| 371 Health - Alzheimer Resources |
| 7 do-it-yourself ways to fight Alzheimer's |
| Up to half of cases worldwide are attributed to preventable risk factors |
| July 22, 2011 |
| 20% of Americans suffer from a condition associated with dementia |
| Hearing loss is the kind of ailment that sneaks up on you over time -- many people don't even recognize that it's happening. New research shows that its long-term consequences could include dementia. And now, it turns out that hearing loss is far more pervasive than anyone realized. |
| November 16, 2011 |
100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss |
 Most people think there is little or nothing you can do to avoid Alzheimer's. But scientists know this is no longer true. In fact, prominent researchers now say that our best and perhaps only hope of defeating Alzheimer's is to prevent it. |
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| A decade of research proves PET effectively detects dementia |
| In a new review of imaging studies spanning more than ten years, scientists find that a method of positron emission tomography (PET) safely and accurately detects dementia, including the most common and devastating form among the elderly, Alzheimer's disease. |
| January 6, 2012 |
| A GPS to locate missing Alzheimer's patients and battered women |
| The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) is studying the development of a system based on satellite localization which can be used to find missing Alzheimer's patients and monitor battered women, as well as for inmate management in prisons. |
| April 4, 2011 |
| A micro-RNA as a key regulator of learning and Alzheimer's disease |
| Proteins are the molecular machines of the cell. They transport materials, cleave products or transmit signals — and for a long time, they have been a main focus of attention in molecular biology research. In the last two decades, however, another class of critically important molecules has emerged: small RNA molecules, including micro-RNAs. It is now well established that micro-RNAs play a key role in the regulation of cell function. |
| September 23, 2011 |
| A natural dye obtained from lichens may combat Alzheimer's disease |
| A red dye derived from lichens that has been used for centuries to color fabrics and food appears to reduce the abundance of small toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer's disease. The dye, a compound called orcein, and a related substance, called O4, bind preferentially to small amyloid aggregates that are considered to be toxic and cause neuronal dysfunction and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 2, 2011 |
| A New Way of Approaching the Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease |
| One of our genes is apolipoprotein E (APOE), which often appears with a variation which nobody would want to have: APOEe4, the main genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (the most common form in which this disorder manifests itself and which is caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors). |
| December 23, 2011 |
| A Safe Vaccination for Alzheimer's Disease? |
| The research shows that in addition to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which present the antigen vaccine to the immune cells, genetic factors, that control some immune cells, influence the quality of response to vaccinations. The results could make it possible to prevent neuroinflammatory reactions, which are major obstacles preventing the use of the vaccination in humans. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| AAN Foundation launches new PSA on finding cure for brain disease |
| With one in six people in the United States now affected by brain disease such as dementia, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation is marking its 20th anniversary with the launch of a new public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about the need for more research to cure brain disease. |
| October 12, 2011 |
| ACR celebrates World Arthritis Day with the theme 'Move to Improve' |
| The American College of Rheumatology joins organizations from around the world in celebrating World Arthritis Day. Held every year on October 12, this year's theme is "Move to Improve" - focusing on using physical activity to combat arthritis and rheumatic diseases - such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout and psoriatic arthritis. |
| October 12, 2011 |
| Active compounds against Alzheimer's disease |
| More than half of all cases of dementia in the elderly can be attributed to Alzheimer's disease. Despite vast research efforts, an effective therapy has not been developed, and treatment consists of dealing with the symptoms. Changes in brain tissues are a hallmark of Alzheimer's. In affected individuals, small protein fragments known as amyloid beta peptides accumulate and are deposited in the gray brain matter. |
| January 12, 2012 |
| ADDF awards ADispell 170,750 grant to develop drugs against Alzheimer's Disease |
| The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced that it has awarded a grant of $170,750 to ADispell Inc. to develop small molecule drugs designed to halt the progression of cognition loss that occurs with Alzheimer's Disease. |
| March 21, 2011 |
| Adult Day Care Services Provide Much-Needed Break to Family Caregivers |
| Adult day care services significantly reduce the stress levels of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, according to a team of Penn State and Virginia Tech researchers. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Advance toward an imaging agent for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease |
| Scientists are reporting development and initial laboratory tests of an imaging agent that shows promise for detecting the tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain -- signs that now can't confirm a diagnosis until after patients have died. |
| January 11, 2012 |
| Advances in brain imaging can expedite research and diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease |
| Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common problem that is becoming progressively burdensome throughout the world. A new supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Imaging the Alzheimer Brain, clearly shows that multiple imaging systems are now available to help understand, diagnose, and treat the disease. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| Aerobic exercise may reduce the risk of dementia |
| Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition's progression once it starts, reported a Mayo Clinic study published this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Researchers examined the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive abilities and concluded that it should not be overlooked as an important therapy against dementia. |
| September 7, 2011 |
| Alcohol consumption after age 75 associated with lower risk of developing dementia |
| 3202 German individuals (75+) attending general practitioners , who were free of dementia were studied at baseline, were followed up 1.5 years and 3 years later by means of structured clinical interviews including detailed assessment of current alcohol consumption and DSM-IV dementia diagnoses. Associations between alcohol consumption (in grams of ethanol), type of alcohol (wine, beer, mixed alcohol beverages) and incident dementia were examined using Cox proportional hazard models, controlling for several confounders. |
| March 7, 2011 |
| Alzheimer Disease: Transport Protein ABCC1 Plays Key Role in Clearing Beta-Amyloid from Brains of Mice |
| Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people. One of the main features of AD is the presence in the brain of abnormal clumps of the protein fragment beta-amyloid, which are known as amyloid plaques. A team of researchers, led by Jens Pahnke, at the University of Rostock, Germany, has now identified a way to reduce the amount of beta-amyloid in the brains of mice with a disease that models AD, providing hope that a similar approach might be possible in patients. |
| September 1, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Antibodies Developed |
| Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to design antibodies aimed at combating disease. The surprisingly simple process was used to make antibodies that neutralize the harmful protein particles that lead to Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 9, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Association |
| Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's disease |
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| Alzheimer's brains found to have lower levels of key protein |
| Researchers have found that a protein variation linked by some genetic studies to Alzheimer's disease is consistently present in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. In further biochemical and cell culture investigations, they have shown that this protein, known as ubiquilin-1, performs a critical Alzheimer's-related function: it "chaperones" the formation of amyloid precursor protein, a molecule whose malformation has been directly tied to Alzheimer's pathology. |
| September 1, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Care Could Well Devastate The US Economy |
| Today, in America, 5.4 million people have Alzheimer's—they have damaged brain cells that cause a decline in memory, a decline in motion activities, an inability to recognize family members or ordinary objects and a terrible deterioration and confusion in comprehension of their own behavior. |
| September 26, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Caregivers May Be at Risk for Dementia |
| Stress and Shared Lifestyle May Raise Risk of Mental Decline for Spouses Who Are Also Caregivers |
| May 13, 2011 |
| Alzheimer’s disease may be kept at bay with regular brain stimulation: Study |
| A new study shows that regularly doing puzzles and reading books could be linked to a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease. It says that these activities reduce the accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain. |
| January 24, 2012 |
| Alzheimer's drug candidate may be first to prevent disease progression |
| A new drug candidate may be the first capable of halting the devastating mental decline of Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 14, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Feared, Misconceptions Common |
| Survey Finds Alzheimer's Second Most Feared Disease, After Cancer |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's may cause global cash crunch: experts |
| Alzheimer's disease could cause a global cash crunch in coming generations -- as people begin to regularly live to 100 -- and must be considered a serious fiscal danger, experts said Thursday. |
| June 23, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's might be transmissible in similar way as infectious prion diseases: study |
| The brain damage that characterizes Alzheimer's disease may originate in a form similar to that of infectious prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob, according to newly published research by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). |
| October 04, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's neurons induced from pluripotent stem cells |
| Led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, scientists have, for the first time, created stem cell-derived, in vitro models of sporadic and hereditary Alzheimer's disease (AD), using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with the much-dreaded neurodegenerative disorder. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Alzheimer's Prevention in Your Pantry |
| Alzheimer's, the degenerative brain disorder that disrupts memory, thought and behavior, is devastating to both patients and loved ones. According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in eight Americans over the age of 65 suffers from the disease. Now Tel Aviv University has discovered that an everyday spice in your kitchen cupboard could hold the key to Alzheimer's prevention. |
| June 27, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's protein detected in brain fluid of healthy mice |
| One of the most promising markers of Alzheimer's disease, previously thought only to be inside nerve cells, now appears to be normally released from nerve cells throughout life, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. |
| September 21, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's Research: Researchers Watch Amyloid Plaques Form |
| Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and Osaka University applied a new approach to take a close look at amyloid plaque formation, a process that plays important roles in Alzheimer's disease. The technique would greatly aid the development and screening for novel therapeutics that can manipulate the formation of the toxic amyloid aggregates. |
| October 03, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's risk gene disrupts brain's wiring 50 years before disease hits |
| What if you were told you carried a gene that increases your risk for Alzheimer's disease? And what if you were told this gene starts to do its damage not when you're old but when you're young? |
| May 13, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's vaccine cures memory of mice |
| A vaccine that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia has been developed by researchers at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI). |
| December 9, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's vaccine triggers brain inflammation when brain amyloid burden is high |
| Patients with Alzheimer's disease who are in the early stages of their illness will likely benefit most from vaccine therapies now being tested in a number of human clinical trials, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC). |
| November 14, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's wave will make Florida its ground zero |
| As baby boomers head for retirement, population experts have warned Americans to brace for what they call a "silver tsunami." But that tsunami could pose a special danger to Florida - because of Alzheimer's disease. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's-Like Brain Changes Found in Cognitively Normal Elders With Amyloid Plaques |
| Researchers using two brain-imaging technologies have found that apparently normal older individuals with brain deposits of amyloid beta -- the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients -- also had changes in brain structure similar to those seen in Alzheimer's patients. Results of the study, which has received early online publication in the Annals of Neurology, may help identify individuals who could be candidates for therapies to prevent the development of dementia. |
| March 30, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's-related protein disrupts motors of cell transport |
| A protein associated with Alzheimer's disease clogs several motors of the cell transport machinery critical for normal cell division, leading to defective neurons that may contribute to the memory-robbing disease, University of South Florida researchers report. |
| May 2, 2011 |
| Alzheimer's: French scientists focus on key target |
| French scientists said on Tuesday that lack of a key brain protein was linked to Alzheimer's, a finding that threw up a tempting target for drugs to fight the disease. |
| January 24, 2012 |
| Alzheimer's/Parkinson's: Unexpected Signaling Role for Foul-Smelling Hydrogen Sulfide in Cell Response to Protein Misfolding |
| Something rotten never smelled so sweet. This is what members of a team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are telling one another as they discuss a new finding they did not expect to make. |
| December 13, 2011 |
| Anavex to commence phase I clinical trial in Alzheimer's disease |
| Anavex Life Sciences Corp. has announced that its clinical trial application for ANAVEX 2-73, the company's lead compound for Alzheimer's disease, has been approved by the German regulatory health authority, BfArM. The Phase I trial of ANAVEX 2-73, which includes testing in healthy human volunteers, will commence immediately. In this Phase I program Anavex will assess the safety, maximally tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ANAVEX 2-73. |
| March 15, 2011 |
| Antiviral drugs may slow Alzheimer's progression |
| Antiviral drugs used to target the herpes virus could be effective at slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a new study shows. |
| October 17, 2011 |
| Art, drama and dance may benefit dementia sufferers |
| While medical researchers continue the search for advanced diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dementia, a researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London is focusing on improving the experiences of those already suffering with the devastating disease for whom any cure would be too late. |
| October 07, 2011 |
| Asthma drug could help control or treat Alzheimer's disease |
| A drug used to treat asthma has been shown to help reduce the formation of amyloid beta, a peptide in the brain that is implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at Temple University's School of Medicine. |
| March 25, 2011 |
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| 'Bird brains' are smart on Alzheimer's |
| Tel Aviv University research says our feathered friends may hold the key to a treatment for brain-related diseases |
| April 18, 2011 |
| Baby Aspirin May Help Memory, Thinking Skills |
| Study Suggests Older Women Who Take Baby Aspirin May Experience Less Cognitive Decline |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Biochemical Test Could Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease Years in Advance |
| Afflicting millions of patients, Alzheimer’s disease is becoming a growing burden to healthcare systems around the world. The condition is typically diagnosed after symptoms of mild cognitive impairment arise. Not all patients with mild cognitive impairment, however, develop Alzheimer’s. |
| December 19, 2011 |
| Biological fingerprints improve diagnosis of dementia |
| Differentiating between the various forms of dementia is crucial for initiating appropriate treatment. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy have discovered that the underlying diseases leave different "fingerprints" in the cerebrospinal fluid, paving the way for more reliable diagnoses. |
| October 04, 2011 |
| Blood Test for Alzheimer's: Study Identifies Procedure That Detects Early Stages |
| A new blood test that will diagnose Alzheimer's disease may soon hit the market, thanks to an innovative study from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Their findings have characterized a unique biochemical diagnosis, which identifies patients with this devastating disorder. |
| May 4, 2011 |
| Blood tests may hold clues to pace of Alzheimer's disease progression |
| A team of scientists, led by Johns Hopkins researchers, say they may have found a way to predict how quickly patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will lose cognitive function by looking at ratios of two fatty compounds in their blood. The finding, they say, could provide useful information to families and caregivers, and might also suggest treatment targets for this heartbreaking and incurable neurodegenerative disorder. |
| October 04, 2011 |
| Bodyguard for the Brain |
| Researchers from the Universities of Bonn and Mainz have discovered a mechanism that seems to protect the brain from aging. In experiments with mice, they switched off the cannabinoid-1 receptor. As a consequence, the animals showed signs of degeneration -- as seen in people with dementia -- much faster. |
| July 12, 2011 |
| Boosting protein garbage disposal in brain cells protects mice from Alzheimer's disease |
| Gene therapy that boosts the ability of brain cells to gobble up toxic proteins prevents development of Alzheimer's disease in mice that are predestined to develop it, report researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. They say the treatment — which is given just once - could potentially do the same in people at the beginning stages of the disease. |
| March 4, 2011 |
| Brain injury raises dementia risk, US study finds |
| A large study in older veterans raises fresh concern about mild brain injuries that hundreds of thousands of troops have suffered from explosions in recent wars. Even concussions seem to raise the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other dementia later in life, researchers found. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Brain iron as an early predictor of Alzheimer's disease |
| Early and correct diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is important for reasons that go beyond treatment. These include more time to make critical life decisions, planning for future care, and maximizing the safety of the person with Alzheimer's disease and their family. New scientific information relevant to this pernicious disease has been obtained by researchers utilizing the U. S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory and National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and published in the journal NeuroImage. This work points to the use of elevated brain iron content, already observed in late-stage AD, as a potential tool for early diagnosis. Since the disease is usually diagnosed only in later stages after cognitive symptoms appear and treatment may not be effective, a method for early detection would be a major breakthrough in fighting this debilitating neurological illness. |
| June 17, 2011 |
| Brain region can signal early-stage Alzheimer's and other dementias |
| A key misplaced yet again? Unable to recall a name? Forgetfulness frequently leads to anxiety: is it just a sign of age, or are these the first symptoms of the onset of Alzheimer's disease? It has never been easy to answer this question in the early stages - however, that might be about to change. Using modern imaging techniques scientists have identified a brain hub that is associated with thought functions often affected by dementias. |
| January 12, 2012 |
| Brain Scans Show Risk Factor for Alzheimer's |
| Changes in Brain Chemistry Linked With Lower Scores on Memory, Language Tests |
| August 24, 2011 |
| Brain Structure Adapts to Environmental Change |
| Scientists have known for years that neurogenesis takes place throughout adulthood in the hippocampus of the mammalian brain. Now Columbia researchers have found that under stressful conditions, neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus can produce not only neurons, but also new stem cells. The brain stockpiles the neural stem cells, which later may produce neurons when conditions become favorable. This response to environmental conditions represents a novel form of brain plasticity. |
| June 13, 2011 |
| Brain-Enhancing Drug Shown to Greatly Improve Mouse's Memory |
| A new drug that blocks a stress-provoked immune molecule in the brain can dramatically improve memory and learning abilities in mice, a new study says. A future pill that can suppress this molecule could show promise as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease in humans, researchers say. |
| December 21, 2011 |
| Brain's 'Autopilot' Provides Insight Into Early Development of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Watching the brain's "autopilot" network in real time may help determine the onset of cognitive decline and potentially aid in making an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. |
| March 3, 2011 |
| Brain's Connective Cells Are Much More Than Glue: Glia Cells Also Regulate Learning and Memory |
| Glia cells, named for the Greek word for "glue," hold the brain's neurons together and protect the cells that determine our thoughts and behaviors, but scientists have long puzzled over their prominence in the activities of the brain dedicated to learning and memory. Now Tel Aviv University researchers say that glia cells are central to the brain's plasticity -- how the brain adapts, learns, and stores information. |
| December 29, 2011 |
| Breaking the chain: 'Molecular cap' blocks processes that lead to Alzheimer's, HIV |
| A new advance by UCLA biochemists has brought scientists one step closer to developing treatments that could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. |
| June 23, 2011 |
| Breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research |
| Researchers are closer to understanding Alzheimer's disease using a new stem cell technique. They have successfully replicated Alzheimer's disease neurons with stem cells for the first time. |
| January 26, 2012 |
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| Cancer drug holds promise as first treatment for common, inherited dementia |
| A drug already approved for people with cancer shows early potential as a therapy for a common form of dementia, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. |
| June 1, 2011 |
| Cancer risk in Northern Ireland lower than the Republic of Ireland |
| People in Northern Ireland have a lower risk of developing some cancers than those living in the Republic of Ireland. |
| December 9, 2011 |
| Case of mistaken identity: Study questions role of A-beta molecules in Alzheimer's disease pathology |
| Increasingly, researchers are suggesting that amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles may be relatively late manifestations in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Identifying earlier events in the development of AD remains a challenge. The laboratory of Virginia M.-Y. Lee, PhD, director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was the first, in 1993, to demonstrate unequivocally the presence of A-beta peptides -- a hallmark of AD -- inside neurons. But their role in Alzheimer's disease remained unclear. |
| June 28, 2011 |
| Case of the Missing Monocyte: Gene Appears to Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The causes behind this chronic disease -- which can exhibit itself as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformation, and loss of function in the joints -- have eluded scientists for centuries. A new study by UNC researchers offers tantalizing glimmers about the roles of a gene called CCR2, an immune system cell called Th17 cell, and a missing monocyte. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| Catching Alzheimer's in the act |
| Like a thief hidden in the brain, the neurodegenerative disease called Alzheimer's steals away memory as it gradually destroys brain cells, changing personalities and disrupting lives in the process. |
| July 22, 2011 |
| Cells talk more in areas Alzheimer's hits first, boosting plaque component |
| Higher levels of cell chatter boost amyloid beta in the brain regions that Alzheimer's hits first, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report. Amyloid beta is the main ingredient of the plaque lesions that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's. |
| May 2, 2011 |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid Test Can Pick Up Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Appear |
| Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid can detect whether a person has Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy have studied biomarkers that offer more reliable diagnosis and, in the longer term, the possibility of effective new treatments. |
| December 20, 2011 |
| Certified asthma and allergy friendly bedding in hotel rooms |
| Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the growing population of people with asthma and allergies now has a luxury hotel option that features Certified asthma & allergy friendly® bedding in every room when visiting the Boston area. The Lenox Hotel in the historic Back Bay now features all natural SmartSilk™ silk-filled bedding that has been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). |
| April 5, 2011 |
| Characterizing a toxic offender |
| The brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease contain protein aggregates called plaques and tangles, which interfere with normal communication between nerve cells and cause progressive learning and memory deficits. |
| December 9, 2011 |
| Chemical engineers help decipher mystery of neurofibrillary tangle formation in Alzheimer's brains |
| Neurofibrillary tangles -- odd, twisted clumps of protein found within nerve cells -- are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The tangles, which were first identified in the early 1900s by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Aloysius Alzheimer, are formed when changes in a protein called tau cause it to aggregate in an insoluble mass in the cytoplasm of cells. Normally, the tau protein is involved in the formation of microtubules, hollow filaments that provide cells with support and structure; abnormal tau tangles, however, cause that structure to break down, and lead to cell death. |
| November 2, 2011 |
| Chemists create Alzheimer's-fighting extract in lab |
| Chemists at Yale University are unveiling what they call the first practical method to create the compound huperzine A, which is a naturally occurring extract of Chinese club moss. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| Cholesterol Levels Linked to Brain Changes of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Study: High Cholesterol Predicts Brain-Clogging Protein Deposits on Autopsy |
| September 12, 2011 |
| Chronic psychological stress linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's |
| Chronic psychological stress throughout a lifespan might increase an individual's risk for Alzheimer's and dementia later in life, according to research from the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University. |
| July 28, 2011 |
| Class of Potent Anti-Cancer Compounds Discovered |
| Working as part of a public program to screen compounds to find potential medicines and other biologically useful molecules, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered an extremely potent class of potential anti-cancer and anti-neurodegenerative disorder compounds. The scientists hope their findings will one day lead to new therapies for cancer and Alzheimer's disease patients. |
| March 7, 2011 |
| Clues to Early Detection, Treatment of Alzheimer's |
| Brain, Blood Changes Occur Decades Before Alzheimer's Symptoms |
| July 22, 2011 |
| Combination of available tests helps predict Alzheimer's disease risk |
| With age, forgetfulness and other signs of memory loss sometimes appear, prompting elderly individuals to seek a medical evaluation amid fears that they may be experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia among Americans aged 65 and older. |
| October 20, 2011 |
| Competition Between Brain Cells Spurs Memory Circuit Development |
| Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System have for the first time demonstrated how memory circuits in the brain refine themselves in a living organism through two distinct types of competition between cells. |
| June 23, 2011 |
| Cornell University professor comments on interventions identified by new Alzheimer's guidelines |
| Paul Eshelman, professor of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University, comments on intervention strategies for earlier stages of Alzheimer's Disease identified by the Alzheimer's Association's new guidelines for diagnosis. |
| April 25, 2011 |
| Could Alzheimer's disease be diagnosed with a simple blood test? |
| Their technique, which is non-invasive, fast and low-cost, measures how much infrared radiation is either emitted or absorbed by white blood cells. Because of its high sensitivity, this method is able to distinguish between the different clinical stages of disease development thereby allowing reliable diagnosis of both mild and moderate stages of Alzheimer's. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Could hypertension drugs help people with Alzheimer's? |
| Within the next 20 years it is expected the number of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will double from its current figure of half a million to one million. A new study has looked at whether certain types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, also called hypertension, might have beneficial effects in reducing the number of new cases of Alzheimer's disease each year. |
| October 17, 2011 |
| Could prenatal DNA testing open Pandora's box? |
| Imagine being pregnant and taking a simple blood test that lays bare the DNA of your fetus. And suppose that DNA could reveal not only medical conditions like Down syndrome, but also things like eye color and height. And the risk for developing depression or Alzheimer's disease. And the chances of being gay. |
| June 13, 2011 |
Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer's or Dementia: A Journal for Caregivers |
 This book offers many ways to create moments of joy. No matter what the environment or situation is, this book will be a positive tool on a daily basis. This book breaks down the learning process into five sections. Within those five sections are smaller steps. At the end of each step is a place to journal thoughts, ideas, solutions and treasures. With this journal, many moments of joy will be created. |
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| Decision support tool for objective diagnostics of Alzheimer's |
| The tool compares measurements of a patient to measurements of other persons available in large databases and provides a simple index about the severity of the disease. The project has shown that the tool improves the accuracy of diagnosis and clinicians' confidence about their decision, making earlier diagnosis possible. |
| December 15, 2011 |
| Depression increases risk of dementia in patients with Type 2 diabetes |
| Depression in patients with diabetes is associated with a substantively increased risk of development of dementia compared to those with diabetes alone. |
| December 5, 2011 |
| Dementia, mild cognitive impairment common in 'oldest old' women |
| Mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and their subtypes are common in the "oldest old" women, which includes those 85 years of age and older, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Neurology. |
| May 9, 2011 |
| Diabetes May Be Linked to Risk of Alzheimer's |
| Study Shows Greater Dementia Risk for People With Diabetes and Prediabetes |
| September 19, 2011 |
| Diametric shift in 2 protein levels spurs Alzheimer's plaque accumulation |
| A diametric shift in the levels of two proteins involved in folding, moving and cutting other proteins enables accumulation of the destructive brain plaque found in Alzheimer's disease, researchers report. |
| December 1, 2011 |
| Diet Affects Markers of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Low-Fat, Low-Glycemic-Index Diets Improve Markers for Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests |
| June 13, 2011 |
| Diet, nutrient levels linked to cognitive ability, brain shrinkage |
| New research has found that elderly people with higher levels of several vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids in their blood had better performance on mental acuity tests and less of the brain shrinkage typical of Alzheimer's disease – while "junk food" diets produced just the opposite result. |
| December 28, 2011 |
| Differences in brain structure indicate risk for developing Alzheimer's disease |
| Subtle differences in brain anatomy among older individuals with normal cognitive skills may be able to predict both the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the following decade and how quickly symptoms of dementia would develop. In their analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images from two separate study groups, researchers from Rush University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found that, among individuals in whom specific brain structures were thinnest, the risk of developing Alzheimer's was three times greater than in those with above-average thickness. The study appears in April 13 issue of Neurology. |
| April 13, 2011 |
| Difficulties in diagnosing dementia type |
| "It is true that we know of around 70 different types of dementia, but these findings are shocking. We believed more patients were diagnosed correctly when we began the study", say researchers Elisabet Englund and Hans Brunnström at Lund University. |
| May 31, 2011 |
| Disease-causing tangle could spawn new materials |
| When most people hear the word amyloid, they immediately think of Alzheimer's disease. And indeed, it was in the brains of Alzheimer's patients that these dense protein masses were first identified. But it turns out that besides playing a role in a number of diseases, amyloids also play an important structural role in many organisms from bacteria to mammals, and might point the way to a whole new category of biologically inspired synthetic materials. |
| August 1, 2011 |
| Disruptions of Daily Rhythms in Alzheimer's Patients' Brains |
| Twenty-four hour cycles, known as circadian rhythms, are important for proper body functions, including for normal brain function and mental health. Disruptions of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles have been observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A new study by Douglas Institute researchers unravels a possible basis for these perturbations. |
| April 27, 2011 |
| Does Hypertension Affect Brain Capacity? |
| Can the course of dementias and mild cognitive impairment be influenced by diseases and risk factors? |
| November 21, 2011 |
| Drug Improves Brain Function in Condition That Leads to Alzheimer's |
| An existing anti-seizure drug improves memory and brain function in adults with a form of cognitive impairment that often leads to full-blown Alzheimer's disease, a Johns Hopkins University study has found. |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Drug to Prevent Alzheimer's 'Within Six Years,' Researchers Say |
| A new drug to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease could be tested on patients within six years according to researchers at Lancaster University. |
| August 9, 2011 |
| Drugs being developed to tackle CJD could also help block Alzheimer's, research shows |
| Scientists funded by the Medical Research Council UK (MRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) have identified two antibodies which could help block the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. |
| June 8, 2011 |
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| Early Alzheimer's disclosures to become more common |
| In wake of basketball coach Pat Summitt's dementia diagnosis, new brain scan research edges closer to identifying disease before memory loss sets in |
| August 24, 2011 |
| Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Has Health, Financial and Social Benefits |
| The World Alzheimer's Report 2011 'The Benefits of Early Diagnosis and Intervention', released September 13 by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), shows that there are interventions that are effective in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, some of which may be more effective when started earlier, and that there is a strong economic argument in favour of earlier diagnosis and timely intervention. |
| September 13, 2011 |
| Early Warning System for Alzheimer's Disease |
| Scientists at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow are developing a technique based on a new discovery which could pave the way towards detecting Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages -- and could help to develop urgently-needed treatments. |
| April 21, 2011 |
| Early-onset Alzheimer's not always associated with memory loss |
| In a recent study published in the journal Neurology, scientists say that individuals who develop early-onset Alzheimer's in middle age are at a high risk of being misdiagnosed because many of their initial symptoms are not memory related. |
| May 19, 2011 |
| Eating fish reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease |
| People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
| November 30, 2011 |
| Emergency departments need to do more to support older adults with cognitive impairment |
| More needs to be done to improve the care that older adults with cognitive impairment - including dementia and delirium - receive when they visit hospital emergency departments, according to a research review in the July issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing. |
| July 5, 2011 |
| Environment That Nurtures Blood-Forming Stem Cells' Growth Identified |
| Scientists with the new Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified the environment in which blood-forming stem cells survive and thrive within the body, an important step toward increasing the safety and effectiveness of bone-marrow transplantation. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Enzyme Found Disrupting Nerve Cell Communication in Alzheimer's Disease |
| Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal proteins that stick together in little globs, disrupting cognitive function (thinking, learning, and memory). These sticky proteins are mostly made up of beta-amyloid peptide. A better understanding of these proteins, how they form, and how they affect brain function will no doubt improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. |
| August 15, 2011 |
| Evidence insufficient on relationship of modifiable factors with risk of Alzheimer's disease |
| The available evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions about the association of modifiable factors and risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a report posted online today that will appear in the September issue of Archives of Neurology. |
| May 9, 2011 |
| Evidence Lacking for Efficacy of Memantine in Treating Mild Alzheimer's Disease, Study Finds |
| An analysis of studies involving the drug memantine finds a lack of evidence for benefit when the drug is used to treat patients with mild Alzheimer disease, according to a report posted online that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. |
| April 11, 2011 |
| Exclusive: GE to soon seek FDA OK for Alzheimer's imaging agent |
| General Electric Co is finishing clinical trials for an agent designed to detect early signs of Alzheimer's and expects to seek regulatory approval by year's end, its executive leading the process said. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Exercise May Help Prevent Brain Damage Caused by Alzheimer's Disease |
| "Exercise allows the brain to rapidly produce chemicals that prevent damaging inflammation," said Professor Jean Harry, who led the study at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States. "This could help us develop a therapeutic approach for early intervention in preventing damage to the brain." |
| August 15, 2011 |
| Experts argue about dementia detection in primary care practice at AFA-ADDF meeting |
| Having primary care doctors routinely screen patients for dementia at annual check up visits--just like they do for high blood pressure or cholesterol--could identify people in need of dementia care and reassure those who are healthy. |
| December 17, 2011 |
| Experimental Alzheimer's Disease Drugs Might Help Patients With Nerve Injuries |
| Drugs already in development to treat Alzheimer's disease may eventually be tapped for a different purpose altogether: re-growing the ends of injured nerves to relieve pain and paralysis. According to a new Johns Hopkins study, experimental compounds originally designed to combat a protein that builds up in Alzheimer's-addled brains appear to make crushed or cut nerve endings grow back significantly faster, a potential boon for those who suffer from neuropathies or traumatic injuries. |
| April 13, 2011 |
| Eye of a fruit fly |
| A tiny fruit fly's retina may hold the key to understanding the cause of the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to a newly published study by researchers at the University of Dayton and the University of Florida. |
| October 05, 2011 |
| Eye Surgery Improves Mood of Alzheimer's Patients |
| Study Shows Alzheimer's Patients May Sleep Better, Be Less Depressed After Cataract Surgery |
| October 28, 2011 |
| Eye Test Spots Alzheimer's Before Symptoms |
| Preliminary Research Suggests Eye Test May Aid in Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease |
| July 18, 2011 |
| F |
| Falls an Early Clue to Alzheimer's |
| Falls More Common in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease, Study Finds |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Falls, eye test may give clues to Alzheimer's |
| Scientists in Australia are reporting encouraging early results from a simple eye test they hope will give a noninvasive way to detect signs of Alzheimer's disease. |
| July 17, 2011 |
| Families need to know more about feeding tubes for elderly dementia patients |
| Despite evidence that feeding tubes do not improve survival rates or quality of life for elderly patients with advanced dementia, their frequency of use varies widely across the states. A new survey of family members finds that discussions surrounding the decision to place feeding tubes surgically are often inadequate. |
| May 5, 2011 |
| Families urge action as US drafts Alzheimer's plans |
| As her mother's Alzheimer's worsened over eight long years, so did Doreen Alfaro's bills: The walker, then the wheelchair, then the hospital bed, then the diapers - and the caregivers hired for more and more hours a day so Alfaro could go to work and her elderly father could get some rest. |
| September 12, 2011 |
| Family members, dementia patients can benefit from adult day care services |
| Adult day care services significantly reduce the stress levels of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, according to a team of Penn State and Virginia Tech researchers. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Fast, accurate test for Alzheimer's |
| Scientists at the National Institute for Health Research's (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the King's College London Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) are the first to use an advanced computer program to accurately detect the early signs of Alzheimer's disease from a routine clinical brain scan. The new scan can return 85 per cent accurate diagnostic results in under 24 hours. |
| March 8, 2011 |
| Fear dementia? Your diet, weight more important than genes, experts say |
| Anyone who has a close relative with Alzheimer's shares the same worry: Am I next? However, a growing body of research indicates that our lifestyles - particularly what we eat and whether we're obese - play a greater role than our genes in determining our brain health as we age. |
| January 26, 2012 |
| Fighting Alzheimer's disease with nanotechnology |
| The total number of people afflicted by Alzheimer's disease worldwide today is about 15 million people, a number expected to grow by four times by 2051 |
| December 13, 2011 |
| Finding shows potential way to protect neurons in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS |
| Cell biologists pondering the death of neurons -- brain cells -- said today that by eliminating one ingredient from the cellular machinery, they prolonged the life of neurons stressed by a pesticide chemical. The finding identifies a potential therapeutic target to slow changes that lead to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. |
| March 11, 2011 |
| First detailed map of human neuroreceptor generated |
| For the first time, USC scientists have mapped out a neuroreceptor. This scientific breakthrough promises to revolutionize the engineering of drugs used to treat ailments such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. |
| September 11, 2011 |
| First detection of pregnancy protein in older people destined for Alzheimer's disease |
| In an advance toward a much-needed early diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease (AD), scientists have discovered that older women destined to develop AD have high blood levels of a protein linked to pregnancy years before showing symptoms. |
| September 28, 2011 |
| G |
| Gene for Alzheimer's Risk May Affect Brain Early |
| Study Shows Young Adults With Gene Show Signs of Changes in the Brain |
| May 18, 2011 |
| Gene for Lou Gehrig's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia Identified |
| Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- two fatal neurodegenerative disease with distinct symptoms -- are triggered by a common mutation in many cases, according to researchers who say they have identified the mutated gene. |
| September 21, 2011 |
| Gene linked to severity of autism's social dysfunction |
| With the help of two sets of brothers with autism, Johns Hopkins scientists have identified a gene associated with autism that appears to be linked very specifically to the severity of social interaction deficits. |
| April 6, 2011 |
| Gene overexpression linked with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome |
| Chronic stress has long been linked with neurodegeneration. Scientists at USC now think they may know why. |
| June 29, 2011 |
| Genetic mutation linked to inherited forms of ALS, dementia |
| NIH-supported researchers' gene discovery provides clues to cause |
| September 28, 2011 |
| Gladstone plans to create new center for Alzheimer's disease research |
| The Gladstone Institutes today announced plans to create a Center for Comprehensive Alzheimer's Disease Research, offering new hope for the millions of families stricken by this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. |
| July 16, 2011 |
| Gladstone, Bristol-Myers Squibb to identify and validate novel targets in Alzheimer's |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the Gladstone Institutes today announced the formation of a discovery-based research collaboration to identify and validate novel targets in Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 23, 2011 |
| Golfing reawakens some of dementia's muscle memories |
| Names, dates, places - such memories are lost to the unforgiving chasm of Alzheimer's disease. |
| October 10, 2011 |
| GPs missing early dementia -- new study |
| New research from the University of Leicester demonstrates that general practitioners (GPs) are struggling to correctly identify people in the early stages of dementia resulting in both missed cases (false negatives) and misidentifications (false positives). |
| June 20, 2011 |
| GPS shoes for Alzheimer's patients to hit US |
| The first shoes with built-in GPS devices -- to help track down dementia-suffering seniors who wander off and get lost -- are set to hit the US market this month, the manufacturer says. |
| October 23, 2011 |
| GPS shoes that allow the tracking of Alzheimer's patients now available for purchase |
| For $299, you can track the movements of your loved ones at all times |
| January 30, 2012 |
| Grape seed polyphenols may help prevent Alzheimer's disease |
| Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that grape seed polyphenols—a natural antioxidant—may help prevent the development or delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The research, led by Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, The Saunder Family Professor in Neurology, and Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was published online in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. |
| July 16, 2011 |
| Great Public Desire to Seek Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's, According to Survey |
| Results of an international survey reveal that over 85% of respondents in the five countries surveyed say that if they were exhibiting confusion and memory loss, they would want to see a doctor to determine if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer's disease. Over 94% would want the same if a family member were exhibiting the symptoms. The findings were presented July 20 at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2011 (AAIC 2011). |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Group Health study finds higher dementia risk with atrial fibrillation |
| The most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, is associated with a greater risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. This discovery by scientists at Group Health Research Institute and their collaborators was published online in advance of print on August 1 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
| August 8, 2011 |
| H |
| Hard fight ahead: Experts hope for rapid progress against Alzheimer's |
| Experts on Alzheimer's disease expressed hope of rapid progress against the condition Friday (July 22) even as they acknowledged that there's little medical science can do today to help patients. |
| July 25, 2011 |
| Having two neurological diseases at once creates diagnostic confusion |
| Neurologists at UCSF have studied a group of people who suffer from two neurological disorders at the same time: Alzheimer's disease and a movement disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy. |
| April 19, 2011 |
| Health Site Medify Reveals Some Surprising Finds |
| I'm really intrigued by Medify, not so much as a patient, but as a journalist who's covered science. To test the new Seattle-based health site, I looked up Alzheimer's, a dreadful disease of the brain that afflicts more than 5 million Americans. There is no cure for it, and available drugs are not effective in slowing down its progress. |
| September 30, 2011 |
| Herpes Linked to Alzheimer's Disease: 'Cold Sores' Connected to Cognitive Decline |
| Laboratories at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Brown University, and House Ear Institute (HEI) have developed a new technique to observe herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) infections growing inside cells. HSV1, the cause of the common cold sore, persists in a latent form inside nerve cells. Re-activation and growth of HSV1 infections contribute to cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| April 4, 2011 |
| HFA develops free 'Alzheimer's Disease and Hospice Care' online webinar |
| The Hospice Foundation of America has developed "Alzheimer's Disease and Hospice Care," a free online webinar that examines how hospice care can support patients and families coping with end-stage Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. |
| May 10, 2011 |
| HHS selects Mayo Clinic physician to chair advisory council on Alzheimer's |
| Ronald Petersen, M.D., Cadieux Director of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, was selected to chair the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services. The group was announced by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| High beta-amyloid levels may affect brain performance in healthy adults |
| High levels of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's disease may affect brain performance even in healthy adults, according to a study published in the February 1, 2012, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| February 2, 2012 |
| High doses of Alzheimer's drug Aricept should be banned, Public Citizen says |
| High doses of the Alzheimer's drug Aricept should be banned because they are no more effective than low doses and have a sharply increased risk of adverse effects, the advocacy group Public Citizen and a Johns Hopkins University geriatrician said Wednesday in a petition to the Food and Drug Administration. |
| May 19, 2011 |
| High Iron, Copper Levels Block Brain-Cell DNA Repair |
| No one knows the cause of most cases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders. But researchers have found that certain factors are consistently associated with these debilitating conditions. One is DNA damage by reactive oxygen species, highly destructive molecules usually formed as a byproduct of cellular respiration. Another is the presence of excessive levels of copper and iron in regions of the brain associated with the particular disorder. |
| May 20, 2011 |
| Hospice improves care for dementia patients and their families |
| Hospice services substantially improved the provision of care and support for nursing home patients dying of dementia and their families, according to an analysis of survey responses from hundreds of bereaved family members. The research comes as hospice funding has received particular scrutiny in the debate over Medicare spending. |
| July 29, 2011 |
| How a Gene Linked to Both Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Works |
| Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified how a gene for a protein that can cause Type 2 diabetes, also possibly kills nerve cells in the brain, thereby contributing to Alzheimer's disease. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| How culprit Alzheimer's protein wreaks havoc |
| How the toxic protein, amyloid, sets off a chain of events that leads to brain cell death during Alzheimer's disease is described in new detail in a study from the University of Bristol published today in Nature Neuroscience. The research, part-funded by Alzheimer's Research UK, uncovers a raft of new targets for treatment development. |
| March 28, 2011 |
| Human Genetics Study Identifies the Most Common Cause of ALS and Dementia |
| Scientists have made an exciting breakthrough in unraveling the genetic basis of two debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Two independent studies, published online by Cell Press in the journal Neuron, identify a new human genetic mutation as the most common cause of ALS and FTD identified to date. This mutation explains at least a third of all familial cases of ALS and FTD within the European population. The research provides key insight into ALS and FTD and may pave the way for development of therapeutic strategies for these currently incurable diseases. |
| September 21, 2011 |
| Human stem cells transformed into key neurons lost in Alzheimer's |
| Northwestern Medicine researchers for the first time have transformed a human embryonic stem cell into a critical type of neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease and is a major cause of memory loss. |
| March 4, 2011 |
| I |
| Identifying Earliest Stages of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease's initial phases. A Mayo Clinic study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| IHD blood test for Alzheimer's disease yields 83% sensitivity and 82% specificity |
| Innovative Health Diagnostics (IHD), the innovative company specialising in the development of diagnostic blood tests for Alzheimer's disease and neurodegenerative illnesses presents its first clinical results for its IHD-Amy blood test for Alzheimer's disease. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| In the pursuit of dangerous clumps |
| When normal proteins form protein clumps in the body, then alarm bells start ringing. Such clumps, called "amyloids," are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes. If doctors knew how these proteins form clumps, then they might be able to treat such diseases more efficiently. The physicist Adrian Keller and his colleagues at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the university in Aarhus, Denmark, have succeeded in taking a major step in that direction. |
| July 28, 2011 |
| Inability to detect sarcasm, lies may be early sign of dementia, study shows |
| By asking a group of older adults to analyze videos of other people conversing -- some talking truthfully, some insincerely -- a group of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco has determined which areas of the brain govern a person's ability to detect sarcasm and lies. |
| April 15, 2011 |
| Inflammatory mediator enhances plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease |
| Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive cognitive impairment and memory loss. Now, a new study published by Cell Press in the September 8 issue of the journal Neuron identifies a previously unrecognized link between neuroinflammation and the classical pathological brain changes that are the hallmark of the disease. In addition, the research identifies a new potential therapeutic target for AD. |
| September 7, 2011 |
| Inherited Alzheimer's detectable 20 years before dementia |
| Inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease may be detectable as many as 20 years before problems with memory and thinking develop, scientists will report July 20, 2011, at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Paris. |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Inspector highlights psych drug use among elderly |
| Government inspectors will tell lawmakers Wednesday that the Medicare health plan needs to do more to stop doctors from prescribing powerful psychiatric drugs to nursing home patients with dementia, an unapproved practice that has flourished despite repeated government warnings. |
| November 30, 2011 |
| Insulin could be Alzheimer's therapy |
| A low dose of insulin has been found to suppress the expression in the blood of four precursor proteins involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, according to new clinical research by University at Buffalo endocrinologists. The research, published in March online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, suggests that insulin could have a powerful, new role to play in fighting Alzheimer's disease. |
| April 1, 2011 |
| Insulin may slow Alzheimer's, study finds |
| Inhaling a concentrated cloud of insulin through the nose twice a day appears to slow - and in some cases reverse - symptoms of memory loss in people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, a new pilot study has found. |
| September 13, 2011 |
| Is It Alzheimer's Disease or Another Dementia? Marker May Give More Accurate Diagnosis |
| New research finds a marker used to detect plaque in the brain may help doctors make a more accurate diagnosis between two common types of dementia -- Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). |
| November 30, 2011 |
| Is it Alzheimer's? Maybe not |
| Alicia Harper spent years as a missionary, working in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, but she faced her greatest challenge six years ago when, at age 69, her mind and body began to falter. |
| March 3, 2011 |
| J |
| JIB highlights aluminium's potential role in neurodegenerative diseases |
| Aluminium's potential role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer, specifically breast cancer, and the potential role for aluminium adjuvants in vaccine-related adverse effects are spotlighted in the latest issue of the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. |
| November 23, 2011 |
| K |
| Keeping up your overall health may keep dementia away |
| Improving and maintaining health factors not traditionally associated with dementia, such as denture fit, vision and hearing, may lower a person's risk for developing dementia, according to a new study published in the July 13, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| July 13, 2011 |
| L |
| Lasers light the path of neuron regeneration |
| Lasers have been used to fabricate tiny scaffolds to be used as delivery vehicles to drop cells off at damaged locations and help treat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. |
| September 21, 2011 |
| Lifting the fog: Finding by neuro-oncologist could help eliminate 'chemo brain' |
| After receiving her medical degree in her homeland of Romania, Dr. Daniela Bota came to the U.S. to earn a doctorate in molecular biology to better understand why people develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. |
| September 29, 2011 |
| Link between brain shrinkage, memory loss in Alzheimer's changes across age spectrum |
| "Those who are 85 and older make up the fastest growing population in the world," said study author Mark Bondi, PhD, with the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and VA San Diego Healthcare System. "Our study shows how age has a dramatic effect on the profile of brain atrophy and cognitive changes evident in Alzheimer's disease." |
| August 11, 2011 |
| Living with dementia and making decisions |
| People with dementia can still make decisions in their everyday lives and with support from partners can continue to do so as their condition advances. This is one of the preliminary findings of a two-year research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) into how married couples living with dementia make decisions on a daily basis. |
| September 29, 2011 |
| Long struggle for appropriately processed manufacturer data leads to a new assessment of memantine |
| After the manufacturer of the Alzheimer's drug memantine submitted a supplementary analysis of study data, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) sees proof of a benefit of the drug for cognitive function, as well as indications of a benefit for activities of daily living, at least for a treatment period of 6 months. This changes the conclusions of the first IQWiG benefit assessment of 2009. IQWiG had repeatedly called upon the manufacturer Merz to provide a renewed analysis of study data appropriate to the research question. |
| April 27, 2011 |
| Lower Weight May Be Early Alzheimer's Sign |
| Changes in Weight May Occur Before Symptoms Even Show |
| November 21, 2011 |
| M |
| Maintaining general health may help reduce risk for dementia |
| Improving and maintaining health factors not traditionally associated with dementia, such as denture fit, vision and hearing, may lower a person's risk for developing dementia, according to a new study published in the July 13, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| July 14, 2011 |
| Maintaining Good Health May Reduce Dementia Risk |
| Researchers Point Out 19 Health Problems, Including Arthritis and Hearing Loss, That May Influence Dementia Risk |
| July 13, 2011 |
| Majority of people in the U.S., Europe express desire to seek early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease |
| Results from Europe and US highlight interest in early diagnosis despite wide fear of and familiarity with the condition |
| July 21, 2011 |
| Manipulating single molecules to unravel secrets of protein folding |
| Better understanding of protein folding is essential because incorrectly folded proteins cause diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. |
| October 27, 2011 |
| Many Alzheimer's patients get drugs with opposing effects |
| You wouldn't brake your car while stepping on the gas--or wash down a sleeping pill with espresso. Yet many people taking common Alzheimer's disease medications--cholinesterase inhibitors--are given medications with anticholinergic properties, which oppose their effects. Group Health Research Institute scientists investigated how often that happens and reported on the consequences in an "Early View" study e-published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
| October 25, 2011 |
| Many patients receive an incorrect dementia diagnosis: Lund study |
| "It is true that we know of around 70 different types of dementia, but these findings are shocking. We believed more patients were diagnosed correctly when we began the study", say researchers Elisabet Englund and Hans Brunnström at Lund University. |
| May 31, 2011 |
| Master gene may shed new light on lysosomal and neurodegenerative disorders |
| Cells, like ordinary households, produce "garbage" — debris and dysfunctional elements — that need disposal. When the mechanism for taking out this garbage fails, rare genetic diseases called lysosomal storage disorders (including Tay-Sachs, Batten and Fabry disease) can disable and even kill the children they affect. In adults, such failure leads to neurodegenerative diseases that occur later in life, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. |
| May 26, 2011 |
| Memory Loss May Not Be Only Sign of Early Alzheimer's |
| Study Shows Other Early Symptoms Include Behavior and Language Problems |
| May 16, 2011 |
| Mild Memory Problems May Be More Common in Men |
| Condition Is Often, But Not Always, a Precursor to Full-Blown Dementia |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Millions now manage aging parents' care from afar |
| Kristy Bryner worries her 80-year-old mom might slip and fall when she picks up the newspaper, or that she'll get in an accident when she drives to the grocery store. What if she has a medical emergency and no one's there to help? What if, like her father, her mother slips into a fog of dementia? |
| January 26, 2012 |
| Model of enigmatic Alzheimer's protein described for first time |
| Yale School of Medicine researchers have described for the first time the structure of a member in an enigmatic family of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease, a crucial early step in understanding key mechanisms of the disease and designing drugs to combat dementia. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Molecular imaging for Alzheimer's disease may be available in hospitals within a year |
| Researchers the world over are advancing positron emission tomography (PET) as an effective method of early detection for Alzheimer's disease, a currently incurable and deadly neurological disorder. Three studies presented at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting are providing new insights into the development of Alzheimer's disease while opening the door to future clinical screening and treatments. |
| June 6, 2011 |
| Molecule that spurs cell's recycling center may help Alzheimer's patients |
| Cells, which employ a process called autophagy to clean up and reuse protein debris leftover from biological processes, were the original recyclers. A team of scientists from Paul Greengard's Rockefeller University laboratory have linked a molecule that stimulates autophagy with the reduction of one of Alzheimer's disease's major hallmarks, amyloid peptide. Their finding suggests a mechanism that could be used to eliminate built-up proteins in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, Huntingdon's and Parkinson's. |
| March 16, 2011 |
| Molecules 'Light Up' Alzheimer's Roots |
| A breakthrough in sensing at Rice University could make finding signs of Alzheimer's disease nearly as simple as switching on a light. |
| July 13, 2011 |
| Mood, cognition and sleep patterns improve in Alzheimer's patients after cataract surgery |
| Researchers at Tenon Hospital, Paris, France, found that patients with mild Alzheimer's disease whose vision improved after cataract surgery also showed improvement in cognitive ability, mood, sleep patterns and other behaviors. Lead researcher Brigitte Girard, MD, will discuss her team's results today at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2011 Annual Meeting. |
| October 25, 2011 |
| More opportunities to develop therapies for protein misfolding |
| Romping clumps of misfolded proteins are prime suspects in many neurological disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. Those diseases are devastating and incurable, but a team of biologists at Brown University reports that cells can fix the problems themselves with only a little bit of help. The insight suggests that there are more opportunities to develop a therapy for protein misfolding than scientists had thought. |
| March 21, 2011 |
| MR spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in brains of people at risk for Alzheimer's |
| The study of 311 people in their 70s and 80s with no cognitive problems, from the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, used an advanced brain imaging technique called proton MR spectroscopy to see if they had abnormalities in several brain metabolites that may be biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. They also had PET scans to assess the level of amyloid-beta deposits, or plaques, in the brain that are one of the first signs of changes in the brain due to Alzheimer's disease. The participants were also given tests of memory, language and other skills. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| MRI may contribute to early detection of Alzheimer's |
| New research suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could help detect Alzheimer's disease (AD) at an early stage, before irreversible damage has occurred, according to a new study published online and in the June print edition of Radiology. |
| April 11, 2011 |
| MRI May Predict Which Adults Will Develop Alzheimer's |
| Using MRI, researchers may be able to predict which adults with mild cognitive impairment are more likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a study published online and in the June issue of Radiology. |
| April 6, 2011 |
| Mystery Ingredient in Coffee Boosts Protection Against Alzheimer's Disease |
| A yet unidentified component of coffee interacts with the beverage's caffeine, which could be a surprising reason why daily coffee intake protects against Alzheimer's disease. A new Alzheimer's mouse study by researchers at the University of South Florida found that this interaction boosts blood levels of a critical growth factor that seems to fight off the Alzheimer's disease process. |
| June 21, 2011 |
| N |
| Nanoparticles may help inhibit Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders |
| Nanoparticles of the right dimensions and shape may be the key in combating the plaque that destroys neurons and leads to symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, a new report shows. |
| June 14, 2011 |
| Natural Alzheimer's weapon suggests better treatment |
| Scientists have shown a molecular chaperone is working like a waste management company to collect and detoxify high levels of toxic amyloid beta peptide found in Alzheimer's disease. |
| June 20, 2011 |
| Natural Alzheimer's-Fighting Compound Created Inexpensively in Lab |
| Scientists at Yale University have developed the first practical method to create a compound called huperzine A in the lab. The compound, which occurs naturally in a species of moss found in China, is an enzyme inhibitor that has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease in China since the late 1990s and is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement to help maintain memory. Scientists believe it could also potentially combat the effects of chemical warfare agents. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| Natural Chemical Found in Grapes May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease |
| Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that grape seed polyphenols -- a natural antioxidant -- may help prevent the development or delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease. |
| July 15, 2011 |
| Natural products for dementia |
| Kew pharmacist, Melanie-Jayne Howes, has been collaborating in research and reviews assessing the role of natural products in the treatment and prevention of dementia. |
| October 13, 2011 |
| Naturally Occurring Plant Alkaloids Could Slow Down Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests |
| A family of naturally occurring plant compounds could help prevent or delay memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). |
| May 26, 2011 |
| Nature study shows common lab dye is a wonder drug -- for worms |
| Basic Yellow 1, a dye used in neuroscience laboratories around the world to detect damaged protein in Alzheimer's disease, is a wonder drug for nematode worms. In a study appearing in the March 30, online edition of Nature, the dye, also known as Thioflavin T, (ThT) extended lifespan in healthy nematode worms by more than 50 percent and slowed the disease process in worms bred to mimic aspects of Alzheimer's. The research, conducted at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, could open new ways to intervene in aging and age-related disease. |
| March 30, 2011 |
| Nearly 1 in 4 people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis |
| If you have psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis and you are experiencing joint pain and swelling, you could have psoriatic arthritis, a serious disease that may lead to joint destruction and disability. |
| October 12, 2011 |
| Neuro Signals Study Gives New Insight Into Brain Disorders |
| Research into how the brain transmits messages to other parts of the body could improve understanding of disorders such as epilepsy, dementia, multiple sclerosis and stroke. |
| March 14, 2011 |
| Neuroscientists Engineer Mice That Make Better Decisions |
| Adding newborn brain cells to an aging brain can improve memory and decision-making, according to a new study. Adult mice with newborn neurons in the hippocampus, which governs memory and learning, were better able to distinguish between similar events and make better-informed choices. Combined with exercise over a period of time, adding new neurons even had anti-depressant effects, the study says. |
| April 6, 2011 |
| New aging cause revealed by test tube |
| Chemists from The Australian National University have discovered a new way that ageing-related diseases can progress, opening up new preventative and treatment possibilities for conditions such as heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. |
| March 22, 2011 |
| New Alzheimer's Drug May Be Safer Than Thought |
| Drug-Related Brain Swelling May Resolve Over Time, Research Suggests |
| July 21, 2011 |
| New Alzheimer's Genes Found |
| Gigantic Scientific Effort Discovers Clues to Treatment, Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease |
| April 3, 2011 |
| New Biomarker May Help With Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease |
| A new biomarker may help identify which people with mild memory deficits will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in the June 22, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The biomarker may be more accurate than the currently established biomarkers. |
| June 22, 2011 |
| New Clues to the Cause of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have identified a series of novel proteins in human cerebrospinal fluid. The proteins, which carry specific sugar molecules, are found in greater concentrations in patients with dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease than in patients with dementia caused by other diseases. This gives hope for new forms of treatment in the future. |
| June 30, 2011 |
| New Direction in Alzheimer's Research |
| In what they are calling a new direction in the study of Alzheimer's disease, UC Santa Barbara scientists have made an important finding about what happens to brain cells that are destroyed in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. |
| June 6, 2011 |
| New Drug Strategies for Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis |
| Researchers at the University of Houston (UH) are recommending a new strategy for developing drugs to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases. |
| October 20, 2011 |
| New Drug Target for Alzheimer's, Stroke Discovered |
| A tiny piece of a critical receptor that fuels the brain and without which sentient beings cannot live has been discovered by University at Buffalo scientists as a promising new drug target for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| New Evidence That Caffeine Is a Healthful Antioxidant in Coffee |
| Scientists are reporting an in-depth analysis of how the caffeine in coffee, tea, and other foods seems to protect against conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease on the most fundamental levels. |
| May 4, 2011 |
| New Findings About the Prion Protein and Its Interaction With the Immune System |
| Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disease which can function as a model for other diseases caused by an accumulation of proteins resulting in tissue malformations (proteinpathies), such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Many questions regarding these diseases still remain unanswered. |
| December 29, 2011 |
| New Findings Contradict Dominant Theory in Alzheimer's Disease |
| For decades the amyloid hypothesis has dominated the research field in Alzheimer's disease. The theory describes how an increase in secreted beta-amyloid peptides leads to the formation of plaques, toxic clusters of damaged proteins between cells, which eventually result in neurodegeneration. Scientists at Lund University, Sweden, have now presented a study that turns this premise on its head. The research group's data offers an opposite hypothesis, suggesting that it is in fact the neurons' inability to secrete beta-amyloid that is at the heart of pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease. |
| October 28, 2011 |
| New imaging method identifies specific mental states |
| New clues to the mystery of brain function, obtained through research by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine, suggest that distinct mental states can be distinguished based on unique patterns of activity in coordinated "networks" within the brain. These networks consist of brain regions that are synchronously communicating with one another. The Stanford team is using this network approach to develop diagnostic tests in Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders in which network function is disrupted. |
| May 26, 2011 |
| New insights into 'sundowning' syndrome |
| New research provides the best evidence to date that the late-day anxiety and agitation sometimes seen in older institutionalized adults, especially those with dementia, has a biological basis in the brain. |
| June 28, 2011 |
| New insights into dynamics of amyloid fibrils |
| The Aβ protein molecules that comprise the fibrils are continuously detaching from and re-attaching to the fibrils, resulting in molecular recycling. These findings suggest that recycling could be a source of small non-fibrillar Aß aggregates, which are believed to be responsible for the neurodegeneration observed in AD. The authors of this study, experts in protein structure and aggregation at IRB Barcelona and other research centers, led by the ICREA researcher Nŕtalia Carulla, believe that modulation of fibril recycling may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat this disease. |
| April 15, 2011 |
| New insight into fragile gene |
| New research could change the way health professionals identify and treat late-onset dementia. |
| July 22, 2011 |
| New marker may provide more accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's, FTLD |
| New research finds a marker used to detect plaque in the brain may help doctors make a more accurate diagnosis between two common types of dementia - Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). |
| December 1, 2011 |
| New method delivers Alzheimer's drug to the brain |
| Oxford University scientists have developed a new method for delivering complex drugs directly to the brain, a necessary step for treating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Motor Neuron Disease and Muscular Dystrophy. |
| March 21, 2011 |
| New Protein Linked to Alzheimer's Disease |
| After decades of studying the pathological process that wipes out large volumes of memory, scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research discovered a molecule called c-Abl that has a known role in leukemia also has a hand in Alzheimer's disease. The finding, reported in the June 14th issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, offers a new target for drug development that could stave off the pathological disease process. |
| May 24, 2011 |
| New report finds nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the U.S. |
| According to 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, released today by the Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the United States. This new report shows that there are far more Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers than previously believed — 37% more than reported last year. These individuals provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202.6 billion. If Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers were the only residents of a single state it would be the 5th largest state in the country. |
| March 15, 2011 |
| New research aims to make proteins 'behave badly' |
| Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are trying to get proteins to create the sticky plaque often associated with neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and even Mad Cow. If successful, the study would better equip researchers to prevent or find a cure for these diseases. |
| March 15, 2011 |
| New research on Alzheimer's |
| Advances in research into Alzheimer's disease: transporter proteins at the blood CSF barrier and vitamin D may help prevent amyloid β build up in the brain |
| July 11, 2011 |
| New research supports upcoming Alzheimer's disease guidelines |
| Two new studies published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) provide insight into the potential of positron emission tomography (PET) to differentiate between types of dementia and to identify pharmaceuticals to slow the progress of dementia. With proposed National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer's Association guidelines for detecting Alzheimer's-related brain changes expected in September, these articles give a preview of what may be to come. |
| August 1, 2011 |
| New research to examine links between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease |
| New research is being carried out at Keele university to examine links between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease. |
| March 29, 2011 |
| New Route to Map Brain Fat |
| Mapping the fat distribution of the healthy human brain is a key step in understanding neurological diseases, in general, and the neurodegeneration that accompanies Alzheimer's disease in particular. Antonio Veloso and colleagues, from the University of the Basque Country in Leioa, Spain, find a new technique to reveal the fat distribution of three different areas of the healthy human brain. |
| May 4, 2011 |
| New rules regarding hospice stays respond to patients with unpredictable illnesses like Alzheimer's and heart failure |
| U.S. Rules Require Clearance For Long Hospice Stays New government rules — enforcement kicked in last month — require hospices to send doctors or nurse practitioners for face-to-face visits with Medicare patients who have been on hospice more than six months to certify that the patients are really sick enough to need the program. The new rules came in response to lengthening hospice stays as services expanded beyond cancer patients to those with slower-moving and less predictable illnesses like heart failure, Alzheimer's, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. |
| May 6, 2011 |
| New sAPPβ biomarker may identify people at risk of developing Alzheimer's |
| A new biomarker may help identify which people with mild memory deficits will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in the June 22, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The biomarker may be more accurate than the currently established biomarkers. |
| June 23, 2011 |
| New slow-release compound protects against Huntington's and Alzheimer's |
| A study in a special early online publication of Cell, a Cell Press publication, reveals a promising new slow-release compound that protects mice against the neurodegenerative effects of both Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease. The 'prodrug' known only as JM6 works through a pathway involved in the breakdown of the amino acid tryptophan. |
| June 3, 2011 |
| New study challenges accepted approaches to research in senile dementia |
| Impacting millions of families and devouring billions of dollars globally, Alzheimer's disease is the focus of exhaustive research to find a cure. Although intensely investigated over the last three decades using cutting-edge technologies, the "pathogenic cause" of Alzheimer's disease has not been found. While many research "breakthroughs" have been claimed and high-profile drugs trials carried out, why does the promised "cure" still seem to elude scientists? |
| November 7, 2011 |
| New study identifies compounds that could slow down Alzheimer's disease |
| A family of naturally occurring plant compounds could help prevent or delay memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). |
| May 26, 2011 |
| New study uncovers how brain cells degrade dangerous protein aggregates |
| Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) have discovered a key mechanism responsible for selectively degrading aggregates of ubiquitinated proteins from the cell. Their findings indicate that the capture and removal of such aggregates is mediated by the phosphorylation of a protein called p62, opening the door to new avenues for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. |
| November 7, 2011 |
| New X-ray method for understanding brain disorders better |
| Researchers including members from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method for making detailed X-ray images of brain cells. The method, called SAXS-CT, can map the myelin sheaths of nerve cells, which are important for conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The results have been published in the scientific journal, NeuroImage. |
| May 12, 2011 |
| Newly discovered role for enzyme in neurodegenerative diseases |
| Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are partly attributable to brain inflammation. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet now demonstrate in a paper published in Nature that a well-known family of enzymes can prevent the inflammation and thus constitute a potential target for drugs. |
| March 10, 2011 |
| NIH awards $2.4 million, five-year grant for research on dementia and delirium |
| "Delirium is prevalent in people with dementia," said Ann Kolanowski, Elouise Ross Eberly Professor of Nursing, Penn State. "We found in our pilot study that many older adults who have dementia and experience a medical problem often develop delirium, and it doesn't necessarily resolve by the time they are discharged from the hospital." |
| May 27, 2011 |
| NIH investigators discover new mechanism that may be important for learning and memory |
| New findings in mice suggest that the timing when the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released in the brain's hippocampus may play a key role in regulating the strength of nerve cell connections, called synapses. Understanding the complex nature of neuronal signaling at synapses could lead to better understanding of learning and memory, and novel treatments for relevant disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. |
| July 13, 2011 |
| Noncoding RNA may promote Alzheimer's disease |
| Researchers pinpoint a small RNA that spurs cells to manufacture a particular splice variant of a key neuronal protein, potentially promoting Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other types of neurodegeneration. The study appears in the May 30 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology. |
| May 30, 2011 |
| Novartis reports positive results from first pivotal ACZ885 Phase III trial in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis |
| Novartis announced today positive results of the first pivotal Phase III trial of ACZ885 in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), a rare and serious childhood auto-inflammatory disease. The results, presented at the 2011 European Pediatric Rheumatology Congress in Bruges, Belgium, showed all primary and secondary endpoints of the study were met. |
| September 17, 2011 |
| Nursing home quality scorecards don't tell the whole score |
| The scoring system government agencies use to rate nursing home quality does not provide an adequate evaluation because they do not take into account the degree of cognitive impairment of their patient populations and whether facilities include a specialized dementia unit according to a new study. |
| November 21, 2011 |
| Nursing home residents with dementia: Antidepressants are associated with increased risk of falling |
| Nursing home residents with dementia who use average doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are three times more likely to have an injurious fall than similar people who don't use these drugs. The association can be seen in people who use low doses of SSRIs and the risk increases as people take higher doses. |
| January 19, 2012 |
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| Over half of Alzheimer's cases may be preventable, say researchers |
| Over half of all Alzheimer's disease cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes and treatment or prevention of chronic medical conditions, according to a study led by Deborah Barnes, PhD, a mental health researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Overlooked peptide reveals clues to causes of Alzheimer's disease |
| Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) and their collaborators have shed light on the function of a little-studied amyloid peptide in promoting Alzheimer's disease (AD). Their surprising findings reveal that the peptide is more abundant, more neurotoxic, and exhibits a higher propensity to aggregate than amyloidogenic agents studied in earlier research, suggesting a potential role in new approaches for preventing AD-causing amyloidosis. |
| July 3, 2011 |
| Oxidative stress: Less harmful than suspected? |
| Arterial calcification and coronary heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, cancer and even the aging process itself are suspected to be partially caused or accelerated by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress arises in tissues when there is an excess of what are called reactive oxygen species (ROS). |
| December 5, 2011 |
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| Packing on the Pounds in Middle Age Linked to Dementia |
| According to a new study, being overweight or obese during middle age may increase the risk of certain dementias. The research is published in the May 3, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| May 2, 2011 |
| PET-CT exams can diagnose 'cognitive reserve' in early-onset AD |
| A recent study revealed that the "cognitive reserve" in early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and PET-CT examinations can be used to effectively to identify early-onset AD patients. |
| May 2, 2011 |
| Poor recycling of BACE1 enzyme could promote Alzheimer's disease |
| Abeta, the toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, is formed when enzymes cut up its parental protein, known as amyloid precursor protein. One of those enzymes is beta-secretase or BACE1. |
| November 21, 2011 |
| Poor Self-Rated Health Linked to Dementia |
| Study Shows People Who Rate Their Own Health as Poor Are More Likely to Develop Dementia |
| October 05, 2011 |
| Policies needed to prepare individuals, society for earlier diagnosis and high risk of Alzheimer's |
| The changing tide of Alzheimer's diagnosis presents new challenges to the public, physicians and lawmakers: if you could find out your Alzheimer's risk, would you want to know? How should doctors tell you your risk? And what does it mean for the many newly diagnosed Americans still in the workplace? |
| September 16, 2011 |
| Potential diagnostic test for Alzheimer's would use cerebrospinal fluid |
| Researchers at the University of Kentucky are working on a potential diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease, based on biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid. |
| April 26, 2011 |
| Potential new drug candidate found for Alzheimer's diseases |
| Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, the Medical University of South Carolina and American Life Science Pharmaceuticals of San Diego have demonstrated that oral administration of a cysteine protease inhibitor, E64d, not only reduces the build-up of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brains of animal models for Alzheimer's disease, but also results in a substantial improvement in memory deficit. |
| May 31, 2011 |
| Precise measurements of cholesterol transport rates give new hope for Alzheimer's treatment |
| Neutrons have shown the movement of cholesterol between and within cells takes far longer than previously thought. Findings could impact the treatment of a range of diseases linked to abnormal rates of cholesterol transfer. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Predicting Alzheimer's: Thinning of Key Cortical Areas Predicts Dementia Up to a Decade in Advance |
| Subtle differences in brain anatomy among older individuals with normal cognitive skills may be able to predict both the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the following decade and how quickly symptoms of dementia would develop. In their analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images from two separate study groups, researchers from Rush University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found that, among individuals in whom specific brain structures were thinnest, the risk of developing Alzheimer's was three times greater than in those with above-average thickness. |
| April 13, 2011 |
| Problem proteins in Alzheimer's |
| In Alzheimer's disease, two proteins are known to accumulate and build up in the brain. One protein called amyloid ß aggregates into large disruptive 'plaques', while tau protein forms tangled fibres within nerve cells. |
| March 2, 2011 |
| Prognosis for Brain Damage |
| A Norwegian research centre is developing new magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques to study the brain. This could have impact for victims of brain damage as well as Alzheimer patients. |
| March 18, 2011 |
| Progress is seen on a blood test for Alzheimer's |
| An experimental test did a good job of indicating how much of the telltale Alzheimer's plaque lurks in people's brains, Australian researchers reported Wednesday. If the test proves accurate in larger studies, it could offer a way to check people having memory problems to see who needs more definitive testing for the disease. |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Promising Diagnostic Test Developed for Alzheimer's |
| Affecting nearly 36 million people worldwide, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most elusive chronic diseases in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The only definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer's is through a brain autopsy or post-mortem. |
| August 10, 2011 |
| Protein changes identified in early-onset Alzheimer's |
| With a lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer's, most of us would think long and hard about whether we wanted to know years in advance if we were genetically predisposed to develop the disease. For researchers, however, such knowledge is a window into Alzheimer's disease's evolution. |
| January 10, 2012 |
| Protein in the brain could be a key target in controlling Alzheimer's |
| A protein recently discovered in the brain could play a key role in regulating the creation of amyloid beta, the major component of plaques implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Protein structures give disease clues |
| Using some of the most powerful nuclear magnetic resonance equipment available, researchers are making discoveries about the shape and structure of biological molecules -- potentially leading to new ways to treat or prevent diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. |
| February 1, 2012 |
| President Obama to provide federal funding for Alzheimer's programs |
| As the world's leading voluntary health organization advocating for Alzheimer's care, support and research, the Alzheimer's Association is pleased that Congress and President Obama have responded to calls by the Alzheimer's Association on behalf of people with Alzheimer's disease, caregivers, health professionals and researchers, to provide federal funding for several programs critical to the Alzheimer's community. |
| December 26, 2011 |
| Psychologists ask how well -- or badly -- we remember together |
| Several years ago, Suparna Rajaram noticed a strange sort of contagion in a couple she was close to. One partner acquired dementia -- and the other lost the nourishing pleasures of joint reminiscence. "When the other person cannot validate shared memories," said Rajaram, "they are both robbed of the past." |
| April 27, 2011 |
| Push underway to cut drugs for dementia patients |
| Day after day, Hazel Eng sat on her couch, a blank stare on her face. The powerful antipsychotics she was taking often cloaked her in sedation. And when they didn't, the 89-year-old lashed out at her nursing home's aides with such anger and frequency her daughter wondered if her mother would be better off dead. |
| September 14, 2011 |
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| Real social costs of caring for cognitively impaired elders |
| The real social costs of cognitive impairments among the elderly are being greatly underestimated without counting care given to older Americans who have not yet reached the diagnostic threshold for dementia. |
| March 23, 2011 |
| Research finds enzyme disrupting nerve cell communication in Alzheimer's disease |
| Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal proteins that stick together in little globs, disrupting cognitive function (thinking, learning, and memory). These sticky proteins are mostly made up of beta-amyloid peptide. A better understanding of these proteins, how they form, and how they affect brain function will no doubt improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. |
| August 15, 2011 |
| Research suggests alcohol consumption helps stave off dementia |
| Experts agree that long-term alcohol abuse is detrimental to memory function and can cause neuro-degenerative disease. However, according to a study published in Age and Ageing by Oxford University Press today, there is evidence that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of cognitive decline or dementia. |
| March 2, 2011 |
| Researchers connect gene to pre-Alzheimer's |
| Cornell scientists have shown a significant correlation for the first time between a human gene and people's risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Researchers design Alzheimer's antibodies |
| Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to design antibodies aimed at combating disease. The surprisingly simple process was used to make antibodies that neutralize the harmful protein particles that lead to Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 9, 2011 |
| Researchers develop first mouse model to study important aspect of Alzheimer's |
| Hirano bodies are almost indescribably tiny objects found in nerve cells of people suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer's, mad cow and Lou Gehrig's diseases. Yet for decades, researchers weren't sure if these structures helped cause the conditions or appeared after onset of the disease and had some other role. |
| November 7, 2011 |
| Researchers develop method for advancing development of antipsychotic drugs |
| Researchers interested in the treatment of schizophrenia and dementia have clarified how antipsychotic drugs that target a complex of two receptors at the surface of cells in the brain work. |
| November 23, 2011 |
| Researchers document how immune system can counteract advancement of Alzheimer's |
| For the first time a research team at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Universitätsklinik Freiburg succeeded in documenting how the immune system can counteract the advancement of Alzheimer's disease. Within the scope of their neuroscience paper they showed that certain scavenger cells in the immune system, so-called macrophages, play a key role in this context. Furthermore, they were able to demonstrate how special cell-signaling proteins, so-called chemokines, mediate the defense process. The results of the study have now been published in the renowned Journal of Neuroscience. |
| August 17, 2011 |
| Researchers find a new culprit in Alzheimer's disease: Too many blood vessels |
| University of British Columbia scientists may have uncovered a new explanation for how Alzheimer's disease destroys the brain — a profusion of blood vessels. |
| August 31, 2011 |
| Researchers find first physical evidence bilingualism delays onset of Alzheimer's symptoms |
| Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have found that people who speak more than one language have twice as much brain damage as unilingual people before they exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It's the first physical evidence that bilingualism delays the onset of the disease. |
| October 13, 2011 |
| Researchers find new mechanism behind the formation and maintenance of long-term memories |
| Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that lactate, a type of energy fuel in the brain, plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. These findings have important implications for common illnesses like Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, aging-related memory impairment and diabetes. The research is published in the March 4th issue of the journal Cell. |
| March 3, 2011 |
| Researchers find new way to use antibodies to carry drugs across the blood-brain barrier |
| In what appears to be a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's and other diseases that affect the brain, researchers from Roche Genentech have succeeded in engineering an antibody that can be used to carry therapeutic drugs across the so called blood-barrier in the brain, which can then block substances such as beta-secretase 1, thereby preventing the buildup of the amyloid beta proteins that cause the creation of sticky plague seen in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers. Publishing their results in two papers in Science Translational Medicine, the group describes how they engineered an antibody normally used to carry iron in the blood to the brain, to allow therapeutic drugs to tag along for the ride, leading to a big increase in the amount of the drug that is able to make it across the membrane and fluids barriers that serve to protect the brain from infection. |
| May 26, 2011 |
| Researchers identify diabetes link to cognitive impairment in older adults |
| Many complications of diabetes, including kidney disease, foot problems and vision problems are generally well recognized. But the disease's impact on the brain is often overlooked. |
| November 8, 2011 |
| Researchers identify how a gene linked to both Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes works |
| Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified how a gene for a protein that can cause Type 2 diabetes, also possibly kills nerve cells in the brain, thereby contributing to Alzheimer's disease. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Researchers identify micro-RNA that regulates learning processes, Alzheimer's |
| Proteins are the molecular machines of the cell. They transport materials, cleave products or transmit signals - and for a long time, they have been a main focus of attention in molecular biology research. In the last two decades, however, another class of critically important molecules has emerged: small RNA molecules, including micro-RNAs. It is now well established that micro-RNAs play a key role in the regulation of cell function."A micro-RNA regulates the production of an estimated 300-400 proteins. |
| September 26, 2011 |
| Researchers link Alzheimer's to lack of specific protein |
| A new clue to understanding one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease was unveiled in an article published Sunday (Aug. 14) in Nature Neuroscience online. Kara Pratt, a new faculty member in the University of Wyoming Neuroscience Center , is the study's lead investigator. |
| August 16, 2011 |
| Researchers watch amyloid plaques form |
| Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and Osaka University applied a new approach to take a close look at amyloid plaque formation, a process that plays important roles in Alzheimer's disease. The technique would greatly aid the development and screening for novel therapeutics that can manipulate the formation of the toxic amyloid aggregates. |
| October 03, 2011 |
| Retired NFL players at higher risk for mild cognitive impairment |
| Retired NFL football players are at higher risk for mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, a Loyola University Health System study has found. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Reversing aging |
| Technology developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin could significantly reduce the time and cost to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease and help answer one of the greatest biological questions: why do we age? |
| October 17, 2011 |
| Road Block as a New Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer's |
| Blocking a transport pathway through the brain cells offers new prospects to prevent the development of Alzheimer's. Wim Annaert and colleagues of VIB and K.U. Leuven discovered that two main agents involved in the inception of Alzheimer's disease, the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) and the beta secretase enzyme (BACE1), follow a different path through the brain cells to meet up. It is during the eventual meeting between protein and enzyme that the basis is laid for the development of the disease. |
| August 22, 2011 |
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| Safeguards needed to prevent discrimination of early Alzheimer's patients in the workplace |
| The changing tide of Alzheimer's diagnosis presents new challenges to the public, physicians and lawmakers: if you could find out your Alzheimer's risk, would you want to know? How should doctors tell you your risk? And what does it mean for the many newly diagnosed Americans still in the workplace? |
| September 15, 2011 |
| Salk Institute uncovers presenilin's productive side |
| Mutant presenilin is infamous for its role in the most aggressive form of Alzheimer's disease-early-onset familial Alzheimer's-which can strike people as early as their 30s. In their latest study, researchers at the Salk Institute uncovered presenilin's productive side: It helps embryonic motor neurons navigate the maze of chemical cues that pull, push and hem them in on their way to their proper targets. Without it, budding motor neurons misread their guidance signals and get stuck in the spinal cord. |
| January 19, 2011 |
| Same genes linked to early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease |
| The same gene mutations linked to inherited, early-onset Alzheimer's disease have been found in people with the more common late-onset form of the illness. |
| February 1, 2012 |
| Scientists Connect Gene to Alzheimer's Precondition |
| Connecting a human gene to the risk of developing the Alzheimer's precondition known as Mild Cognitive Impairment has been somewhat of a holy grail for scientists, but a team led by researchers from Cornell University has ended the quest. |
| July 18, 2011 |
| Scientists create natural Alzheimer's-fighting compound in lab |
| Scientists at Yale University have developed the first practical method to create a compound called huperzine A in the lab. The compound, which occurs naturally in a species of moss found in China, is an enzyme inhibitor that has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease in China since the late 1990s and is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement to help maintain memory. Scientists believe it could also potentially combat the effects of chemical warfare agents. |
| August 25, 2011 |
| Scientists discover drug candidate for Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease |
| Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have identified a drug candidate that diminishes the effects of both Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease in animal models, offering new hope for patients who currently lack any medications to halt the progression of these two debilitating illnesses. |
| June 2, 2011 |
| Scientists Discover How Molecular Motors Go Into 'Energy Save Mode' |
| The transport system inside living cells is a well-oiled machine with tiny protein motors hauling chromosomes, neurotransmitters and other vital cargo around the cell. These molecular motors are responsible for a variety of critical transport jobs, but they are not always on the go. They can put themselves into "energy save mode" to conserve cellular fuel and, as a consequence, control what gets moved around the cell, and when. |
| August 11, 2011 |
| Scientists discover new mechanism that may be important for learning and memory |
| New findings in mice suggest that the timing when the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released in the brain's hippocampus may play a key role in regulating the strength of nerve cell connections, called synapses. Understanding the complex nature of neuronal signaling at synapses could lead to better understanding of learning and memory, and novel treatments for relevant disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. |
| July 14, 2011 |
| Scientists explore whether what heals the head can also heal the heart |
| What do heart disease and dementia have in common? Perhaps more than meets the eye, according to researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center. |
| November 2, 2011 |
| Scientists Generate First Detailed Map of Human Neuroreceptor |
| For the first time, USC scientists have mapped out a neuroreceptor. This scientific breakthrough promises to revolutionize the engineering of drugs used to treat ailments such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. |
| September 12, 2011 |
| Scientists ID possible biomarker to gauge Alzheimer's prognosis, effect of therapies |
| UCLA researchers have identified a new biomarker that could help them track how effectively the immune system is able to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which forms the plaques considered one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. |
| March 17, 2011 |
| Scientists uncover free radical clue to dementia |
| A computer model programmed by scientists at Newcastle University suggests that preventing damage from free radicals could be key to fighting dementia. |
| July 22, 2011 |
| Scientists uncover potential target for treating common form of early-onset dementia |
| No cure exists for frontotemporal dementia, which strikes between the ages of 40 and 64 and accounts for at least one in four cases of early-onset dementia. Caused by the death of cells in the front and sides of the brain, the disease can lead to dramatic changes in a patient's personality and behavior, including the loss of the ability to communicate. |
| September 21, 2011 |
| Several methods for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease developed by European scientists |
| PredictAD is an EU-funded research project that develops objective and efficient methods for enabling earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Diagnosis requires a holistic view of the patient combining information from several sources, such as, clinical tests, imaging and blood samples. |
| June 15, 2011 |
| Shedding light on Alzheimer's |
| Cardiff researchers have uncovered a molecular interaction that could not only help understand the causes of Alzheimer's, but also shed light on how life began. |
| May 25, 2011 |
| Signs of Alzheimer's May Show Up Years Before Symptoms |
| Study: Signs of Disease Seen in Brains of People Who Don't Have Alzheimer's Yet |
| February 1, 2012 |
| Simple lifestyle changes could prevent half of all Alzheimer's disease cases |
| Over half of all Alzheimer's disease cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes and treatment or prevention of chronic medical conditions, according to a study led by Deborah Barnes, PhD, a mental health researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Sleep apnea linked to increased risk of dementia in elderly women |
| characterized by disrupted breathing and sleep and a reduction in the intake of oxygen -- are about twice as likely to develop dementia in the next five years as those without the condition, according to a multi-center study led by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco. |
| August 9, 2011 |
| Sleep hormone melatonin in Alzheimer's treatment study |
| A drug containing the sleep hormone melatonin is to be tested in Scotland to find out if it helps reduce the effects of dementia. |
| March 28, 2011 |
| Small group homes are better for many dementia patients and their families |
| Small group homes for people with dementia provide good quality care and a domestic environment where people can live as individuals and families can get involved. But tension can arise when it comes to deciding who takes responsibilities for certain practical and caring tasks. |
| September 15, 2011 |
| Small study shows association between medication and reduction in brain amyloid levels related to AD |
| Although it is a small study and more clinical trials are needed, treatment with the medication gantenerumab appeared to result in a reduction in brain amyloid levels in patients with Alzheimer disease, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Neurology. |
| October 10, 2011 |
| SMER28 can reduce beta-amyloid accumulation in patients with Alzheimer's disease |
| If you can't stop the beta-amyloid protein plaques from forming in Alzheimer's disease patients, then maybe you can help the body rid itself of them instead. At least that's what scientists from New York were hoping for when they found a drug candidate to do just that. Their work appears in a research report online in The FASEB Journal, and shows that a new compound, called "SMER28" stimulated autophagy in rat and mice cells. Autophagy is a process cells use to "clean out" the debris from their interior, including unwanted materials such as the protein aggregates that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. In mice and rat cells, SMER28 effectively slowed down the accumulation of beta-amyloid. |
| March 8, 2011 |
| Sniffing Out Alzheimer's Disease |
| Researchers Report Early Success With Smell Test for Cognitive Decline |
| July 22, 2011 |
| Socioeconomics Playing Reduced Role in Autism Diagnoses |
| While there is an increasing equality in terms of the likelihood that children from communities and families across the socioeconomic spectrum will be diagnosed with autism, a new study finds that such factors still influence the chance of an autism diagnosis, though to a much lesser extent than they did at the height of rising prevalence. |
| April 6, 2011 |
| Spouse caregivers may have high risk of cognitive impairment or dementia |
| An older individual who cares for a spouse with dementia may be at an increased risk of developing cognitive problems because of the lifestyle that was shared with the spouse and because of the stress of caring for a loved one who is ill. These findings, which are published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, indicate that efforts are needed to help caregivers maintain their cognitive and functional health and their ability to care for those who need them. |
| May 13, 2011 |
| Statistically significant |
| When the statistician for UC Irvine's innovative Down syndrome program retired last year, its researchers were left in a bind. The group is studying ways to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's-type dementia in people with Down syndrome, including examining possible links between seizures and cognitive decline. |
| November 30, 2011 |
| Stem cell discoveries pace growing understanding of human brain's uniqueness |
| Scientists are making great strides in figuring out how the human brain — with its expansive cerebral cortex and corresponding capacity for higher thinking — became one of nature's greatest wonders. Insights about how the brain develops are leading to novel ideas about the causes of a range of brain disorders, and are raising hopes for the regeneration of tissue that is lost in diseases such as Alzheimer's. At the center of this scientific ferment are new stem cell discoveries by researchers at UCSF. |
| April 28, 2011 |
| Stress May Increase Risk for Alzheimer's Disease |
| Protein deposits in nerve cells are a typical feature of Alzheimer's disease: the excessive alteration of the tau protein through the addition of phosphate groups -- a process known as hyperphosphorylation -- causes the protein in the cells to aggregate into clumps. As a result, nerve cells die, particularly in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays an important role in learning and memory, as well as in the prefrontal cortex which regulates higher cognitive functions. |
| May 26, 2011 |
| Structural Biologists Reveal Novel Drug Binding Site in NMDA Receptor Subunit |
| Structural biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have obtained a precise molecular map of the binding site for an allosteric inhibitor in a subtype of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, which is commonly expressed in brain cells. |
| June 16, 2011 |
| Studies evaluate the association between physical activity and lower rates of cognitive impairment |
| Engaging in regular physical activity is associated with less decline in cognitive function in older adults, according to two studies published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The articles are being released on July 19 to coincide with the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Paris and will be included in the July 25 print edition. |
| July 19, 2011 |
| Studies find possible new genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease |
| Scientists have confirmed one gene variant and have identified several others that may be risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of the disorder. In the largest genome-wide association study, or GWAS, ever conducted in Alzheimer's research, investigators studied DNA samples from more than 56,000 study participants and analyzed shared data sets to detect gene variations that may have subtle effects on the risk for developing Alzheimer's. The National Institutes of Health funded the study appearing April 3, 2011 in the online issue of Nature Genetics. |
| April 4, 2011 |
| Study finds weight gain linked to dementia |
| Dementia and obesity are two of Australia's biggest public health problems and the relationship between them is now one step closer to being understood, thanks to new research from The Australian National University. |
| March 4, 2011 |
| Study Helps Explain 'Sundowning,' an Anxiety Syndrome in Elderly Dementia Patients |
| New research provides the best evidence to date that the late-day anxiety and agitation sometimes seen in older institutionalized adults, especially those with dementia, has a biological basis in the brain. |
| June 27, 2011 |
| Study identifies a new way brain cells die in Alzheimer's disease |
| A new study challenges conventional thinking about how brain cells die in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings demonstrate a previously unknown mechanism by which the cells die and will help lead researchers in new directions for treating the degenerative brain disease. |
| January 20, 2012 |
| Study identifies blood-forming stem cells' growth |
| Scientists with the new Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified the environment in which blood-forming stem cells survive and thrive within the body, an important step toward increasing the safety and effectiveness of bone-marrow transplantation. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| Study identifies chemical changes in brains of people at risk for Alzheimer's disease |
| A brain imaging scan identifies biochemical changes in the brains of normal people who might be at risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the August 24, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| August 24, 2011 |
| Study identifies earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease |
| Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease's initial phases. A Mayo Clinic study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with. The study is published in this month's issue of the Annals of Neurology. |
| October 11, 2011 |
| Study identifies fish oil's impact on cognition and brain structure |
| Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital's Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center have found positive associations between fish oil supplements and cognitive functioning as well as differences in brain structure between users and non-users of fish oil supplements. The findings suggest possible benefits of fish oil supplements on brain health and aging. The results were reported at the recent International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, in Paris, France. |
| August 17, 2011 |
| Study of Alzheimer's-related protein in healthy adults may shed light on earliest signs of disease |
| Researchers from the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center have completed a large-scale neuroimaging study of healthy adults from age 30 to 90 that measured beta-amyloid protein--a substance whose toxic buildup in the brain is a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease. |
| February 1, 2012 |
| Study participants at risk for Alzheimer's talk about their genetic test results |
| If you had a family history of developing Alzheimer's disease, would you take a genetic test that would give you more information about your chances? |
| December 12, 2011 |
| Study points to liver, not brain, as origin of Alzheimer's plaques |
| Unexpected results from a Scripps Research Institute and ModGene, LLC study could completely alter scientists' ideas about Alzheimer's disease—pointing to the liver instead of the brain as the source of the "amyloid" that deposits as brain plaques associated with this devastating condition. The findings could offer a relatively simple approach for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment. |
| March 3, 2011 |
| Study provides potential explanation for mechanisms of associative memory |
| Researchers from the University of Bristol have discovered that a chemical compound in the brain can weaken the synaptic connections between neurons in a region of the brain important for the formation of long-term memories. |
| December 13, 2011 |
| Study reveals link between high cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease |
| People with high cholesterol may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the September 13, 2011, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| September 12, 2011 |
| Study reveals new link between Alzheimer's disease and healthy aging |
| Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are two of the most prevalent forms of neurodegenerative disorders. In a study published online today in Genome Research, researchers have analyzed changes in gene expression in the aging and diseased brain, finding new clues to the biology of normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. |
| August 15, 2011 |
| Study shows Alzheimer's disease may spread by 'jumping' from one brain region to another |
| For decades, researchers have debated whether Alzheimer's disease starts independently in vulnerable brain regions at different times, or if it begins in one region and then spreads to neuroanatomically connected areas. A new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers strongly supports the latter, demonstrating that abnormal tau protein, a key feature of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in the brains of those with Alzheimer's, propagates along linked brain circuits, "jumping" from neuron to neuron. |
| February 1, 2012 |
| Study shows Alzheimer's disease-related peptides form toxic calcium channels in the plasma membrane |
| Alzheimer's disease is triggered by the inappropriate processing of amyloid precursor protein to generate excess amounts of short peptide fragments called A-beta. For many years, the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease was thought to be caused by the buildup of A-beta in insoluble, fibrous plaques. However, increasing suspicion now falls on smaller, soluble A-beta complexes as the toxic form of the protein, partly through their ability to induce excess calcium influx into cells, which disrupts synaptic signaling and stimulates cell death. A new study in The Journal of Cell Biology uses high-resolution imaging to reveal that A-beta oligomers elevate calcium by forming calcium-permeable pores in the plasma membrane. |
| October 24, 2011 |
| Study shows increased Alzheimer's biomarkers in patients after anesthesia and surgery |
| The possibility that anesthesia and surgery produces lasting cognitive losses has gained attention over past decades, but direct evidence has remained ambiguous and controversial. Now, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania provide further evidence that Alzheimer's pathology may be increased in patients after surgery. The new research is published in the October 2011 issue of the journal Anesthesiology. |
| October 04, 2011 |
| Study suggests another avenue for detecting Alzheimer's disease |
| Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have determined that a well-known chemical process called acetylation has a previously unrecognized association with one of the biological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. |
| April 1, 2011 |
| Study: Alzheimer's disease symptoms more subtle in people over 80 |
| A new study suggests that the relationship between brain shrinkage and memory loss in Alzheimer's disease changes across the age spectrum. The research is published in the August 10, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| August 10, 2011 |
| Study: Nicotine Is Good for You |
| Nicotine patches significantly improved attention and memory in older people suffering from mild cognitive impairment, which often leads to Alzheimer's, according to a new study. |
| January 10, 2012 |
| Study: Popular Alzheimer's drug ineffective for mild cases |
| A drug widely used to treat mild Alzheimer's disease appears to provide no benefit to this group of early stage patients, according to a new analysis of previously conducted research. |
| April 11, 2011 |
| Subjects at risk of Alzheimer's may now be able to delay the onset of their first symptoms |
| For elderly subjects at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, research shows that hope may lie in brain plasticity. |
| March 23, 2011 |
| T |
| Tackling Alzheimer's |
| Specific genes known to be one of the causes of a rare type of Alzheimer’s, which runs in families, are unlikely to contribute to the more common form of the disease, University scientists have uncovered. |
| February 2, 2012 |
| Targacept commences AZD3480 Phase 2b study in Alzheimer's disease |
| Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics™, today announced the initiation of a potential registration study of AZD3480 in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The study is the subject of a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AZD3480 is licensed to AstraZeneca pursuant to a collaboration agreement focused in cognitive disorders. Under a prior amendment to the collaboration agreement, it was agreed that Targacept will conduct and bear all costs and expenses for the study and that AstraZeneca will pay Targacept for certain events with respect to the study. |
| October 10, 2011 |
| Test could detect Alzheimer's disease earlier than previously possible |
| A new study has revealed the possibility of using a simple test for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease, enabling the condition to be identified before significant and irreversible decline takes place. |
| May 16, 2011 |
| Test to predict dementia risk |
| Researchers have developed a memory stress test that can be used to predict those at risk of developing dementia. |
| November 10, 2011 |
| Tobacco-derived compound prevents memory loss in Alzheimer's disease mice |
| Cotinine, a compound derived from tobacco, reduced plaques associated with dementia and prevented memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, a study led by researchers at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and the University of South Florida found. |
| April 27, 2011 |
The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems |
 "Five million Americans have Alzheimer disease, and an even larger number with mild to moderate memory loss are at high risk of developing this illness. Murali Doraiswamy, a leading clinical researcher in Alzheimer disease, and Lisa Gwyther, a founder of the Alzheimer Association, have co-authored this timely, state-of-the-art book directed at patients with Alzheimer disease, their informants, and their primary care physicians....I fully predict that this exceptionally well-written, reader-friendly book will become the standard resource for patients with Alzheimer disease and their loved ones. |
| Amazon Product |
| The implications of disease coexistence |
| In order to better counsel patients, it is key for clinicians of different disciplines to be aware of, and diagnose, the 'overlap syndrome' between two medical disorders - ALS and FTD - since it significantly affects patient survival. |
| November 29, 2011 |
| The Obama Administration's War on Alzheimer's |
| On Monday, a presidential advisory group set a goal to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's Disease by 2025. There is much to like about this proposal, but it should come with a consumer warning: There is a lot less to this plan than meets the eye. |
| January 11, 2012 |
| The secret to fighting Alzheimer's Disease is...red food coloring? |
| Specifically, the compound, as well as a related substance called O4, is able to reduce the number of what's known as small toxic protein aggregates. These aggregates are what's thought to be the cause of neuronal dysfunction and memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. |
| December 5, 2011 |
| The tangled web in Alzheimer's protein deposits is more complex than once thought |
| Scientists from the National Institutes of Health in the United States have made an important discovery that should forever change the scope and direction of Alzheimer's research. Specifically, they have discovered that the protein tangles which are a hallmark of the disease involve at least three different proteins rather than just one. |
| November 1, 2011 |
| Think you're in poor health? It could increase your odds of dementia |
| People who rate their health as poor or fair appear to be significantly more likely to develop dementia later in life, according to a study published in the October 5, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| October 05, 2011 |
| Three postulates to help identify the cause of Alzheimer's disease |
| After more than 100 years following its pathologic description, the cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unknown. To test the validity of present and future proposals related to the probable cause of AD, three postulates, or necessary conditions, are recommended by Jack de la Torre, MD, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, in an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. |
| June 20, 2011 |
| Time to clear up misconceptions about Alzheimer's |
| The general perception of Alzheimer's disease, including the dominant theory about what causes it, needs to shift, according to an editorial co-written by a Penn State College of Medicine faculty member. In "Changing Perspectives on Alzheimer's Disease: Thinking Outside the Amyloid Box," Penn State College of Medicine's Daniel George, said the common belief that scientists will soon conquer the disease is a misconception. |
| August 17, 2011 |
| TJX commits $1 million to advance mission of Alzheimer's Association |
| According to the 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, as many as 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. |
| April 22, 2011 |
| Treating High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Diabetes May Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other vascular risk factors may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people who already show signs of declining thinking skills or memory problems. The research is published in the April 13, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
| April 13, 2011 |
| Treatment of vascular risk factors may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease |
| Researchers followed 837 people with mild cognitive impairment, the stage of memory loss that often leads to Alzheimer's disease. Of the group, 414 had at least one vascular risk factor. Participants were given blood tests and a medical history questionnaire and also underwent other tests that measured blood pressure, body mass, memory and thinking skills. |
| April 15, 2011 |
| Treatment With Vitamin C Dissolves Toxic Protein Aggregates in Alzheimer's Disease |
| Researchers at Lund University have discovered a new function for vitamin C. Treatment with vitamin C can dissolve the toxic protein aggregates that build up in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. |
| August 18, 2011 |
| Triton resource helps 'track' how kinesin molecules move |
| Researchers at UC San Diego's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in collaboration with several universities in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Poland, have developed a new picture of how kinesin molecules move along microtubules, or tiny biological train tracks -- and how they sometimes come to a halt, causing diseases such as Alzheimer's. |
| December 7, 2011 |
| Trouble with sentences may predict Alzheimer's |
| Having trouble finding the right word to say is a known side effect of healthy aging. But older adults with early Alzheimer's disease may find it especially difficult not only to find words but also to construct complex sentences, finds a Cornell pilot study. |
| July 20, 2011 |
| Two defective proteins conspire to impair the nerve cell's 'powerhouse' in Alzheimer's disease |
| Two proteins that are abnormally modified in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease collude, resulting in ill effects on the crucial energy centers of brain cells, according to new findings published online in Neurobiology of Aging. |
| May 13, 2011 |
| U |
| Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's |
| One of the most distinctive signs of the development of Alzheimer's disease is a change in the behavior of a protein that neuroscientists call tau. In normal brains, tau is present in individual units essential to neuron health. In the cells of Alzheimer's brains, by contrast, tau proteins aggregate into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles." These tangles are considered a hallmark of the disease, but their precise role in Alzheimer's pathology has long been a point of contention among researchers. |
| February 2, 2012 |
| US wants effective Alzheimer's treatment by 2025 |
| The government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer's disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025. |
| January 17, 2012 |
| Using Stem Cells, Scientists Re-Create Memory Neurons That Succumb to Alzheimer's |
| In a major breakthrough for Alzheimer's research, scientists have turned human embryonic stem cells and skin cells into brain cells associated with memory and learning, whose death is key to the progression of the disease. The finding could help scientists test new ways to keep the cells from dying, and could someday lead to lab-grown stockpiles that could be implanted into the brains of Alzheimer's patients. |
| March 7, 2011 |
| UTA technology could reduce time and cost to finding a cure for Alzheimer's |
| Technology developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin could significantly reduce the time and cost to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease and help answer one of the greatest biological questions: why do we age? |
| October 18, 2011 |
| UVA outreach librarian receives national award |
| Whether helping cancer patients find accurate information or caregivers for Alzheimer's patients overcome a sense of isolation, Ann Duesing has spent 16 years connecting Southwest Virginia residents with information to help them live healthier lives. |
| December 26, 2011 |
| V |
| Vascular changes linked to dementia |
| The same artery-clogging process (atherosclerosis) that causes heart disease can also result in age-related vascular cognitive impairments (VCI), according to a new American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement published online in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. |
| July 21, 2011 |
| Vehicle Pollution Significantly Damages Mouse Brain |
| If mice commuted, their brains might find it progressively harder to navigate the maze of Los Angeles freeways. A new study reveals that after short-term exposure to vehicle pollution, mice showed significant brain damage -- including signs associated with memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. |
| April 7, 2011 |
| Vitamin B12 deficiency linked to memory problems |
| There's been a lot of buzz about vitamin B12 in recent years, and here's another reason to pay attention to it: |
| September 27, 2011 |
| W |
| Walking Through Doorways Causes You to Forget, Stupid |
| You ever get up to do something, walk into another room, and then immediately forget what you were going to do? Don't worry, it's probably not early onset Alzheimer's. Turns out it was the door's fault. Yep. The door. |
| November 17, 2011 |
| Weight loss after gastric bypass surgery reduces expression of Alzheimer's genes |
| Obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, but weight loss due to bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of this common dementia, a new study suggests. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston. |
| June 6, 2011 |
| What happens when you're wrongly diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease |
| Psychologists in the Netherlands have documented the case of a 58-year-old woman who was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Her condition deteriorated to the point where she became permanently confused, and at one point suicidal — before another doctor realized the diagnosis was incorrect. |
| August 23, 2011 |
| World Alzheimer's Report 2011: The benefits of early diagnosis and intervention |
| The World Alzheimer's Report 2011 'The Benefits of Early Diagnosis and Intervention', released today by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), shows that there are interventions that are effective in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, some of which may be more effective when started earlier, and that there is a strong economic argument in favour of earlier diagnosis and timely intervention. |
| September 13, 2011 |
| Y |
| Yeast model connects Alzheimer's disease risk and amyloid beta toxicity |
| In a development that sheds new light on the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a team of Whitehead Institute scientists has identified connections between genetic risk factors for the disease and the effects of a peptide toxic to nerve cells in the brains of AD patients. |
| October 27, 2011 |
| Z |
| Zeroing in on Alzheimer's Disease |
| Recently the number of genes known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease has increased from four to eight, including the MS4A gene cluster on chromosome 11. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine has expanded on this using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to find a novel location within the MS4A gene cluster which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| May 31, 2011 |