MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'The Tangled Neuron' source. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:01:28 +0100 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/419869266/rember-and-dimebon-clinical-trials.html I've gotten a lot of questions about how to sign up for clinical trials of Rember and Dimebon, so here's some information:Rember - it doesn't look like recruiting for Phase III trials has begun.  You can sign up to be on a mailing list for information about the trials by sending an email to info@taurx.com, or watch for information to be posted on the TauRx site.  You can read my post about the Phase II trials of Rember for details.Dimebon - Medivation (now working with Pfizer to develop this drug) is recruiting patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's for the Phase III trial of Dimebon.  You can read more information at www.connectionstudy.com.  Note that if you are currently taking Alzheimer's medicines, you cannot participate in this trial.The U.S. National Institutes of Health has... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876076 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1876076 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2008/09/beyond-drugs-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia-part-2.html Summary:  Based on more than twenty years of clinical trials, Dr. Linda Teri and colleagues have developed a series of behavioral techniques and caregiver training programs know as the Seattle Protocols.  Their research has shown that nondrug treatments for people with dementia can reduce depression, anxiety and general behavioral problems in people with dementia, decrease disability, delay institutionalization and reduce burden and depression in caregivers. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834620 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1834620 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/402223908/beyond-drugs-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia-part-2.html Summary:  Based on more than twenty years of clinical trials, Dr. Linda Teri and colleagues have developed a series of behavioral techniques and caregiver training programs know as the Seattle Protocols.  Their research has shown that nondrug treatments for people with dementia can reduce depression, anxiety and general behavioral problems in people with dementia, decrease disability, delay institutionalization and reduce burden and depression in caregivers.This is the last in a series of posts about presentations during the Psychosocial Issues and Neuropsychology session at ICAD 2008.  We hear a lot about clinical trials of Alzheimer's drugs, but there isn't much coverage of clinical trials of the nondrug treatments discussed in this session.  Maybe this is because nondrug treatments ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825709 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1825709 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/399085927/beyond-drugs-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia-part-4.html Summary:  The level and effect of psychosocial risk factors for Alzheimer's may not be the same for African-Americans and Whites.  This could mean we need different methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cognitive problems in African-American and White populations.  Large-scale studies are needed to confirm this finding.Alzheimer's is equal opportunity and color blind, right?  Well, not exactly.  We already know that some risk factors, such as diabetes, are more common among African-Americans.  And we know that other risk factors, such as the APOE4 gene variation, may affect African-Americans differently than Whites.  But what about psychosocial factors such as emotional states or the strength of social networks?  Lisa Barnes, Ph.D. Dr. Lisa... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815343 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1815343 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/398088079/beyond-drugs-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia-part-x.html Summary:  Preliminary results of a large trial of cognitive rehabilitation for people with Alzheimer's are encouraging.  Cognitive rehabilitation could help keep people with mild Alzheimer's functioning in the community and at home.Another great presentation in the "Psychosocial Issues and Neuropsychology" session at ICAD 2008 was Dr. David Loewenstein's update on a clinical trial of cognitive rehabilitation for people with Alzheimer's.  Dr. Loewenstein is Director of Research and Neuropsychology at the Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, and professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.The value of cognitive rehabilitation is well-established for people with brain injuries and for older adults in general, h... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812750 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1812750 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/391527638/beyond-drugs-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia-part-3.html In a previous post on the "Psychosocial Issues and Neuropsychology" session at ICAD, I wrote about Dr. Alistair Burns' presentation on  how caregiver interventions and nondrug therapies can help reduce dementia-related psychological symptoms like agitation and anxiety.  During the same session, Dr. Clive Ballard, Director of Research for the Alzheimer's Society and a Professor at Kings College London Institute of Psychiatry, made the case for why we need nondrug interventions.  Dr. Ballard focused on reviewing the evidence that drug treatments are often sub-optimal. Antipsychotics are the mainstay treatment for "behavioral" symptoms of dementia, Dr. Ballard said.  But when he and a colleague conducted a review of trials of these drugs, they found that the serious side effects of the dr... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790292 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1790292 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/374329013/a-quick-and-easy-biomarker.html Summary:  A new method of visually assessing shrinkage of certain areas of the brain using standard MRIs may improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's. ICAD was all about biomarkers.  Biomarkers are physical or biochemical characteristics that are signs of an ongoing disease process in a living person.  They include genetic variations, molecules in blood or spinal fluid, and patterns seen on imaging tests.  To be useful in screening for a disease or monitoring the progress of a disease, they should be easy to obtain.  This typically involves collecting blood, urine, stool or saliva samples, or performing a radiological test. The use of biomarkers for certain diseases is well-accepted - for example, blood tests are used to indicate the presence of certain cancers or the ris... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733999 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1733999 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/372765526/beyond-pills-other-ways-to-treat-alzheimers-and-dementia.html In this study, six sessions of psychotherapy did not improve any of these measures.  caregiver intervention  - a three country trial of the effect of advice, support and education for caregivers in addition to Alzheimer's medicines for the people with dementia they were caring for.  The trial found that this support significantly improved quality of life for the caregivers, over and above any effect of the Alzheimer's medicines given to the people they cared for.  Other studies have shown the positive role caregiver interventions and nondrug treatments can have in the management of dementia, said Dr. Burns.  Dr. Linda Teri and colleagues conducted a trial comparing an antipsychotic medication, an antidepressant, behavioral management therapy and a placebo for agitation... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729371 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1729371 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/365875437/rember-breakthrough-alzheimers-drug.html Summary:  results of Phase 2 clinical trials of a new Alzheimer's drug called rember look promising.  The drug is thought to reduce tau, the protein that makes up Alzheimer's tangles.  Drugs that look effective in Phase 2 trials have a low chance of proving effective in Phase 3, so we'll have to wait for the results of the Phase 3 trials before calling rember a "breakthrough."  The positive results of this Phase 2 trials lend credibility to those who would like to broaden Alzheimer's research beyond the amyloid hypothesis. I estimate there were 5400 minutes of presentations at ICAD, last month's Alzheimer's research conference in Chicago.  There were also around 2000 poster presentations. One twenty minute presentation o... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709172 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1709172 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/360348636/flurizan-rember-ginkgo-and-bapineuzumab-clinical-trial-results-at-icad.html I walked into the Tuesday afternoon Clinical Trials session at ICAD half an hour early, and got one of the last seats in the room.  Conference attendees were literally running into the room to try to get a seat.  The press was there in full force.  Women complained about having to choose between using the restroom (which given the long lines would have meant a 10-15 minute delay) and getting in to this session.  A film crew was roving around, blocking the aisles and adding to the carnival atmosphere.  This was definitely the best-attended session of the conference, and the Alzheimer's Association set up an overflow room with a video feed for those who could not get in.  So it seemed like a bit of an anti-climax when the first speaker, Dr. Robert Green of Boston University,matter-... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1693654 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1693654 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/357941346/the-alzheimers-action-plan-book-review.html Summary: The Alzheimer's Action Plan is a comprehensive resource for patients and families. It's not likely that most people with memory loss will get the standard of care the authors would want for their own parents, but the guidelines in the book will help patients and families get as close to that standard as possible. The scenario at the beginning of The Alzheimer's Action Plan will be familiar to many adult children whose elderly parents have memory problems:  warning signs, denial of problems by both your parent and his doctor, increasing problems, seemingly sudden diagnosis of Alzheimer's, no advice or support.  While this scenario doesn't exactly reflect my family's situation, I wish we had had this book when my father was alive. Lisa Gwyther, M.S... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686261 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1686261 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/355634326/international-conference-on-alzheimers-disease-icad-2008.html In this study, most people with dementia had mixed pathologies - Alzheimer's plaques and tangles, plus "something else."  But people without cognitive impairment had about the same level of Alzheimer's plaques and tangles, with much lower levels of "something else."  According to Dr. Bennett, this suggests that it's possible to accumulate a lot of Alzheimer's pathology without having cognitive impairment, and indicates that some people's brains have the capacity to withstand the effects of the Alzheimer's pathology thought to be harmful.  This capacity has recently been labeled "brain reserve."  Researchers at Rush have been working to identify what factors seem to affect this brain reserve that theoretically contributes to healthy brain aging.  Using data fr... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679400 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1679400 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/348972080/memory-bridge-a-talk-with-michael-verde.html I started this blog to report on the work of Alzheimer's scientists, but I keep running into the work of another group.  This loosely connected collection of historians, social workers, people with memory loss and others is focused on recognizing that persons with memory loss are valuable members of society.  I guess it's not surprising that this group often takes a larger view of Alzheimer's and dementia. Michael Verde Michael Verde is definitely someone who thinks about the big picture.  He is the founder and President of Memory Bridge, a Chicago-based foundation working to connect people who have Alzheimer's with family, friends and community.  Two of his grandparents had dementia. Since its beginnings in 2004, Memory Bridge has produced the PBS doc... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660781 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1660781 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/341772962/my-brain-age-is-80-cognitive-testing.html Summary:  Cognitive Drug Research Ltd. plans to offer web-based cognitive testing to individuals.  A poor result on this test might encourage someone to seek further testing, or try to improve his overall health.  But I'm not sure what my own score means in terms of everyday life, or whether the commercially available brain fitness programs would improve my score. My brain age is 80, at least according to the test posted on Portfolio.com.  To find out why I scored thirty years older than my actual age, and what it might mean, I contacted Cognitive Drug Research Ltd. (CDR), the company that developed the test. "This is the attentional subset of our cognitive test system," said Professor Keith Wesnes, CEO of CDR.  "The attention tests measure your ability to focus, p... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642680 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1642680 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/325233264/flurizan-lipitor-and-alzhemed-negative-study-results.html On Monday, Myriad Genetics Inc. announced the failure of Flurizan in Phase III trials.  This news follows the results from the LEADe study showing the cholesterol drug Lipitor did not benefit Alzheimer's patients, and the failure of Alzhemed in Phase III trials last year. With all this disappointing news, it seems more important than ever for professionals, with input from patients and their families, to talk about new approaches to Alzheimer's research and care.  Maybe implementing some of the ideas discussed at the National Institute on Aging 2006 conference would help.  I'll be at ICAD (the International Conference on Alzheimer's disease) in late July - it will be interesting to see whether new approaches are widely discussed. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1563913 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1563913 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/318941782/grand-rounds-is-up.html Grand Rounds is up at Shrink Rap, with an interesting set of links wrapped into an iPhone theme! The first two links are about using iPhones in medicine.  These posts are mostly for healthcare professionals, but it brings up a question for people with memory loss.  Would you use a phone or other small device for any of the following?  Do you already use your phone for some of these? Reminders for medicine, appointments or tasks Maps/navigation Store and display directions or notes Other? Or, as some have said, do these devices (smart phones, PDAs, etc.) take too much work to program and use? (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543249 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543249 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/319113477/got-memory-loss-a-different-approach.html So you have memory loss.  Maybe serious memory loss.  Of course you should pay attention to your health and make necessary arrangements.  But maybe the best thing you can do is pay attention to life. While some scientists work to identify pharmaceutical treatments for memory loss, others are working to test whether activities such as painting, playing an instrument or dancing are beneficial.  Don Moyer, his wife Jenny Knaus (diagnosed with Alzheimer's) and Renee Beard, a geriatric sociologist, have collaborated to develop a database of the latter type of research.  The resulting information is available on Dancing Away Memory Blues, Don's blog. On the blog, Don, Jenny and Renee list and summarize published studies on how activities in each of six categories (music, visual arts, dram... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543248 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543248 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/316556247/8-practical-tips-for-living-with-memory-loss.html I turned 50 last year.  Given my family history of dementia, I was not happy to read that as many as half of people my age and older have some memory loss.  I've noticed my already poor navigation skills have declined lately, and I can't multitask the way I used to.  It's not just me - my friends complain about missing appointments, bouncing checks and forgetting words.  Even worse, they lose the calendars and smartphones that are supposed to keep them on track! Modern medicine doesn't have a cure for memory loss, at least not yet.  Without a medical fix, are there things we can do to make living with memory loss easier?  I posed that question to some of my friends with more serious memory loss.  Here are some of their practical id... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535762 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1535762 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2008/06/surgery-anesthesia-and-memory-loss.html Summary:  After surgery, many people experience short-term delirium and/or longer-term cognitive decline.  Scientists are still studying how to prevent these problems. Doctors, families and patients report that surgery seems to cause short-term delirium and/or longer term memory loss in some people. In a recent Duke University study of 1064 patients undergoing major surgery (but not heart surgery), neuropsychological tests showed the following rates of post-operative cognitive dysfunction or POCD: Age range                  Leaving hospital      3 Months After Surgery 18-39 year olds        &#0... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522131 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1522131 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/297269736/aspirin-good-or-bad-for-your-memory.html Summary: Two recent studies do not show that aspirin helps memory loss. The painkiller may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. When my father first complained about his memory, his doctor told him to take a baby aspirin every day. After seeing headlines like “An aspirin a day to keep Alzheimer’s away?” I thought this was good advice. Aspirin is one of several NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that have been tested for prevention or treatment of memory loss. Results from two recent studies make it less likely your doctor will recommend the drug for memory loss. In the first study, a trial of low-dose aspirin for prevention of heart disease and cancer in women over 65, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University tested the memory of ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466867 Sun, 25 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1466867 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/297291100/ibuprofen-naproxen-and-other-nsaids-for-alzheimers.html Large observational studies have linked regular use of painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) with lowered risk of Alzheimer’s, but clinical trials have not backed this up. The publication of the results of two new studies this month didn’t do much to resolve this issue. In the first study, Boston University researchers analyzed the medical records of hundreds of thousands of military veterans, and found long-term use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), particularly ibuprofen, was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. A detailed analysis of the results of the second study, ADAPT (Alzheimer's Disease Anti-inflammatory Prevention Trial), was published this month. It showed that neither naproxen nor another NSAID, celecoxib, improved thi... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466866 Sun, 25 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1466866 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/289620086/chuck-jackson-t.html My friend Chuck Jackson, who along with many family members has early onset Alzheimer’s disease, will testify at a U.S. Senate hearing on Alzheimer’s tomorrow (Wednesday May 14th). The hearing starts at 10:30 AM eastern time. A link to the live webcast will be available at http://aging.senate.gov/. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439591 Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1439591 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/289627948/webcast-the-myt.html If you want to congratulate Dr. Peter Whitehouse and Danny George for writing their book The Myth of Alzheimer’s, let them know how wrong you think they are, or are just plain curious, here’s your chance. They’ll be featured on a HealthTalk webcast tomorrow night (Wednesday, May 14th) at 7 PM eastern. Details are on the registration page at the HealthTalk site. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439590 Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1439590 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/288227565/orien-reid-nix.html Orien Reid Nix is a baby boomer with a family history of dementia. She is also Chair of Alzheimer’s Disease International. Last week, she gave a keynote address at the Wisconsin State Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in Milwaukee. In her talk, she focused on the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on baby boomers, both as they care for their elders and as they develop their own memory problems. Orien Reid Nix and Corinne Reid Owens Ms. Reid Nix was accompanied by her aunt, Corinne Reid Owens, a civil rights activist in Wisconsin. Ms. Owens is 95, and does not have Alzheimer’s. But several of Ms. Reid Nix’s family members, including her mother, had the disease. In her speech, she talked about the challenges of caring for her mother while still caring for... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434448 Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1434448 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/279672648/imaging-with-pi.html New imaging techniques have shown that many cognitively normal elders have as much amyloid protein (thought by some to cause Alzheimer’s) in their brains as do people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Does this mean that these cognitively normal elders are on the brink of developing Alzheimer’s, or does it mean that the amount of amyloid in the brain doesn’t always correlate to the amount of memory loss? The Alzheimer Research Forum has now posted three parts of a four-part report from the Human Amyloid Imaging Conference. Their report covers the mixed results from studies using evidence Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) imaging of amyloid, and the potential effect on early diagnosis and clinical trials. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1405374 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1405374 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/277684674/does-depression.html Summary: A new study provides more evidence that depression may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. People with dementia often report they suffered from depression before they developed serious problems with memory and thinking. Study after study has shown a link between depression and memory loss. Researchers continue to debate whether depression increases the risk of developing serious memory loss or is simply a sign of brain changes underlying Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Robert S. Wilson, Ph. D. Dr. Robert Wilson, Professor of Neurological Sciences and Psychology at Rush University Medical Center, studies the neurobiology of the connection between depression and dementia. In an article in a recent issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, he and his colleagues provide more... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1399158 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1399158 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2008/04/aafp-acp-guidel.html When my father was struggling with memory loss, his doctors prescribed both Aricept and Namenda. If they helped his memory and thinking, I couldn???t tell. For Dad, the side effects of these medicines didn???t seem to be worth any benefit. Dad and my nephew Chris play the piano But for other people with memory loss, these drugs seem to be very helpful, and the side effects are generally tolerable. This wide variety in benefits and side effects may be what the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) were trying to address when they published new guidelines about drug treatment of dementia last month. The guidelines are based on a meta-analysis of previous studies of the cholinesterase inhibitors Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon and tacri... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1391047 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1391047 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/271621288/cadasil-young-o.html Summary: CADASIL is a type of stroke disorder that can cause young onset dementia. Two web sites have been developed by women whose families are affected by the disease. Billie Duncan-Smith’s husband Steve’s first symptom came when he was 38. He woke up with an excruciating headache, and started vomiting because the pain was so bad. Over the next few years, he would suffer many such migraines, some lasting for several weeks. An MRI of his brain showed a high number of white matter lesions, but Steve’s doctors weren’t sure what was causing his headaches. Billie and Steve in 2004 While Steve suffered, Billie searched the internet and contacted medical experts all over the world. She sent his records and test results to those who offered to help. Finally, someone at the U... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1376723 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1376723 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/265917394/does-loss-of-me.html My friend Don Moyer, who blogs about his wife Jenny's memory loss and about memory loss in general, will be one of the guests on a HealthTalk webcast Wednesday (April 9, 2008) at 4 pm Pacific time. He, Jenny and Dr. Renee Beard, a geriatric sociologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, have published a paper about the rich and meaningful lives people with memory loss lead. You can read more about this webcast, and register to participate here. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356141 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1356141 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/264120034/the-alzheimers.html Summary: Dr. Marwan Sabbagh’s new book The Alzheimer's Answer: Reduce Your Risk and Keep Your Brain Healthy is a handbook for baby boomers hoping to prevent serious memory loss. Dr. Marwan Sabbagh is a geriatric neurologist and Alzheimer’s researcher at Sun Health Research Institute in Arizona. He spends his days seeing memory loss patients and their families, and supervising Alzheimer’s clinical trials. He helped care for his mother-in-law when she suffered from dementia. Like all of us who have watched family members struggle with memory loss, he worries about how it will affect his generation and his children’s. Marwan Sabbagh, MD For a man who admits to a fear of aging, he has deep personal relationships with the elders in his community. He calls Alzheimer’s “the ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1352063 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1352063 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/247977300/amyloid-inhibit.html This report suggests that the amount of amyloid inhibitor needed is probably even greater, perhaps at least a 10:1 or 100:1 ratio. The higher the concentration needed for efficacy, the higher the risks of side effects, so this does not augur well for this therapeutic approach.” Dr. Leissring was not involved in the UCSF study. There’s more bad news: Dr. Shoichet believes that many substances that appear to inhibit tau [the protein in Alzheimer’s tangles] may also be “promiscuous.” “Compounds that inhibit tau through colloidal aggregation are almost certainly artifacts [meaning study results are misleading] and should be dropped,” he says. It’s unclear how much this will affect drugs currently under development. Alzhemed, a drug that failed in clinical trials and is now b... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288402 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1288402 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/236610827/alzheimers-rese.html Summary: A new conference report from the U.S. National Institute on Aging summarizes the presentations, discussions and recommendations of top Alzheimer’s researchers. From my layperson’s point of view, the report shows three reasons why Alzheimer’s research is at a crossroads: 1. We don’t really understand what causes memory loss and dementia. 2. Every brain is different, and multiple factors and diseases may underlie any one person’s memory problems. 3. Overall, research to date has not yielded the hoped-for answers. Of the many recommendations made to the NIA, the ones involving broadening the concept of Alzheimer’s and collaborating with scientists in other fields make the most sense to me. Over the weekend, I’ve been reading through a report on a conference on Alzhe... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1237766 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1237766 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/233380440/two-articles-on.html Two of my friends are featured in recent articles about Alzheimer's. An article in the Appleton, Wisconsin Post-Crescent tells the story of the dementia that runs in Chris VanRyzin's family, and how a combination of prescription medicines, supplements and lifestyle changes have gradually improved her health. Chris is the founder of forMemory, a non-profit working to share information to prevent and treat early onset Alzheimer's and related disease. Jim Cook's work to help identify people under age 65 with memory loss in the Lincoln, Nebraska area is profiled in the Kearney, Nebraska Hub article. Jim was diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's when he was 55. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223708 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1223708 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/227398256/the-myth-of-alz.html We seem to be rethinking everything right now - the energy we use, the pollution we create, the foods we eat. Peter Whitehouse, a prominent Alzheimer’s researcher and doctor, is also rethinking the disease we call late onset Alzheimer’s. In his new book, The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis, written with Danny George, Dr. Whitehouse questions just about everything we think we know about Alzheimer’s and memory loss. Their book comes at a time when I’ve started to rethink my late father’s dementia after two years of blogging about Alzheimer’s research.In some ways, The Myth of Alzheimer’s is a practical how-to manual, with information about treatments, alternative medicine, avoiding toxins, and the role of diet, exercise and ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194779 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1194779 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/225267049/creativity-and.html Are people with memory loss more creative? It seems many have taken up painting, writing or playing an instrument. Donna Beveridge has taken up all three. Donna, 65, is a retired elementary school teacher diagnosed last year with early stage probable Alzheimer’s. She lives with her partner Betsey and their two cats, Shadow and Idgy, near the coast of Maine. Her three children and their families live close by.After her retirement, Donna stayed active in education and in her community. She ran a family literacy program, and started and coordinated a community time bank. She’s cut back on her community work, but her involvement with the arts is growing. She plays African drums, and loves to read and write. Lately she’s been writing poetry and learning to paint with water colors. This C... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1185780 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1185780 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/221057117/enbrel-an-alzhe.html When I started blogging about Alzheimer’s and dementia, people began sending me links to information about miracle cures for memory loss. I’ve received entire books about “hidden discoveries” and Alzheimer’s conspiracies in the mail. So far, none of the information (including an analysis I received a few weeks ago explaining how oral sex causes Alzheimer’s!) has been backed up by careful research. So when I saw excerpts of a press release about a new “miracle” cure for Alzheimer’s early this month in the Alzheimer’s Daily News (“Alzheimer’s Treatment Shows Promise”), I didn’t pay much attention. But it turns out other media outlets were repeating the words of the press release, and attaching sensational headlines. ScienceDaily’s headline read “Reversal of... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1169711 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1169711 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/215026697/pbs-newshour-pi.html The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer aired a piece on Early Onset Alzheimer's last night. The panel discussion and other scenes were filmed during the Early Memory Loss Forum in L.A. last October. You can download the video and audio versions here. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146355 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1146355 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/207127395/newshour-with-j.html The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer [on PBS in the U.S.] will air a segment on memory loss tomorrow night (December 28th) or on January 2nd. Much of the segment was filmed at the Early Memory Loss Forum event last October. I met Terry Rubin, the NewsHour producer working on this segment, at the Forum. He seemed genuinely interested in the personal, medical and social aspects of memory loss. I'm sure his segment will reflect how the Forum was a turning point for people with memory loss in their transition from silent victims to involved advocates. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119259 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1119259 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/207161543/article-on-alzh.html There's a great article on the uncertainties of Alzheimer's research in today's Los Angeles Times. Two sentences in the article really capture how I've been feeling lately: "In Alzheimer's research, lots of people seemed to have quit believing anything is wrong or right or crazy. Mainly, they shrug." The article also talks about some preliminary research from Rush University that shows it's difficult to correlate plaques and tangles with dementia. News of this research adds to the suspicion that Alzheimer's is not a single disease, making promises of a "cure" less realistic. I'm working with a group of people who have memory loss to start a registry that will document what prescription medicines, supplements and lifestyle changes (or combination of these factors) seem to help memory and... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119258 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1119258 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/200918300/terry-pratchett.html Bert Piedmont at Had A Dad writes that one of her favorite authors, Terry Pratchett, has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. His doctors had originally diagnosed him with stroke. In his note to fans, Mr. Pratchett seems optimistic. But the last sentence of his note caught my eye: I know it's a very human thing to say "Is there anything I can do", but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry. I can't imagine how horrible he must feel. But there's a group of people who can. If Mr. Pratchett were to contact members of DementiaUSA, DASNI and forMemory, he would find the ultimate experts in living with early stage dementias. They have ideas about staying engaged in life, managing symptoms, and yes, even brain chemistry. Don't y... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097230 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1097230 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/195089772/do-chimps-have.html The December 3rd edition of Newsweek has an article about a Japanese study in which chimps (at least young chimps) scored better on tests of short term memory than did college students. It would be interesting to know how chimp brains processed this memory as opposed to human brains - I wonder if it would be possible to do a functional MRI scan during a test like this? (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070240 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1070240 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/195098427/david-shenks-ta.html Two years after my father’s death, people ask why I’m still researching and writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia. I tell them I want to help other families who are going through what mine did. I also tell them that Alzheimer’s researchers are teaching me a lot about science. What’s harder to explain is that people with dementia are teaching me a lot about life. David Shenk, author of The Forgetting: Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic, put this into words during his keynote speech at the Early Memory Loss Forum. David Shenk, author of The Forgetting, with Judy Wurtz, Director of Volunteers and Member of the Board, California Southland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at the Early Memory Loss Forum "When I started work on The Forgetting,” he said, “I th... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070239 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1070239 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/192523251/magazine-availa.html A new edition of Preserving Your Memory magazine is now available from alzinfo.org. Check out the article on reducing stress, the survey on brain fitness, and an update on some of the science at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1060020 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1060020 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/190856551/detecting-alzhe.html Summary: PET scans using a compound called FDDNP show promise for detecting Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms are apparent. If follow-up studies confirm the accuracy of this imaging technique, researchers will be a step closer to the vision of early detection and treatment to delay progression. When my father complained about memory problems, his family doctor told him there was nothing wrong. One year later, the doctor mailed my parents a letter saying he thought Dad had had a stroke. A neurologist at a major research center diagnosed probable Alzheimer’s; yet another at the same center said he thought the problem was iron overload and a vitamin B deficiency. If Dad would just take a vitamin B supplement and avoid foods enriched with iron, he thought, D... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1051248 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1051248 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/181909148/does-memory-los.html Summary: A new paper shows that many people with dementia lead rich and meaningful lives. One of the reasons a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s has carried such a stigma is the view that having the disease means losing all your memories, and therefore, losing your “self.” But the idea of losing your sense of self as you lose your memory doesn’t really fit with much of what I’ve observed. Even as my father lost his memories, he kept his sense of humor, his sense of rhythm and melody, and his sense of right and wrong. Even as he lost track of his exact relationship with friends and family, he kept his sense of love for all of us. I would argue that he never lost his sense of self. “‘Loss of self’ is baloney,” says Don Moyer, voicing an opinion shared by many with mild t... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1014970 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1014970 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/178966290/education-cogni.html This study implies that for many, reliance on clinical symptoms will result in a too-late identification of the disease,” says Dr. Hall. “For clinicians, it is important to realize that early signs of dementia might not be obvious in persons with high education.” This was certainly true for my father – his family physician dismissed his complaints of memory problems for years. “This research of course needs to be replicated in other studies,” Dr. Hall says. “And it should motivate more research towards biological markers of dementia, both vascular and Alzheimer's, because we will need them once we have treatments that change the course of the disease process in order to identify candidates for the treatment.” (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1001006 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1001006 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2007/10/early-memory-lo.html Congratulations to Rich Bozanich and Jay Smith, co-chairs of the Early Memory Loss Forum held in L. A. this past Saturday! The sold-out conference was their brainchild, and as far as I know, was the first to be planned by people with dementia for people with dementia. I'll post pictures and information from the conference in a few days. In the meantime, you can read Gabrielle Strobel's excellent summary at the Alzheimer Research Forum. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=998636 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:27:28 +0100 998636 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheTangledNeuron/~3/177201424/early-memory-lo.html Congratulations to Rich Bozanich and Jay Smith, co-chairs of the Early Memory Loss Forum held in L. A. this past Saturday! The sold-out conference was their brainchild, and as far as I know, was the first to be planned by people with dementia for people with dementia. I'll post pictures and information from the conference in a few days. In the meantime, you can read Gabrielle Strobel's excellent summary at the Alzheimer Research Forum. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991839 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 991839 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2007/10/an-alzheimers-r.html David Loewenstein, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Neuropsychology at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Research Director at the Wien Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. In a previous post, I wrote about his research on cognitive rehabilitation for people with Alzheimer’s. As part of his job, he writes articles about Alzheimer’s for scientific and medical journals. But he’s also written a book about his special needs daughter, Rachel, who was born four months early. For the Love of Rachel is written from a personal, rather than a medical, point of view. The early chapters of the book cover the ups and downs of Rachel’s months in the neonatal intensive care unit, her setbacks and her surgeries, and her fight to liv... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=947342 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:57:53 +0100 947342 http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2007/10/update-on-fundi.html The revised Florida budget, which looks set for approval tomorrow, will cut only $1.5 million of the $15 million in state funding for the Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute. Initial proposals for cuts ranged from $7.5 million to the entire $15 million. Although this is a reprieve for the Institute, it doesn’t mean that state funding is secure in the long run. With the housing market in meltdown here, Florida’s tax revenues are unlikely to grow any time soon. The legislature may be forced to make more cuts. To ensure continued funding and research, the Byrd Institute, like every other Alzheimer’s research center, must find ways to strengthen its relationship with the community. This means more than just outreach and education. As discussed in a previous post, patients... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=944568 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:46:40 +0100 944568