Delirium In Elderly Patients Associated With Increased Risks Of Death, Dementia And Institutionalization

A review and analysis of previous research indicates that delirium in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk of death, dementia, and institutionalization, independent of age, co-existing illnesses or illness severity, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA...

Eisai Announces U.S. Fda Approval For New Higher Dose Aricept® 23 Mg Tablet For The Treatment Of Moderate-To-Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito) announced that its U.S. subsidiary Eisai Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Aricept® (generic name: donepezil hydrochloride) 23 mg once daily tablet for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD)...

New Approach To Alzheimer’s Therapy

Researchers from the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich have shown that the ADAM10 protein can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease...

The Molecular Power Behind Memory

Neuroscientists have long wondered how individual connections between brain cells remain diverse and "fit" enough for storing new memories. Reported in the prestigious science journal Neuron, a new study led by Dr. Inna Slutsky of the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University describes what makes some memories stick...

New Pathway To Parkinson’s And Alzheimer’s Diseases

Although their genetic underpinnings differ, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease are all characterized by the untimely death of brain cells...

New Research Suggests That People With A Sleep Disorder Have A Higher Risk Of Developing Dementia – Alzheimer’s Society Comment

People who experience rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) may go on to develop conditions such as dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease, or multiple system atrophy. The researchers studied the medical records of 27 people with these three neurodegenerative conditions who had also experienced RBD earlier in life...

REM Sleep Disorder Could Be Early Warning Of Parkinson’s, Dementia That Develops Decades Later

American neurologists and sleep experts suggest in a recent study that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder could be an early sign of Parkinson's disease or dementia that develops up to 50 years later. You can read how neurologist and sleep specialist Dr Bradley F...

Global Breakthrough In Treatment Of Dementia ‘Within Reach’ – Clinical Trial In Scotland Recruiting

A Glasgow-based medical research company is leading a worldwide sleep study which could radically reduce the symptoms associated with dementia. The groundbreaking trial, conducted by CPS Research, is the first of its kind to investigate the use of sleep hormone melatonin as an add on treatment for dementia. The study is already showing remarkable initial results in volunteers from Scotland...

UK In Bottom Third Of Countries For Dementia Drug Usage

The UK ranks 11th out of 14 countries for dementia drug use rates according to a report published by the Department of Health. The paper 'Extent and causes of international variations in drug usage' by Professor Sir Mike Richards looked at the rates of drug usage per capita for a range of diseases and drug categories in 14 countries across the world. The UK's overall ranking was eighth...

Alzheimer’s Foundation Of America And Second Wind Dreams Forge Strategic Partnership

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA), New York, NY, and Second Wind Dreams (SWD), Marietta, GA, announced that they have forged a strategic partnership that will utilize their combined expertise, program strengths and local membership bases to further raise the bar on care for the increasing number of individuals nationwide with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias...

Eisai Inc. And Pfizer Inc Announce U.S. FDA Approval For New Higher-Dose Aricept(R) 23 Mg Tablet For The Treatment Of Moderate-To-Severe AD

Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc [NYSE: PFE] announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new once-daily, higher-dose Aricept (donepezil HCl) 23 mg tablet for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aricept 23 mg tablet offers another dosing option for patients with moderate-to-severe AD, for whom few treatments are available...

More Education, Less Dementia Risk

A team of researchers from the UK and Finland has discovered why people who stay in education longer have a lower risk of developing dementia - a question that has puzzled scientists for the past decade...

New Partnership With Open-Access Journal Molecular Neurodegeneration Announced By American Health Assistance Foundation

The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF)has announced a new partnership with BioMed Central's open access journal, Molecular Neurodegeneration (MN) in which the publication will be the official open access journal of AHAF...

Anti-Ageing Gene Linked To Alzheimer’s

SIRT1, a gene associated with anti-ageing has been linked to the production of an Alzheimer's protein according to a study in Cell. Researchers at MIT found that SIRT1 appears to prevent production of damaging A-beta peptides that make up amyloid plaques which form in the brain of people with Alzheimer's...

Age-Related Cognitive Decline Reversed By Brain Training

Specialized brain training targeted at the regions of a rat's brain that process sound reversed many aspects of normal, age-related cognitive decline and improved the health of the brain cells, according to a new study from researchers at University of California, San Francisco...

Government Outlines Details Of How It Plans To Address Social Care Problems, UK

More details about how the government plans to address the problem of providing care and support for an ageing population were unveiled by Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley...

Prana’s Research Was Presented At International Conference On Alzheimer’s Disease On July 14

Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) (ASX: PBT), Head of Research, Assoc. Prof. Robert Cherny, presented new data on PBT2, the Company's lead compound in development for Alzheimer's Disease on July 14th at the prestigious International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Honolulu...

Neuronetrix Showcases New Cognitive Testing Device At The Alzheimer’s Association Annual Meeting

This week at ICAD 2010, Neuronetrix for the first time publicly demonstrated their COGNISION™ System, an innovative platform which enables objective assessment of cognitive function. The demonstration focused on the COGNISION™ System's ability, using a non-invasive technology called event-related potentials (ERP), to accurately measure the cognitive performance of a patient's brain...

Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource Special Report On Deciphering Dementia: Many Disorders Can Cause Loss Of Brain Function

Occasional misplaced keys or forgotten names don't mark the beginning of dementia. All dementia isn't Alzheimer's disease. Some dementia symptoms can be reversed. Those facts and many more are covered in Deciphering Dementia, a supplemental Special Report to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource...

Four New Research Studies Describe Experimental Immunotherapies For Alzheimer’s

The primary therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease has been the beta amyloid peptide, which clusters outside cells in the brain to form sticky clumps known as plaques. Recently, more attention has been given to the tau protein, which aggregates inside the brain cells of people with Alzheimer's, forming neurofibrillary tangles...

Rescuing Fruit Flies From Alzheimer’s Disease

Investigators have found that fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) males -- in which the activity of an Alzheimer's disease protein is reduced by 50 percent -- show impairments in learning and memory as they age. What's more, the researchers were able to prevent the age-related deficits by treating the flies with drugs such as lithium, or by genetic manipulations that reduced nerve-cell signaling...

New Research Presented At Alzheimer’s Association International Conference

Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, together with its collaborator on the Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program, Pfizer, presented new research this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (ICAD 2010) from two podium and four poster presentations...

Researchers Find Dementia In Diabetics Differs From Dementia In Nondiabetics

Researchers from Mayo Clinic's Florida campus say that dementia in some diabetics appears to be caused often by vascular disease in the brain, and the dementia that develops in people without diabetes is more likely associated with deposition of the plaque seen in people with Alzheimer's disease...

Major Alzheimer’s Risk Gene Causes Alterations In Shapes Of Brain Protein Deposits

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have used a newly discovered class of biomarkers to investigate the possibility that the shape of brain protein deposits is different in people with Alzheimer's who have the highest-risk gene type than in those with the condition who have a neutral risk gene type...

Alzheimer’s Gene Linked To Cognitive Impairment In Mid-Life

TOMM40, a gene previously linked to Alzheimer's Disease, has an important effect on learning and memory in middle-aged people according to research presented at the ICAD. Scientists carried out genetic tests and analysed the memory and learning of 726 middle-aged people without Alzheimer's disease...

Early Diagnosis For People With Dementia Can Reduce Costs

An early diagnosis of dementia followed by information and support reduces outpatient costs by almost 30 percent, claims new research presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease. The project was led by the Geriatric Research Education and Clinic Centre at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center...

Novel Chemical Could Detect Changes In Amyloid In Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists have developed a new approach to detecting amyloid, a protein in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease. The research was presented at ICAD. In the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid forms into small clusters. Researchers believe there are a number of forms of the protein with different shapes or arrangements...

Visual Memory Improvement In Older Adults Following Brain Fitness Program

A commercial brain fitness program has been shown to improve memory in older adults, at least in the period soon after training. The findings are the first to show that practicing simple visual tasks can improve the accuracy of short-term, or "working" visual memory...

Researchers Find Dementia In Diabetics Differs From Dementia In Nondiabetics

Researchers from Mayo Clinic's Florida campus say that dementia in some diabetics appears to be caused often by vascular disease in the brain, and the dementia that develops in people without diabetes is more likely associated with deposition of the plaque seen in people with Alzheimer's disease...

New Research Advances From The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference On Alzheimer’s Disease 2010

This week, nearly 4,000 scientists from around the world gathered to report and discuss the latest advances in research on treatments, risk factors, and diagnosis for the health epidemic of the 21st century Alzheimer's disease at the Alzheimer's Association's 2010 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu...

Early Detection, Diagnosis & Care Management For People With Dementia May Reduce Healthcare Costs

Early detection, diagnosis and care management for people newly diagnosed with cognitive impairment and dementia reduces outpatient costs by almost 30 percent, according to new research reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu...

Updated Alzheimer’s Diagnostic Criteria To Include Earlier Stages And Biomarkers

Following recommendations by expert groups in the US, criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, which have not changed in the last 25 years, will be updated to reflect scientific advances; the new guidelines will cover earlier stages and biomarkers of the disease...

New $26 Million Study Of Alzheimer’s Disease And Cognitive Decline

The University of Mississippi Medical Center and four collaborating academic medical centers have received $26 million from the National Institutes of Health to identify risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related forms of cognitive decline, said Dr. Thomas Mosley, UMMC professor of geriatric medicine and one of the new study's lead investigators...

Therapy To Target Amyloid Also Reduces Tau In Alzheimer’s Disease

A potential new treatment for Alzheimer's may target not one but two hallmarks associated with the disease, claims new research presented at the International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD). Scientists have claimed a treatment called bapineuzumab reduces the amount of tau and amyloid - two important proteins in Alzheimer's - in people with the disease...

Alzheimer’s Disease May Increase Risk Of Anemia And Seizures

Having Alzheimer's disease may increase the risk of getting other potentially disabling health conditions, including seizures and anemia, according to new research presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu, HI...

New Research Links Obesity Gene To Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia – Alzheimer’s Society Comment

A gene known to be linked to obesity may also be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden presented their findings at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD). The study involved 1,003 people over 75 without dementia...

Alzheimer’s Society’s Response To Government White Paper, UK

The Government has announced new measures to give doctors and patients more control of NHS services. The White Paper announcement to give GPs more powers could be effective if there is a high level of accountability, says the Alzheimer's Society...

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Display A Diversity Of Grieving

New research from the University of Michigan reveals racial and ethnic differences in the emotional attitudes of caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients...

Study Finds Antibiotics Improve Survival But Not Comfort For Terminal Dementia Patients With Pneumonia

A new study by scientists at the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife says the use of antibiotics to treat pneumonia in patients with terminal dementia presents a "doubled-edged" sword for health-care providers and family members, finding that antibiotics may prolong survival for these patients, but do not improve their comfort...

Alzheimer’s Association Launches TrialMatch(TM) -First-Of-Its-Kind Clinical Trial Matching Service In Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer's Association announced the launch of Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch(TM), a confidential and free interactive tool that provides comprehensive clinical trial information and an individualized trial matching service for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The Internet (www.alz...

An Obesity Gene, Known As FTO, Also May Increase Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia

A gene known as FTO, which appears to be correlated with obesity in humans, may also increase risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, according to new research presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu, HI...

Larger Head Size May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Symptoms

New research shows that people with Alzheimer's disease who have large heads have better memory and thinking skills than those with the disease who have smaller heads, even when they have the same amount of brain cell death due to the disease. The research is published in the July 13, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology...

Apathy And Depression Predict Progression From Mild Cognitive Impairment To Dementia

A new Mayo Clinic study found that apathy and depression significantly predict an individual's progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a disorder of the brain that affects nerve cells involved in thinking abilities, to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia...

Four Researchers Given Lifetime Achievement Awards By The Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer's Association recognized four scientists for their extraordinary achievements in advancing Alzheimer research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu, Hawaii...

Discovery That Sirtuin1 May Boost Memory And Learning Ability Could Lead To New Drugs To Fight Alzheimer’s, Other Neurological Diseases

The same molecular mechanism that increases life span through calorie restriction may help boost memory and brainpower, researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory report in the July 11 issue of Nature...

Early Alzheimer’s Identification Method Discovered By New UC Davis Study

Abnormal brain images combined with examination of the composition of the fluid that surrounds the spine may offer the earliest signs identifying healthy older adults at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, well before cognitive problems emerge, a study by researchers at UC Davis has found...

Researcher Developing Novel Therapy For Alzheimer’s Disease

A University of Oklahoma researcher is developing a novel therapy for Alzheimer's disease using "biopharmaceutical proteases" to attack the toxic plaque that builds up in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient - an approach that he predicts will be lower in cost and higher in effectiveness than current therapies. Peter J...

Researchers Identify A Drug That Makes Neurons Grow

Scientists have identified a drug that makes new neurons grow and improves their chance of survival according to an article published in the journal Cell. Researchers initially infused 1,000 different chemicals into the brains of mice to see their effects. They then identified eight potential chemicals before focussing their attention on P7C3...

MPs And Peers Must Unite To Prevent Social Care System ‘Breaking At The Seams’, UK

Baroness Sally Greengross called on the government to act with urgency to mend the crumbling social care system after being elected Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia. In her first act as Chairman, the crossbench peer spoke of the need for the government to push on with plans for a commission on social care...

Breaching The Blood/Brain Barrier To Improve Treatment For Neurodegenerative Diseases

The University of South Florida's Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair has been granted a patent for a cell transplantation procedure combining human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells and a sugar-alcohol compound called "mannitol" that may make a big difference in treating life-threatening neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multi...

Emotional Flatness Can Be Mistaken For Depression In Alzheimer’s Patients

Watching a loved one struggle with Alzheimer's disease can be a painful process, but for the patient, the experience may be a muted one. Alzheimer's patients can appear withdrawn and apathetic, symptoms often attributed to memory problems or difficulty finding the words to communicate...

QR Pharma To Present Positive Results Of Posiphen(R) In A Clinical Mechanism Of Action Study At The International Congress On Alzheimer’s Disease 2010

QR Pharma, Inc., a developer of novel drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD), announced today that it has been accepted to present a poster on clinical data from its recent mechanism of action study in mild cognitive impaired (MCI) patients at the International Congress on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2010)...

Sun Pharma Announces Launch Of Generic Exelon(R) In US

Sun Pharma announced launch of generic Exelon®, rivastigmine tartrate capsules for the US market. Earlier, USFDA had granted final approval for the Company's ANDA to market these products. These generic rivastigmine capsules are therapeutically equivalent of Novartis Exelon® Capsules and include four strengths: 1.5 mg (base), 3 mg (base), 4.5 mg (base) and 6 mg (base)...

Alzheimer’s Society Comment On Study Claiming Vitamin E Could Reduce Risk Of Developing Dementia

High levels of vitamin E in the blood could be linked with a decreased risk for Alzheimer's disease in older age a new study has suggested. The research published in the Journal of Alzheimer's disease claims people with high levels of several Vitamin E compounds have a 45-54 per cent lower risk of developing dementia...

Levels Of The Protein Clusterin In The Blood Could Be Linked To Development And Severity Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's Society comment on new findings that higher concentrations of the protein clusterin in the blood could be associated with the development, severity and progression of Alzheimer's disease. New research published in Archives of Psychiatry identified the protein in a small study of 95 people...

Depression May Be A Risk Factor And Not An Early Sign Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Depression is commonly reported in people with Alzheimer's disease and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, with several studies suggesting having a history of major depression may nearly double your risk of developing dementia later in life. However, it has been unclear if depression is a symptom of the disease or a potential cause of the disease...

Researchers Explore Novel Protein As Potential Target In Alzheimer’s Treatment

A South Dakota State University researcher and his colleagues elsewhere have discovered a previously unreported mitochondrial protein that interacts with a protein known to play a role in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery adds to what is known about the memory-inhibiting disease as researchers continue to search for ways to treat it...

New PBT2 Data In 2010 Hot Topics Session At International Conference On Alzheimer’s Disease

Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) (ASX: PBT) announced that its Head of Research, Assoc. Prof. Robert Cherny, will present new data on PBT2, the Company's lead compound in development for Alzheimer's disease, at the Hot Topics Therapeutics/Intervention session on July 14th at the International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Honolulu...

New Strategy Developed By UM School Of Medicine That May Improve Cognition

For the first time, scientists have linked a brain compound called kynurenic acid to cognition, possibly opening doors for new ways to enhance memory function and treat catastrophic brain diseases, according to a new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine...

Tests Could Help Predict Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

Alzheimer's Society comment on research suggesting specific brain scans and memory tests could indicate whether people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease...

New Study Identifies Best Tests For Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease

New research has identified the memory and brain scan tests that appear to predict best whether a person with cognitive problems might develop Alzheimer's disease. The research is published in the June 30, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology...

Inner Workings Of The Brain Probed By Virus ‘Explorers’

Imagine an exceedingly complex circuit board. Wires often split -- seemingly at random -- and connect in strange and unexpected ways. This is how Princeton University researchers developing a new method for studying brain connectivity see the brain...

New Study Uncovers Key To How We Learn And Remember

New research led by the University of Leicester and published in a prestigious international scientific journal has revealed for the first time the mechanism by which memories are formed. The study in the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology found one of the key proteins involved in the process of memory and learning...

Memory Problems Not The Only Predictor Of Later Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment is often seen as a transition stage between the cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious problems of Alzheimer's disease...

Alzheimer’s Imaging Study Identifies Changes In Brain’s White Matter

Scientists at the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine have identified changes in the brains of normal individuals at high risk for Alzheimer's disease that could prove important for early detection of the disease...

News From The American Journal Of Pathology, July 2010

The following highlights summarize research articles that are published in the July 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. Immune Cells and Atherosclerosis Dr. Einar Eriksson and colleagues at the Karolinska Hosptial, Stockholm, Sweden demonstrate that neutrophils may contribute to atherosclerosis...

ENS 2010: Dementia Study: New Insights Into Changes In The Brain Offer The Possibility Of Targeted Early Diagnosis And Prevention

The development of vascular dementia, the most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's dementia, may soon be able to be diagnosed before the first appearance of cognitive symptoms, and could be stopped or at least slowed down by targeted preventative measures...

Hallmark Alzheimer’s Disease Changes Found In Retinas Of Humans And Imaged In Live Animals

The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes - and it shows up there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the disease, according to new research...

Potential For Early Noninvasive Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s Disease

The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes - and it shows up there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the disease, according to new research...

Survey Claims Care Homes In England Will Receive Just 0.5% More Funding Than Last Year – Alzheimer’s Society

A Laing & Buisson survey claims that local councils in England will provide care homes with on average just 0.5% more funding than last year - despite care home costs rising by an estimated 2.1%. There were clear variations in funding offered by councils around the regions. A total of 186 out of the 208 local councils with social services responsibilities in the UK responded to the survey...

Novel Radiotracer Shines New Light On The Brains Of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

A trial of a novel radioactive compound readily and safely distinguished the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients from healthy volunteers on brain scans and opens the doors to making such imaging available beyond facilities that can manufacture their own radioactive compounds...

Compound Found In Red Wine Neutralizes Toxicity Of Proteins Related To Alzheimer’s

An organic compound found in red wine - resveratrol - has the ability to neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to research led by Rensselaer Professor Peter M. Tessier...

Forest And Merz Announce FDA Approval Of Namenda XR For The Treatment Of Moderate To Severe Dementia Of The Alzheimer’s Type

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH announced that Namenda XR(TM) (memantine hydrochloride) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Namenda XR is a 28 mg once-daily extended-release formulation of NAMENDA...

Ipsen: Encouraging Results Of GuidAge(R), Large Scale European Trial Conducted In The Prevention Of Alzheimer’s Dementia

Ipsen (Paris:IPN) (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) announced top line results of GuidAge®, the longest (5 years) and largest (2,854 subjects) European study in the prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia (AD). This trial was conducted according to the most stringent international standards...

ENS 2010: Multiple Sclerosis, Migraine And Dementia: New Insights From Neuroimaging

"Innovative imaging techniques such as functional MRI or diffusion tensor imaging occupy an important place in modern neurology today. With their help we can better understand diseases such as multiple sclerosis, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease," says Prof...

Dementia Prioritised In Revised NHS Framework, UK

A revised Operating Framework for the NHS brought hope to 750,000 people with dementia and carers as the new government acknowledged failures in dementia and promised action. PCTs and their partners will now have to publish plans for dementia, putting pressure on a third of PCTs who currently have no plans in place...

Alzheimer’s Society Appoints New Chief Executive, UK

Jeremy Hughes, currently Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Alzheimer's Society. He takes up his appointment in November. Making the announcement this morning, Alastair Balls, chair of Alzheimer's Society said, 'This is a critical time for the Society as we implement government sponsored dementia strategies...

Alzheimer’s Society Calls For An End To Dementia Care Postcode Lottery, UK

Alzheimer's Society comment on new findings revealing that a third of PCTs do not have plans in place to say how they will implement the National Dementia Strategy for England. Freedom of Information requests collected by GP newspaper found 38 of the 116 respondents did not have joint plans with local authorities...

Feared Side Effect Of Alzheimer’s Drugs Is Unlikely

The first trial of a new model for testing Alzheimer's treatments has reassured researchers that a promising class of drugs does not exacerbate the disease if treatment is interrupted. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Merck & Co. Inc studied the effects of a class of drugs known as gamma secretase inhibitors...

Improving Understanding Of Protein Folding

Physicists at UC Santa Barbara have created a microscopic device to assist biologists in making very fast molecular measurements that aid the understanding of protein folding. This development may help elucidate biological processes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's...

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Associated With Dementia Among Older Veterans

Older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appear more likely to develop dementia over a seven-year period than those without PTSD, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals...

Study Evaluates Association Between Genetic Factors And Brain Imaging Findings In Alzheimer’s Disease

By investigating the association between genetic loci related to Alzheimer's disease and neuroimaging measures related to disease risk, researchers may have uncovered additional evidence that several previously studied genetic variants are associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease and also may have identified new genetic risk factors for further st...

Problematic Blood Clotting Contributes To Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease has long been studied primarily as a disease of neurons. But researchers have now shown how the disease may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow...

UC San Diego Researchers Say Over-Abundant Protein Shuts Down Cell Communications, Helps Cause Dementia

In diverse neurodegenerative diseases ranging from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's, researchers have long noted accumulations of a little-understood neuronal protein called α-synuclein...

Government To Review Plans To Introduce Safeguarding Scheme – Alzheimer’s Society

Early reports today suggest that the government is to halt plans to roll-out the Independent Safeguarding scheme (ISA) until a comprehensive review has been carried out. The scheme, which would require anyone wanting to work with children or vulnerable adults to be vetted, was due to be introduced next month. Existing checks will remain in place...

Certain Benefits Seen In Alzheimer’s Patients Following Consumption Of Apple Juice

Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's Disease (AD), according to a study in American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (AJADD), published by SAGE...

Study Claims Apple Juice Could Help Reduce Agitation And Anxiety In People With Dementia

Apple juice could help reduce behavioural and psychotic symptoms associated with dementia according to study published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. Researchers added two 4oz glasses of apple juice a day to the diets of 21 people with dementia with moderate to severe dementia...

For Better Health – Please Don’t Stop The Music!

Musicians say music soothes the soul; health researchers believe music heals the sick. There's a growing field of health care professionals who use melodies to promote relaxation, treat depression, and relieve anxiety and stress...

Researchers Explore Potential Interventions In A Special Issue Of The Journal Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Although effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been slow to emerge, there has been substantial progress in identifying AD risk factors and developing treatments that might delay or prevent onset of the disease...

Towards Clinical Trials In Very Early Alzheimer Disease – Before Symptoms Appear

On the 9 June 2010, 119 participants from industry, academia, and related stakeholder communities in the U.S. and Europe joined Alzforum for a Webinar, "Treating Before Symptoms-ADCS Invites Ideas for Clinical Trials in Very Early AD," presented by Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) director Paul Aisen, MD. In the webinar, Dr...

Researchers Uncover Biochemical Pathway By Which Harmful Molecule May Raise Alzheimer’s Risk

A molecule implicated in Alzheimer's disease interferes with brain cells by making them unable to "recycle" the surface receptors that respond to incoming signals, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. The harmful molecule, called APOE4, is present in about one out of every six people, the researchers said...

News From Annals Of Internal Medicine: June 15, 2010, Issue

Early Online Releases: 1. Insufficient Evidence to Suggest Lifestyle or Medical Interventions Can Delay or Prevent Alzheimer's or Cognitive Decline in Later Life Experts Say 'Promising' Research on Medication, Diet, Exercise, and Cognitive Engagement May Offer New Insights Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases and may affect as many as 5...

Alzheimer’s Society Comment On New Research Into The Effects Of Amyloid On Blood Clots In Alzheimer’s

Research published in the journal Neuron has shown that the amyloid protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, increases the likelihood of the formation of blood clots. The study worked with mouse models of the disease to determine how the presence of the amyloid protein affected accumulation of fibrinogen, a key component of blood clots...

New System Developed For Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers of the University of Granada have developed a new computer program that allows early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through processed images. This new system has enhanced successful early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease up to 90%, which is an important progress within this area of study...

Role Of Gene That Causes Early Onset Alzheimer’s Revealed

Researchers in the US have discovered how mutations in the presenilin 1 gene that causes early onset familial Alzheimer's Disease disrupt an essential process for recycling protein, thus allowing toxins to build up and kill brain cells...

Milestone For Research On Neurodegenerative Diseases

Representatives of the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) today signed a cooperation agreement that aims to establish and apply harmonised guidelines and technologies for research on neurodegenerative diseases...

Mechanism Links Abnormal Blood Clots With Alzheimer’s Disease

New research suggests that abnormalities in the process of blood clot formation may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study, published by Cell Press in the June 10 issue of the journal Neuron, advances our understanding of the link between vascular pathology and AD and proposes a new therapeutic strategy aimed at slowing cognitive decline...

Common Alzheimer’s Medication Helps Skills Necessary For Safe Driving

A promising study from Rhode Island Hospital demonstrated that cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI), a type of medication often prescribed for Alzheimer's disease (AD), improved some cognitive skills in patients with mild AD - skills that are necessary for driving...

Smarter Spending Would Help To Contain Cost ‘Timebomb’ – Alzheimer’s Society, UK

Alzheimer's Society is supporting a call by national charity Counsel and Care to spend smarter to help the financial crisis. Counsel and Care want government and local councils to use social care funding more wisely to deliver better care for Britain's ageing population...

Recent Study Documents The Spread Of A Disease Process Thought To Signal The Onset Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Research unveiled at SNM's 57th Annual Meeting shows that scientists are drawing closer to documenting the progression of a disease process believed to cause Alzheimer's disease. This research could eventually lead to life-saving preventative measures for millions of patients who suffer from this chronic neurodegenerative disorder...

Will Caregivers Pay For Time To Themselves?

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University used comparable studies to show that caregivers are willing to pay for the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) which is designed to reduce caregiver burden. Caregiver programs often fall outside the scope of health care benefits, so researchers used a unique approach to examine the value of TAP to dementia patients and their families...

Hospitals To Face Financial Penalties For Readmissions, UK

Alzheimer's Society comment on Andrew Lansley's announcement that hospitals will face financial penalties if patients are readmitted as an emergency within 30 days of being discharged. In his first major speech as the new health secretary, Lansley said that hospitals in England will be paid for initial treatment but not paid again if a patient is brought back in with a related problem...

Brain Imaging Technique Can Track Build-Up Of Plaques Associated With Early Stages Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Research revealed at SNM's 57th Annual Meeting is furthering efforts to use molecular imaging as a means of early detection of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are striving to detect the disease as early as possible by imaging the formation of a naturally-occurring protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, which is thought to be closely linked to disease onset...

Healthy Diet Could Slow Or Reverse Early Effects Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Patients in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer's Disease could have their cognitive impairment slowed or even reversed by switching to a healthier diet, according to researchers at Temple University...

New Molecular Imaging Agent May Provide Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s Disease

A multinational clinical trial revealed at SNM's 57th Annual Meeting presents a novel imaging agent that could be the next major breakthrough for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease - a slow but fatal neurodegenerative disease...

Lithium Therapy Improvement By Reduction Of Its Toxicity

Lithium is the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder. However, its use is limited because of neurological side effects and a risk for overdose-induced toxicity. Many of the beneficial effects of lithium are mediated by its inhibition of GSK-3 proteins, but whether this is the mechanism underlying its negative effects has not been determined...

University Of Pittsburgh Professor Honored For His Work With Early Detection In Alzheimer’s Disease

Chester A. Mathis, Ph.D., director of the PET facility in the department of radiology at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named as this year's recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Mathis was presented the award by SNM - a leading molecular imaging and nuclear medicine society - during its 57th Annual Meeting, June 5, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Paul C...

Key Nutrient In Maternal Diet Promises ‘Dramatic’ Improvements For People With Down Syndrome

A nutrient found in egg yolks, liver and cauliflower taken by mothers during pregnancy and nursing may offer lifelong "dramatic" health benefits to people with Down syndrome ...

Education Helps Against Dementia

Researchers have discovered that education not only delays the early symptoms of dementia, but can also slow down the development of the disease a finding that could result in faster diagnosis and treatment of dementia, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden...

Deep-Brain Stimulation: Calms PD Shakes-What About The Mind?

A surgical treatment that stimulates distressed neural networks through electrodes threaded directly into a person's brain has quietly made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people with Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and dystonia over the course of the past decade...

New Book By UCSB Author Offers A Formula For Alzheimer’s Disease Management And Prevention

With the aging of nearly 80 million baby boomers, Alzheimer's disease is an impending epidemic that requires a new approach to prevention as well as management of the disease, according to a UC Santa Barbara professor who has co-authored a new book on the topic. "The Alzheimer's Solution, How Today's Care is Failing Millions and How We can Do Better," by Kenneth S...

Journal Of Alzheimer’s Disease Annual Award For Outstanding Contribution 2010

Rudy J. Castellani, Jr., MD, has been chosen as recipient of the 2010 Alzheimer Award presented by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in recognition of his outstanding work, "Reexamining Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence for a Protective Role for Amyloid-β Protein Precursor and Amyloid-β," (J Alzheimers Dis 18, 447-452, 2009) by R.J. Castellani et al...

Clue To Treatment For Alzheimer’s Provided By Mutant Gum Disease Bacteria

A defective, mutant strain of the bacterium that causes gum disease could provide a clue to potential treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and a number of other diseases. Researchers from the University of Florida College of Dentistry report their findings today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego...

Genetic Mutation Associated With Famous Alzheimer Patient May Have Been Identified

Writing the latest pages of an anthropological mystery, scientists propose in this month's Archives of Neurology that it is highly possible that Auguste Deter, the first identified Alzheimer disease patient, carried the N141I presenilin-2 mutation-the same one as in present-day U.S. families descended from German emigrants who settled near the river Volga in Russia...

Protein Regulates Enzyme Linked To Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have zeroed in on a protein that may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The team found that increasing levels of the protein (called GGA3) prevented the accumulation of an enzyme linked to Alzheimer's. The strategy may lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease...

Alcohol Consumption May Protect Against Risk Of AD, Particularly In Female Nonsmokers

Knowledge regarding environmental factors influencing the risk of Alzheimer's disease is surprisingly scarce, despite substantial research in this area. In particular, the roles of smoking and alcohol consumption still remain controversial...

Nanobody(R) Lead Candidate Selected By Boehringer Ingelheim For Development In Alzheimer’s Disease

Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX] today announced that Boehringer Ingelheim has selected a Nanobody lead candidate for further development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This is the first lead candidate emerging from the Alzheimer's disease collaboration between Ablynx and Boehringer Ingelheim, and will result in a EUR2 million milestone payment to Ablynx...

Coalition Government Promises Strong Commitment To Social Care – Alzheimer’s Society, UK

Alzheimer's Society comment on the coalition government's programme for government including its vision for social care. The government has promised to set up a commission on long-term care that will report within a year; greater rollouts of personal budgets and better support for carers. The programme also included a commitment to prioritise dementia research...

Revealing Lithium’s Mode Of Action

Though it has been prescribed for over 50 years to treat bipolar disorder, there are still many questions regarding exactly how lithium works. However, in a study appearing in this month's Journal of Lipid Research, researchers have provided solid evidence that lithium reduces brain inflammation by adjusting the metabolism of the health-protective omega-3-fatty acid called DHA...

Power3 Medical To Publish Medical Breakthrough Documented During Clinical Trials Of Power3 Medical’s Flag Ship NuroPro(R) Diagnostic

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB: PWRM) announced today that, in collaboration with Lourdes R...

New Campaign Highlighting The Devastating Impact Of Alzheimer’s Disease

The Alzheimer Society is launching a new campaign in an effort to raise awareness about the soul wrenching realities of Alzheimer's disease, and the Society's efforts to fund research towards a cure...

Researchers From The University Of The Basque Country Find New Path For Novel Alzheimer’s Therapies

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have found a new Alzheimer's-related mechanism that could give rise to the development of new therapies against this disease. The study was recently published in the Cell Calcium journal, and the authors have already applied for a European patent to protect the commercial exploitation of this new discovery...

Are You Being Served?, Prescribing Practices For Demented Patients

Demented patients are often treated nonspecifically with psychoactive medications. Neuroleptic drugs are given even when they are not specifically indicated, as Tomislav Majic and his colleagues from the Charite Hospital, Berlin, show in the current issue of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[18]: 320-7)...

Alzheimer’s Disease To Cost United States $20 Trillion Over Next 40 Years

A new report from the Alzheimer's Association, "Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer's Disease: A National Imperative" shows that in the absence of disease-modifying treatments, the cumulative costs of care for people with Alzheimer's from 2010 to 2050 will exceed $20 trillion, in today's dollars...

Taking The Final Step From The Bench To The Hospital Or Clinic Bedside

A new Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University Center for Aging Research (IUCAR) study provides effective strategies to help hospital systems, physicians and other care providers to overcome end zone hurdles and actually take evidence-based research to the patient's hospital or clinic bedside...

Study Claims Caffeine Could Reduce Risk Of Developing Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's Society comment on research suggesting caffeine could protect against memory impairment and lower brain levels of protein (amyloid β). Research has suggested caffeine could protect against memory impairment and lower brain levels of protein (amyloid β) thought to be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease...

New Evidence Caffeine May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease And Other Dementias And Restore Cognitive Function

Although caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide, its potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated...

Genetic Variations Associated With Alzheimer Disease, But Do Not Help Predict Risk

Although genome-wide analysis identified two genetic variations associated with Alzheimer disease (AD), these variations did not improve the ability to predict the risk of AD, according to a study in the May 12 issue of JAMA. "One of every 5 persons aged 65 years is predicted to develop AD in their lifetime, and genetic variants may play an important part in the development of the disease...

Ablation Significantly Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease And Stroke, Researchers Find

New research presented at National Heart Rhythm Society Sessions shows ablation treatment can eliminate serious risks associated with atrial fibrillation...

Local Stars Lead Alzheimer’s Society Team In Bupa Great Manchester Run, UK

Coronation Street's Chris Gascoyne, half of duo Dick and Dom, Richard McCourt, and actress Samantha Giles will be taking part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society. They will be joined by the North's favourite bellydancer Sophie Mei and Rick Guard, the UK's own Michael Bublé, when the run gets underway this Sunday...

New Government Must Keep The Spotlight On Dementia, UK

David Cameron was yesterday named Prime Minister and the leader of a new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. In Cameron's first speech as leader of the country he highlighted the need for the government to look after the older people, the frail and the poorest in our country...

Music Aids Alzheimer’s Patients In Remembering New Information

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are better able to remember new verbal information when it is provided in the context of music even when compared to healthy, older adults. The findings, which currently appear on-line in Neuropsychologia, offer possible applications in treating and caring for patients with AD...

EnVivo Initiates Phase IIb Alzheimer’s Disease Trial For EVP-6124

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals announced the initiation and dosing of patients in a Phase IIb study of its EVP-6124 compound, a selective alpha-7 nicotinic agonist in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The multi-center, dose ranging, placebo controlled, six-month study taking place in the U.S...

Dementia Takes Away The Meaning Of Flavors

Flavour is literally the spice of life and for many people life without the pleasures of the table would be unthinkable. Yet just this aspect of everyday life is vulnerable in certain degenerative dementias, with patients developing abnormal eating behaviours including changes in food preferences, faddism and pathological sweet tooth...

Cutting-Edge Symposium Shed Light On The Many Possibilities Of Molecular Neuroimaging

SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence wrapped up its Molecular Neuroimaging Symposium in Bethesda, Md., at the Natcher Auditorium of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dima Hammoud, M.D...

Hung Parliament In 2010 UK Elections – Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer's Society welcomes the fact that dementia featured in all the parties' manifestos and we look forward to working with whoever forms the next government. 'We would like to thank our thousands of campaigners who lobbied their parliamentary candidates during the election campaign...

Scientists Investigate The Cause Of Age Related Memory Decline

Scientists could be a step closer to understanding age related memory loss according to an article to be published in Science. Researchers at the University of Alabama found that in aged mice models specific changes to cells in the central nervous system could be linked to disruption of brain activity that is necessary for stabilising long term memory...

Clues To ‘Missing Link’ To Life Found In Peptides

Emory University scientists have discovered that simple peptides can organize into bi-layer membranes. The finding suggests a "missing link" between the pre-biotic Earth's chemical inventory and the organizational scaffolding essential to life...

Geisinger Sets New National Standard For Osteoporosis Testing

Geisinger has exceeded the national benchmark for testing women who are at risk for developing osteoporosis a silent and serious disease. According to Eric Newman, M.D., Director, Geisinger Department of Rheumatology, the DXA scan is the industry standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and the calculation of fracture risk...

Science Closing In On Mystery Of Age-Related Memory Loss, Says UAB Neurobiologist

The world's scientific community may be one step closer to understanding age-related memory loss, and to developing a drug that might help boost memory. In an editorial published May 7 in Science, J. David Sweatt, Ph.D...

Developing Global Guidelines For Alzheimer’s

Scott & White Temple Hospital physician Arden L. Aylor, M.D., assistant professor of family medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, is one of three North American physicians who will help in the development and adoption of standard guidelines regarding dementia at the World Health Organization's World Conference in Berlin, Germany on May 17. Dr...

Spouses Who Care For Partners With Dementia At Sixfold Higher Risk Of Same Fate

Husbands or wives who care for spouses with dementia are six times more likely to develop the memory-impairing condition than those whose spouses don't have it, according to results of a 12-year study led by Johns Hopkins, Utah State University, and Duke University...

Research Explores The Connection Between Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus And Alzheimer’s Disease

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological condition which typically affects adults ages 55 and older. This condition was first described in the 1960s as a triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and bladder incontinence. The ventricles of the brain appear enlarged although the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure remains normal...

25th Colloque Médecine Et Recherche Of The Fondation Ipsen In The Series Alzheimer Disease: “Two Faces Of Evil: Cancer And Neurodegeneration”

Thanks to modern medicine, we can expect to live longer but our prospects of a happy, healthy old age are still stalked by the twin spectres of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases...

The International Congress Of Alzheimer’s Disease Accepts Four Scientific Presentations By Power3

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB: PWRM - News) announced that four abstracts were accepted for presentation to the annual meeting of the International Congress of Alzheimer's Disease on July 12, 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii...

Insufficient Evidence To Support Preventive Measures For Alzheimer’s Disease

Many preventive measures for cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease - mental stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements - have been studied over the years...

Association Statement On NIH State-of-the-science Report On Preventing Alzheimer’s And Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most critical unaddressed health issues in America. Yet we are so far from meeting the challenges of this looming crisis. According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, there are as many as 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, and every 70 seconds someone in America develops the disease...

No Evidence Alzheimer’s Can Be Slowed Or Prevented Say Experts

An independent panel of experts meeting in the US concluded there is no evidence that you can prevent or slow down Alzheimer's, a progressive and fatal brain disease, even if you keep yourself active with exercise, social interaction, brain puzzles, or take fish oil, other supplements, or medication...

Abnormal Heart Rhythm Linked To Alzheimer’s

People with atrial fibrillation, a form of abnormal heart rhythm, are more likely than others to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds. The presence of atrial fibrillation also predicted higher death rates in dementia patients, especially among younger patients in the group studied, meaning under the age of 70...

Alzheimer’s Memory Problems Originate With Protein Clumps Floating In The Brain, Not Amyloid Plaques

Using a new mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that Alzheimer's pathology originates in Amyloid-Beta (Abeta) oligomers in the brain, rather than the amyloid plaques previously thought by many researchers to cause the disease...

Brain Shrinkage In Aging May Be Influenced By Personality

Psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis have found an intriguing possibility that personality and brain aging during the golden years may be linked...

All Nurses Need To Be Trained In Dementia Care, UK

Alzheimer's Society is today calling for all nursing staff to receive mandatory training in dementia care as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) close their consultation. Alzheimer's Society has made recommendations on how dementia should be included in NMC standards...

Contemporary Swing Singer Rick Guard Is Running Up The Charts AND In The Bupa Great Manchester Run For Alzheimer’s Society

Lancashire swing singer Rick Guard has been raising the roof on his recent sell-out tour, and is now set to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society. 'I'm thrilled to be running for Alzheimer's Society again in honour of my mum who died with dementia. Alzheimer's Society were a great source of support and practical help...

Family Caregiving Stress-Filled And Isolating

Family members who provide care to relatives with dementia, but do not have formal training, frequently experience overwhelming stress that sometimes leads to breakdowns or depression, according to Penn State and Benjamin Rose Institute researchers. Interventions to alleviate this stress are not always effective, leaving caregivers isolated to deal with their stresses...

No Cognitive Benefits In Seniors Taking Fish Oil Supplements

The largest ever trial of fish oil supplements has found no evidence that they offer benefits for cognitive function in older people. The OPAL study investigated the effects of taking omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements over a two year period on the cognitive function of participants aged 70-80 years...

Amyloid Beta Peptide Micro-Aggregation Not Promoted By Bigger Molecular-Sized Anesthetics

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide and has become a major global concern. Uncontrolled oligomerization (aggregation) of Aβ peptide is the hallmark of AD and it is believed to be causally related to AD pathomechanism...

Alan Sugar’s Apprentice Gives Richard Branson A Run For His Money For Alzheimer’s Society, UK

Apprentice winner, Yasmina Siadatan, Oasis drummer Alan White, television presenter Richard McCourt and jazz crooner Rick Guard, are all taking part in the London Marathon on 25 April. They may be a small team, but Yasmina says they are determined to raise as much money as possible to help care and support for the 750,000 people with dementia in the UK and their carers...

Promising New Drug Target For Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a potential drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a receptor that is embedded in the membrane of neurons and other cells. A protein fragment associated with Alzheimer's disease activates this receptor, sparking increased activity in the affected neurons, eventually leading to cell death, the researchers report...

Common Obesity Gene Linked To Brain Tissue Loss, Raising Alzheimer’s Risk

New research from the US reveals that a common variant of the FTO obesity gene carried by more than one third of Americans that causes them to gain weight and puts them at risk for obesity, also leads to loss of brain tissue, thereby increasing their risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's later in life...

The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) Awards $8 Million In New Grants To Cure Age-Related Diseases

The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) has awarded 52 grants totaling more than $8 million dollars to scientists worldwide who are on the cutting edge of promising discoveries in the areas of Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma. "Innovative research is the only way to find treatments and cures for these devastating age-related diseases...

Nerve Cell Survival Promoted By A Good Mimic

Altered expression and/or function of the protein BDNF, which promotes nerve cell survival, generation, and function, have been implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer disease...

Small Molecules Mimicking Key Brain Growth Factor Identified By Study

Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified several small molecules that mimic a key but cumbersome protein in the brain, a discovery that could open the door to new therapies for a variety of brain disorders. The protein, designated by the acronym BDNF, is known to be involved in important brain functions that include memory and learning...

New Analysis Of Prana’s Clinical Trial Is Published In The Journal Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Prana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: PRAN) (ASX: PBT) today announced that the authoritative scientific journal, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, published an article on April 19 about Prana's lead drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease, PBT2, providing new analysis that it is effective in reversing dementia symptoms...

Uncovering Early Stages Of Alzheimer’s Disease

A major Australian study has provided new insights into the loss of structure in regions of the brain and its potential association with Alzheimer's Disease. The findings recently reported in Neurology suggest a build-up of deposits of the protein amyloid-beta in a region of the brain known as the temporal inferior cortex. The region is connected to the hippocampus, which is involved in memory...

Could Heroin Hold The Clues For A New Protective Agent For HIV?

To their surprise, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) have discovered that morphine (a derivate of the opium poppy that is similar to heroin) protects rat neurons against HIV toxicity - a finding they say might help in the design of new neuroprotective therapies for patients with the infection...

Dementia Should Be No Barrier To A Good Quality Of Life

Only 13 per cent of people believe a person with dementia can have a good quality of life at all stages of their condition according to Alzheimer's Society research released today (Thursday, 15 April) However a new report by the charity found a better quality of life is possible for people with a dementia diagnosis...

Positive Interim Results From Phase III Trial Of Amyloid Imaging Agent Florbetapir F18 Presented At American Academy Of Neurology Annual Meeting

Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Avid") today announced the presentation of interim data from its landmark florbetapir "Image-to-Autopsy" Phase III study. These data come from the first cohort of subjects in the trial and are the first ever Phase III results for an agent designed to image Alzheimer's disease pathology...

GE Healthcare Presents Positive Phase 2 Data With Flutemetamol – Phase 3 Program Now Underway

GE Healthcare will today present results from its multicenter phase 2 study of flutemetamol at the 4th annual Human Amyloid Imaging (HAI) Meeting in Toronto, Canada. Flutemetamol is a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent in development by GE Healthcare, in the field of brain imaging...

‘Clown-doctors’ Could Help Dementia Sufferers – British Psychological Society

Bringing smiles and humour into hospital settings through clown doctors could help dementia sufferers. Dr Bernie Warren will present this and his other recent findings on the benefits of 'clown doctors' at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon on 15th April 2010...

Brain-Imaging Study Supports The Relevance Of A Common Genetic Risk Factor For Alzheimer’s Disease In Latinos

A brain-imaging study published in the Archives of Neurology suggests that a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the Anglo population is also a risk factor for the disease in Latinos...

Baxter And New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Announce 18-Month Data From Phase II Study Of GAMMAGARD In Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center today announced results of an 18-month Phase II clinical study of GAMMAGARD LIQUID and GAMMAGARD S/D [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] (marketed as KIOVIG outside of the U.S.) for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease...

Investigational Immune Intervention Slows Brain Shrinkage In Alzheimer’s Patients

An investigational intervention using naturally ocurring antibodies in human blood has preserved the thinking abilities of a group of mild- to moderate-stage Alzheimer's patients over 18 months and significantly reduced the rate of atrophy (shrinkage) of their brains, according to a study performed at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center...

Progression Of Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Delayed By Targeting The Blood-Brain Barrier

Researchers may be one step closer to slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. An animal study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, shows that by targeting the blood-brain barrier, researchers are able to slow the accumulation of a protein associated with the progression of the illness...

Despite Memory Loss, Patients With Amnesia Still Feel Emotions

A new University of Iowa study offers some good news for caregivers and loved ones of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Patients might forget a joke or a meaningful conversation - but even so, the warm feelings associated with the experience can stick around and boost their mood...

The Assembly Of Protein Strands Into Fibrils

The Atomic Force Microscope depicts on its screen the few nanometer thick and few micrometer long fibers as white flexible sticks, crisscrossing the surface on which they are deposited. The very peculiar property of these proteins lies in fact that they can self assemble into complex ribbon-like twisted fibers...

When People With Alzheimer’s Disease Should Stop Driving: AAN Issues Guideline

The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline to help determine when people with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia should stop driving...

Memory Loss Does Not Wipe Out Emotions

New research from the US suggests that emotions triggered by events can endure longer than factual recollection in patients with severe amnesia; the researchers hope their findings will increase understanding of Alzheimer's and related diseases and also bring comfort to caregivers and families in the knowledge that their loved ones may continue to feel the warmth of v...

Interesting Link Between Lean Mass Drop And Alzheimer’s Disease

The lean mass of people with Alzheimer's disease may fall, according to a new report in the April issue of Archives of Neurology, a JAMA/Archives journal. Lean mass is a person's total weight, including bones, muscles and organs - but without the body fat. The study found that lean mass drop may be linked with a fall in brain volume and function...

Sun Pharma Announces USFDA Tentative Approval For Generic Namenda(R) Tablets

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE:SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715) announced that USFDA has granted its subsidiary a tentative approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market a generic version of Forest Laboratories, Inc.'s Namenda 5 mg and 10 mg tablets...

New Method To Study Key Targets In Alzheimer’s Disease And Prostate Cancer

When designing a drug against a disease, chemists often used detailed plans of the proteins affected and against which the drugs must act. However, about a third of the proteins of our bodies have not yet been "photographed" because they generally vary in form, are in constant movements and have very little structure...

The Search For Brain’s Defenses To Ward Off Infections, Prevent Memory Loss

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine will look for evidence within the brain for human beta defensin peptide function - proteins important to the peripheral body's natural defense system against infection from the outside environment...

Potential New Alzheimer’s Drugs Advancing In Clinical Trials

After years of preparation and anticipation, scientists who discover and develop new medications are about to answer a key question about Alzheimer's disease: Will drugs that block formation of abnormal clumps of protein in the brain called amyloid-beta slow the progression of the devastating disease? The cover story in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), A...

Hospitals Can Improve Care For Patients With Dementia Without Rising Costs, UK

The report, Acute awareness: Improving hospital care for people with dementia, highlights the changes that can be made to improve the quality of care patients receive in acute hospitals without large additional costs...

Worsening Memory Associated With Later Alzheimer’s Disease

Subjective memory impairment, or mild deficits in memory that may or may not cause worry for an individual, appear to predict progression to more advanced stages of cognitive impairment and dementia, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals...

New, Inexpensive Way To Predict Alzheimer’s Disease

Your brain's capacity for information is a reliable predictor of Alzheimer's disease and can be cheaply and easily tested, according to scientists. "We have developed a low-cost behavioral assessment that can clue someone in to Alzheimer's disease at its earliest stage," said Michael Wenger, associate professor of psychology, Penn State...

Hospitals Need To ‘Rethink’ How They Provide Dementia Care, UK

Hospitals should rethink the way they provide care for people with dementia according to a report published by the NHS Confederation. The report, Acute awareness: Improving hospital care for people with dementia, highlights the changes that can be made to improve the quality of care patients receive in acute hospitals without large additional costs...

Weak Link In Alzheimer’s Drug Candidates

Some current therapies being investigated for Alzheimer's disease may cause further neural degeneration and cell death, according to a breakthrough discovery by UC San Diego researchers...

New Method Developed By UD Team For Producing Proteins Critical To Medical Research

Scientists at the University of Delaware have developed a new method for producing proteins critical to research on cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. Developed by Zhihao Zhuang, UD assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and his research group, the chemical method yields hundredsfold more ubiquitylated proteins than current approaches...

Elixir Or Poison? Los Alamos Researchers Study Carbon Nanostructures

A Los Alamos National Laboratory toxicologist and a multidisciplinary team of researchers have documented potential cellular damage from "fullerenes"- soccer-ball-shaped, cage-like molecules composed of 60 carbon atoms. The team also noted that this particular type of damage might hold hope for treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or even cancer...

Alzheimer’s Rat Created For Human Research

Prof. Claudio Cuello at McGill University and his collaborators have genetically manipulated rats that can emulate Alzheimer's disease in humans, enabling research that will include the development of new treatments. Alzheimer's is a devastating brain condition leading to a progressive decline of memory and other brain functions...

Many Newly Diagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Do Not Receive Alzheimer’s Drugs As First-Line Therapy

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that while approximately 70 percent of surveyed physicians' newly diagnosed patients have mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, only 52.2 percent of first-line patients are prescribed an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI). Instead, 28...

Researchers Design Self-Test For Memory Disorders

A self-administered test to screen for early dementia could help speed the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. It could also provide health care providers and caregivers an earlier indication of life-changing events that could lie ahead...

New Rat Model For Human Research Into Alzheimer’s Disease

Prof. Claudio Cuello at McGill University and his collaborators have genetically manipulated rats that can emulate Alzheimer's disease in humans, enabling research that will include the development of new treatments. Alzheimer's is a devastating brain condition leading to a progressive decline of memory and other brain functions...

Alzheimer’s-Like Memory Loss Reversed In Fruit Flies

By blocking the cellular signaling activity of a protein, a team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has prevented memory loss in fruit flies caused by brain plaques similar to those thought to cause Alzheimer's disease in humans...

New Ethical Guidelines Needed For Dementia Research

How do we handle the ethical dilemmas of research on adults who can't give their informed consent? In a recent article in the journal Bioethics, ethicist Stefan Eriksson proposes a new approach to the dilemma of including dementia patients and others with limited decision making capabilities in research...

Assisting Alzheimer’s Caregivers Online

It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million Americans and that number is expected to double by 2050. Caregivers shoulder a particularly heavy burden as the illness alters the dementia patient's behavior, mood and judgment, impeding his or her ability to engage in normal, everyday activities...

Alzheimer’s Society Comment On Social Care System Reform Promise

Alistair Darling's budget speech In his budget speech, Alistair Darling announced that the government will shortly be setting out its long-term plans for social care reform as well as the steps needed in the next parliament to move towards this goal. Alzheimer's Society comment: 'Today's budget shows a commitment from the government to reform our broken social care system...

Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Cardinal Health Reach Milestone In Alzheimer’s Research

Currently, Alzheimer's disease cannot be definitively diagnosed until after death, when a brain autopsy is performed on a patient and evidence of beta-amyloid plaque deposits in the brain - which are a characteristic pathology of the disease - can be found...

Taking The Guesswork Out Of Diagnosing Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

A new test developed by Japanese scientists may revolutionize how and when physicians diagnose Alzheimer's disease. According to a research report published online in The FASEB Journal, the new test measures proteins in the spinal fluid known to be one of the main causes of brain degeneration and memory impairment in Alzheimer's patients: high molecular weight A-Beta oligomers...

Anesthesia Increases Risk Of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease In Patients With Genetic Predisposition

Dr. María Angeles Mena, Researcher at Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) and Director of the Neuropharmacology Laboratory at Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid, Spain), coordinated the study performed by predoctoral student Juan Perucho and others...

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