RxPG News : Alzheimer's

Depression increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:38:07 PST

Washington, April 8 - Depressed people are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with a more positive outlook to life, says a new study.

One third of risk for dementia attributable to small vessel disease, autopsy study shows

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Alzheimer's disease may be what most people fear as they grow older, but autopsy data from a long-range study of 3,400 men and women in the Seattle region found that the brains of a third of those who had become demented before death showed evidence of small vessel damage: the type of small, cumulative injury that can come from hypertension or diabetes.

Omega-3 supplements affect Alzheimer's symptoms

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Omega-3 supplements can, in certain cases, help combat the depression and agitation symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a clinical study conducted at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.

Beta-secretase (BACE) can Disrupt Brain's Neural Activity in the Alzheimer's

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

An enzyme involved in the formation of the amyloid-beta protein associated with Alzheimer's disease can also alter the mechanism by which signals are transmitted between brain cells, the disruption of which can cause seizures. These findings from researchers at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (MGH-MIND) may explain the increased incidence of seizures in Alzheimer's patients and suggest that potential treatments that block this enzyme called beta-secretase or BACE may alleviate their occurrence.

Nursing home placement associated with accelerated cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

People with Alzheimer's disease experience an acceleration in the rate of cognitive decline after being placed in a nursing home according to a new study by Rush University Medical Center. The study, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, finds that prior experience in adult day care may lessen this association.

Alzheimer's weight gain initiative also improved patients' intellectual abilities

Tue, 15 May 2007 19:10:55 PST

Swedish researchers have found a way to increase the weight of people with Alzheimer's, by improving communication and patient involvement, altering meal routines and providing a more homely eating environment

New therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:22:23 PST

The focus of work in the Neurosciences Departmentâs Neurobiology Laboratory at the University of the Basque Countryâs Faculty of Medicine and Odontology is the investigation of the molecular and cellular bases of neurodegenerative illnesses â those that affect the brain and the spinal cord. Some of these neurodegenerative illnesses are well known and affect a significant part of the population, such as Alzheimerâs disease and multiple sclerosis.

Mayo Clinic Research Suggests Patterns of Brain Tissue Loss in Early Alzheimer's Disease May Predict Course of Disease

Tue, 01 May 2007 09:35:06 PST

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that shows patterns of brain tissue loss may help physicians predict which patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (early Alzheimer's disease) will develop full-blown Alzheimer's, according to findings of a Mayo Clinic study presented in Boston today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Inhaled anesthetics may accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's Disease

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:48:51 PST

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine have discovered that common inhaled anesthetics increase the number of amyloid plaques in the brains of animals, which might accelerate the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Roderic Eckenhoff, MD, Vice Chair of Research in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, and his co-authors, report their findings in the March 7th online edition of Neurobiology of Aging.

Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are mere markers, not cause of Alzheimers disease

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:20:03 PST

A completely new approach to the study of Alzheimers disease, initiated by a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, may solve a critical piece in the puzzle of the disease. This tragic neurological illness progressively erases memory in its millions of victims. The key to the new approach is understanding the way certain proteins in the brain fold, or rather misfold.

Isoflurane may produce Alzheimer's-like changes in the brain

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:56:30 PST

A new study has found how one of the most commonly used anesthetics may produce Alzheimer's-like changes in the brain. Previous studies have shown that applying the anesthetic isoflurane to cultured neural cells can lead to generation of amyloid-beta protein -- the key component of senile plaques seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients -- and to the cell-death process known as apoptosis.

Researchers find missing link between amyloid and tau in Alzheimers disease

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:13:37 PST

Scientists at the University of Virginia have identified what appears to be a major missing link in the process that destroys nerve cells in Alzheimers disease, an incurable disease that slowly destroys memory and cognitive abilities. The findings are reported in the Nov. 20, 2006, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and could eventually lead to new drugs that target and disrupt specific proteins that conspire in the brain to cause Alzheimers.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene raises newborns' cerebral palsy risk

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:25:34 PST

Apolipoprotein E (APOE), a gene associated with heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease in adults, can also increase the likelihood that brain-injured newborns will develop cerebral palsy, researchers at Children's Memorial Research Center have discovered.

Role of inhaled anesthetics in Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:16:44 PST

Inhaled anesthetics commonly used in surgery are more likely to cause the aggregation of Alzheimer's disease-related plaques in the brain than intravenous anesthetics say University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers in a journal article published in the Jan. 23 issue of Biochemistry. This is the first report using state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic technique to explain the detailed molecular mechanism behind the aggregation of amyloid beta peptide due to various anesthetics.

Active mind may delay onset of Alzheimer's

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:43:25 PST

New York, Jan 24 - The elderly can delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by keeping their mind active, says a new study.

Common anaesthetic isoflurane can kill brain cells

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:19:33 PST

New York, Jan 17 - The commonly used anaesthetic isoflurane could kill brain cells and raise the risk of Alzheimer's, suggests a new study questioning the safety of the drug.

US House backs wider stem-cell research, defies Bush

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 09:53:38 PST

Washington, Jan 12 - Lawmakers in the Democratic-led US lower house approved plans to expand government funding for human embryonic stem-cell research, defying a threatened veto by President George W. Bush.

Physical exercise fights mental woes

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 12:26:05 PST

New York, Jan 7 - Physical activities improve blood flow to the brain, helps the bodies detoxify and could ward off addiction, depression, stress and even Alzheimer's, say researchers.

New scan technique could spot early Alzheimer's

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:34:07 PST

New York, Dec 27 - Scientists in the US claim to have developed an advanced scan technique that can spot early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists create antibody to prevent Alzheimer's

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:44:32 PST

London, Dec 22 - Scientists in Britain claim to have created an antibody that can be used as preventive treatment for people with a family history of Alzheimer's.

Yeast model shows promise as Alzheimer's test

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 04:25:15 PST

A century ago this month, German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer formally described characteristics of the neurodegenerative disease which ultimately came to bear his name. While international efforts to learn about Alzheimer's disease and develop treatments have progressed significantly in recent years, a cure remains an elusive goal.

Hope remains for Alzheimer's sufferers

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:08:00 PST

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), who last week rejected appeals to allow patients with mild Alzheimer's to receive the life-changing medication donepezil (Aricept®), will hopefully re-appraise their decision in three-years time, according to neurologist Professor Robert Kerwin in an article published in the November issue of the medical journal Future Neurology.

CATIE Study: Antipsychotics in Alzheimer's No Better Than Placebo

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:08:00 PST

Most Alzheimers patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs for delusions, agitation or aggression do no better than those who take a placebo because so many discontinue the drugs due to significant side effects, according to a new nationwide study led by Lon Schneider, professor of psychiatry, neurology and gerontology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Mediterranean diet associated with a lower risk for Alzheimers disease

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:51:00 PST

Eating a Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables and olive oil and includes little red meat, is associated with a lower risk for Alzheimers disease, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the December 2006 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This association persisted even when researchers considered whether individuals had vascular diseasesdiseases of the blood vessels, such as stroke, heart disease and diabetessuggesting that the diet may work through different pathways to reduce Alzheimers disease risk.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may slow cognitive decline

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:48:00 PST

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may slow cognitive decline in some patients with very mild Alzheimers disease, but do not appear to affect those with more advanced cases, according to results of a clinical trial published in the October issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Microscopic brain damage detected in early Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:08:00 PST

Researchers have developed a new computer-aided analysis technique to identify early cellular damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study is featured in the October issue of Radiology. "With increasing longevity among the population, the incidence of AD is expected to rise rapidly, creating a great burden not only for patients and their families, but also for society," said Min-Ying Su, Ph.D., author and associate professor in the Department of Radiological Sciences & the Tu and Yuen Center for Functional Onco-Imaging at the University of California at Irvine. "Our methods may enable earlier diagnosis of AD, allowing earlier intervention to slow down disease progression," she added.

Novel technique can identify early cellular damage in Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:33:00 PST

Researchers have developed a new computer-aided analysis technique to identify early cellular damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study is featured in the October issue of Radiology.

Cathepsin B - Part of protective mechanism against Alzheimer's

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:02:00 PST

An enzyme found naturally in the brain snips apart the protein that forms the sludge called amyloid plaque that is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), researchers have found. They said their findings in mice suggest that the protein, called Cathepsin B (CatB), is a key part of a protective mechanism that may fail in some forms of AD.

Boosting ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (Uch-L1) restores lost memory

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:29:00 PST

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have successfully restored normal memory and synaptic function in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The study was published today on the website of the journal Cell.

New research points toward mechanism of age-onset toxicity of Alzheimer's protein

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:40:00 PST

Like most neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease usually appears late in life, raising the question of whether it is a disastrous consequence of aging or if the toxic protein aggregates that cause the disease simply take a long time to form. Now, a collaboration between researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Scripps Research Institute shows that aging is what's critical. Harmful beta amyloid aggregates accumulate when aging impedes two molecular clean-up crews from getting rid of these toxic species.

Structure of calbindin-D28K Protein Involved in Preventing Alzheimers, Huntingtons Diseases Characterised

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:22:00 PST

Scientists at North Carolina State University have effectively lifted the veil from an important protein that is linked to the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Huntingtons.

Enhanced mental and physical activity slows neurological decline

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:54:00 PST

Researchers have uncovered the pathways behind the protection offered by environmental stimulation in Alzheimer's disease, further confirming that enhanced mental and physical activity slows neurological decline. The paper by Ambrée et al., "Reduction of amyloid angiopathy and A-Beta plaque burden after enriched housing in TgCRND8 mice: involvement of multiple pathways," appears in the August issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Measuring Proteins In Spinal Fluid May Provide Early Clue To Alzheimer's Disease

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:37:00 PST

Early signs of the development of Alzheimer's disease can be seen in the cerebrospinal fluid of middle-aged adults who are genetically predisposed to the neurologic condition, according to a report in the July issue of the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Teddies May Improve Quality of Life in Alzheimers

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:49:00 PST

Dolls and teddy bears can help Alzheimer's patients interact and communicate with others, finds a new study. A team of doctors at Newcastle General Hospital studied the benefits of dolls after seeing how a patient bonded with a teddy bear from her son, reported the online edition of BBC News.

Alzheimer's pathology related to episodic memory

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:34:00 PST

Alzheimer's pathology can appear in the brains of older men and women without dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The pathology is related to loss of episodic memory, according to a new study published in the June 27, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Alzheimer's Memory loss affects more of the brain

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:09:00 PST

Memory loss associated with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be linked to altered activity in several areas of the brain, according to a study in the July issue of Radiology. For the first time, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., used a special, high-field- strength, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to study the brain activity of people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to AD, and found altered functionality in both the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Previous studies looking at structural changes alone have shown evidence that brain atrophy in the earliest stages of AD tends to be restricted to the temporal lobe, a region critical to long-term memory formation.

Production of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) monitored for first time in humans

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:45:00 PST

Science is now poised to answer an important and longstanding question about the origins of Alzheimer's disease: Do Alzheimer's patients have high levels of a brain protein because they make too much of it or because they can't clear it from their brains quickly enough?

How restricting caloric intake may prevent Alzheimer

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:54:00 PST

A recent study directed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggests that experimental dietary regimens might calm or even reverse symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The study, which appears in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, is the first to show that restricting caloric intake, specifically carbohydrates, may prevent AD by triggering activity in the brain associated with longevity.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Increases Risk for Alzheimer

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:15:00 PST

Research at the University of Navarra has concluded that some patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will develop Alzheimer in the future. The investigation of the detection of early signals of alteration was based on a multidisciplinary analysis of data from a sample of 300 individuals and undertaken at the University Hospital.

Different forms of amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease harm neurons in different ways

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:06:00 PST

Researchers at UC Irvine have shown that different forms of amyloid beta lead to neural damage in different ways, leading to an increasingly complex view of amyloid toxicity in the Alzheimer brain. The finding could modify the way therapeutic approaches for the treatment of Alzheimers disease are designed.

Cocktail of dietary supplements holds promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:36:00 PST

MIT brain researchers have developed a "cocktail" of dietary supplements, now in human clinical trials, that holds promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. For years, doctors have encouraged people to consume foods such as fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids because they appear to improve memory and other brain functions. The MIT research suggests that a cocktail treatment of omega-3 fatty acids and two other compounds normally present in the blood, could delay the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's disease, which afflicts an estimated 4 million to 5 million Americans.

Social networks protect against Alzheimer's

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 18:17:00 PST

Having close friends and staying in contact with family members offers a protective effect against the damaging effects of Alzheimers disease according to research by physicians at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The study, which is currently posted online in The Lancet Neurology, will be published in the May print edition of the journal.

Severe cerebral congophilic angiopathy found in Camelford resident

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:11:00 PST

A rare form of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered in a resident of Camelford, the town in south west England which bore the brunt of the accidental discharge of 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate into the local water supply almost 20 years ago.

Amount of Amyloid Protein in Brain Determines Age of Onset for Alzheimer's Disease

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:06:00 PST

Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to the University of Antwerp are the first to show that the quantity of amyloid protein in brain cells is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid protein has already been known to be the primary component of the senile plaques in the brains of patients. The new discovery demonstrates that the greater the quantity of the protein that is produced, the younger the dementia patient is.

Reduced insulin in the brain triggers Alzheimer's degeneration

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:38:00 PST

By depleting insulin and its related proteins in the brain, researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown Medical School have replicated the progression of Alzheimer's disease including plaque deposits, neurofibrillary tangles, impaired cognitive functioning, cell loss and overall brain deterioration in an experimental animal model. The study demonstrates that Alzheimer's is a brain-specific neuroendocrine disorder, distinct from other types of diabetes.

Possible Alzheimer's link to Choroid Plexus in Brain

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:19:00 PST

Researchers have discovered that an organ in the brain called the choroid plexus apparently plays a critical role in preventing the accumulation of a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Excessive peroxidase of amyloid-beta- understanding Alzheimers

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:59:00 PST

In a study published in the February 28th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, lead scientist Hani Atamna, Ph.D., found that alterations in the production of heme (a molecule that contains iron) may be the key to understanding why excessive amyloid-beta is toxic to brain cells.

High levels of education speeds up the progression of Alzheimer's

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:48:00 PST

High levels of education may help ward off Alzheimer's disease, but they also speed up its progression once developed, reveals research in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Neuronal Receptor Response May Help Explain Alzheimerâs Memory Loss

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 18:31:00 PST

Based on laboratory research, scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have a new theory as to why people with Alzheimer's disease have trouble performing even the simplest memory tasks, such as remembering a family memberâs name.

Increasing NogoReceptor Protein Can Treat Alzheimer's Deficits

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:12:00 PST

Increasing the level of a protein that plays a key role in traumatic spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis reduces the concentration of disease-causing plaque in Alzheimer's disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the Journal of Neuroscience.

MCI-A and MCI-MCD - two transitional states that lead to Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 16:33:00 PST

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage between normal cognition and Alzheimer's disease, exists in two different forms, according to a study published today by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles in the Archives of Neurology.

Memantine effective and safe in Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 16:31:00 PST

Memantine, a drug approved for the treatment of Alzheimer disease, appears safe and effective in patients with moderate to severe cases of the condition, according to a study in the January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Blood flow in brain takes a twist in Alzheimer's understanding

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 16:26:00 PST

New findings that long-overlooked brain cells play an important role in regulating blood flow in the brain call into question one of the basic assumptions underlying today's most sophisticated brain imaging techniques and could open a new frontier when it comes to understanding Alzheimer's disease.

Region of chromosome 10 strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 16:07:00 PST

An international team of researchers, led by investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, are zeroing in on a gene that increases risk for Alzheimer's disease. They have identified a region of chromosome 10 that appears to be involved in risk for the disease that currently affects an estimated 4.5 million Americans.

MW01-5-188WH stops brain cell degeneration in Alzheimer's disease

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:39:00 PST

Drug discovery researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel orally administered compound specifically targeted to suppress brain cell inflammation and neuron loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Workouts reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:12:00 PST

Regular exercise reduces the risk of memory disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, say scientists. Workouts may also help to delay progression of the condition in people who begin to develop these symptoms.

Astrocytes are not just housekeepers

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 22:33:00 PST

Mechanism Tying Obesity to Alzheimers Disease Uncovered

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:58:00 PST

If heart disease and diabetes arent bad enough, now comes another reason to watch your weight. According to a study just released, packing on too many pounds can increase the risk of developing Alzheimers disease. A team led by researchers at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Western Australia has shown that being extremely overweight or obese increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimers. They found a strong correlation between body mass index and high levels of beta-amyloid, the sticky protein substance that builds up in the Alzheimers brain and is thought to play a major role in destroying nerve cells and in cognitive and behavioral problems associated with the disease.

Cyanobacteria Nostoc can be natural drug source for Alzheimer's

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:53:00 PST

A compound isolated from a cyanobacterium, a type of blue-green algae known as Nostoc, shows promise of becoming a natural drug candidate for fighting Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to an in vitro study by researchers in Switzerland. It is believed to be the first time that a potent agent against Alzheimer's has been isolated from cyanobacteria, commonly known as 'pond scum.' The study was published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal of Natural Products, a monthly peer-reviewed joint publication of the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Pharmacognosy. Cyanobacteria and other marine natural products have been increasingly found to be a promising source of drug candidates for fighting a variety of human diseases, including cancer and bacterial infections, but their chemistry has been largely unexplored, experts say. Now, a common marine organism could lead to yet another potential health benefit, says study leader Karl Gademann, Ph.D., an organic chemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich. Gademann's lab specializes in identifying, synthesizing and studying new bioactive compounds from natural sources.

Synthetic Melatonin Metabolites Appear to Prevent Brain Cell Death

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:32:00 PST

Spanish chemists have developed a promising set of synthetic compounds that one day could help slow or perhaps halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. The preliminary finding, based on test tube studies by researchers at the Universidad de Granada and others, appears in the Dec. 29 issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Research sheds light on creatine's presence in brain

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:15:00 PST

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most hauntingly destructive maladies to wreak havoc on humans. It robs children of parents and spouses of each other-with lifetimes of memories lost forever behind blank stares. But researchers are working toward answers to the many questions that have made Alzheimer's a complex and unsolved degenerative disease and, in some cases, a death sentence. In an article in the November Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team of Canadian and American scientists reports the first-ever finding of elevated levels of creatine-the newly discovered agent of Alzheimer's-in brain tissue. The article is available pre-press at the Journal of Biological Chemistry's Web site.

Advances in biomarkers search to detect Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:52:00 PST

The search for new measures, or "biomarkers," to detect Alzheimer's disease (AD) before signs of memory loss appear has advanced an important step in a study by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and the University of Pittsburgh. The researchers combined high-tech brain imaging with measurement of beta-amyloid protein fragments in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). They found that greater amounts of beta-amyloid containing plaques in the brain were associated with lower levels of a specific protein fragment, amyloid-beta 1-42, in CSF. Prior research indicates that amyloid-beta 1-42 is central to AD development. The fragment is a major component of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are believed to influence cell-to-cell communication and are considered a hallmark of the Alzheimer's brain.

Testosterone therapy may improve life quality in some Alzheimer patients

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:10:00 PST

Testosterone replacement therapy may help improve the quality of life for elderly men with mild cases of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study posted online today that will appear in the February 2006 print issue of the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. "There is a compelling need for therapies that prevent, defer the onset, slow the progression, or improve the symptoms of Alzheimer disease (AD)," the authors provide as background information in the article. They note that hormonal therapies have been the focus of research attention in recent years since male aging is associated with a gradual progressive decline in testosterone levels. "The gradual decline in testosterone level is associated with decreased muscle mass and strength, osteoporosis, decreased libido, mood alterations, and changes in cognition, conditions that may be reversed with testosterone replacement." The authors add that the age-related decline in testosterone is potentially relevant to AD as previous studies have found significantly lower concentrations of the hormone in middle-aged and elderly men who developed AD.

Alzheimer's plaque precursor characterized

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:49:00 PST

Using a nuclear magnetic resonance technique, University of Illinois at Chicago chemists have obtained the first molecular-level images of precursors of bundled fibrils that form the brain plaques seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Early Anti-amyloid Treatments in Alzheimer's are most effective

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:34:00 PST

Dementia is a common condition in the elderly; around 6% of people over 65 and up to 50% over 90 have some form of dementia, about half of which are due to Alzheimer disease (AD). The dementia caused by AD has an insidious onset and a progressive course with slow deterioration in cerebral function, initially affecting short-term memory and cognitive skills, and later speech, motor functions, and personality. Death usually occurs within four to eight years after diagnosis.

Resveratrol found in red wine can protect against Alzheimer's

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 15:02:00 PST

A study published in the November 11 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, lowers the levels of the amyloid-beta peptides which cause the telltale senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease.

Imaging With Radiotracer FDG in Patients With Mild Cognitive Disorder Has Significantly Higher Accuracy

Thu, 06 Oct 2005 23:19:00 PST

Positron emission tomography (PET) imagingwith the radiotracer fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)is a promising tool in detecting Alzheimer's disease in patients who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study reported in the October issue of the Society of Nuclear Medicine's Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Implicit-memory tests are stronger predictors than Mini Mental exam

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 03:34:00 PST

Two recent studies may help clinicians and researchers better predict and understand dementia of the Alzheimer's type early in its history. Both studies appear in the September issue of Neuropsychology, which is published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Psychologists focus on early detection in part because current medications are useful only when given very early in the course of the disease.

Hope for Alzheimer's blossoms in daffodil

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 00:12:00 PST

A substance found in the Welsh national flower, which could offer hope for sufferers of Alzheimers disease, is being supported for large scale manufacture by Cardiff Universitys Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC).

New dye NIAD-4 could offer early test for Alzheimer's

Sat, 27 Aug 2005 03:37:00 PST

MIT scientists have developed a new dye that could offer noninvasive early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, a discovery that could aid in monitoring the progression of the disease and in studying the efficacy of new treatments to stop it.

Coronary bypass surgery increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 13:43:00 PST

Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers have discovered that patients who have either coronary artery bypass graft surgery or coronary angioplasty are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Mesenchyme homeobox 2 (MEOX2) gene linked to Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:05:00 PST

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered a link between a prominent developmental gene and neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

Folates more effective in limiting Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 14 Aug 2005 14:27:00 PST

Adults who eat the daily recommended allowance of folates -- B-vitamin nutrients found in oranges, legumes, leafy green vegetables and folic acid supplements -- significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to results from a long-term National Institute on Aging study of diet and brain aging.

Elevated Insulin levels may increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 10 Aug 2005 13:11:00 PST

Moderately elevated levels of insulin increase the levels of inflammatory markers and beta-amyloid in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid, and these markers may contribute to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study posted online today from Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study will be published in the October print edition of the journal.

Slowing Alzheimer's Disease - Quinolinic acid pathway

Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:40:00 PST

Quinolinic acid plays a key role in the progression of Alzheimer's Disease according to this study. Though one may not be able to prevent the disease this research may help find drugs to slow the disease process.

Posiphen(TM) to be evaluated in Phase I study for Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 23:45:00 PST

Axonyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXYX) a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Investigational New Drug (IND) application, submitted in June 2005, allowing Phase I clinical testing of Posiphen(TM).

Preclinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's Dementia - muliti variable approach needed

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 16:47:00 PST

The analysis showed that no matter what kind of study, people at the preclinical stage showed marked preclinical deficits in global cognitive ability, episodic memory, perceptual speed, and executive functioning; along with somewhat smaller deficits in verbal ability, visuospatial skill, and attention.Bäckman and his colleagues endorse a multi-variable approach to understanding the preclinical stage of AD because this approach will help clinicians to more accurately predict the likelihood of disease

Anti-inflammatory function of Alzheimer's disease drugs revealed

Sun, 31 Jul 2005 00:47:00 PST

The mechanism in anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs that inhibits the production of a destructive, inflammation-causing protein in the brain has been revealed by researchers at the Hebrew university of Jerusalem.

Alternative approach opens up new prospects for developing a treatment

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 22:49:00 PST

Scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) associated with the University of Antwerp have achieved a new breakthrough in their research on the origins of Alzheimer's disease. Their alternative approach opens up new prospects for developing a treatment which can slow the disease's progress. The researchers have shown that 'the plaques' which form in the brain of patients are linked to damage to nearby blood vessels. Leakage appears to occur between the blood vessels and the brain, as a result of which the plaques develop and the disease manifests itself.

Phenserine may Reduce Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 13:35:00 PST

Axonyx Inc. (NASDAQ: AXYX) announced today that it conducted a second interim statistical analysis of 59 patients in an ongoing Phase IIb double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (designated AX-CL-06a) designed to evaluate the effects of Phenserine tartrate (PT) treatment for 6 months on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-amyloid (AB 1- 42) and other biomarkers in mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients.

Gender May Play Role in Alzheimer's Disease

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 18:15:00 PST

Researchers from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center found that plaques and tangles in the brain, the changes seen in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD), are more likely to be expressed as dementia in women than in men.

Three molecules may be developed into new Alzheimer's drugs

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 01:16:00 PST

A team of scientists has discovered three molecules from a search of 58,000 compounds that appear to inhibit a key perpetrator of Alzheimer's disease.

Impaired clearance of amyloid-beta causes vascular damage in Alzheimer's disease

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:30:00 PST

New research suggests that accumulation of amyloid-β peptides in cerebral blood vessels, as opposed to the brain itself, may be a more important pathological mediator of Alzheimer's disease. Two independent yet related articles describe such findings in the August issue of The American Journal of Pathology. Both articles are highlighted on the Journal's cover.

Plaque isn't the cause of Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 13:07:00 PST

A ground-breaking new research approach to understanding the cellular processes of Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases has revealed a promising pathway to the development of new types of drugs for these diseases.

New computer program "HipMask" to assess risk of Alzheimer's

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 16:21:00 PST

New York University School of Medicine researchers have developed a brain scan-based computer program that quickly and accurately measures metabolic activity in a key region of the brain affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Applying the program, they demonstrated that reductions in brain metabolism in healthy individuals were associated with the later development of the memory robbing disease, according to a new study.

Arterial spin labeling distinguishes between Alzheimers disease and frontotemporal dementia

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 16:18:00 PST

A non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called arterial spin labeling is just as accurate as invasive scanning techniques in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in the brains of elderly people, according to a new study at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).

Early exposure to inflammatory disease multiplies Alzheimer's risk,

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:58:00 PST

A new study of dementia in identical twins suggests that exposure to inflammation early in life quadruples one's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

New strategy for protecting brain against Alzheimer's disease

Sun, 12 Jun 2005 05:33:00 PST

The human body has its own defense against brain aging: the innate immune system, which helps to clean the brain of amyloid-beta waste products. However, UCLA researchers discovered that some patients with Alzheimer's disease have an immune defect making it difficult to clean away these wastes. This may lead to over-saturation of the brain with amyloid beta, which form amyloid plaques, the definitive hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid Spine Atomic Structure Deciphered

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 18:03:00 PST

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have provided the first detailed look at the core structure of the abnormal protein filaments found in at least 20 devastating diseases, ranging from Alzheimer's to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human version of mad cow disease.

'Molecular zipper' may hold important clues to Alzheimer's

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 17:58:00 PST

An international team of chemists and molecular biologists has discovered a fundamental molecular mechanism that seems to play an important role in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, mad cow disease and two-dozen other degenerative and fatal diseases. The discovery is reported June 9 in the journal Nature, where it is featured on the cover.

Biomarker may predict Alzheimer's disease progression

Thu, 26 May 2005 19:05:00 PST

A biomarker pioneered by Applied NeuroSolutions and exclusively utilized in its Alzheimer's diagnostic assay, shows great promise in predicting brain atrophy in patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a group of researchers in the US, Canada, and Europe led by Dr. Harald Hampel and published this month in the Archives of Neurology.

Gamma Secretase Modulator Program Announced for Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 24 May 2005 10:27:00 PST

Cellzome Inc. today announced that Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. has exercised its option to license and develop Cellzome's Gamma Secretase Modulator (GSM) program, under the terms of their March 2005 collaboration agreement. The program includes identifying new medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

RAZADYNE : A New Once-daily Treatment for Alzheimers Disease

Tue, 24 May 2005 10:19:00 PST

RAZADYNE ER (galantamine hydrobromide), a new once-daily treatment for the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimers disease, is now available by prescription nationwide. The product is marketed by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.

Unsuspecting Protein Regulating Plaque Formation

Sun, 15 May 2005 15:25:00 PST

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered an unsuspected subunit of the protein complex gamma-secretase, which plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers have shown that the newly discovered component, the protein CD147, regulates the production of the toxic peptides that cause amyloid plaques, the brain lesions that are the defining feature of Alzheimer's.

Interrupted Alzheimers Vaccine Study Yields Hopeful Results

Tue, 10 May 2005 18:05:00 PST

Training the body's immune system to fight back against Alzheimer's disease may still offer a promising option for slowing or even preventing the tragic brain disorder that affects 4.5 million Americans.

Overview of Gene Therapy for Alzheimer's

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 19:46:00 PST

In a groundbreaking procedure, physicians at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine surgically implanted genetically modified tissue into the brain of an Alzheimers patient in 2001. This launched the first phase of an experimental gene therapy protocol for Alzheimers disease. After four years, in April 2005, PET scans demonstrated an increase in the brains use of glucose, an indication of increased brain activity, while mental-status tests showed a slowing of the patients rate of cognitive decline was reduced by 36 to 51 percent.

First-ever Gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 21:09:00 PST

PET scans and cognitive tests have suggested that Alzheimer's disease patients with genetically modified tissue inserted directly into their brains show a reduction in the rate of cognitive decline and increased metabolic activity in the brain, according to a study published in the April 24, 2005 online issue of the journal Nature Medicine by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine.

Blue-Green Algal Toxin BMAA Links to Alzheimer's-Like Neurological Disease

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 16:55:00 PST

An international team of researchers, including scientists from the University of Dundee have announced that cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) found throughout the world may produce a toxin linked to certain types of neurological disease.

Clinical Diagnosis of Alzheimer's May Be Delayed

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 05:01:00 PST

In a study of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), those who took the drug donepezil were at reduced risk of progressing to a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease (AD) during the first year of the trial, but by the end of the 3-year study there was no benefit from the drug. Vitamin E was also tested in the study and was found to have no effect at any time point in the study when compared with placebo.

"Traffic Jam" in neurons precedes Alzheimers

Fri, 25 Feb 2005 17:25:00 PST

In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and in human brain samples from people with the disease, researchers observed a characteristic breakdown in neurons that appears to prevent the normal movement of critical proteins to the communications centers of the nerve cells. In a vicious cycle, the traffic jam also could increase production of an abnormal protein that clogs neurons, leading to their failure and eventual death.