Ginkgo biloba doesn't prevent dementia, study finds Nov 19, 2008
A clinical trial involving people ages 75 to 96 showed no relation between taking the supplement and boosting brainpower or staving off the effects of Alzheimer's disease. By Karen Kaplan November 19, 2008 Long touted as an elixir of eternal mental acuity, the herbal extract ginkgo biloba in fact does not prevent or delay the progression of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, according to a clinical trial reported today involving thousands of volunteers between the ages of 75 and 96. (Los Angeles Times)
Ginkgo ineffective against dementia Nov 19, 2008
5 million after Alzheimer's disease researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere launched the biggest U.S. study ever of whether ginkgo biloba could help stave off dementia, they got an answer ... As far as whether the findings are conclusive, "disproving the negative is always impossible," said the neurologist, who headed Pitt's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and has been recognized as a leading medical spokesman for the Alzheimer's Association. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Boost Your Memory Nov 19, 2008
Memory loss and Alzheimer's disease rank high on the list of senior fears ... The good news is according to researchers at John Hopkins, most memory loss has nothing to do with Alzheimer's disease. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Herb Found Ineffective Against Dementia Nov 19, 2008
A new study finds that Ginkgo biloba, an herb that some advocates claim helps memory and cognition, was not effective in reducing the rate of dementia or Alzheimer's disease among more than 1,500 elderly study participants after several years of use. The findings were published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Click2Houston, TX)
Fewer Brain 'Tangles' May Mean Smarter Old Age Nov 19, 2008
In a preliminary study, researchers have found that the brains of these still-sharp folks over 80 have none, or very little, of the protein "tangles" that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. "Both plaques and tangles are what we consider the pathology of Alzheimer's but [only] when they occur in very, very high quantities," explained study principal investigator, Changiz Geula, research professor of neuroscience at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern's... (MEDLINEplus)
Ginkgo Doesn't Prevent Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
The widely used herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not appear to prevent Alzheimer's disease in healthy elderly people or those with mild cognitive impairment, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday ... There is no medication currently approved to avert the development of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia in the elderly. (Newsmax)
Ginkgo can't prevent Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
CHICAGO: The dietary supplement ginkgo, long promoted as an aid to memory, didn't help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the longest and largest test of the extract in older Americans ... When the researchers looked only at Alzheimer's disease, that rate too was similar. (India Times, India)
Nicotine: A Receptor From The Past Helping To Develop Drugs Of The Future Nov 18, 2008
3, 2005) The chemical nicotine--a main ingredient in tobacco--may hold promise in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, give insight into therapeutic interventions for nicotine addiction and. . (Science Daily)
'Orphan' Genes Play Important Role In Evolution Nov 18, 2008
Researchers are using the sea urchins to study and understand diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and muscular dystrophy. . (Science Daily)
Acinetobacter is emerging hospital superbug: study Nov 18, 2008
An Alzheimer's disease study is underway in your area. Learn more. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Green protein inhibits Alheimer's, CSIRO scientists find Nov 18, 2008
BY NYSSA SKILTON MEDICAL REPORTER 18/11/2008 1:00:00 AM CSIRO scientists have developed a way to screen for compounds that can inhibit the progression of Alzheimer's disease ... The scientists, working within CSIRO's Preventive Health Flagship, published their findings in the latest edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease ... Alzheimer's disease is the fourth leading cause of death in people older than 65 and there is no cure known to science. (The Canberra Times)
Florida eye exam gets results Nov 17, 2008
An anesthesia warning Mice given an anesthetic widely used in surgery on people suffered changes to their brains similar to the damage found in Alzheimer's disease, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital report in the online Annals of Neurology ... General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease had already seen how, in laboratory tests, isoflurane spurred production of amyloid-beta protein - the brain plaque in Alzheimer's disease ... "It may put elderly patients at risk for... (Boston Globe)
Amorfix Receives Third Biogen Idec Investment Nov 17, 2008
About Amorfix Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is a theranostics company developing therapeutic products and diagnostic devices targeting brain-wasting diseases including ALS, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). Amorfix's proprietary Epitope Protection(TM) (EP) technology enables it to specifically identify very low levels of aggregated misfolded proteins (AMP) in a sample of normal protein. (Canada Newswire)
Prophet's daughter speaks Nov 17, 2008
Or that just two years after that, her mother would exhibit signs of dementia and eventually be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Despite the fact that Elizabeth Clare Prophet's mind has deteriorated to the point where she can no longer care for herself, let alone lead the religious group she founded, CUT remains in existence, still based in Corwin Springs. (Montana Standard, MT)
A key to sharp old minds found Nov 17, 2008
"It was always assumed that the accumulation of these tangles is a progressive phenomenon through the aging process. But we are seeing that some individuals are immune to tangle formation and that the presence of these tangles seems to influence cognitive performance," said said Changiz Geula, principal investigator of the study and a research professor of neurology at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern's Feinberg School. The findings were presented yesterday... (Yahoo News)
'Super' aged brains reveal first secrets of sharp memory in old age Nov 17, 2008
Tangles are found in moderate numbers in the brains of elderly and increase substantially in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. "This new finding in super aged brains is very exciting," said Changiz Geula, principal investigator of the study and a research professor of neurology at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern's Feinberg School ... Like tangles, plaques also are found in modest numbers in the brains of aged individuals and show a dramatic... (EurekAlert!)
Caring For The Caregiver: Redefining The Definition Of Patient Nov 16, 2008
15, 2008) One quarter of all family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients succumb to the stress of providing care to a loved one and become hospital patients themselves, according to an Indiana University study published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine ... While it has long been anecdotally recognized that caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease is stressful, this work is the first to measure just how stressful providing care is and to... (Science Daily)
Student's method helps pinpoint treatment Nov 16, 2008
It will focus on inhibitors of devastating diseases like AIDS, cancer, malaria, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. Later, ZymeX intends to develop and market new drugs based on Zymaccel technology. (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA)
Duke scientist to bare his DNA Nov 16, 2008
One day soon, Angrist may find out he has the gene that raises the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Or cancer. (News & Observer)
Education can delay Alzheimers disease symptoms Nov 16, 2008
Education can delay Alzheimers disease symptoms - TheMedGuru. Last Updated: Sunday 16 November 2008 08:26 GMT. (TheMedGuru)
Aozora, Eisai, Mitsubishi UFJ, Resona, Sharp, Toyota: Japan Equity Preview Nov 16, 2008
(4523 JT): The U.S. unit of Eisai, maker of world's best-selling drug for Alzheimer's disease, has won the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell its Banzel drug for the treatment of epilepsy. The stock rose 20 yen, or 0. (Bloomberg -- Japan)
John J. McHugh, 89, former state crime lab director Nov 15, 2008
Mr. McHugh, who spent 41 years with the state's forensic crime laboratories, 22 as director, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Wednesday in Whitney Place, an assisted living residence in Natick. He was 89 and had lived for most of his life in Waltham. (Boston Globe)
Memory Pharmaceuticals to Present at the Lazard Capital Markets 5th Annual Healthcare Conference Nov 15, 2008
Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company, is focused on developing innovative drugs for the treatment of debilitating CNS disorders, many of which exhibit significant impairment of memory and other cognitive functions, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. For additional information, please visit our website at. (PR Newswire)
Where there's a will, there's a relatively messy squabble Nov 15, 2008
If there is a lesson to be drawn from the euthanasia trial that has ended with the sentencing of Shirley Justins for manslaughter, it is to ignore Philip Nitschke's advice against getting a diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease ... Elderly people don't lose all their rights to make decisions with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease ... There is no test to determine whether a person with Alzheimer's disease has the capacity to want to end their life prematurely. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Economic and cultural gridlock is creating disastrous detours Nov 15, 2008
A few years ago a drug company in America thought it had found a cure for Alzheimer's disease. But it couldn't develop the treatment unless it obtained permission to use dozens of patents owned by other biotech companies. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Editor's Mailbag (Nov. 6) (23) Nov 15, 2008
Of course, by that time, President Reagan, though still living, was suffering greatly from the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease. With all the conservatives available in the nation in 1999 whom Nancy Reagan could have asked to stand in for her and Ronald Reagan to receive that great honor, who did she choose. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Silver Alert Helps Keep Senior Citizens Safe Nov 15, 2008
(ARA) - If you've got a senior citizen in your life suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you probably worry about them wandering away and not being able to find their way home. A new law that addresses this issue is under consideration right now. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Blackcurrant snacks may help to treat Alzheimers Nov 15, 2008
Researchers at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), a centre of international expertise on the blackcurrant, have been funded by the European Commission to investigate the potential of the fruit to ward of Alzheimer's disease. Using leftovers from the production of blackcurrant juice, they are embarking on a series of experiments to help establish that antioxidant compounds in the berries block or slow the protein damage that causes the illness. (The Herald)
Eisai Wins U.S. Drug Regulator Approval for Its Banzel Epilepsy Treatment Nov 15, 2008
Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. unit of , the maker of world's best-selling drug for Alzheimer's disease, has won the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell its Banzel drug for the treatment of epilepsy. The drug, Banzel, an adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures in adults and adolescents of 12 years of age and older will be marketed in January 2009, the company said in a PRNnewswire statement. (Bloomberg -- Japan)
Those Were The Days: Counteracting Loneliness With Nostalgia Nov 14, 2008
7, 2007) Lonely individuals may be twice as likely to develop the type of dementia linked to Alzheimer's disease in late life as those who are not lonely, according to a study by researchers at the Rush. (Nov. (Science Daily)
'Human-animal' embryo green light Nov 14, 2008
An HFEA consultation showed the public were "at ease" with the idea when told it could pave the way for therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Opponents have said many people would be "horrified" by such a move. (Yahoo News -- Human Stem Cell Research)
LSUHSC research identifies key contributor to Alzheimer's disease process Nov 14, 2008
Walter J. Lukiw, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Ophthalmology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, is the lead author of a paper identifying, for the first time, a specific function of a fragment of ribonucleic acid (RNA), once thought to be no more than a byproduct, in regulating inflammation and the development of Alzheimer's disease. The paper, An NF-kB-sensitive micro RNA-146a-mediated inflammatory circuit in Alzheimer's disease and in stressed human brain cells, will be... (EurekAlert!)
New Method Provides Panoramic View Of Protein-RNA Interactions In Living Cells Nov 13, 2008
Building upon a recent discovery that the same Alzheimer's disease process that goes on in the brain also occurs in the eye, researchers have. . (Science Daily)
Common anesthetic induces Alzheimer's-associated changes in mouse brains Nov 13, 2008
For the first time researchers have shown that a commonly used anesthetic can produce changes associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brains of living mammals, confirming previous laboratory studies ... Alzheimer's disease is characterized by deposition of A-beta plaques within the brain ... Several studies have suggested that surgery and general anesthesia may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and it is well known that a small but significant number of surgical patients... (EurekAlert!)
Dale L. Lopshire (1) Nov 12, 2008
He was 82 when he passed away in Benson, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Lopshire was proceeded in death by his parents, Frank and Agnes, brothers Frank and Harold, sisters Alice and Marge; he is survived by brothers Frank and Harold, sisters Kathryn and Jane, nephew Jim Lopshire (Sherleen), niece Joanne Miller and numerous great nieces and nephews. (Benson San Pedro Valley News Sun, AZ)
News Stories Nov 12, 2008
Alzheimer's Disease Full Coverage on Yahoo. News. (Yahoo News -- Alzheimer's Disease)
Alzheimer’s-associated Plaques Found In Symptom-free Older Adults Nov 12, 2008
11, 2008) In the largest study of its kind, Pittsburgh Compound B, an imaging agent that could facilitate the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, has been used to identify amyloid deposition in the brains of clinically older adults ... D., a Pitt professor of radiology and pharmaceutical sciences, invented the imaging compound, dubbed PiB. It binds to certain forms of amyloid protein plaques that are thought to destroy brain cells and have been found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease... (Science Daily)
Vitamins E And C Supplements Not Effective For Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease In Men Nov 12, 2008
20, 2004) Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamins E and C, may protect the aging brain against damage associated with the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study. (May 21, 2007) A study of more than 75,000 adults found that taking supplemental multivitamins, vitamin C and E and folate do not decrease the risk of lung cancer. (Science Daily)
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and SNAPforSeniors Introduce Nationwide Senior Housing Resource Nov 12, 2008
Visitors can also search based on criteria such as lifestyle amenities, care needs, diet, languages spoken and health conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. "Older Americans turn to elder law attorneys because they have the focused training necessary to provide guidance during difficult transitions such as a move to senior housing," said Derek Preston, CEO of SNAPforSeniors. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Brain imaging study supports the 'cognitive reserve' hypothesis Nov 12, 2008
Individuals with higher education levels appear to score higher on cognitive tests despite having evidence of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. According to a press release issued by EurekAlert, the cognitive reserve hypothesis holds that individuals with greater cognitive (thinking, learning and memory) abilities are able to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease despite... (Hindu)
Hormone shows promise in reversing Alzheimers disease and stroke Nov 12, 2008
ST. LOUIS -- Saint Louis University researchers have identified a novel way of getting a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease and stroke into the brain where it can do its work ... "The problem in treating a lot of diseases of the central nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, HIV and stroke is that we can't get drugs past the blood-brain barrier and into the brain," says Banks, who also is a staff physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis ... They used mouse... (EurekAlert!)
ProteoTech to Present at Rodman & Renshaw's 10th Annual Healthcare Conference Nov 11, 2008
With over 165 patents in its intellectual property estate, ProteoTech is in human clinical trials for its orally active small molecule drug Exebryl-1(R) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease ... ProteoTech is also in late stage pre-clinical development for a novel small peptide called PeptiClere(TM) as a nasal spray for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (PR Newswire)
BELLUS Health Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2008 and on EMEA Update Nov 11, 2008
The decrease in the current periods compared to the same periods the previous year is mainly attributable to a reduction in expenses incurred in relation to the development of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM); homotaurine) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, following the Company's decision in November 2007 to terminate the tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) pharmaceutical drug development program ... Post-hoc analysis of the North American Phase III clinical trial of homotaurine (VIVIMIND(TM))... (PR Newswire)
New Imaging Technology Accurately Identifies A Broad Spectrum Of Liver Disease Nov 11, 2008
Research is under way to study how MRE might aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and some cancers. Also involved in the study were Mayo Clinic researchers John Gross, M.D.; Meng Yin, Ph. (Science Daily)
Education May Delay Alzheimer's Effects Nov 11, 2008
Strong Education Blunts Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests ... Strong Education Blunts Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests ... 11, 2008) A test that reveals brain changes believed to be at the heart of Alzheimer's disease has bolstered the theory that education can delay the onset of the dementia and cognitive decline that are characteristic of the disorder. (Science Daily)
DEATHS FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008 (913) Nov 11, 2008
In 1994 Opal, the love of Robie's life, contracted Alzheimer's disease. Robie provided his sweetheart with loving and dedicated care in their home during those 14 years. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Boost Your Memory Nov 11, 2008
Memory loss and Alzheimer's disease rank high on the list of senior fears ... The good news is according to researchers at John Hopkins, most memory loss has nothing to do with Alzheimer's disease. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Losing your mind Nov 11, 2008
The most common cause of dementia, accounting for about half of all cases, is Alzheimer's disease. The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not yet fully known. (iAfrica.com)
Exercise May Improve Function in Dementia Patients Nov 11, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Organized exercise designed to increase strength, flexibility, mobility and coordination may improve overall physical function among nursing home patients with Alzheimer's disease, researchers report. Alzheimer's disease patients who have physically deteriorated are less able to perform activities of daily life, which, in turn, affects their quality of life ... Despite the well-known physical benefits obtained from exercise, Professor Alejandro Lucia and colleagues in... (MEDLINEplus)
Memantine Effective for Alcohol Dependence And Depression Nov 11, 2008
Memantine, sold under the trade name Namenda, is approved to treat moderate to severe dementia in Alzheimer's disease. Escitalopram, sold under the trade name Lexapro, is approved to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. (MEDLINEplus)
New Findings: Fat Makes You Thin Nov 11, 2008
Newsmax Magazine: The Big Fat Lie: You Can't Lose Weight - New Science Shows How. " Taubes decided to probe why you can't lose weight and why despite supposed improvements in nutrition and fitness American are not only gaining more weight than ever but we also are witnessing an explosion of obesity-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Taubes' findings were first revealed in the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet,... (Newsmax)
Education Blunts Effects of Alzheimers Nov 11, 2008
Brain scans of people with an abnormality that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease are strengthening the notion that greater education levels somehow protect against this common form of dementia ... "It tells us more about Alzheimer's disease and how it works in the brain," Roe added ... 2 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. (Newsmax)
Illinois makes grants for Alzheimer's disease Nov 10, 2008
CHICAGO - The state of Illinois will make $190,000 in grants to help research, treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease. The money comes from donations Illinois taxpayers made on their tax returns to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund ... Experts say more than 200,000 people in Illinois have Alzheimer's disease, which causes the loss of memory, attention span and the ability to learn. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Mitochondria Could Be Target For Therapeutic Strategy For Alzheimer's Disease Patients Nov 10, 2008
D., professor of clinical pathology in the Department's of Pathology and Surgery and in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medical Center, who led the multi-center research ... Thus, the CypD/A -mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore directly links to the cellular and synaptic perturbation relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease ... (May 2, 2006) Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's... (Science Daily)
When It Comes To Sea Level Changing Glaciers, New NASA Technique Measures Up Nov 10, 2008
Researchers are using the sea urchins to study and understand diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and muscular dystrophy. . (Science Daily)
Man spearheads effort to honor vets Nov 10, 2008
The memorial service Sunday was the result of three months of research on the part of Bogart resident Greg Reynolds who, after losing his grandfather to Alzheimer's disease, decided it was time to keep the memory of the city's veterans alive. "I got to thinking we're losing these people. We need to remember why we can actually come down here to city hall and argue and fight. These people here are the reasons why," Reynolds said. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Gruff reporter, tough teacher, nurturing mentor Nov 10, 2008
Advertisements Bonnie Rochman, Staff Writer For someone whose livelihood and very soul thrived on communication, the way Alzheimer's disease crept up and stole Dwayne Walls' words was the ultimate irony. Walls was a newspaperman cut from the ink-stained cloth of the old guard. (News & Observer)
Man with Alzheimer's pulled from Albany lake Nov 9, 2008
Frank Kavanag, 83, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, was found almost completely submerged near the shore of the small lake and moaning at about 6:30 a.m. He was found by a woman who was walking her dog and called 911, said city police spokesman Detective James Miller. Officer David Verrelli was the first officer on the scene and found Kavanag floating in the lake on its north side near the footbridge, Miller said. (Albany Times Union)
Stem cell research focus of meeting Nov 9, 2008
Using human embryonic stem cells, scientists in Goldstein's lab are creating human models of Alzheimer's disease to determine the role of environmental and genetic damage. It's one disease that requires a human model, Goldstein said, because mice and other animals don't get it. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Stem-cell law has little local impact Nov 8, 2008
Advocates of embryonic stem-cell research argue that the cells have potential for treatments and cures for cancer, Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injuries. MPI Research, based in Mattawan, has done some stem-cell safety work for companies based outside of Michigan, company President Bill Harrison said. (Kalamazoo Gazette, MI)
Interactive Crossword Puzzles Nov 8, 2008
Some believe playing crossword puzzles help sharpen the mind and in keeping the brain active may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Some research has shown that mental workouts, such as crossword puzzles, can stave off these illnesses that may occur with aging. (Suite101.com)
Obituaries in the news Nov 8, 2008
He had Alzheimer's disease and died Thursday in a nursing home in the Belfast suburb of Bangor. He joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1950 and rose quickly through the ranks of the force, which was drawn chiefly from Northern Ireland's British Protestant majority. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
More affects age than your birthday Nov 8, 2008
New research has shown synapses continue to develop if given a new challenge, and the blood flow of physical exercise can delay Alzheimer's disease. According to an Institute of Gerontology centenarian study, centenarians tend not to smoke or consume excessive alcohol, and maintain a healthy weight. (The Augusta Chronicle)
$24 Million Mililani Mauka Assisted Living Community Breaks Ground Nov 8, 2008
In addition, The Plaza at Mililani will be able to care for those with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other related memory disorders. For more information, call (808) 792-8800 or visit. (Honolulu Advertiser)
BIOTECH: Stem cell experts meet amid rising expectations Nov 8, 2008
Alzheimer's disease, for example, doesn't have a good model in animals, said Larry Goldstein, director of UCSD's stem cell program. "Who can tell if a mouse is demented anyway? Or a fruit fly, for that matter," Goldstein said. (North County Times)
