Alzheimer Disease Symptom

10/5 Disabled World

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:28:00 +0000

Safety of Diabetes Medication for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

September 13, 2010 at 9:34 PM

By JAMA and Archives Journals
Published: 2010-09-13
Last Modified: 2010-10-04
Pilot study demonstrates safety of diabetes medication for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

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A pilot study suggests the diabetes medication pioglitazone is generally well tolerated and may warrant further study as a treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the January 2011 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"Alzheimer's disease is an immense and growing public health problem," the authors write as background information in the article. "Although prescription drug therapy for the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease has been available since 1993, these agents do not fundamentally alter the pathological expression of the disease or its progressive course. The failure of several recent treatment trials directed at the beta-amyloid peptide, a key pathological correlate of Alzheimer's disease, suggests a need to explore alternative approaches to Alzheimer's disease treatment that are not focused on beta-amyloid metabolism."
Another potential therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma, PPAR-gamma, which acts to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. A class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones, originally developed to reduce insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes, are potent agonists (trigger a response) of PPAR-gamma. To evaluate the safety of one of these medications, pioglitazone, in patients without diabetes but with Alzheimer's disease, David S. Geldmacher, M.D., of the University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, and colleagues conducted an 18-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial. Twenty-nine patients without diabetes but with probable Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to receive either pioglitazone (titrated to 45 milligrams daily) or matching placebo, along with 200 international units of vitamin E.
A total of 25 patients (12 taking pioglitazone and 13 taking placebo) completed 18 months of therapy. Two of the patients who discontinued participation in the study early had a change in caregivers status, and two withdrew their consent; no discontinuations were attributed to adverse events.
Peripheral edema, swelling of the legs and feet, was the main adverse event, affecting four patients in the pioglitazone group (28.6 percent) compared with none in the placebo group. "This is consistent with the known adverse event profile of pioglitazone," the authors write. "No group differences in laboratory measures were identified."
"No significant treatment effect was observed on exploratory analysis of clinical efficacy," they continue, noting that the study was not intended to determine treatment efficacy. Based on the results of sample size analyses, the researchers estimate that a study would need to enroll between 155 and 340 participants randomly assigned to placebo or pioglitazone to find treatment effects for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Given that trials leading to Food and Drug Administration approval of current drugs typically enrolled 250 to 500 patients, and that several ongoing trials will enroll more than 1,000, further studies to assess the clinical efficacy of pioglitazone would be feasible.
"Disappointing results of treatment trials based on the amyloid hypothesis, and the reasonable degree of safety identified in this trial, suggest that exploratory studies of thiazolidinediones remain warranted," the authors conclude. "Future studies of this class should focus on earlier stages of disease progression and be augmented by biomarkers, such as nuclear imaging techniques, to measure changes in microglial activation associated with treatment."

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Dr. Paul Greengard, Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal Recipient

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:15:00 +0000

Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation » Articles

Dr. Paul Greengard, Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal Recipient

September 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Dr. Paul Greengard, Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal Recipient
Dr. Paul Greengard, a Nobel Prize-winning neurobiologist and director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at The Rockefeller University, will receive the Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal on September 23^rd, 2010. This medal is the highest award conferred by Karolinska Institutet during its 200th anniversary celebrations, and recognizes the work of an individual not permanently located at the Karolinska Institutet, who has contributed to the esteemed Swedish university's activities. Since 1901, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
"Dr. Greengard is one of the most prominent scientists of this century." says Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, President of Karolinska Institutet. "His seminal work has revealed several of the mechanisms behind psychiatric diseases. He has been a mentor for generations of Karolinska Institutet scientists, who have been inspired by his scientific leadership and by his extraordinary capacity to reveal the biological meaning and medical implications of a series of unexpected observations from the laboratory."
Dr. Greengard has authored over 1,000 major scientific publications, and on September 2, 2010, he published an article in the scientific journal Nature that has been lauded as a potential paradigm shift in how Alzheimer's will be studied, and possibly treated, in the future. The article, entitled "Gamma-secretase Activating Protein is a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease," outlines the discovery of a protein in the brain that stimulates the production of beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain believed to be one of the biological causes of Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Greengard is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has received more than 50 awards and honors. In 2000, Dr. Paul Greengard, together with his wife, the renowned sculptor, Ursula von Rydingsvard, used his Nobel Prize honorarium to fund the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, an award for women scientists named in honor of Greengard's mother, Pearl Meister Greengard, who died giving birth to him. The award is to combat discrimination against women in science, since, as Greengard observed, "Women are not yet receiving awards and honors at a level commensurate with their achievements."
The Karolinska Institutet's Gold Medal will be presented to Greengard on September 23rd at the residence of the Swedish ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Kent L. Karosen, President and CEO of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation adds, "On behalf of the Fisher Center Foundation, I want to congratulate Dr. Greengard on this very prestigious award. Dr. Greengard's contribution to Alzheimer's research has shaped the course of modern investigation into the causes and possible treatment of the disease, and his recent findings continue to open new avenues of study. We are honored to have such a world prominent scientist directing the work of our research center."
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation is a leading source of funding for Alzheimer's research and education. We serve Alzheimer's patients and their families by seeking to understand the causes of, discover a cure for, and improve the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease. Nobel laureate Dr. Paul Greengard directs the Foundation's team of internationally renowned scientists. Of the money raised by the Foundation, only 8 cents out of every dollar is used for overhead and administrative purposes. For more information about the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, visit www.ALZinfo.org
Contact:
Betsey Odell: betsey@alzinfo.org, 646-381-5148

9/26 Disabled World

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:07:00 +0000

Disabled World

Safety of Diabetes Medication for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

September 13, 2010 at 9:34 PM

By JAMA and Archives Journals
Published: 2010-09-13
Last Modified: 2010-09-24
Pilot study demonstrates safety of diabetes medication for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

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News About Dementia

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:05:00 +0000

Dementia News

Alhezimer's: tackling the real questions pt2

September 23, 2010 at 11:54 PM

This is the second in a three part interview with Dr. Michael Rafi, MD, Phd. He is the Associate Medical Core Director of the Alzheimera s disease Cooperative Study.

Diagnosing Alzheimer's With A Pencil

September 23, 2010 at 7:40 PM

ALZHEIMER'S PREVALENCE: According to the 2010 report on Alzheimer's Facts and Figures, an estimated 60 to 80 percent of patients with Alzheimer's disease suffer from dementia.

Alzheimer's disease

September 23, 2010 at 3:37 PM

There might have been a time when people in the Caribbean viewed Alzheimer's disease and other age-onset dementias as problems associated only with North America and Europe, simply because these are the continents where they have been recognised for what they are for years.

News and views from the Mad River Valley :: Easy Street Cafe Supports Alzheimer's Association

September 23, 2010 at 11:35 AM

World Alzheimer's Awareness Day is September 21. In commemoration, a percentage of Easy Street Cafe proceeds during the week of September 21 through 27 will be donated to the Vermont Alzheimer's Association.

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Faith 9/21

September 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Blessed Angela Meal On Sept. 28, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Ann Catholic Center at 908 Thorne Ave.

Residents release balloons to raise awareness of Alzheimers

September 23, 2010 at 6:15 AM

RESIDENTS at a care home in Burnt Oak released blue and yellow balloons into the sky and enjoyed an old-fashioned tea party on Tuesday in aid of World Alzheimera s Day.

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Diets to Beat Dementia

September 23, 2010 at 2:01 AM

A nutritious diet allows for good blood flow to the brain. This diet has no saturated fat or cholesterol and has the right amount of things that are good for your body.

9/24 Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation » Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation » Articles

Dr. Paul Greengard, Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal Recipient

September 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Spinal Fluid Test Can Predict Early Alzheimer's

September 23, 2010 at 10:59 AM

A test that measures proteins in the spinal fluid was accurate in detecting which people with memory problems would go on to develop Alzheimer's disease. The findings could lead to a safe and accurate way to test for Alzheimer's disease at its earliest stages, before memory loss and other symptoms become evident and when treatment may be most effective.
Experts now believe that Alzheimer's begins 10 years or more before memory loss and thinking and personality problems become prominent. Currently, the only way to diagnose Alzheimer's with certainty is after death, with autopsy of the brain. Still, many people continue to be diagnosed with the disease based on memory tests, brain scans and other methods.
Detecting the disease at a very early stage, before the brain has suffered a lot of damage, may mean that treatments can be developed to stop the progression of disease. Current medications for Alzheimer's, which are typically prescribed once memory impairment becomes obvious, may ease symptoms for a time but do nothing to stop the underlying disease.
In the study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers looked at 102 older men and women who met clinical criteria for Alzheimer's. They also studied 200 with mild cognitive impairment, a form of memory loss that sometimes progresses to Alzheimer's, and 144 who were mentally alert and free of serious memory problems.
The researchers looked at a trio of three proteins, or biomarkers, that formed a "signature" pattern in the spinal fluid, the liquid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. The three proteins are known as cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid protein 1-42, total CSF tau protein, and CSF phosphorylated tau 181P.
They found that the characteristic proteins were found in 90 percent of those with Alzheimer's disease, and 72 percent of those with mild cognitive impairment. Even some of the seniors who were mentally sharp had the protein pattern: the proteins were found in 36 percent of the seniors who were still cognitively healthy.
The spinal fluid test proved remarkably effectively in predicting who would progress to Alzheimer's disease. When they followed 57 of the patients with mild cognitive impairment for five years, they found that 100 percent of those who had the characteristic protein markers went on to develop full-blown Alzheimer's.
The researchers suspect that many of the "healthy" seniors with the proteins in their spinal fluid would eventually also develop signs of Alzheimer's. “The unexpected presence of the Alzheimer’s disease signature in more than one-third of cognitively normal subjects suggests that Alzheimer’s disease pathology is active and detectable earlier than has heretofore been envisioned,” they wrote.
In an editorial accompanying the study, doctors noted that, "To date, cerebrospinal fluid analyses have not been a routine component of assessment and care for patients with cognitive impairments and suspected Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. There is now ample evidence that these measurements have value; physicians need to formulate when and how to incorporate cerebrospinal fluid measurements into their practice,” they wrote.
Challenges remain. The findings must be confirmed with additional studies, and easy-to-implement versions of the test would need to be made available. The procedure requires a spinal tap, which is not currently a routine part of doctor office visits. In addition, many people who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease may not want to know that they are very likely to develop a disease for which there is currently no effective treatment or cure.
But hundreds of drugs are under testing as possible treatments for Alzheimer's, and some may be most effective when given at the earliest hints of the disease. “Gazing into the future, when there are neuroprotective medications for Alzheimer’s disease, we can envision a recommendation that cerebrospinal fluid analyses be implemented as a screening test to identify clinically healthy individuals at risk for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease," wrote the doctors in the accompanying editorial. "The information gained would enable early application of treatments to delay onset of symptoms or slow progression of cognitive impairments.”
By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University
Sources:
Gyungah Jun; Adam C. Naj; Gary W. Beecham; et al: "Meta-analysis Confirms CR1, CLU, and PICALM as Alzheimer Disease Risk Loci and Reveals Interactions With APOE Genotypes." Archives of Neurology, Vol. 67 (No. 8), August, 2010,
A. Zara Herskovits, MD, PhD; John H. Growdon, MD: "Sharpen That Needle" (editorial). Archives of Neurology, August 2010,.2010;67(8):918-920. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.151

When Patients With Advanced Alzheimer's Get Pneumonia

September 23, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Up to 90 percent of people in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease must be cared for in a nursing home at some point during their lives, and many of those are prone to serious infections like pneumonia. A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine looked at the antibiotic treatment that Alzheimer's patients with pneumonia received. Researchers found that while the drugs can prolong life, in many cases it could prolong suffering.
The findings underline the importance of proper end-of-life care for people with Alzheimer's, a disease that takes its toll not just on the brain but on the whole body. Indeed, Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 75,000 deaths yearly and exceeding the deaths caused by diabetes or pneumonia and flu.
The researchers, from Rush Medical Center in Chicago, studied patients with advanced Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in 22 nursing homes in the Boston area. Over 40 percent of the patients had at least one bout of pneumonia during the 18-month study period. Antibiotics did prolong survival in patients with pneumonia. But overall, it did not make patients feel more comfortable, and in many cases increased discomfort.
Antibiotics can cause well-known adverse effects like allergic reactions and severe digestive upset. But patients who received antibiotics also tended to suffer more pain, for a variety of reasons. In many cases, patients had to be transferred to hospitals for intensive treatment. There, antibiotics often had to be administered intravenously, leading to painful skin infections. The procedure might have to be repeated multiple times, as agitated patients tore drug lines out of their arms and the I.V. tubes had to put back in again and again.
In a commentary accompanying the study, Dr. Anna Chang and Dr. Louise Walter of the University of California, San Francisco, and the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco note that patients and their families should carefully consider what it means "to treat pneumonia." While most of us would not hesitate to pop an antibiotic if we got pneumonia, that may not be the best option for a frail and disoriented person in the final days of their life.
They call for greater awareness of all end-of-life issues for those with late-stage Alzheimer's. They note that nursing home staff are not adequately educated about the fatal course of Alzheimer's, which is the seventh leading cause of death overall. In one study, for example, only 1 percent of nursing home staff believed that residents withadvanced dementia had a life expectancy ofless than six months, when more than 70 percent actually die within that time frame.
They further note that in many cases, patient and family wishes about end-of-life care is not well understood or followed by medical staff, aggressive treatments like tube feeding are overused, and medical problems like pain, bedsores and aspiration of food is not properly managed. Less than a third of nursing home residents who die of advanced dementia receive hospice care, which manages pain and usually makes patients more comfortable in their final months.
By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University
Source: Jane L. Givens, Richard N. Jones, Michele L. Shaffer, Dan K. Kiely, and Susan L. Mitchell: "Survival and Comfort After Treatment of Pneumonia in Advanced Dementia." Archives of Internal Medicine, July 12. 2010; Vol. 170(13): pages 1102-1107.
Anna Chang, M.D., Louise C. Walter, M.D.: "Recognizing Dementia as a Terminal Illness in Nursing Home Residents: Comment on “Survival and Comfort After Treatment of Pneumonia in Advanced Dementia.” Archives of Internal Medicine, July 12, 2010. Vol. 170(13): pages 1107-1109.

How Education May Lower Alzheimer's Risk

September 23, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Researchers have noted that extra years of schooling during youth can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in old age. As a group, for example, those with a college degree are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with only an elementary school education. But scientists are not sure why education may help ward off Alzheimer’s.
Now, a large European study that looked at data spanning 20 years suggests a reason for the apparent brain-boosting benefits of formal schooling. Researchers from the U.K. and Finland looked at the brains of 872 people who had been part of three large aging studies. All had completed questionnaires about their education before they died, and their medical and cognitive histories were well known.
Confirming results of earlier studies, the researchers found that the more education someone had, the less likely they were to show the memory loss and thinking problems of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For each additional year of education, the study found, there was an 11 percent decrease in risk of developing dementia.
But microscopic examination of the brains of those who had died showed an interesting finding. Many of those studied had brains that were clogged with the hallmark plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s disease. But when the scientists compared the brains of those who showed similar degrees of damage, or pathology, they found that those who were highly educated had fewer symptoms of Alzheimer’s when they died than those with fewer years of schooling.
“Previous research has shown that there is not a one-to-one relationship between being diagnosed with dementia during life and changes seen in the brain at death,” said study co-author Dr. Hannah Keage of the University of Cambridge in England. “One person may show lots of pathology in their brain, while another shows very little, yet both may have had dementia. Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms.”
The results are observational, so you can’t draw a direct connection between staying in school and avoiding Alzheimer’s in old age. People with more education tend to be wealthier than those with little education, and they may tend to live healthier lifestyles, eating healthier foods and going to the gym more often, for example. Those factors may be more important than education per se in fighting off Alzheimer’s onset.
But the findings help support the theory of brain reserve, which holds that richer connections between brain cells help compensate for the degradation caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Education may be one way to help build up the brain’s capacity early in life. Later, as some brain cells die from the buildup of plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s, enough healthy cells remain to keep the mind and memory intact.
The theory also helps explain why many experts recommend life-long learning and stimulation to help keep the brain young. Word games and crossword puzzles, for example, may act similarly to help build up brain reserve. Read a book or learn a new language or musical instrument, the theory goes, to further stimulate and maintain the brain.
At the least, such activities will enhance your quality of life. And they may do that for years to come.
By ALZinfo.org. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.
Source: Carol Brayne, et al: “Education, the brain and dementia: neuroprotection or compensation,” Brain, July 26, 2010.

9/23 Dementia News

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:09:00 +0000

Dementia News

Participants sought for Alzheimer's disease clinical trial study

September 22, 2010 at 9:46 PM

A new cognitive research center has been awarded its first clinical trial study for Alzheimer's disease.

For sufferers of an early-onset dementia, career choice may determine location of disease in brain

September 22, 2010 at 5:41 PM

No single job is exclusively verbal, visuospatial or physical. Each job requires more or less of each of those skills.

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For sufferers of an early-onset dementia, career choice may determine location of disease in brain

September 22, 2010 at 5:41 PM

No single job is exclusively verbal, visuospatial or physical. Each job requires more or less of each of those skills.

Global cost of treating dementia expected to top $604 bil. this year

September 22, 2010 at 11:21 AM

The global cost of dementia will likely exceed $604 billion this year, or 1 percent of the world's gross domestic product, a new report says.

Vitamin B clue to dementia brain change

September 22, 2010 at 10:16 AM

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Minnesota physicians set policy

September 22, 2010 at 9:17 AM

The House of Delegates included about 150 physician delegates from across Minnesota who gathered to help shape MMA policy and the overall direction of the association.

Chandrakanta Das, 87, remembers hugging her grandchildren for the first time.

September 22, 2010 at 5:02 AM

That's the mantra of many new Canadians, but dementia is testing the fabric of communities and calling for some creative thinking Erin Anderssen Mississauga - Published on Wednesday, Sep.

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'Families take care of their own'

September 22, 2010 at 5:02 AM

That's the mantra of many new Canadians, but dementia is testing the fabric of communities and calling for some creative thinking Erin Anderssen Mississauga - Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Sep.

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Memory Walk 2010 in Aptos aims to raise funds, awareness for Alzheimer's disease

September 22, 2010 at 2:57 AM

Although Patti Shoemaker had been struggling for about a year with the most basic of tasks - turning her cell phone on and off, remembering where kitchen utensils were located, even knowing the contents inside her own purse - she shrugged it off as simply being overwhelmed by life's daily vagaries.

9/22 Alzheimer's News

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Alzheimer's News

Dementia: the human cost of each diagnosis

September 22, 2010 at 12:17 AM

As the World Alzheimer's Report 2010 is published, Andrea Gillies a ' author of The Keeper a ' describes the emotional toll of living with a relative who has the condition Andrea Gillies with her children, Meriel, Cara and Charlie, with Nancy, who has Alzheimer's. Photograph: Murdo Macleod Behind the detailed breakdown of the global financial cost ...

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Ease the cost of dementia

September 21, 2010 at 9:13 PM

On World Alzheimer's Day, we examine the help and financial options available to families.

Alzheimer walk is labor of love for Hussey

September 21, 2010 at 5:08 PM

Heartache. Struggles. Searching for answers. Determination. Ann Marie Hussey , a retired library technician at Troy University in Troy , has felt all of those emotions.

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Merritt Manor Convalescent Hospital in Tulare converts to dementia, Alzheimer's care

September 21, 2010 at 1:04 PM

Merritt Manor Convalescent Hospital has been converted into a facility that specializes in Alzheimer's disease and dementia care.

Alzheimer's disease costs $600 billion

September 21, 2010 at 9:59 AM

The cost of caring for people with dementia around the world tops $600 billion according to a report released Tuesday.

Twilight terror of our time

September 21, 2010 at 5:44 AM

A massive projected increase in the number of dementia sufferers is being heralded as the "world health crisis of the 21st century". On World Alzheimer's Day, it couldn't be more relevant.

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Report: Cost of dementia to exceed $604 billion, number of cases to double every 20 years

September 21, 2010 at 1:30 AM

The global cost of dementia will likely exceed $604 billion this year, or 1 percent of the world's gross domestic product, a new report says.

Health Notes: Free screening of 'Alzheimer's Project' documentary

September 20, 2010 at 9:25 PM

An estimated 5 million in the U.S. have it. Ita s the sixth leading cause of death.

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New FDA-approved dosing option for treating moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease

September 20, 2010 at 7:20 PM

According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 3.6 million Americans age 65 and older have moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease , which is a degenerative disease of the brain that gets worse over time.

Alzheimer's brain tangles offer clue to worsening

September 20, 2010 at 3:21 PM

That sticky gunk coating Alzheimer's patients' brains gets all the notoriety, but another culprit is gaining renewed attention: Protein tangles that clog brain cells and just might determine how fast patients go downhill.

Walkers join in to combat ravages of Alzheimer's

September 20, 2010 at 12:16 PM

There isn't a day, it seems, that Nicole Nalepa doesn't open the paper and read about a senior citizen getting swindled out of their life savings.

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9/22 Dementia News

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Dementia News

Escalating Alzheimer Epidemic Focus Of White House Meeting

September 21, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia Also Included In: Seniors / Aging Article Date: 21 Sep 2010 Tomorrow on World Alzheimer's Day, the Alzheimer's Association recognizes the efforts of the Obama Administration for bringing stakeholders to the table to begin an important dialogue on how best to address the Alzheimer epidemic.

'More Indian women suffer from dementia than men'

September 21, 2010 at 6:37 PM

NEW DELHI: Dementia affects more women in India than men -- a trend that counters recent global studies, which claim males are more prone to suffering from this brain destroying condition .

Dementia Cost Burns Through 1% of Global GDP, Will Increase

September 21, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Bloomberg's Pat Wechsler talks with Mark Crumpton and Julie Hyman about the outlook for the global cost of treating Alzheimera s and other dementias.

Innovative new program

September 21, 2010 at 3:27 PM

Improving the lives of people with memory loss and the early stages of dementia is the goal of a two-day program that takes place late next month.

The Cost of Dementia

September 21, 2010 at 11:17 AM

"We are on the verge of a revolution in medicine: understanding, treating, and ultimately preventing the causes of degenerative aging.

Dementia costs hit $604 billion in 2010

September 21, 2010 at 9:07 AM

People attend a memory training class at the community ambulatory care in Hong Kong June 21, 2010 in a file photo.

News Details

September 21, 2010 at 8:02 AM

The cost of treating dementia worldwide hit a 420 billion in 2010, with 70 per cent being borne in Western Europe and North America.

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Mental Performance Significantly Enhanced by Ginkgo-Biloba-Extract

September 21, 2010 at 6:58 AM

In a systematic review, known as a meta-analysis, a group of scientists at the University of Shanghai has demonstrated yet again that Ginkgo-special extract EGb 761 significantly improves the mental performance of dementia patients .

September 21, 2010 at 2:43 AM

OBESITY puts a drag on the wallet as well as health, especially for women. Doctors have long known that medical bills are higher for the obese in the United States, but that is only a portion of the real-life costs.

Global cost of dementia now 388bn say experts

September 20, 2010 at 6:27 PM

The global cost of dementia this year will be A 388bn a ' more than 1 per cent of the world's GDP, according to a report out today.

Treating Alzheimer's Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:49:00 +0000

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Alzheimer' destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. Genetic factors are suspected, and dominant mutations in three different genes have been identified that account for a much smaller number of cases of familial, early-onset AD.

People with dementia often have trouble thinking and speaking clearly, remembering recent events, and learning new things. Over time, it becomes hard for them to handle everyday activities and take care of themselves. Age is the most important risk factor for AD; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.

Three genes have been discovered that cause early onset (familial) AD. Other genetic mutations that cause excessive accumulation of amyloid protein are associated with age-related (sporadic) AD. AD is part of an immune response that is attempting to contain the disease. The former may be more likely, since research indicates that anti-inflammatory drugs can prevent or retard AD development.

Alzheimer’s disease advances at widely different rates. Family history is another risk factor of Alzheimer's. Several risk factor genes may interact with each other and with non-genetic factors to cause the disease. Cardiovascular Risk Factors The same factors that increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, may also increase the risk for late-onset AD. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have AD.

In the early stage of AD, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. Oxidative damage refers to cell damage caused by excess free radicals, which are highly reactive chemicals. Free radicals are often formed as a by-product of metabolism, or chemical processes within the cell. Excess free radicals may cause substantial neuronal damage, contributing to AD development. Type 2 Diabetes. A link between AD and type 2 diabetes, the form of diabetes in which insulin levels are high. One theory is that too much insulin in the blood promotes inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain, both of which contribute to AD development.

Symptoms of AD include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Alzheimer's disease may also include behavioral changes, such as outbursts of violence or excessive passivity in people who have no previous history of such behavior. In the later stages, deterioration of musculature and mobility, leading to bedfastness, inability to feed oneself, and incontinence, will be seen if death from some external cause (e.g. heart attack or pneumonia) does not intervene.

Moderate -As the disease progresses to the middle stage, the patient might still be able to perform tasks independently, but may need assistance with more complicated activities. Severe — As the disease progresses from the middle to late stage, the patient will undoubtedly not be able to perform even the simplest of tasks on their own and will need constant supervision. They may even lose the ability to walk or eat without assistance. They might forget to eat and starve.

Treatment Alzheimer's Disease Tips

1. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibitors reduce the rate at which acetylcholine (ACh) is broken down and hence increase the concentration of ACh in the brain (combatting the loss of ACh caused by the death of the cholinergin neurons).

2. Ginkgo for the treatment of "cognitive impairment and dementia," a Cochrane Review concludes that "there is promising evidence of improvement in cognition and function associated with Ginkgo According to this review the two randomized controlled studies that focused on Alzheimer's patients both showed significant improvement in these areas.

3. Tramiprosate (3APS or Alzhemed) is a GAG-mimetic molecule that is believed to act by binding to soluble amyloid beta to prevent the accumulation of the toxic plaques.

4. R-flurbiprofen (MPC-7869) is a gamma secretase modulator sometimes called a selective amyloid beta 42 lowering agent. It is believed to reduce the production of the toxic amyloid beta in favor of shorter forms of the peptide.

5. Leuprolide has also been studied for Alzheimer’s. It is hypothesized to work by reducing leutenizing hormone levels which may be causing damage in the brain as one ages.

6. Antihistamine drug Dimebon has also recently been found to show beneficial effects against Alzheimer's disease in preliminary trials

7. Vaccines or immunotherapy for Alzheimer's, unlike typical vaccines, would be used to treat diagnosed patients rather than for disease prevention.

8. Proposed alternative treatments for Alzheimer's include a range of herbal compounds and dietary supplements.

9. Cognitive and behavioral interventions and rehabilitation strategies may be used as an adjunct to pharmacologic treatment, especially in the early to moderately advanced stages of disease.

10. DNA-based therapy is also Treating Alzheimer's Disease.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Alzheimer's - Keeping Your Business On Track While Supporting Your Parent

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:49:00 +0000

Do you or any of your friends have a parent with Alzheimer's? What I'm sharing in this article would have been helpful for me to read prior to experiencing the drastic shift in my mother's lifestyle last year. I never expected to have such an emotional roller coaster. It took some innovative strategies to keep my business on track.

Mom lives in a life care facility that has various levels of care. She was living in a garden home, completely independent other than interior and exterior maintenance and one meal a day at the communal dining room.

Keeping a schedule becomes impossible.

One of the first things I noticed was her confusion about what she had planned. I had a couple of her friends comment that she was not showing up at arranged times they had planned for dinner. Mom has kept a calendar for years where she writes anything that is planned and notes about what has happened. She's always been on time for any appointment, even early. For her to miss appointments was not a good sign.

When I was going to pick her up for one of her medical appointments, she would get confused as to what day we would be going and leave me numerous messages asking why I hadn't arrived. This would also occur on the actual day of the appointment. She would be confused as to what time of day it was so would call me wondering when I would be there.

Anxiety builds with the confusion.

I tried to solve this problem by calling with just enough time for her to get ready for an appointment. We didn't talk about what day the appointment would be. This would make her anxious also because she wanted to know in advance when she would be going somewhere.

For a long time she knew she was confused and was upset by that. She liked to be in control of what she was doing. This definitely felt like lack of control and loss of her independence. By her own decision, she had already given up driving. We never found out why, but suspect she had a close call that scared her and didn't want to be in an accident.

Self-care deteriorates.

When I started seeing a sink full of dirty dishes and clothing stacking up on her clothes rack, I could see that her habits had certainly changed. She has always kept an immaculate kitchen and took good care of her clothing.

She stopped going to the dining room and chose to eat snacks at home instead. Her choices for meals were not nutritious. When we shopped, she wanted to buy various carbohydrates. Generally she would have had nutritious meals at the dining room. We didn't realize for a while that she was not going because she said she was going. When I checked with the dining room, I found out she hadn't been there for weeks. The only time she had gone was when I was there for a visit.

No longer could we rely on her taking her prescribed medicines. In discussion with her physician, she decided to start her on Aricept, an Alzheimer's med. We knew with this additional med to take that she would definitely need to have someone see that she took her appropriate medications regularly. The service of having someone deliver meds was available where she lived and it helped her to stay on her own for a longer time. Mom resented the interruption to her sleep when the person arrived. I felt reassured that someone was also checking in on her on a regular basis.

As time went on, Mom would not even be dressed when I arrived for a visit. I would need to help her shower and pick out her clothing. And sometimes it was even a struggle to convince her that she needed a shower. In the past, Mom was always fresh out of the shower, dressed to a T, and waiting for me when I would arrive for a visit or to take her to an appointment.

Those months of watching Mom's decline and working to give her the care that was appropriate at each stage were extremely stressful. I found it difficult to keep focused on my business and to feel passion in any part of my life. With skillful counseling and coaching, I developed strategies for rekindling my passion and getting the focus back in my business. I knew that I had to take care of myself in order to be there to support all the aspects of my life and business.

After six months of various strategies to support her to stay independent, my siblings, Mom's physician, and I made the decision that Mom really needed to be in the Care Center division of the life care facility. This was a difficult move because Mom was very attached to all the collection of family furniture and endless mementos of her full life.

We have surrounded her with family photos, recognition plaques she was awarded over the years, and hand work done by various members of the family including her mother. It was important to Mom that the family would appreciate the cherished belongings. My sister and brother and I sorted through her home, making sure that nothing was discarded that was part of our family heritage. We worked with all the family to find out what each person would like to have from the home. I took countless photos and posted them on the web so that family from Alaska to Washington, DC could view and choose items that had meaning and memories for them.

Mom is well cared for and still very much appreciates our visits. She is still pretty clear about all of the family, including many great grandchildren. Days and times and location are foggy for her, but with a very structured schedule, she is peaceful knowing what will happen next and that her needs will be met.

I'm able to be there for her with an open heart because of the steps I took to restore my resilient spirit.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

What is alzheimers

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:05:00 +0000

Alzheimer’s disease touches the lives of millions of Americans. Today, some 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 10 families have a loved one afflicted with it. With no cure in sight, it is important for families to arm themselves with information about this devastating disease.

* Alzheimer’s disease begins slowly.
Like a stroke, Alzheimer’s kills brain cells. Unlike a stroke, however, Alzheimer’s does not strike suddenly. And, its effects are more far-ranging. Experts like to say that Alzheimer’s has an insidious onset. This means simply that the disease starts slowly and unfolds very gradually. So gradually, in fact, that the person who has Alzheimer’s may not realize that anything is wrong until a great deal of brain tissue has been destroyed.

* Early symptoms reflect what is happening inside the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease attacks tissue deep within the brain and spreads out to include all those regions associated with complex thinking and learning; those regions of the brain that make us uniquely human. As the path of destruction widens, individuals who have Alzheimer’s will eventually notice that their thinking skills are deteriorating.

More often than not, they will notice that their memory is failing. But, it is not just a series of senior moments. Individuals stricken by Alzheimer’s will have more than a little difficulty finding the right words to express their thoughts and feeling. They may forget the names of familiar places and long-term acquaintances. They are likely to forget long standing appointments. To compensate for these everyday losses, they may withdraw from friends and avoid social gatherings. Their homes may become littered with notes and other reminders as they struggle to overcome their memory losses.

* Alzheimer’s disease affects personality and behavior.
Interestingly, even as problems accumulate, many individuals will actively deny their difficulties. Denial is a common way of coping in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s. It is a defense mechanism that helps to preserve a sense of self-worth, which becomes increasingly fragile as thinking skills fail.

Unfortunately, denial does not “work” forever or for everyone. When denial no longer works, some individuals sink into depression. Others may react with angry outbursts, even rage, in the face of everyday frustrations. It is especially common for individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s to develop a kind of apathy. They lose interest in those things that used to bring them joy.

* Early signs of Alzheimer’s may go unrecognized by family members.
Families often engage in their own form of denial when it comes to Alzheimer’s in a loved one. Significant memory problems in their loved one may be dismissed as simply a part of getting old. As a result, family members often overlook the earliest signs of mental deterioration. They become concerned and seek outside help only after they begin to notice the more obvious changes in behavior or personality. By then, Alzheimer’s has probably progressed to the point where their loved one can no longer live independently.

* Families must be prepared for what is going to happen.
Whenever the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is finally made, it is important for family members to understand that this is not a disease that can be cured or reversed. The fact is, individuals who have Alzheimer’s will spiral downward toward total care and, ultimately, death. It may take years, but individuals who have Alzheimer’s will eventually lose everything that defines their personhood.

Among other things, their ability to communicate will continue to decline. They will lose the ability to dress and groom themselves. They will need assistance using the toilet. They may begin to wander and to experience hallucinations. In the final stages of the disease, individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s will be unable to recognize a spouse or a child. Motor skills will decline so much that they will be unable to walk or to feed themselves. They will lose all control of bowel and bladder. Eventually, all body systems will shut down.

* Families must be willing to reach out for help.
Families need to think carefully about the amount of assistance they are willing and able to provide. Affection for the afflicted individual, as well as a sense of obligation, can initially blind family members to the harsh realities of caring for their loved one. Families must understand that the kind of care required will become more and more demanding. Worse, they will have to watch as the deterioration takes place.

Among family caregivers, stress reactions can be quite severe and depression is very common. To cope, family caregivers must seek help from their larger community. The local Alzheimer’s Association should be their first stop. It is the best single resource available. The local Alzheimer’s Association can direct families to a variety of services and assistance. For example, many communities have respite programs to give families a short break from care giving.

Adult daycare also may be available to provide care during the day while family caregivers continue with their regular jobs. Often times, special support groups are available to help caregivers deal with the depression and other negative emotions that can develop over time. In any case, families of persons afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease do not have to go it alone. Help is available.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Allegra Alzheimers-Guide To Alzheimer's Care Facility Options

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:05:00 +0000

When someone in your family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, certain decisions will have to be made. Before you make any decisions however, it's important to know what your options are. For family members, accepting the fact that sooner or later, their loved one will need more care than they can provide is the first step toward understanding the steady progression of this terrible disease.

Most family members naturally want to keep their loved one at home as long as possible. Taking care of someone stricken with Alzheimer's is trying and difficult, and eventually you're going to need help, but you have several options with an Alzheimer's care facility.There are generally four choices to make for Alzheimer's patient care. Assisted Living or Residential care, Respite care, long-term care nursing home care, and Hospice care.

For those who need to know Alzheimer's care facility options, it's important to know what each of those options are. Assisted Living allows a resident to live in a monitored environment like a long-term care facility, with help in daily living needs and skills. Trained aides your loved one in getting dressed, bathing, and eating and with any other daily living assistance they need. Nurses and doctors are also available twenty-four hours a day with in this type of Alzheimer's care facility.

Respite care offers a much-needed break for family and friends who have been watching over an Alzheimer's patient. If family members don't wish to place their loved one in the care of an Alzheimer's care facility, they often opt to try to take care of them in the home. The daily stress and strain of providing constant care however, is draining, and that's where Respite care comes in.

Respite Alzheimer's care facility offices send a trained nurse or nursing aid to the home to care for the needs of the patient so that family members can 'get away from it all' for short periods of time. Respite care also includes day care facilities and services so that your loved one can go places, socialize and be with others in a controlled group with trained personnel constantly available.

Another type of Alzheimer's care facility is a long term nursing facility such as what used to be more commonly known as nursing homes. For Alzheimer's patients who need around the clock care and attention, this may be the best solution. No one wants to put their loved on in a facility, but when safety and health becomes an issue, it's the best thing you can do. Make sure to check out the facilities in your area to make sure they will be able to provide your loved one with the care and attention they deserve.

Most long-term care facilities have a special unit designed for Alzheimer's patients that provides the ultimate in safety and activities in a protected environment.As with any disease process, Alzheimer's will eventually lead to basic body systems shutdown, and when that time comes, Alzheimer's care facility staff will call in a Hospice worker.

Hospice care provides declining patients with more personalized care, attention and support to both patient and family members during this very difficult stage of the disease. An Alzheimer's care facility, no matter which one you select, offers the support, knowledge and experience to help you take care of your loved one.

Since Alzheimer's is such a progressive disease, you may even use all of the above services while taking care of the Alzheimer's patient. However, the support and concern of staff members from any Alzheimer's care facility will provide you with the help you need to ensure that your loved one's quality of life is maintained as long as possible.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Alzheimer Disease Symptom

noreply@blogger.com (Danial) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 20:55:00 +0000

Alzheimer disease symptom are many. When a person diagnosed with alzheimer disease, psychosis will set in. Psychosis means that people involved with the
alzheimer disease is "lost contact with the real world"

A person with alzheimer disease symptom will experience hallucination or
delusion. From then on the person will show changes in personality and
couldn't think in organise way. The mind of people with alzheimer disease
symptom will be in confuse situation. The cause of alzheimers disease is
still being researched by the scientist and medical lab through the world
Difficulties to eat, speak,swallow and sleep is one of alzheimer disease
symptom. The person involved is also at risk of infection that can cause
disability.

Other alzheimer symptom is dementia. Dementia is deteriorating situation
of the brain. It is largely due to the disease in the brain. This situation
normally doesn't happen from normal ageing. Areas in the brain that is going
to be affected are which controls the attention, language, memory and problem
solving.

Another one of alzheimer disease symptom is family health history. A
person with family alzheimer disease history is more likely to inflicted
with it compared to the no family history of alzheimer.

People with alzheimer disease symptom will also shows sign of decreasing
his or her intelectual functions. The deteriorating brain tissues lead the
brain tissues to collapse. A task like simple mathematical calculation that a
person normally accomplished will no longer seems easy to do.
Alzheimer disease symptom could also be traced when a person experience
loss of memory, mood swings or related behaviour problems such as feeling
aggressive. It is possible that the person affected with alzheimer to act
like a two or three year old children.

At times the person might slap, hit or smack at you. Yelling and verbal
abuses also a common occurance with people affected by alzheimer disease.
Avoid striking back, try to stay calm and restrain him or her. The most
important is you have to keep reminding yourself that your love ones doesn't
know what he is doing.