MedWorm: Alzheimer's

Memory Gets Jolt in Brain Research

WSJ.com: Health — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:33:21 +0100

An electrical brain-stimulation technique appears to enhance human memory, according to a tiny but intriguing new study that bolsters hope for one day developing a nondrug treatment for memory problems, including ailments like Alzheimer's. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

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Neuron numbers in the hypothalamus of the normal aging rhesus monkey: Stability across the adult lifespan and between the sexes

The Journal of Comparative Neurology — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:21:40 +0100

This study examined the hypothalamus of 51 rhesus monkeys (23 male, 18 female, 6.5–31 years old) using design‐based stereology to obtain unbiased estimates of neuron and glia numbers and the Cavalieri method to estimate volumes for eight reference spaces: total unilateral hypothalamus, suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), dorsomedial nucleus (DM), ventromedial nucleus (VM), medial mammillary nucleus (MMN), and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). The results demonstrated no age‐related difference in neuron number, glia number, or volume in any area in either sex except the PVN of male monkeys, which showed a significant increase in both neuron and glia numbers with age. Comparison of males and females for sexual dimorphisms revealed no s...

Study Explores Electrical Stimulation to Aid Memory

NYT Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:22:18 +0100

A small study shows promise that could lead to clues to encoding memory and treating neurological diseases. (Source: NYT Health)

Tiny electrical shocks to the brain enhance memory: study

Reuters: Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:14:19 +0100

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Lightly shocking a person's brain just before they learned a new task appeared to strengthen memory in a handful of patients with epilepsy, a tantalizing result that could have implications for Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Video: Obama pledges $130M for Alzheimer's research

Health News: CBSNews.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:41:15 +0100

President Obama pledged $130 million for Alzheimer's disease research over the next two years, and an additional $26 million to support caregivers. But, will that funding be enough to make a difference? Dr. Jon LaPook reports. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Alzheimer's Society comment on Health Select Committee Report

Alzheimers Society — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:36:35 +0100

A new report by the Health Select Committee is calling for greater integration of the existing fragmented health and social care services. (Source: Alzheimers Society)

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Man with Alzheimer's who fatally beat roommate not charged

USATODAY.com Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:17:54 +0100

No charges have been filed in the case of an 83-year-old who died from a beating by another resident of the assisted living facility. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

APOE-Mimetic Peptides Reduce Behavioral Deficits, Plaques and Tangles in Alzheimer's Disease Transgenics

Karger Publishers — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:48:07 +0100

Neurodegenerative Dis (DOI:10.1159/000334914) (Source: Karger Publishers)

Association Between Mild Cognitive Impairment, Disability And Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

In low- and middle-income countries, mild cognitive impairment - an intermediate state between normal signs of cognitive aging, such as becoming increasingly forgetful, and dementia, which may or may not progress - is consistently associated with higher disability and with neuropsychiatric symptoms but not with most socio-demographic factors, according to a large study published in this week's PLoS Medicine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

UCLA scientists strengthen memory by stimulating key site in brain

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) Ever gone to the movies and forgotten where you parked the car? New UCLA research may one day help you improve your memory.UCLA neuroscientists have demonstrated that they can strengthen memory in human patients by stimulating a critical junction in the brain. Published in the Feb. 9 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the finding could lead to a new method for boosting memory in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Evaluating the cost effectiveness of donepezil in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in Germany using discrete event simulation

BMC Neurology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Donepezil is highly cost-effective in patients with AD in Germany, leading to improvements in health outcomes and substantial savings compared to no treatment. This holds across a variety of sensitivity analyses. (Source: BMC Neurology)

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The profile of hippocampal metabolites differs between Alzheimer's disease and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia, as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Akihiko Shiino, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Yoshitomo Shirakashi, Emi Kotani, Masahiro Yoshimura, Shigehiro Morikawa, Toshiro Inubushi & Ichiro Akiguchi (Source: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow)

Obama increases Alzheimer's funding

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:47:45 +0100

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Obama administration officials said Tuesday in Washington it is immediately allocating an additional $50 million for cutting-edge Alzheimer's research. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Differences in Survival between Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Patients with Alzheimer's Disease - Measured from a Fixed Cognitive Level

Karger Publishers — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2011;32:408-416 (DOI:10.1159/000335364) (Source: Karger Publishers)

Obama boosts funds for Alzheimer's research

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:42:33 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration plans to spend an additional $156 million over the next two years to help find an effective treatment for Alzheimer's, a fatal brain-wasting disease that affects more than 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Alzheimer's research in U.S. gets extra $50 million in funding

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:33:11 +0100

Obama administration wants an effective treatment for the disease developed by 2025 (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Obama Plans To Combat Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

A statement released by The Obama Administration claims there are going to be new measures taken against battling Alzheimer's disease. One of these efforts includes a $50 million increase in the amount of money that will be used towards new, advanced research. Also, the administration says their Fiscal Year 2013 budget will increase by $80 million for Alzheimer's exploration. The announcement adds that a $26 million increase will be made in terms of provider education, public awareness, advances in data infrastructure, and care-giver support... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Obama Administration Makes Greater Investment in Alzheimer's Obama Administration Makes Greater Investment in Alzheimer's

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:54:24 +0100

The US government today announced a commitment of $156 million over the course of the next 2 years to fight Alzheimer's disease. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

White House proposes raise for Alzheimer's research

CTV Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:41:37 +0100

The Obama administration is increasing spending on Alzheimer's research -- planning to surpass half a billion dollars next year -- as part of a quest to find effective treatments for the brain-destroying disease by 2025. (Source: CTV Health)

Obama administration to spend $50 million more immediately

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:29:51 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it plans to spend an additional $50 million this year and will seek an extra $80 million in fiscal 2013 to bolster research for Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain-wasting condition that affects more than 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Is it early Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment? Doctors left baffled by new guidelines

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:21:21 +0100

Doctors are struggling to diagnose whether patients have dementia or not under a revised definition of the condition 'mild cognitive impairment', a report from Washington University has warned. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Administration boosts funding for Alzheimer's research

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:09:11 +0100

The plan calls for $130 million more for research and $26 million for caregiver support and education. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Obama to boost Alzheimer's research funding

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:06:11 +0100

The Obama administration will push for a $156 million increase in funding for Alzheimer's research over the next two years, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Obama administration to spend $50 million more on Alzheimer's

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:24:06 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it will spend an additional $50 million immediately to bolster research for Alzheimer's, a fatal, brain-wasting disease that affects 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

A push for family input to detect dementia earlier

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27:07 +0100

Specialists push for the National Alzheimer's Plan to provide dementia-capable care, more screenings and regular checks of caregivers. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

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Cerebrospinal fluid cortisol concentrations in healthy elderly are affected by both APOE and TOMM40 variants

Psychoneuroendocrinology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100

In this study, we examined whether TOMM40 variants, which have been reported to influence age of onset of AD, also had an effect on CSF cortisol levels, in healthy, cognitively intact individuals with or without APOE ɛ4. In our results, the increase in CSF cortisol associated with the presence of the APOE ɛ4 allele was only detected when a short TOMM40 poly-T variant, shown to associate with later age of onset of AD in ɛ4 carriers, was not present. These results are consistent with previous reports (e.g., ) suggesting that TOMM40 poly-T variants influence the effects of APOE alleles. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)

The Toxic Role Of Tau Oligomers In Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

One of the most distinctive signs of the development of Alzheimer's disease is a change in the behavior of a protein that neuroscientists call tau. In normal brains, tau is present in individual units essential to neuron health. In the cells of Alzheimer's brains, by contrast, tau proteins aggregate into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles." These tangles are considered a hallmark of the disease, but their precise role in Alzheimer's pathology has long been a point of contention among researchers... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Insomnia

MedicineNet Alzheimer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: InsomniaCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 6/6/2005Last Editorial Review: 2/7/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Alzheimer)

Smoking in Men Speeds Up Mental Decline

MedicineNet Alzheimer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Smoking in Men Speeds Up Mental DeclineCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/7/2012 11:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 2/7/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Alzheimer)

Alzheimer's research volunteers critical to helping find a cure

MayoClinic.com Full Feed — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Volunteers can help contribute to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease by volunteering to participate in a clinical trial. (Source: MayoClinic.com Full Feed)

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Smoking Speeds Up Male Cognitive Decline

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:00:00 +0100

A male regular smoker has a higher risk of rapid cognitive decline, compared to his counterparts who do not smoke, researchers from University College London, England, reported in Archives of General Psychiatry. The authors add that the evidence has been mounting regarding the link between smoking and dementia in elderly individuals - smoking has been found to push up the total number of patients with dementia around the world. SÃ©verine Sabia, Ph.D., and team set out to determine what impact smoking might have on men during their transition from middle age to old age... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Mild Alzheimer's Might In Fact Be Mild Cognitive Impairment

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:00:00 +0100

New revised criteria could mean that a considerable number of patients currently diagnosed with mild or very mild Alzheimer's, might in fact be reclassified as having MCI (mild cognitive impairment), John C. Morris, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, wrote in Archives of Neurology. The Alzheimer's Association, along with the NIA (National Institute of Aging) revised the criteria for MCI after convening a work group. The new criteria have considerably widened the meaning of functional independence, Dr. Morris explained... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A push for family input to detect dementia earlier

USATODAY.com Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:35:13 +0100

Specialists are pushing for the first National Alzheimer's Plan to help overcome the barrier to early Alzheimer's detection. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Blurry line in diagnosing early Alzheimer's: study

Reuters: Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:18:52 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The revised definition of a brain condition called mild cognitive impairment means that many people now considered to have mild or early Alzheimer's disease could easily be given that diagnosis instead, suggests a new study. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Shortening of Donepezil-induced QTc Prolongation with a Change in the Interacting Drug, after Electrocardiograph Monitoring by Community Pharmacists: A Case Report.

Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:06:03 +0100

We report the case of a patient in whom the risk of drug-induced torsades de pointes (TdP) was lowered, after monitoring by community pharmacists. Case: An 80-year-old woman was under donepezil (5 mg/d) therapy for Alzheimer's disease and also taking other drugs that interact with donepezil, namely, benidipine (8 mg/d) and atorvastatin (10 mg/d). The patient was visited almost every month, and an electrocardiogram was usually obtained. QTc prolongation (avg. 470±9 ms) was observed in the first to third tests. Her doctor was informed about these results and the risk factors (advanced age, gender, and drugs interactions (benidipine and atorvastatin)) associated with TdP and asked to respond promptly since several cases of donepezil-induced TdP have been reported. As a result, benidipine was...

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Possible Involvement of Ubiquitin Ligase HRD1 Insolubilization in Amyloid β Generation.

Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:48:04 +0100

Authors: Kaneko M, Saito R, Okuma Y, Nomura Y Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) selectively retro-transports and degrades unfolded proteins accumulated in the ER. We have demonstrated that the ubiquitin ligase HRD1 involved in ERAD was significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients. Furthermore, the HRD1 level was negatively correlated with amyloid β (Aβ) production levels. Here we found that the HRD1 protein level decrease was due to its insolubilization. Moreover, these protein levels extracted from detergent insoluble fraction were positively correlated with those of SEL1L and Aβs (Aβ40 and Aβ42). Thus, the insolubilization-induced decrease in the HRD1 and SEL1L levels might involve in Aβ generation. PMID:...

β-Amyloid(42) Induces Desensitization of CXC Chemokine Receptor-4 via Formyl Peptide Receptor in Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:48:04 +0100

Authors: Zhang C, Wang ZJ, Lok KH, Yin M Abstract The deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and progressive loss of neurons are two main characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Supplement of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) is a promising strategy for repair of the neurodegenerative diseases. However, hostile microenvironment of neurodegenerative brain is harmful for the neuroregeneration. Aβ(42) promoted the proliferation of NSPCs. Moreover, Aβ(42) (10-1000 nM) promoted the migration of NSPCs in a dose-dependent manner. The attraction of NSPCs toward Aβ(42) was significantly offset by 10 μM cyclosporin H, a potent and selective formyl peptide receptor antagonist. After incubation with Aβ(42) for 9 d, the migration ability of NSPCs was significantly decreased (...

Factors influencing commencement and adherence to a home-based balance exercise program for reducing risk of falls: perceptions of people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. - Suttanon P, Hill KD, Said CM, Byrne KN, Dodd KJ.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:53 +0100

ABSTRACTBackground: Balance exercise is an important component of falls-prevention interventions, with growing evidence that it can be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, to implement a balance exercise program successfully for pe... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Cracks in the Plaques: Mysteries of Alzheimer's Slowly Yielding to New Research

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:30:00 +0100

This has been a big week in Alzheimer's news as scientists put together a clearer picture than ever before of how the disease affects the brain. Three recently published studies have detected the disease with new technologies, hinted at its prevalence, and described at last how it makes its lethal progress through the brain. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Insight Into Cell Aging Likely Following Discovery Of Extremely Long-Lived Proteins

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

One of the big mysteries in biology is why cells age. Now scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies report that they have discovered a weakness in a component of brain cells that may explain how the aging process occurs in the brain. The scientists discovered that certain proteins, called extremely long-lived proteins (ELLPs), which are found on the surface of the nucleus of neurons, have a remarkably long lifespan... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Health Highlights: Feb. 3, 2012

MedicineNet Alzheimer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Health Highlights: Feb. 3, 2012Category: Health NewsCreated: 2/3/2012 2:05:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/6/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Alzheimer)

The Impact of Dementia Severity on Caregiver Burden in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

This study is the first to show that caregivers of SemDem, PNFA, and AD patients show similar burden, while confirming that bvFTD caregivers show higher burden than AD caregivers. More importantly, this study demonstrates that burden worsens with disease progression in FTD. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)

Alzheimer disease: Can the exam predict the pathology?

Neurology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Neurology)

Biomarker validation of a cued recall memory deficit in prodromal Alzheimer disease

Neurology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Cued recall deficits are most closely associated with CSF biomarkers indicative of AD in subjects with MCI. This novel finding complements results from prospective clinical studies and provides further empirical support for cued recall as a specific indicator of prodromal AD, in line with recently proposed research criteria. (Source: Neurology)

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{beta}-Amyloid burden in healthy aging: Regional distribution and cognitive consequences

Neurology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Even in a highly selected lifespan sample of adults, Aβ deposition is apparent in some adults and is influenced by APOE status. Greater amyloid burden was related to deleterious effects on cognition, suggesting that subtle cognitive changes accrue as amyloid progresses. (Source: Neurology)

Anticholinesterase activity evaluation of alkaloids and coumarin from stems of Conchocarpus fontanesianus

Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:30:49 +0100

Conchocarpus fontanesianus (A. St.-Hill.) Kallunki & Pirani, Rutaceae, popularly known as pitaguará, is a native and endemic tree from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro States, Brazil. Based in the information that anticholinesterasic derivatives could act as new prototypes to treatment of Alzheimer disease, this work describes the fractionation guided by evaluation of the anticholinesterase activity of the ethanolic stems extract from C. fontanesianus. This procedure afforded the alkaloids dictamnine (1), γ-fagarine (2), skimianine (3), and 2-phenyl-1-methyl-4-quinolone (4), as well as the coumarin marmesin (5). (Source: Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia)

Distinguishing Between The Forgetful And Those At Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

It can be difficult to distinguish between people with normal age-associated memory loss and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However people with aMCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), and identification of these people would mean that they could begin treatment as early as possible. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Geriatrics shows that specific questions, included as part of a questionnaire designed to help diagnose AD, are also able to discriminate between normal memory loss and aMCI... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Research Finds Similar Gene Mutations in Early and Late Onset Alzheimer's

About Alzheimers Disease — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

When we consider early onset Alzheimer's disease (where symptoms appear before the age of 60) and late onset, there is a tendency to categorize early onset as familial, meaning that it has a strong hereditary component, and late onset as sporadic, meaning that it is much more random. However, based on what researchers are learning, we may need to rethink this. A recent study discovered similar gene mutations in cases of both early and late onset Alzheimer's disease. This indicates that there may be a higher amount of heredity in late onset Alzheimer's disease than we have traditionally thought. These researchers also point to evidence that people with Alzheimer's often have multiple relatives who have Alzheimer's, other kinds of dementia, or a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's. A...

Memory Function - Decaffeinated Coffee May Help

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Drinking decaffeinated coffee may improve brain energy metabolism associated with diabetes type 2, according to a study published in Nutritional Neuroscience and carried out by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Brain energy metabolism is a dysfunction with a known risk factor for dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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The failure of perivascular drainage of amyloid beta and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (2012-02-14)

Institute of Psychiatry | Events — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:42:27 +0100

Proteomics Interest Group at the Institute of Psychiatry Title: “The failure of perivascular drainage of amyloid beta and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease”<br /> Speaker: Dr Roxana Carare MD PhD Seminar Room 3, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill Campus<br /> Tuesday 14<sup>th</sup> February, 12:00-13:00Hrs<br style="mso-special-character:&am (Source: Institute of Psychiatry | Events)

Alzheimer's questionnaire: Test that can reveal if YOU are at risk

the Mail online | Health — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:14:40 +0100

The Alzheimer's Questionnaire, which is almost 90 per cent accurate, measures mild cognitive impairment – the slight memory lapses that can be a precursor of the disease. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Genes Linked To Alzheimer's Are The Same For Early- And Late-Onset

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

The same gene mutations linked to inherited, early-onset Alzheimer's disease have been found in people with the more common late-onset form of the illness. The discovery by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may lead doctors and researchers to change the way Alzheimer's disease is classified. They reported their findings in the online journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

DIY science: should you try this at home?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:59:00 +0100

When Richard Handl was arrested for attempting to split the atom on his stove, he joined a growing band of home experimenters cooking up all kinds of trouble behind the kitchen doorÄngelholm is a pretty southern Swedish town, famed for its clay cuckoo manufacturing, a clay cuckoo being a kind of ocarina, which is a kind of flute. The crime rate here is practically zero. Except one of its residents was last year arrested for trying to split the atom in his kitchen. His name is Richard Handl and he buzzes me into his first-floor flat.I wanted to meet Richard because I keep seeing reports of home science experimenters clashing with the authorities. There's been a spate of them this past year or two.I glance into Richard's kitchen and recognise his cooker from the news. It was horrendously, a...

Selective localization of Alzheimer's amyloid beta in membrane lateral compartments

RSC - Soft Matter latest articles — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:54:06 +0100

Soft Matter, 2012, Advance ArticleDOI: 10.1039/C2SM07185A, CommunicationMasamune Morita, Tsutomu Hamada, Yuiko Tendo, Takahiro Hata, Mun'delanji C. Vestergaard, Masahiro TakagiModel membrane systems revealed that lateral heterogeneity of the membrane mediates the localization of amyloid beta peptides in a peptide aggregation-dependent manner.To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - Soft Matter latest articles)

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Video: New findings on behavior of Alzheimer's

Health News: CBSNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:34:42 +0100

Two new studies find that Alzheimer's disease seems to spread from cell to cell like an infection. Dr. Karen Duff speaks with Charlie Rose and Gayle King about these new findings. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Questionnaire Could Help Predict Alzheimer's

MedlinePlus Health News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0100

21 simple questions may help docs determine which patients need more testing, researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Alzheimer's Disease May Spread By 'Jumping' From One Brain Region To Another

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

For decades, researchers have debated whether Alzheimer's disease starts independently in vulnerable brain regions at different times, or if it begins in one region and then spreads to neuroanatomically connected areas. A new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers strongly supports the latter, demonstrating that abnormal tau protein, a key feature of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in the brains of those with Alzheimer's, propagates along linked brain circuits, "jumping" from neuron to neuron... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Protein Structures Offer Clues To Breast Cancer, Alzheimer's Treatment, Prevention

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

Using some of the most powerful nuclear magnetic resonance equipment available, researchers at the University of California, Davis, are making discoveries about the shape and structure of biological molecules - potentially leading to new ways to treat or prevent diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The findings appear in the latest issues of the journals Nature and Journal of Biological Chemistry. "These are exquisite three-dimensional objects, and the structures really give insight into how they function in the cell," chemistry professor James Ames said... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Alzheimer's-Related Protein In Brains Of Healthy Adults May Shed Light On Earliest Signs Of Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Researchers from the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center have completed a large-scale neuroimaging study of healthy adults from age 30 to 90 that measured beta-amyloid protein - a substance whose toxic buildup in the brain is a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease. The findings, published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, mark a crucial step toward being able to predict who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Mouse Study Suggests Alzheimer's Spreads Through Brain Like an Infection

MedicineNet Cancer General — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Mouse Study Suggests Alzheimer's Spreads Through Brain Like an InfectionCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/2/2012 4:06:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/3/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Cancer General)

Why 2 new studies represent important breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease research

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(AHAF-American Health Assistance Foundation) Two separate research findings have the potential to give us a much more sophisticated understanding of what goes wrong in Alzheimer's disease and what can be done to prevent or repair damage in the brain. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Study: Alzheimer's Travels Through the Brain Like a Virus

About Alzheimers Disease — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, researchers engineered mice to have a human gene that developed abnormal tau protein in the brain's temporal lobe. This lobe is where it seems that the tau protein first accumulates, based on the early symptoms of Alzheimer's. They then observed the brains as the mice aged and found that the tau spread through the brain from one area to the next, traveling like a virus. It appears that the tau jumps across the synapses in the brain, which help neurons communicate with each other. This research is important because it has potential implications for early treatment of the disease. If we're able to physically stop the spread of the tau through the brain, eventually we may be able to stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Now, that would be even more exciting than the up...

Retrospective analysis: Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with bapineuzumab

NeLM - News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Lancet Neurology Area: News The authors of this paper note that various clinical trials are investigating active or passive immunotherapeutic approaches to reduce cerebral amyloid-? burden as treatments for Alzheimer's disease. A certain number of these studies have reported treatment-related abnormalities in brain images, however, the reason for these changes is uncertain. Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) have been reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with bapineuzumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody against amyloid-?. The authors aimed to investigate the incidence of ARIA during treatment with bapineuzumab. They conducted a systematic, central review of all MRI data from studies (two phase 2 and one ongoing open label) to assess the incid...

Informant-reported cognitive symptoms that predict amnestic mild cognitive impairment

BMC Geriatrics — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Specific questions in an informant-rated questionnaire designed to detect Alzheimers Disease are also able to discriminate between normal memory loss and amnesic mild cognitive impairment, allowing earlier identification of those at higher risk of developing Alzheimers Disease. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)

A G‐Rich Element Forms a G‐Quadruplex and Regulates Bace1 mRNA Alternative Splicing

Journal of Neurochemistry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Abstractβ‐site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the transmembrane aspartyl protease that catalyzes the first cleavage step in the proteolysis of the amyloid β‐protein precursor (APP) to the amyloid β‐protein (Aβ), a process involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. BACE1 pre‐mRNA undergoes complex alternative splicing, the regulation of which is not well understood. We identified a G‐rich sequence within exon 3 of BACE1 involved in controlling splice site selection. Mutation of the G‐rich sequence decreased use of the normal 5’ splice site of exon 3, which leads to full‐length and proteolytically active BACE1, and increased use of an alternative splice site, which leads to a shorter, essentially inactive isoform. Nuclease protection assays, nuclear magnetic res...

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[Special Series on Neuroscience in Disease and Health] Midlife Psychological Distress Associated With Late-Life Brain Atrophy and White Matter Lesions: A 32-Year Population Study of Women

Psychosomatic Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Long-standing psychological distress in midlife increases risks of cerebral atrophy and WMLs on CT in late life. More studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine potential neurobiological mechanisms of these associations. (Source: Psychosomatic Medicine)

[Original Articles] Effect of Chronic Dementia Caregiving and Major Transitions in the Caregiving Situation on Kidney Function: A Longitudinal Study

Psychosomatic Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Kidney function did not differ between caregivers and controls over time. However, GFR had impaired at 3 months after a major caregiving transition. Because the effect of placement of the spouse with Alzheimer’s disease on the decline in GFR was moderated by BP, it might be confined to caregivers who experience increased sympathetic activation after placement. (Source: Psychosomatic Medicine)

Exosomal Tau in Early AD [Molecular Bases of Disease]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Recent demonstrations that the secretion, uptake, and interneuronal transfer of tau can be modulated by disease-associated tau modifications suggest that secretion may be an important element in tau-induced neurodegeneration. Here, we show that much of the tau secreted by M1C cells occurs via exosomal release, a widely characterized mechanism that mediates unconventional secretion of other aggregation-prone proteins (α-synuclein, prion protein, and β-amyloid) in neurodegenerative disease. Exosome-associated tau is also present in human CSF samples and is phosphorylated at Thr-181 (AT270), an established phosphotau biomarker for Alzheimer disease (AD), in both M1C cells and in CSF samples from patients with mild (Braak stage 3) AD. A preliminary analysis of proteins co-purified with tau i...

8-OHQs Rescue Diverse Proteotoxicity Models in Distinct Ways [Protein Structure and Folding]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

No current therapies target the underlying cellular pathologies of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Model organisms provide a platform for discovering compounds that protect against the toxic, misfolded proteins that initiate these diseases. One such protein, TDP-43, is implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. In yeast, TDP-43 expression is toxic, and genetic modifiers first discovered in yeast have proven to modulate TDP-43 toxicity in both neurons and humans. Here, we describe a phenotypic screen for small molecules that reverse TDP-43 toxicity in yeast. One group of hit compounds was 8-hydroxyquinolines (8-OHQ), a class of clinically relevant bioactive metal chelators related to clioquinol. S...

Video: Discovery may lead to Alzheimer's treatments

Health News: CBSNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:58:57 +0100

Researchers have found a new clue in the way Alzheimer's disease may spread in the brain. Jim Axelrod reports on how this discovery could lead to new treatments to try and stop it. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

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AAN Press Release: Marker for Alzheimer's Disease May Affect Mental Function Even in Healthy Adults

American Academy of Neurology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:16:34 +0100

High levels of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's disease may affect brain performance even in healthy adults, according to a study published in the February 1, 2012, online issue of Neurology®. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Alzheimer's hallmark could affect brain function of healthy adults, study claims

Alzheimers Society — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:37:42 +0100

High levels of the protein amyloid beta in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease - could also be associated with the memory and mental function of healthy adults. (Source: Alzheimers Society)

Semantic memory and language dysfunction in early Alzheimer's disease: a review

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:34:56 +0100

ConclusionsIdentifying and classifying the nature and degree of language impairment more closely could aid in developing targeted therapies. Treatments already established in other aphasic states, such as post‐stroke, may be especially relevant. The nature of these and the protective nature of cognitive reserve are potential therapeutic avenues. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry)

Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's

ScienceDaily Headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:17:17 +0100

Researchers have found new evidence that confirms the significance of a protein that neuroscientists call tau to the development of Alzheimer's disease. While earlier studies have focused on tau's aggregation into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles," the new work emphasizes intermediary steps between single protein units and the much larger tangles – small assemblages of two, three, four or more proteins, which the investigators believe are the most toxic entities in Alzheimer's. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

The New Old Age Blog: How Alzheimer's Disease Spreads

NYT — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:07:47 +0100

Two new studies provide clues to how Alzheimer's disease spreads in the brain. (Source: NYT)

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Alzheimer's Disease May Spread By 'Spreading' From One Brain Region To Another

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0100

The way in which Alzheimer's Disease spreads in the brain has been the subject of debate for many years. Two opposing theories have the disease starting independently in weakened brain regions over time, or it beginning in one region and then spreading neuroanatomically connected areas. A study published by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers, in the online journal PloS One, strongly supports the second theory... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Mouse Study Suggests Alzheimer's Spreads Through Brain Like an Infection

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0100

If validated, finding might open doors to new therapies, even a vaccine, experts say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Page: Alzheimer's Disease (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

The New Old Age Blog: How Alzheimer's Disease Spreads

NYT Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:56 +0100

Two new studies provide clues to how Alzheimer's disease spreads in the brain. (Source: NYT Health)

Alzheimer's disease jumps across brain cells to spread like infection

Health News: CBSNews.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:07:28 +0100

New clues to disease spread might help improve treatments, researchers said (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Alzheimer's disease "jumps" across brain cells to spread

Health News: CBSNews.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:07:28 +0100

New clues to disease spread might help improve treatments, researchers said (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

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Mikulski Bill Would Speed Approval of New Drugs By FDA

Drugs.com - Pharma News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:06:22 +0100

Mikulski bill would speed approval of new drugs by FDA [The Baltimore Sun] From Baltimore Sun (MD) (February 2, 2012) Feb. 02--WASHINGTON -- Drugs for chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and diabetes would move through the Food and Drug... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)

Health roundup: Alzheimer's, sugar limits

USATODAY.com Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:53:06 +0100

Alzheimer's spreads through the brain like an infection, donors shower Planned Parenthood with money and scientists propose a sugar crackdow ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Alzheimer's Protein Rises With Age, Tied to Cognition Deficits (CME/CE)

MedPage Today State Required CME — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:43:11 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Even in cognitively healthy adults, too much of the protein linked to Alzheimer's disease appears to affect some aspects of cognition, researchers reported. (Source: MedPage Today State Required CME)

Same Genes Key to Early & Late-Onset Alzheimer's

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0100

Individual risk factors may influence when the brain disorder develops, researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Alzheimer's Disease, Genes and Gene Therapy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Alzheimer's disease 'spreads like an infection' in finding that could help slow its progress

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:17 +0100

Alzheimer's disease hops from one brain cell to another, say scientists from Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Blocking the process early could stop it from spreading. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

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Brain Energy Metabolism Improved By Decaffeinated Coffee

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered that decaffeinated coffee may improve brain energy metabolism associated with type 2 diabetes. This brain dysfunction is a known risk factor for dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The research is published online in Nutritional Neuroscience... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Signs of Alzheimer's May Show Up Years Before Symptoms

MedicineNet Feet and Fitness General — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Signs of Alzheimer's May Show Up Years Before SymptomsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/2/2012 11:01:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 2/2/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Feet and Fitness General)

Worrying Too Much Might Raise Your Risk for Stroke

MedicineNet Alzheimer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Worrying Too Much Might Raise Your Risk for StrokeCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/1/2012 6:06:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/2/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Alzheimer)

Signs of Alzheimer's May Show Up Years Before Symptoms

eMedicineHealth.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Source: eMedicineHealth.com)

Exercising your brain proven to help prevent Alzheimer's

NaturalNews.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

A new study demonstrates that an active brain is just as essential to continued health as an active body. Researchers have learned that fewer deposits of beta-amyloid, a destructive protein associated with Alzheimer's, appear in the brain scans of people who engage in... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

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Study Illuminates Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes and Cognitive Impairment

Health Behavior News Service — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:25:01 +0100

01/31/2012, Ethnicity and Disease, A new study finds that decreasing the disparities in rates of type 2 diabetes among Whites, Blacks and Hispanics could eliminate some racial and ethnic disparities in the development of cognitive impairment or dementia. Prior research has shown that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for all forms of major cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in Ethnicity & Disease. (Source: Health Behavior News Service)

Protein Linked to Alzheimer's May Affect Healthy Adults

Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Ivanhoe Newswire)-- A recent study showed that the protein beta-amyloid which is found in the brain and associated with Alzheimer's disease may even affect the mental function in healthy individuals. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)

Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston) Researchers have found new evidence that confirms the significance of a protein that neuroscientists call tau to the development of Alzheimer's disease. While earlier studies have focused on tau's aggregation into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles," the new work emphasizes intermediary steps between single protein units and the much larger tangles - small assemblages of two, three, four or more proteins, which the investigators believe are the most toxic entities in Alzheimer's. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

3‐(2,4‐Dimethoxybenzylidene)‐anabaseine: A promising candidate drug for Alzheimer's disease?

Geriatrics and Gerontology International — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article reviews these properties and explains to what extent they could be valuable to control symptomatology and/or neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; ••: ••–••. (Source: Geriatrics and Gerontology International)

Depressive symptoms and level of physical activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Geriatrics and Gerontology International — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the sample was 35.13%. Patients who were more active had lower rates of depressive symptoms. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; ••: ••–••. (Source: Geriatrics and Gerontology International)

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How to tell apart the forgetful from those at risk of Alzheimer's disease

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(BioMed Central) It can be difficult to distinguish between people with normal age-associated memory loss and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. However people with aMCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Geriatrics shows that specific questions, included as part of a questionnaire designed to help diagnose AD, are also able to discriminate between normal memory loss and aMCI. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Positive Evolutionary Selection of an HD Motif on Alzheimer Precursor Protein Orthologues Suggests a Functional Role

PLoS Computational Biology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

by István Miklós, Zoltán Zádori HD amino acid duplex has been found in the active center of many different enzymes. The dyad plays remarkably different roles in their catalytic processes that usually involve metal coordination. An HD motif is positioned directly on the amyloid beta fragment (Aβ) and on the carboxy-terminal region of the extracellular domain (CAED) of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and a taxonomically well defined group of APP orthologues (APPOs). In human Aβ HD is part of a presumed, RGD-like integrin-binding motif RHD; however, neither RHD nor RXD demonstrates reasonable conservation in APPOs. The sequences of CAEDs and the position of the HD are not particularly conserved either, yet we show with a novel statistical method using evolutionary modelin...

A new "era" for ∝7- nAChR.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A new "era" for ∝7- nAChR. Curr Drug Targets. 2012 Feb 2; Authors: Russo P, Cardinale A, Shuller H Abstract The role played by a7-nAChR is critical in nature, but it strictly dependent on the organism and/or cellular type and cellular function. In this special issue different Authors have been contributed to clarify the different roles played by a7-nAChR. Post-translational process such as receptor "underactivation" or "overactivation" are associated in the central nervous system with brain disorders including neurodegeneration, as well as in non-neuronal cells in cancer. Current advances in the knowledge of a7-nAChR biology encourage the exploitation of a7-nAChR as a target for different diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, cognitive decline, pain and canc...

Traumatic brain injury: central and peripheral role of ∝7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kelso ML, Oestreich JH Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern worldwide for which there is no cure. Once trauma has occurred, multiple biochemical pathways are set into motion that leads to a chronic, neurodegenerative condition. Two of the most widely studied pathological pathways are excitotoxicity and inflammatory, processes that are influenced by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Previous studies have found a bilateral decrease in α7 nAChR expression in regions of the cortex and hippocampus occurring in relation to injury severity. Subsequent studies showed that this decrease was evident in some parts of the hippocampus as early as 1 hour post-injury and remained decreased through 21 days. Other ligand-gated ion chann...

Genetic variations in CHRNA7 or CHRFAM7 and susceptibility to dementia.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Neri M, Bonassi S, Russo P Abstract The presence of memory impairment and cognitive deficits in the Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Pick's disease (PiD) has been associated to dysfunction of cholinergic transmission, possibly due to the loss of cholinergic neurons and to the elimination of nAChR in dementia patients. Alternative hypotheses take into account molecular interactions of the β-amyloid peptide Aβ with nAChR, which may lead to deregulation of the receptor function. Genetic polymorphisms of CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A, a fusion gene containing a partial CHRNA7 duplication, have been investigated as possible susceptibility traits to dementia, potentially useful either to identify high risk individuals or as therapeutic targets. To summarize...

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∝7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: an old actor for new different roles.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, α7-nAChR in roughly 100 years of life, instead to be an old actor it became an important player in regulating cell signalling. PMID: 22300022 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Drug Targets)

Lilly Alzheimer's drug an unlikely ace in the hole

Reuters: Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:29:15 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A treatment for Alzheimer's disease is the drug industry's longest shot, and any brave investors willing to place a bet on the outcome are likely to focus on Eli Lilly & Co. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Alzheimer’s Spreads in the Brain Like a Virus, Studies Find

NYT Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:10:05 +0100

The discovery solves an old mystery surrounding the disease’s grim march and has implications for developing treatments, researchers said. (Source: NYT Health)

AAN Leaders Meet with Head of Innovation Center on Stroke, Alzheimer's Care

American Academy of Neurology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:39:00 +0100

The group stressed that neurologists should be involved in testing new care and payment models. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Signs of Alzheimer’s May Show Up Years Before Symptoms

WebMD Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:38:53 +0100

Amyloid protein plaques in the brain are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Now, new research shows that this plaque actually builds up gradually and causes subtle changes in memory and mental status even in some adults who are healthy. (Source: WebMD Health)

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Alzheimer'S-Linked Brain Plaques May Affect Memory in Healthy People

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

Research could lead to better understanding of the origins of Alzheimer's Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Page: Alzheimer's Disease (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

The New Old Age Blog: The Lioness in Winter

NYT — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:25 +0100

"The Iron Lady" does not sidestep Margaret Thatcher's dementia. (Source: NYT)

Decaffeinated coffee preserves memory function by improving brain energy metabolism

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine) Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered that decaffeinated coffee may improve brain energy metabolism associated with Type 2 diabetes. This brain dysfunction is a known risk factor for dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Protein structures give disease clues

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of California - Davis) Discoveries about the shape and structure of biological molecules could potentially lead to new ways to treat or prevent diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Same genes linked to early- and late-onset Alzheimer's

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Washington University School of Medicine) The same gene mutations linked to inherited, early-onset Alzheimer's disease have been found in people with the more common late-onset form of the illness. The discovery by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may lead doctors and researchers to change the way Alzheimer's disease is classified. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Cellular prion protein participates in amyloid-β transcytosis across the blood–brain barrier

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Cellular prion protein participates in amyloid-β transcytosis across the blood–brain barrier Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism advance online publication, February 1, 2012. doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2012.7 Authors: Thorsten Pflanzner, Benjamin Petsch, Bettina André-Dohmen, Andreas Müller-Schiffmann, Sabrina Tschickardt, Sascha Weggen, Lothar Stitz, Carsten Korth & Claus U Pietrzik (Source: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow)

Association between α1-antichymotrypsin signal peptide -15A/T polymorphism and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.

Molecular Biology Reports — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, our study suggests that the common α1-antichymotrypsin signal peptide -15A/T polymorphism may not be a major risk factor for AD. However, the polymorphism is capable of increasing LOAD risk. PMID: 22294107 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Molecular Biology Reports)

NMF-SVM Based CAD Tool Applied to Functional Brain Images for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This paper presents a novel computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) technique for the early diagnosis of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and support vector machines (SVM) with bounds of confidence. The CAD tool is designed for the study and classification of functional brain images. For this purpose, two different brain image databases are selected: a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) database and positron emission tomography (PET) images, both of them containing data for both Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy controls as a reference. These databases are analyzed by applying the Fisher discriminant ratio (FDR) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) for feature selection and extraction of the most relevant features. The re...

Sleep in Spousal Alzheimer Caregivers: A Longitudinal Study with a Focus on the Effects of Major Patient Transitions on Sleep

Sleep — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:52:03 +0100

Conclusions:Alzheimer caregivers and non-caregiving controls had similar trajectories of sleep. However, there may be subgroups of caregivers who are vulnerable to develop sleep disturbances, including those whose spouses have died.Citation:von Käanel R; Mausbach BT; Ancoli-Israel S; Dimsdale JE; Mills PJ; Patterson TL; Ziegler MG; Roepke SK; Chattillion EA; Allison M; Grant I. Sleep in spousal alzheimer caregivers: a longitudinal study with a focus on the effects of major patient transitions on sleep. SLEEP 2012;35(2):247-255. (Source: Sleep)

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Worried About Being Too Slim?

Dr. Weil Q and A — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:26:38 +0100

I'm a woman in my 60s. I've always fought to keep my weight down, but as I get older, I've become concerned that being slim could be unhealthy. I recently heard that thin seniors are at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and are more likely to die after surgery than overweight patients. How worried should I be? (Source: Dr. Weil Q and A)

Pets Help Women Cope With HIV/AIDS

MedicineNet Alzheimer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Pets Help Women Cope With HIV/AIDSCategory: Health NewsCreated: 1/30/2012 4:06:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 1/31/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Alzheimer)

Calpastatin upregulation in Mycoplasma hyorhinis‐infected cells is promoted by the mycoplasma lipoproteins via the NF‐κB pathway

Cellular Microbiology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryMycoplasma hyorhinis frequently contaminates cultured cells, with effects on synthetic and metabolic pathways. We demonstrated for the first time that contamination of cells by a strain of M. hyorhinis (NDMh) results in increased levels of calpastatin (the endogenous inhibitor of the ubiquitous Ca2+‐dependent protease calpain). We now show that the calpastatin upregulation by NDMh in neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells resides in the NDMh lipoprotein fraction (LPP), via the NF‐κB transcription pathway. NF‐κB activation requires dissociation of the cytoplasmic NF‐κB/IκB complex followed by NF‐κB translocation to the nucleus. NDMh‐LPP induced translocation of the NF‐κB/RelA subunit to the nucleus and upregulated calpastatin. RelA translocation and calpastatin elevation w...

Counting‐backward test for executive function in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionThe counting‐backward test is useful for evaluating executive dysfunction in INPH and for differentiating between INPH and AD patients. In particular, the first‐error score may reflect deficits in the response suppression related to executive dysfunction in INPH. (Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica)

Evaluation and initial in vitro and ex vivo characterisation of the potential positron emission tomography ligand, BU99008 (2‐(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole), for the Imidazoline2 binding site

Synapse — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe density of the Imidazoline2 binding site (I2BS) has been shown to change in psychiatric conditions such as depression and addiction, along with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's chorea. The presence of I2BS on glial cells and the possibility that they may in some way regulate glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), has led to increased interest into the role of I2BS and I2BS ligands in conditions characterised by marked gliosis. In addition, it has been suggested that I2BS may be a marker for human glioblastomas. Therefore the development of a positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand for the I2BS would be of major benefit in our understanding of these conditions. We now report the successful synthesis and initial pharmacological eval...

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Elder Abuse: Should You Be Concerned About It?

About Alzheimers Disease — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Estimates range that anywhere from 2 to 10 million older Americans are abused every year. That includes the different kinds of elder abuse such as neglect, financial, physical, sexual, emotional, involuntary seclusion, and abandonment. While an accurate number of cases is difficult to find because there's no way to ensure comprehensive reporting and compiling of those statistics, it pays to be aware of the risk factors and signs of abuse. You or your loved one may be at risk for elder abuse if: You have to rely on someone for your physical care needs You live in your own home and are socially isolated You have adult children who have problems with finances, drugs or alcohol You live with someone with a history of controlling and abusive behavior You have a diagnosis of Alzhei...

Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration have different genetic models for complement gene variation.

Neurobiology of Aging — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Proitsi P, Lupton MK, Dudbridge F, Tsolaki M, Hamilton G, Daniilidou M, Pritchard M, Lord K, Martin BM, Craig D, Todd S, McGuinness B, Hollingworth P, Harold D, Kloszewska I, Soininen H, Mecocci P, Velas B, Gill M, Lawlor B, Rubinsztein DC, Brayne C, Passmore PA, Williams J, Lovestone S, Powell JF Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are both neurodegenerative disorders which share common pathological and biochemical features of the complement pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between well replicated AMD genetic risk factors and AD. A large cohort of AD (n = 3898) patients and controls were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the complement factor H (CFH), the Age-re...

National Alzheimer's proposal outlines strategy to improve diagnosis and treatment

American Medical News - HEALTH — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Health professionals agree that action is needed, but some wonder if the draft goes far enough. (Source: American Medical News - HEALTH)

Enter our Robbie Savage competition to win a signed copy of his best-selling autobiography

Alzheimers Society — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:35:00 +0100

We've got a signed copy of former footballer and Alzheimer's Society ambassador, Robbie Savage's, best-selling autobiography 'Savage!' up for grabs. (Source: Alzheimers Society)

Spatial Distribution and Secular Trends in the Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroimaging Clinics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:34:03 +0100

There are well-established differences in dementia incidence between communities and within communities over time. In part, these differences may be attributable to local improvements in dementia diagnosis and classification. Nevertheless, there are grounds for cautious optimism that there have been slight, but significant, recent reductions in dementia incidence. Possible causes include public health measures to reduce mortality attributable to stroke and heart disease, improved nutrition, and greater personal wealth. A life-course approach to dementia pathophysiology may help to elucidate the nature and timing of interventions that might delay dementia onset. (Source: Neuroimaging Clinics)

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The Molecular Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroimaging Clinics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:34:03 +0100

Neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer's disease consists of paired helical filaments comprising tau protein. This pathology is correlated with dementia, but can appear in the first two decades of life. Extracellular amyloid β-protein arises through proteolytic processing of a transmembrane precursor, which involves the action of several enzymes. Mutations in the genes for the precursor and presenilin proteins accelerate the deposition of Aβ. Tau mutations cause other tauopathies in the absence of amyloid deposition, indicating that amyloid deposition is not a prerequisite for dementia. An improved understanding of Alzheimer's disease awaits to be obtained by molecular imaging of these pathologies. (Source: Neuroimaging Clinics)

Clinical and Research Diagnostic Criteria for Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroimaging Clinics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:34:03 +0100

In contrast with the previous criteria published in 1984 by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, the new criteria proposed in 2007 incorporated in the diagnostic framework the use of biomarkers that are able to assess the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism. The combination of clinical and biologic approaches makes a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease possible before the dementia stage. The core clinical criteria continue to be the cornerstone of the diagnosis in clinical practice, but biomarker evidence is expected to enhance the specificity for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. (Source: Neuroimaging Clinics)

Structural Neuroimaging in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroimaging Clinics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:34:03 +0100

The role of structural neuroimaging in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming increasingly important. As a consequence, a basic understanding of what are normal brain changes in aging is key to be able to recognize what is abnormal. The first part of this article discusses normal versus pathologic brain aging, focusing on qualitative and quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging markers. In the second part, the role of MR imaging in the (differential) diagnosis of AD is reviewed. (Source: Neuroimaging Clinics)

Neuroimaging of Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Neuroimaging Clinics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:34:03 +0100

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a relative newcomer to the field of late-life dementia. Although a diversity of imaging methodologies is now available for the study of dementia, these have been applied most often to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies on DLB, although fewer, have yielded fascinating and important insights into the underlying pathophysiology of this condition and allowed clinical differentiation of DLB from other dementias. Imaging research on DLB has had significant ramifications in terms of raising the profile of DLB and helping define it as a distinctive and separate disease entity from AD. (Source: Neuroimaging Clinics)

Age UK Care in Crisis report: Alzheimer's Society comment

Alzheimers Society — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:09:00 +0100

Today (Monday, 30 January), Age UK launches its Care in Crisis report which shows that spending on social care for older people in England has fallen by half a billion pounds since 2010. (Source: Alzheimers Society)

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Genetic variation at CR1 increases risk of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Neurology — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The CR1 variant rs6656401 influences risk and recurrence of CAA-ICH, as well as the severity of vascular amyloid deposition. (Source: Neurology)

Functional integration of parietal lobe activity in early Alzheimer disease

Neurology — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate increased effective temporoparietal connectivity in patients with aMCI, while maintaining intact behavioral performance. This might be a compensational mechanism to counteract a parietal-posterior cingulate gyrus disconnection. These findings highlight the importance of connectivity changes in the pathophysiology of AD. In addition, effective connectivity may be a promising method for evaluating interventions aimed at the promotion of compensatory mechanisms. (Source: Neurology)

Tau deficiency induces parkinsonism with dementia by impairing APP-mediated iron export

Nature Medicine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Peng Lei, Scott Ayton, David I Finkelstein, Loredana Spoerri, Giuseppe D Ciccotosto, David K Wright, Bruce X W Wong, Paul A Adlard, Robert A Cherny, Linh Q Lam, Blaine R Roberts, Irene Volitakis, Gary F Egan, Catriona A McLean, Roberto Cappai, James A Duce & Ashley I Bush The microtubule-associated protein tau has risk alleles for both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and mutations that cause brain degenerative diseases termed tauopathies. Aggregated tau forms neurofibrillary tangles in these pathologies, but little is certain about the function of tau or its mode of involvement in pathogenesis. Neuronal iron accumulation has been observed pathologically in the cortex in Alzheimer's disease, the substantia nigra (SN) in Parkinson's disease and various brain regions ...

Hrd1 facilitates tau degradation and promotes neuron survival.

Current Molecular Medicine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:18:53 +0100

Authors: Shen YX, Sun AM, Fang S, Feng LJ, Li Q, Hou HL, Liu C, Wang HP, Shen JL, Luo J, Zhou JN Abstract Intraneuronal accumulation of abnormal phosphorylated tau (p-tau) is a molecular pathology in many neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we showed an inverse relationship between endoplasmic reticulum membrane ubiquitin ligase (E3) Hrd1 expression and p-tau accumulation in the hippocampal neurons of AD, and proposed that Hrd1 may be a negative regulator of p-tau. This notion was further supported by in vitro study demonstrating that Hrd1 interacted with tau and promoted the degradation of total tau and p-tau as wel...

Alzheimer's disease pattern of brain atrophy predicts cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Research suggests overlap in brain regions undergoing neurodegeneration in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. To assess the clinical significance of this, we applied a validated Alzheimer's disease-spatial pattern of brain atrophy to patients with Parkinson's disease with a range of cognitive abilities to determine its association with cognitive performance and decline. At baseline, 84 subjects received structural magnetic resonance imaging brain scans and completed the Dementia Rating Scale-2, and new robust and expanded Dementia Rating Scale-2 norms were applied to cognitively classify participants. Fifty-nine non-demented subjects were assessed annually with the Dementia Rating Scale-2 for two additional years. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were quantified using both a region of in...

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Blood-brain barrier P-glycoprotein function in Alzheimer's disease

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is accumulation of amyloid-β in senile plaques in the brain. Evidence is accumulating that decreased clearance of amyloid-β from the brain may lead to these elevated amyloid-β levels. One of the clearance pathways of amyloid-β is transport across the blood–brain barrier via efflux transporters. P-glycoprotein, an efflux pump highly expressed at the endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier, has been shown to transport amyloid-β. P-glycoprotein function can be assessed in vivo using (R)-[11C]verapamil and positron emission tomography. The aim of this study was to assess blood–brain barrier P-glycoprotein function in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared with age-matched healthy controls u...

Impairments of auditory scene analysis in Alzheimer's disease

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Parsing of sound sources in the auditory environment or ‘auditory scene analysis’ is a computationally demanding cognitive operation that is likely to be vulnerable to the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer’s disease. However, little information is available concerning auditory scene analysis in Alzheimer's disease. Here we undertook a detailed neuropsychological and neuroanatomical characterization of auditory scene analysis in a cohort of 21 patients with clinically typical Alzheimer's disease versus age-matched healthy control subjects. We designed a novel auditory dual stream paradigm based on synthetic sound sequences to assess two key generic operations in auditory scene analysis (object segregation and grouping) in relation to simpler auditory perceptual, task ...

Executive deficits are related to the inferior frontal junction in early dementia

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Executive functions describe a wide variety of higher order cognitive processes that allow the flexible modification of thought and behaviour in response to changing cognitive or environmental contexts. Their impairment is common in neurodegenerative disorders. Executive deficits negatively affect everyday activities and hamper the ability to cope with other deficits, such as memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease or behavioural disorders in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Our study aimed to characterize the neural correlates of executive functions by relating respective deficits to regional hypometabolism in early dementia. Executive functions were assessed with two classical tests, the Stroop and semantic fluency test and various subtests of the behavioural assessment of the dysexec...

Cerebral microbleeds in familial Alzheimer's disease

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Brain)

Reply: Cerebral microbleeds in familial Alzheimer's disease

Brain — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Brain)

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12/15-Lipoxygenase Protein May Help Control Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the Temple University's School of Medicine recently identified a protein in the brain that could have a major role in regulating the creation of amyloid beta, the major component of plaques implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Three years ago, the presence of the protein, called 12/15-Lipoxygenase, was detected in the brain by leading researcher Domenico Pratico, professor of pharmacology and microbiology and immunology at Temple, who said: "We found this protein to be very active in the brains of people who have Alzheimer's disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Protein In The Brain Could Be A Key Target In Controlling Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0100

A protein recently discovered in the brain could play a key role in regulating the creation of amyloid beta, the major component of plaques implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at Temple University's School of Medicine. A group led by Domenico Pratico, professor of pharmacology and microbiology and immunology at Temple, discovered the presence of the protein, called 12/15-Lipoxygenase, in the brain three years ago. "We found this protein to be very active in the brains of people who have Alzheimer's disease," said Pratico... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Infrared Analysis Of White Blood Cells Is A Promising Strategy For Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Spanish researchers, led by Pedro Carmona from the Instituto de Estructura de la Materia in Madrid, have uncovered a new promising way to diagnose Alzheimer's disease more accurately. Their technique, which is non-invasive, fast and low-cost, measures how much infrared radiation is either emitted or absorbed by white blood cells. Because of its high sensitivity, this method is able to distinguish between the different clinical stages of disease development thereby allowing reliable diagnosis of both mild and moderate stages of Alzheimer's... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New studies reveal caffeinated coffee protects against Alzheimer's, diabetes, depression and prostate cancer

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Recent research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee daily may protect against developing Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, depression and more, according to reports from Science Daily. Animal studies at the University of Florida discovered an ingredient... (Source: NaturalNews.com)