory Screenings Focus of National Alzheimer’s
Month
Nov. 12, 2004 - Hundreds of sites across America
will offer free memory screenings on November 16 as part of the
Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) National Memory Screening Day,
which is held annually during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
Month. It is the focal point of AFA's call for a national strategy that
promotes early intervention and cognitive wellness.
More... 11/12/04*
Vitamin E May Slow Alzheimer’s Says New Research
Nov.
2, 2004 – Vitamin E may help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, according to a
researcher who says he has discovered new clues about how brain cells
are damaged by the disease. This is not the first research saying
Vitamin E is valuable in slowing Alzheimer's.
More... 11/02/04*
Alzheimer’s Immunization Research Has “Preliminary
Success”
Oct. 26, 2004 – Immunization against Alzheimer’s is
obviously one of the most sort after solutions in medical research and
researchers today are reporting preliminary success with a brain
injection method aimed at dissolving the plaques in the brain tissue
that are associated with the disease.
More... 10/26/04*
Use It, or Lose It May Apply to Alzheimer’s Brains
Study says cognitive stimulation along with drug
slows mental decline
Oct. 21, 2004 - A program of active cognitive
stimulation performed in conjunction with the drug Aricept produces
greater mental and functional benefits in patients in the early stages
of Alzheimer's disease than taking the drug alone, according to a study
conducted by Texas university researchers and funded by the manufacturer
and U.S. distributor of the drug.
More... 10/21/04*
Changes Needed in End-of-Life Care for Alzheimer's,
Dementia Patients
Oct. 14, 2004 - An estimated 500,000 people
die every year in the United States suffering from Alzheimer's or
related diseases and many of them receive inadequate pain control, are
subjected to ineffective and invasive therapies such as tube feedings,
and do not receive the benefits of hospice care, say geriatricians
calling for creative and wide-reaching solutions for patients with
dementia. More...
10/14/04
Million Dollars Going to Effort to ID People At Risk
of Alzheimer’s
Oct. 13, 2004 – The Alzheimer’s Associaton
announced today a $1 million grant to a “landmark study” aimed a finding
better ways to identify people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease
and assess the effectiveness of drugs already being studied.
More... 10/13/04*
Aging Brain Changes Not Necessarily Alzheimer's
Oct. 1, 2004 - Certain brain changes that are
common in normal aging are not the beginnings of Alzheimer's disease.
Recent research by cognitive aging experts suggests that changes related
to Alzheimer's disease appear in distinct regions of the brain and
reflect unique pathology compared with changes that occur in older
adults without dementia.
More... 10/01/04*
Drama About Alzheimer’s to Open on New York Stage
Sept. 29, 2004 - A new play, “The Alzheimer’s
Monologues,” that explores the thoughts and emotions of victims and
caregivers impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease, opens for a limited
engagement in New York on Oct. 27 at the Producers Club.
More... 9/29/04*
World Alzheimer’s Day is Today
Association Wants $1 Billion Annually in Dementia
Research
Sept. 21, 2004 - The Alzheimer's Association used
today’s recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day to renew the call for the
federal investment in dementia research to increase to $1billion a year.
They also issued key statistics on Alzheimer’s impact on Medicare and
Medicaid and effects on baby boomers, Hispanics and African-Americans.
More... 9/21/04*
Alzheimer’s Foundation
New Medicare Reimbursement for Alzheimer’s PET Scans
Boosts Interest in Memory Screening Day
Sept. 17, 2004 - National Memory Screening Day,
part of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) effort for early
diagnosis of the disease is set for November 16, and is getting
increased emphasis following yesterday's decision by Medicare to expand
coverage for brain scans for individuals with suspected Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias.
More... 9/17/04*
Medicare To Expand
Coverage For Pet Scans For Alzheimer's Disease
Sept. 16, 2004 - The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today it has
expanded Medicare coverage of positron emission tomography (PET) to
include some Medicare beneficiaries with suspected Alzheimer's disease
and to include other beneficiaries at risk for Alzheimer's disease who
are enrolled in a large and easily accessible clinical trial.
More... 9/16/04*
Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Patients Stopped in
New Test
Aug. 23, 2004 – Researchers say they have stopped
the advance of Alzheimer’s destruction of cognitive ability by draining
cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to reduce the levels of isoprostances.
More... 8/23/04*
International Alzheimer’s
Conference
Good Cholesterol May Keep Your Brain Working
Hypertension and diabetes medications might lower
the risk and impact of Alzheimer's
July 20, 2004 – Higher levels of
"good" cholesterol in middle age may help preserve brain function in
later years, according to research reported today at The 9th
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD),
presented by the Alzheimer's Association.
More... 7/20/04*
Trials for Alzheimer's
Too Costly, Complex Say Experts
Philadelphia, July 19, 2004 –
Reducing the cost and complexity of Alzheimer’s disease
prevention trials would speed progress in testing new therapies,
according to scientists at The 9th International Conference on
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD), presented by the
Alzheimer’s Association in Philadelphia.
More... 7/19/04*
People with Early Alzheimer's Can Still Learn, Study Says
July 10, 2004 - People who have early stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could be more capable of
learning than previously thought, according to two new studies supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA),
a part of the National Institutes of Health. The promising studies suggest that some people with early cognitive
impairment can still be taught to recall important information and to better perform daily tasks.
More... 7/10/04* Scientists Claim Important Advance
Toward Alzheimer’s Vaccine
June 29, 2004 - Scientists have taken an important
step toward creating a vaccine against Alzheimer's disease, customizing
the response of the immune system with unprecedented precision.
More... 6/29/04*
Research Progress Means Fewer Americans with Alzheimer’s, $149
Billion
in Annual Medicare-Medicaid Savings by 2025
June 24, 2004 - A new
Alzheimer’s Association report released today shows that medical
research breakthroughs could result in nearly three million fewer
Americans with the disease and $149 billion in annual Medicare and
Medicaid savings by 2025.
More... 6/24/04*
Free Resource Online For Alzheimer's Caregivers
June 16, 2004 -- Families affected by Alzheimer's
can learn how to manage the dreaded disease and its far-reaching effects
through a new program from the Alzheimer's Resource Center.
More... 6/16/04*
Medicare Reverses Policy to Consider PET Scans for
Alzheimer’s
June 16, 2004 – Medicare announced yesterday its
intent to extend coverage to cover PET scans for “some” beneficiaries
“with suspected Alzheimer’s disease.” There will be a 30-day comment
period and a final decision in 90 days.
More... 6/16/04*
Menninger Clinic
Depression Most Often Confused with Alzheimer’s
June 14, 2004 - Depression is the most common
psychiatric illness confused with Alzheimer’s disease, because so many
of the symptoms are similar: personality and mood changes; difficulty
concentrating, and loss of zest for even favorite activities. Mental
health professionals at the nationally known Menninger Clinic alert
families to become more informed of the similarities of depression and
the early onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
More... 6/14/04*
1-888-PET-4-YOU
National Toll Free Hotline for PET Scans Debuts to Meet
Growing Demand for Alzheimer's Diagnosis
June 8, 2004 - Due to the rising demand for
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to diagnose Alzheimer's
Disease, one of the nation's leading PET service providers, Molecular
Imaging Corporation, announced today the launch of a national toll free
hotline, 1- 888-PET-4-YOU (1-888-738-4960), to assist people seeking
information about PET scans for themselves or loved ones. PET imaging
can detect Alzheimer's in the very early stages of the disease, years
before traditional outward symptoms of dementia, which makes it possible
for doctors to provide treatment therapies that can help slow the
progression of Alzheimer's as well as many other diseases.
More... 6/8/04*
New Imaging Probe May Lead to Early Alzheimer's
Diagnosis
April 30, 2004 - Mayo Clinic researchers have
devised a way to produce enhanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
pictures of the destructive brain lesions that cause Alzheimer's
disease. This advance using laboratory mice lays the foundation for the
first imaging-based diagnostic test for living Alzheimer's disease
patients. More...
4/30/04*
Women Survive 6 Years, Men 4
Study Identifies
Predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease Longevity
April 6, 2004 -
“What can we expect?” It’s among the
first questions asked after someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease and it is a tough question that has been difficult to answer.
But a new study suggests that assessing several key clinical aspects of
the disease soon after diagnosis could help families and physicians
better predict long-term survival in individuals with AD.
More... 4/6/04*
Earlier Inflammation
Blamed
New Hypothesis
About Alzheimer's Disease
Note:
Below this news article is a history and background on Alzheimer's
disease.
March 16, 2004 -
A new theory about Alzheimer's disease blames the cause on inflammation,
which creates abnormal metabolites out of normal brain molecules.
More... 3/16/04*
Another Study Supports Use Of PET Scans In Early
Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease
March 12, 2004 - Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's
disease (AD) has become vitally important now that drugs are available that
may help slow the unremitting course of the disease. But an accurate diagnosis
is critical when initiating early therapy since some of the most promising
treatments have been shown to aggravate other forms of dementia. Now, a new
new PET technique that may increase the already high accuracy of PET in
diagnosing AD at a very early stage.
More... 3/12/04*
Senior Mice Increase Brain Cells by Running
Feb. 17, 2004 – Studies showing that elderly “senior mice,” as well as their younger brethren can increase their brain cells by running has found new support in study by scientists at The Salk Institute.
More... 2/17/04*
Survey: Serious Gaps in Public's Knowledge About Alzheimer's Disease, What Can Be Done to Fight It Alzheimer's Association Advises Americans to 'Maintain Your Brain' Feb. 13, 2004 - A new national survey released today by the Alzheimer's Association finds that most Americans aren't aware of the progress being made in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Fewer than half (44 percent) know that treatments are now available that can ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Even though scientists have made huge leaps in their understanding of Alzheimer's over the past 15 years, only 29 percent of Americans surveyed think scientists are on the brink of more significant advances. Only one-quarter (24 percent) believe a cure will be found in their lifetime. More... 2/13/04* Vitamins E and C may reduce effects of Alzheimer's disease Jan. 22, 2004 - Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamins E and C, may protect the aging brain from Alzheimer's disease, according to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions. More... 1/22/04*
Low Blood Pressure in Elderly Increases Risk of Dementia Jan. 14, 2004 - Diastolic blood pressure below 70 raises the risk of dementia in the elderly, says a new study of people 75 or older.
More... 1/14/04* Progress Against Alzheimer's Blocking Beta-Amyloid Production Stops Memory Loss in Mice Jan. 9, 2004 - Beta-amyloid is directly responsible for causing the memory-robbing effects of Alzheimer’s disease, according to several studies. Now, researches have found success in stopping this memory loss in lab mice by inhibiting an enzyme, beta-secretase (BACE1), required for the production of beta-amyloid. More... 1/9/04* Brain Scan May Detect Alzheimer's Before Dementia Begins Down syndrome study reveals possible method for detecting Alzheimer’s Dec. 26, 2003 - UC Irvine College of Medicine researchers conducting the first longitudinal brain imaging study of adults with Down syndrome may have found a way to detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms of dementia begin to set in. More... 12/26/03* Clioquinol Shows Promise Clinical trial of Alzheimer's disease drug shows clear reductions in AD development Dec. 16, 2003 - A new clinical trial has shown that a treatment for Alzheimer's disease slowed the progression of cognitive decline in a group of patients with moderate to severe symptoms. More... 12/16/03*
Distress-prone People more likely to
Develop Alzheimer's Disease Dec. 12, 2003 – People who tend to experience psychological distress are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who are less prone to experience distress, according to a study published in the December 9 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Read More... New Technique Detects Earliest Signs Of Alzheimer's In Healthy People Nov. 30, 2003 - Brain researchers would dearly love to reliably identify changes in brain structure and metabolism associated with early Alzheimer's disease -- before symptoms emerge. More... 11/30/03* Alzheimer's News Today Oct. 28, 2003 - There seems to be a flurry of encouraging news about the treatment of Alzheimer's. Here are three stories from today.  Vitamin E with Aricept May Slow Alzheimer's Progress
New Model of Alzheimer's Enzyme May Help Future Treatement Patients Treated With Alzheimer's Drug Reminyl Require Less Caregiver Time
Click here to all three stories. 10/28/03*
FDA Approves Memantine (Namenda) to
Treat Alzheimer's
Oct. 19, 2003 - The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat late-stage Alzheimer's disease, a pill that slows the physical and mental deterioration of patients with the crippling illness at a time they typically lose the ability to care for themselves. Alzheimer's specialists described the effect of the drug, memantine, as "modest," but in some tests, it slowed physical decline by about 50 percent over a six-month period.
Read More...
High Blood Pressure Does Not Accelerate Age-Related Cognitive Decline
DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 29, 2003 -- Duke University Medical Center researchers have found that contrary to the classical model of aging, increased blood pressure does not accelerate the age-related decline in performing certain mental tasks.
More... 9/29/03*
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval for Namenda (Memantine HCl) For Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease
September 25, 2003 -- Forest Laboratories announced that an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously recommended the approval of Namenda(TM), previously known by its generic name memantine HCl, for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Read More...
New Study Projects 13.2 Million People with Alzheimer’s by 2050
Aug. 20, 2003 - Scientists project that some 13.2 million older Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by 2050 unless new ways are found to prevent or treat the disease. Click 8/20/03*
Something Fishy About Alzheimer’s Prevention
New study supports earlier finding that eating fish helps prevent Alzheimer’s
July 22, 2003 – A new study says that if senior citizens – 65 and older – eat fish once a week they will have a 60 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease than those who seldom eat fish. A similar study last year in France showed people 68 and over who ate fish once a week had a much greater chance of avoiding all types of dementia.
Click 7/22/03*
Feeding Tubes May Not Help in Severe Dementia (Alzheimer's) - yet use varies widely
July 7, 2003 - Feeding tubes may neither delay death nor improve quality of life for nursing home patients with severe dementia, yet the use of feeding tubes varies widely. In some states the use of feeding tubes is more than 10 times the rate of other states, according to a new study by Brown University researchers. Click 7/7/03*
Alzheimer's May be Influenced by Education
The more education, the better memory and learning ability
June 24, 2003 - Researchers at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center have found that the more formal education a person has, the better his or her memory and learning ability, even in the presence of brain abnormalities characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Click 6/24/03*
Dramatic 3-D Images Show How Alzheimer's Engulfs Brain
Feb. 7, 2003 - UCLA and University of Queensland (Australia) neuroscientists using a powerful new imaging analysis technique have created the first three-dimensional video maps showing how Alzheimer's disease systematically engulfs the brains of living patients. Click to story and pictures 3/07/03*
Barbara Streisand Contributes
Alzheimer’s Association Asks Bush for $1 Billion in Research
Jan. 27, 2003 - The Alzheimer's Association today called on President Bush to increase research funding at NIH to $1 billion and to find solutions to issues of chronic- and long term-care. They also announced a major contribution by Barbara Streisand, whose mother suffered from Alzheimer’s. Click 1/27/03*
Memory Tests Can Predict Dementia
Jan. 24, 2003 - If you can remember the words “pipe” and “cigar” better than “nail” and “butter,” you are not going to have dementia soon, according to a study in the Netherlands. Click 1/24/03*
November 2002 is Alzheimer’s Month
Ironically, President Ronald Reagan established November as National Alzheimer's month. Go to the Alzheimer's Association for more information and local activities. Click 11/4/2^
Alzheimer’s Disease is highlighted this month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA seeks to promote better mental health for all and to raise the public's awareness of the challenges people with mental illness face daily. Click to site New Book – Elder Rage – Tells How One Woman Met the Challenge of Parents with Alzheimer’s
Nov. 4, 02 – Jacqueline Marcell gave up her career as a television executive to care for her elderly parents. She says that after 40 caregivers and much stress she solved her endless crisis. Now she is promoting her book on how she did it. Click 11/04/02*
Survey on Alzheimer's Disease and Driving Finds Families Need Help
Nov. 1, 02 -- Most families say they are in the best position to know when a loved one with
Alzheimer's disease or dementia should give up driving, according to a recent national survey sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG). Yet, 51 percent of those with an afflicted family member or friend say they are unsure or don't know enough to make an informed decision.
Click 11/01/2*
High Homocysteine Tied to Stroke, Alzheimer's
B Vitamins, Folate Can Reduce This Acid
Oct. 10, 02 - Moderate elevations of homocysteine are associated with a more than five-fold increase in the risk for stroke and almost triple the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to research reported in the October issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Click 10/10/2* Tips on Avoiding Alzheimer's
Sept. 18, 02 - An article prepared by Robert W. Griffith for "HealthandAge.com" the author summarizes the 13 most reliable ways one can try to avoid developing Alzheimer's. Click 9/18/2 F*
Vitamin E in Diet May Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Risk
July 3, 2002 - A new population-based study of antioxidants, appearing in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" ("JAMA"), suggests that a diet rich in foods containing vitamin E may help protect some people against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study is also noteworthy for its finding that vitamin E in the form of supplements was not associated with a reduction in the risk of AD. The latest in a series of reports on vitamin E and dementia, the study findings heighten interest in the outcome of clinical trials now underway to test the effectiveness of vitamin E and other antioxidants in preventing or postponing cognitive decline and AD.
Read more...
Phenserine Shows Potential To Slow Or Stop Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease
The Gila monster — a native lizard to the southwest United States and Mexico — can be deadly but its saliva also contains a chemical which acts on a previously unknown receptor pathway in the brain that affects memory. Click 4/8/2*
Alzheimer's Association Details Victories in States for 2001
Feb. 4, 2002 -- Alzheimer public policy advocates scored victories in the 2001 state legislative process in key areas of research, long term care, nursing home staffing, and home and community based services. Click 2/4/2*
Earliest Stages of Alzheimer's Now Visible With Brain PET Scan - Hope for Early Treatment
A new medical procedure can discover if your memory lapses will grow into something more serious - like Alzheimer's - according to new research. It could lead to crucial medical treatment. Click 1/10/02*
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High leisure activity may decrease the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease
Dec. 28, 2001 - Engaging in active leisure activities may reduce the risk of dementia, according to a new study reported in the Dec. 27 issue of
Neurology, the magazine for the
American Academy of Neurology.
An active leisure life now joins high educational and occupational attainment as having been associated with reduced risk of dementia. Researchers studied 1,772 nondemented people aged 65 years or older, living in northern Manhattan, New York. The subjects were studied for up to seven years and they were tested annually. Only 207 of the 1,772 subjects became demented. The association of high leisure with decreased incident dementia was present even when baseline cognitive performance, health limitations interfering with desired leisure activities, cerebrovascular disease, and depression were considered.
12/28/1*** Advil, Motrin May Stop Alzheimer's
Complete Story in Nature Journal -
Click
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, UCLA - http://www.adc.ucla.edu/ >
Researchers Say A Protein May Be Cause for Alzheimer's
- Click 7/16/01* >
Major Commitment to Develop Immunological Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease
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Click to story 7/3/01* >
Nymox AlzheimAlert Test Emphasized in Article in the Journal of Longevity
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Click to story 6/27/01* >
Newest Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, Reminyl(R), Now Approved as Oral Solution
- click to story 6/27/01* >
New Alzheimer's Drug (Reminyl) Offers Hope For Broad Spectrum of Dementia - Click 6/19/1* >
New genetic risk factor for susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease is found
- Click 6/19/1* >
New Study Shows Alzheimer’s Cost to Medicare to Jump by 54%
- click to story 4/27/01* >
Decreased Memory After 60 Associated to High Homocysteine Levels
- click to story 4/26/01* >
Symptoms Checklist Helps Families Identify Potential Memory Problems - But It's Not Easy to Get
- click to news release 4/25/01* >
Genetically Modified Tissue Implanted in Brain for Alzheimer's disease
- click to story *4/11/01 >
Neotrofin May Be Major Break in Alzheimer's Battle
- Click for story* 3/8/01 >
Alzheimer's Drug Revenues Headed to $2.4 Billion by 2006
- Click for story* 3/5/01 >
New Alzheimer's Drug, Reminyl, Announced
- Click for story* 3/1/01 >
Enzyme is key to hallmark of Alzheimer's-- moves to block it underway
- Click for story 2-28-01* >
Researchers Say Vitamin E Slows Alzheimer's - Click Here*
12/19/00*
> Alzheimer's Care Giver Book by Washington State Available Online 11/29/00*
> Low Childhood IQ Linked to Alzheimer's 11/28/00*
> Annual Alzheimer's Conference in February 2001 11/15/00*
> New Lead to Drug for Alzheimer's 11/9/00*
> Scientist Clear Plaque Causing Alzheimer's in Mice 11/7/00*
> Scientist Prove Enzyme Is Key to Alzheimer's 11/7/00*
> Alzheimer's Assn. Has Funded $100 Million in Research 11/3/00*
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Alzheimer's Assn. Turns 20 11/3/00*
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First World Alzheimer Conference Ends on Hopeful Note 7/20/00*
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Information on Aricept - Major Drug for Alzheimer's Patients 4/26/00*
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Economics of Alzheimer's 4/26/00*
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