The Tangled Neuron

From The Financial Industry, A Gloomy View of Alzheimer's Research

2010-09-02T12:45:25-04:00

There’s been a lot of optimistic headlines about diagnosing, treating and curing Alzheimer’s lately. It seems some financial and industry analysts are not so optimistic. MarketWatch reports that the September issue of Neuroinvestment contains an extremely gloomy assessment of prospects...

Aspirin, Brain Bleeding and Memory Loss

2010-08-28T09:58:20-04:00

I’ve written before about how bleeding in the brain is more common than previously thought, especially for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Bleeding in the brain (which can be detected by a type of MRI) may be a sign of the...

Proteins, Aging and Alzheimer's

2010-08-17T16:53:19-04:00

Summary: In roundworms, hundreds of proteins form hard clumps as the animal ages. This discovery may contribute to a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. Much of the current research on neurodegenerative diseases focuses on a handful of proteins that tend...

Eli Lilly StopsTrial of Alzheimer's Drug

2010-08-17T16:04:08-04:00

Eli Lilly has stopped its Phase III trial of semagacestat, a potential Alzheimer's treatment. Memory and thinking in trial participants receiving treatment declined faster than those receiving placebo, and semagacestat was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. Another...

New Lewy Body Dementia Association Report

2010-08-13T08:32:24-04:00

A new Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) report summarizes the results of the association’s survey of 962 caregivers. The report highlights the wide range of challenges families dealing with Lewy body dementia face, and caregivers’ experiences of the medical system...

One Doctor's Efforts to Prevent Alzheimer's

2010-08-02T16:36:13-04:00

Summary: In the absence of a near-term cure for Alzheimer’s, Dr. Ken Kosik believes we should focus on lifestyle changes and managing chronic disease to try to prevent or slow cognitive decline. He thinks “neighborhood cognitive shops” can provide one-stop...

How Do Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia Interact?

2010-07-13T18:09:10-04:00

Summary: Researchers at The Rockefeller University have published a paper proposing a new model for how Alzheimer’s and vascular disease interact to worsen memory and thinking. If their theory is confirmed, medicines that block this interaction could someday be an...

Just Say No to Intergenerational Living?

2010-07-08T08:56:11-04:00

The New York Times reports that residents of a Minnesota town object to plans for a new assisted living community that will include memory care. Apparently they fear having people with dementia in the community will be a threat to...

What's the Best Alzheimer's Care? Disappointing Results from a French Study

2010-06-28T14:04:45-04:00

Summary: A recent French clinical trial found that a standardized special care plan at memory clinics did not help people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s maintain functionality. Other approaches or care plans might be more successful, but have not been tested in...

Controversy over the Causes of Alzheimer's

2010-06-07T18:25:49-04:00

Summary: Dr. Rudy Castellani of the University of Maryland has received the 2010 Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease outstanding contribution award for his article criticizing the popular hypothesis that a protein called beta amyloid causes Alzheimer’s. The award highlights the growing...

Can Community Involvement Prevent Memory Loss?

2010-05-27T14:30:36-04:00

If you complain to your doctor about memory loss, should she write a prescription for community involvement? Maybe so. During the recent NIH State-of-the-Science conference, experts presented preliminary evidence that “cognitive engagement” might protect against memory loss. Brain fitness programs...

Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Alzheimer's or Memory Loss?

2010-05-12T15:42:35-04:00

Population studies have shown that people who report eating more Omega-3 fatty acids (in the form of fatty fish) seem to have a lower risk of developing dementia. Because of this, scientists have hypothesized that fish oil supplements (or supplements...

2010-05-02T09:56:53-04:00

Tampa Tribune piece on Living with Memory Loss Patient Guide at http://bit.ly/c8ry1p

NIH State-of-the-Science Conference - Press Release and Briefing

2010-04-28T15:43:38-04:00

On a conference call this afternoon, reporters were given a chance to ask questions about the draft report and press release (available from http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/alzmedia.htm) from the NIH’s State-of-the-Science Conference on Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline. The main finding...

NIH State-of-the-Science Conference - Public Discussion of Draft Statement

2010-04-28T12:59:24-04:00

The public discussion of the draft consensus statement from the NIH’s State-of-the-Science Conference on Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline was one of the more interesting and lively sessions of the conference. Although many commenters commended the panel for...