MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'alzheimer s'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:09:40 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772195&cid=t_162246_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F07%2Fby-nortin-hadler-md---there-has-been-much-progress-in-the-understanding-of-the-biology-of-alzheimers-disease-chemicals-d.html By NORTIN HADLER, MD There has been much progress in the understanding of the biology of Alzheimer’s disease. Chemicals detected in the blood and spinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s and findings with new brain imaging techniques are the long... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772195 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3772195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652679&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F11%2Falzheimers_extracting_data_from_failed_trials.php It's no secret that Alzheimer's disease has been a disastrous area in which to do drug discovery. Every large drug company has had failures in the area, and many smaller ones have gone out of business trying their hands. (I had several years in the field myself earlier in my career, trying three different approaches, none of which panned out in the end). Now the Coalition Against Major Diseases has announced an open-access database of clinical trial results from failed drug candidates in the area. J&J, GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott, SanofiAventis, and AstraZeneca have contributed data from 11 failed drug candidates, and more look to be on the way from other companies. I hope that Eli Lilly, Merck (their own compounds and those from Schering-Plough), and Pfizer all join in on this - right off th... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652679 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:12:01 +0100 3652679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3437917&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F05%2Frapamycin_for_alzheimers.php This report is definitely going to start a lot of people thinking about experimenting with rapamycin for Alzheimer's - there are a lot of desperate patients and relatives out there. But together with that lifespan paper, it might also start some people thinking about it whether they're worried about Alzheimer's or not. (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3437917 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:19:37 +0100 3437917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370652&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F16%2Fbetaamyloid_an_antibiotic.php Now here's something that I don't think anyone expected. A recent paper in PLoS One makes the case that beta-amyloid, the protein that has been fingered for decades as a major player in Alzheimer's disease, is actually part of the body's antimicrobial defenses. Well, it's good to hear that it's doing something. Many people had hypothesized that it was a useless (indeed, harmful) byproduct, a waste stream from aberrant processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Still, there have been reports over the years that beta-amyloid was substrate for active transport pumps, might be a ligand for various receptors, etc., but not everyone was willing to take these results seriously. But it turns out that some of A-beta's properties are similar to those of innate host defense peptides. When ... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370652 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:40:10 +0100 3370652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335554&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Fdimebon_grasping_at_straws.php Robert Langreth, an editor at Forbes, points to a possible way that Dimebon could get approval for Alzheimer's: for its behavioral effects, not anything to do with amyloid or memory. I'm not buying it, I have to say. Even Langreth's source admits that behavioral numbers didn't reach statistical significance. I don't see how this will be enough to rescue this one, even if one of the ongoing trials does use a behavioral score as an endpoint. Update: Langreth has an earlier piece on how Dimebon appears to have been overhyped from the beginning, a viewpoint I concur with. The same thing happens with any drug for Alzheimer's, and is a constant problem in cancer and obesity, too. (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335554 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:04:15 +0100 3335554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327280&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F03%2Fdimebon_comes_crashing_to_earth.php Earlier this month I wrote about Medivation and their Russian-derived clinical candidate for Alzheimer's disease, Dimebon (latrepirdine). At the time, I wrote that "A lot of eye-catching numbers from small Phase II trials tend to flatten out in the wider world of Phase III, and if forced, that's the way I'd bet here." Unfortunately, that's just what appears to have happened. The results are out today, and Dimebon has not showed any efficacy at all versus placebo. From the data given in the press release, the comparison is just absolutely flat; you could have been giving the study patients breath mints and seen the same numbers. Since the design of this trial was similar to the smaller Phase II trials that showed such interesting results, there's clearly something going on that we don't un... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327280 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:53:32 +0100 3327280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236077&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F03%2Fdimebon_for_alzheimers_a_black_box_indeed.php Dimebon (dimebolin) is a perfect example of the black-box nature of drug research for the central nervous system. Any medicinal chemist who looks at its structure would immediately say "CNS", but shrug when asked what specific receptors it might hit. I'd have guessed histamine (correctly), since loratidine used to pay my salary, and I also would have guessed a clutch of 5-HT stuff as well. But it also has activity at AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors, L-type calcium channels, and more. If you can tell me what it's really doing up there, you shouldn't bother: hang up on me and start calling people with money, because you're ready to take over the CNS therapeutic area for sure. This blunderbuss is getting a lot of attention these days, since the data for a Phase III trial against Alzheimer'... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236077 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:15:21 +0100 3236077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115278&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F23%2Fan_alzheimers_compound_runs_into_big_trouble.php Another interesting approach to Alzheimer's therapy has just taken a severe jolt in the clinic. Elan and Transition Therapeutics were investigating ELEND005, also known as AZD-103, which was targeted at breaking down amyloid fibrils and allowing the protein to be cleared from the brain. Unfortunately, the two highest-dose patient groups experienced a much greater number of severe events - including nine deaths, which is about as severe as things get - and those doses have been dropped from the study. I'm actually rather surprised that the trial is going on at all, but the safety data for the lowest dose (250mg twice daily) appear to justify continuing. The higher doses were 1g and 2g b.i.d., and the fact that they were going up that high makes me think that the chances of success at the l... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115278 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:51:45 +0100 3115278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2972034&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FFamd8jpvvjY%2Falzheimers-patients-respond-to-dolls.html This is a wonderful idea and I am sure others would be interested in following their lead. ...the daughter felt sad and "shook up" when leaving St. Elizabeth's after a visit. "After we gave her the baby doll, I never felt sad again when I left," she said. "So it was very liberating for me......" Two Catonsville mothers, Wendy Geist and Amy Nelson, have initiated a volunteer project of collecting used dolls to ease the suffering and bring joy to seniors experiencing Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The women say, " beneficial effects can be amazing." My mother loves dolls and handles them all the time. She also loves anything that is soft and cuddly--like the pink Gund bear I bought for her 20 years ago. My mother also perks up whenever she is around children. They seem to ... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2972034 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:04:07 +0100 2972034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2622033&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F20%2Famyloid_in_trouble.php Here's an interesting look at the current state of the Alzheimer's field from Bloomberg. The current big hope is Wyeth (and Elan)'s bapineuzumab, which I last wrote about here. That was after the companies reported what had to be considered less-than-hoped-for efficacy in the clinic. The current trial is the one sorted out by APOE4 status of the patients. After the earlier trial data, it seems unlikely that there's going to be a robust effect across the board - the people with the APOE4 mutation are probably the best hope for seeing real efficacy. And if bapineuzumab doesn't turn out to work even for them? Well: “Everyone is waiting with bated breath on bapineuzumab,” said Michael Gold, London-based Glaxo’s vice president of neurosciences, in an interview. “If that one fails, the... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2622033 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:58:02 +0100 2622033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2217001&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F26%2Fdoes_glucophage_make_alzheimers_worse.php Metformin, now there’s a drug story for you. It’s a startlingly small molecule, the sort of thing that chemists look and and say “That’s a real drug?” It kicked around in the literature and the labs in the 1960s, was marketed in Europe in the 1980s but was shopped around in the US for quite a while, partly because a lot of people had just that reaction. (It didn't help that a couple of other drugs in the same structural class turned out to cause lactic acidosis and had to be pulled from use). Bristol-Myers Squibb finally took metformin up, though, and did extremely well with it in the end under the brand name Glucophage. It’s now generic, and continues to be widely prescribed for Type II diabetes. But for many years, no one had a clue how it worked. It not only went all the wa... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2217001 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:18:38 +0100 2217001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090184&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F08%2Fshort_items_india_sanjay_gupta_satori_pharmaceuticals.php I have a few short links for everyone today. One series of posts that you might not have seen from Xconomy is a tour of the technological hot spots of India by Boston University's Vinit Nijhawan. It's interesting stuff for people like me who haven't been to the country, and he isn't shy about pointing out both the good and the bad about India's current situation. He's not focusing on the chemistry/pharmaceutical sector, but it's an interesting read in general. I would very much enjoy seeing a similar series written from China - perhaps the Xconomy folks are working on that one? Next: if Sanjay Gupta really is going to be surgeon general (and why not?), it's worth watching his exchange with Michael Moore when Moore's movie "Sicko" came out. This is a 17-minute YouTube clip, and you may not... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090184 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:31:08 +0100 2090184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671771&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F31%2Frember_for_alzheimers_methylene_blues_comeback.php Today we take up the extremely interesting story of Rember, hailed in this week’s press as a potential wonder drug for Alzheimer’s. There are a lot of unusual features to this one. To take the most obvious first, the Phase II data seem to have been impressive. It’s hard to show decent efficacy in an Alzheimer’s trial – you can ask Wyeth and Elan about that, although it’s a sore subject with them. But Rember, according to reports (this is the best I've seen), was significantly more effective than the current standard of care (Aricept/donezepil, a cholinesterase inhibitor). In light of some of the more breathless news stories, though, it’s worth keeping in mind that this was efficacy in slowing the rate of decline – not stopping it, and certainly not reversing it. Especially... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671771 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:13:56 +0100 1671771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668698&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F30%2Fbapineuzumab_good_for_anything_or_not.php Note: I'm still working my way through the information on the much-hyped TauRx drug, Rember - a post on that is coming. Here's more from the same Alzheimer's meeting, though: Elan and Wyeth unveiled the data on their widely anticipated Alzheimer’s drug bapineuzumab yesterday. This is another antibody from Elan’s shop, part of a long-running effort to induce an immune response to the amyloid protein which is thought to be a key player in the development of disease. And. . .well, this is an Alzheimer’s drug. That means it comes with all the standard baggage: it’s trying to treat an extremely difficult disease that we don’t understand very well, by a mechanism that no one can be sure will work or is even relevant. (Cue up this discussion from last week around here!) This drug was ... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668698 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:20:06 +0100 1668698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1556503&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F30%2Fanother_alzheimers_compound_goes_down.php I was mentioning the gamma secretase enzyme around here just the other day as a longstanding target for Alzheimer's therapy. I remember the periodduring the 1990s when the enzyme hadn't been identified yet, and frankly, it was a lot easier to get excited about it then. That's because when it was finally worked out, the protease turned out to be a big multifunctional multiprotein complex, and among its many functions was affecting Notch signaling. That's worrisome, because a lot of important cellular development pathways go through the Notch receptor, and these are things that you'd really rather not mess with. (Just run the word "notch" through PubMed to see what I mean). Indeed, some of the toxic effects of the earlier gamma secretase inhibitors seem to have been mediated through just th... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556503 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:25:12 +0100 1556503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543150&cid=t_162246_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F25%2Fpromising-new-alzheimers-research-published%2F Which came first, the beta-amyloid plaque or the Alzheimer’s? It’s the plaque, but only one subtype, according to a new report by Harvard researchers in the online journal Nature Medicine and profiled in this TIME article from Sunday. Physicians and researchers have long noted the presence of these plaques, made up of “sticky” beta-amyloid proteins, in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and wondered whether there might be some connection between the plaque and the disease. To complicate things, however, beta-amyloid plaques have also been found in patients with no sign of the disease, making scientists wonder whether the plaques could be an advance warning sign of Alzheimer’s rather than a byproduct of the disorder. So, how was this chicken-and-egg problem solved? Researcher... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543150 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:16:46 +0100 1543150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526771&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F17%2Fprotecting_amyloids_parent.php Let’s start from first principles: most drugs mess something up. More elegantly, most drugs inhibit some enzyme’s activity or block some receptor’s binding site. Proteins are generally pretty well optimized at what they do, so it’s a lot easier to block their activities than it is to speed them up. (There are rare exceptions). And if you’re going to target an enzyme with a small molecule inhibitor, you’ll do just that – find a small molecule that fits into the active site of the enzyme and gums up the works. In a few cases, we know of drugs that bind to other sites on the protein and mess up the active site indirectly, by altering the whole conformation of the protein, but most inhibitors are in or near the site where the natural substrates bind. This background is what mak... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526771 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:11:14 +0100 1526771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516775&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F13%2Felan_tries_again.php The long-running saga of Elan's attempt to come up with a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease continues. There have been bold attempts, setbacks, rethinks, more setbacks, and now they're starting up again. Dosing of the latest version of their vaccine against the beta-amyloid protein, known as ACC-001, was suddenly halted in April when one patient came down with a skin lesion which was thought to be possibly autoimmune-linked vasculitis. Biopsy results didn't confirm that, though, and the Elan/Wyeth partnership is resuming clinical studies. I'm not sure what that couple of months has done to their trial design; I assume that they've just started enrolling new patients and will continue with them, while continuing to monitor the former dosage groups. Maybe, though, there's a way to continue wi... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516775 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:44:12 +0100 1516775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1423658&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F06%2Falzheimers_a_report_from_the_front.php Several recent papers in Neurology offer some interesting ideas on Alzheimer's disease. The one that's getting some headlines today suggests that long-term use of ibuprofen has a protective effect against the disease. Actually, the authors looked at all sorts of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, but the correlation was strongest for ibuprofen. (That may be just because it's used so much, however, and not some intrinsic property of that specific drug). Interestingly, although some NSAIDs have been shown to inhibit formation of beta-amyloid (the protein fragment implicated for many years in Alzheimer's), no particular effect was seen for that class of drugs versus the other NSAIDs. There's long been a suspicion that a lot of Alzheimer's pathology is driven by inflammation cascades, and... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1423658 Tue, 06 May 2008 12:20:42 +0100 1423658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1352024&cid=t_162246_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F04%2Fstudy-suggests-antipsychotics-dont-help-people-with-dementia-alzheimers%2F Powerful antipsychotic medications have commonly been prescribed to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other serious cognitive dementias found amongst the elderly population, especially if they are in a nursing home or hospital environment. Why? Almost all older dementia patients will experience, along with the cognitive and functional decline typical of the illness, some neuropsychiatric symptoms. These symptoms can include agitation, aggression, and psychosis, and are often devastating for the older patient and his or her family and caregiver. Managing these symptoms is often a prime concern for health-care providers and families. Neuroleptics (sometimes called antipsychotics) are the class of drugs often used to manage or control neuropsychiatric problems, but there have been... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1352024 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:00:54 +0100 1352024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1265292&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F28%2Fapoe4_test_or_not.php Science has coverage of a diagnostic test for the APOE gene that’s coming into the market. For about $400, you can find out what form of the protein you have. The problem is, the main thing this test is good for is telling you that you have a greater-than-average chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, which raises the question of whether it’s good for anything at all. Most of the people quoted in the article have their doubts, which I share. Since we really don’t have any decent therapies for Alzheimer’s, what’s the good of knowing that you’re at greater risk for it? The only exception I can think of is mentioned by law professor Henry Greely of Stanford: if you’re homozygous for APOE4, you’re about 15 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. That gets into the ran... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1265292 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:43:23 +0100 1265292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1222425&cid=t_162246_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Ffast_plaques_in_a_slow_disease.php One of the first projects I ever worked on when I started in industry was targeting Alzheimer's disease. Things could have easily worked out to find me still targeting Alzheimer's disease, nearly twenty years later, because the standard of care really hasn't advanced all that much in the intervening years. It's a hard, hard area to work in. CNS programs are always difficult, since we understand less about the brain's workings than those of any other organ, and since the brain's own blood supply is another barrier to getting a drug through to do anything. And Alzheimer's has tough features on top of that, since (for one thing) we're the only animal that gets the disease, and (for another) the clinical trials needed to show efficacy can be hideously long, large, and expensive. And the under... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1222425 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:48:52 +0100 1222425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156039&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F217857890%2F The cholesterol-lowering meds failed to prevent or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s, or create any change in cognition, according to the study published this week in Neurology. The researchers examined 929 Catholic clergy members who were, on average, 75 years old, free of dementia at the beginning of the study and enrolled in a convent. All of the participants agreed to a brain autopsy at the time of their death and underwent annual cognitive tests for up to 12 years, beginning in 1994. At the beginning of the study, 119 people were taking one of the various statins. During the 12-year follow-up period, 191 people developed Alzheimer’s disease, of whom 16 used statins at the start of the study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging. “Some studies have suggested... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156039 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:18:41 +0100 1156039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1119360&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F207045342%2F Lying on the beach? Sprawled across the couch? Maybe you’re in the office trying to catch up while things are quiet? Wherever you are, there are always interesting tales to read. Here are some we found during our own time off this week (Did we say we were on vacation?) Enjoy…. A little company in Canada is high on marijuana. Cannasat Therapeutics is testing its first product, CAT-310, which it says takes away the so-called “buzz” of marijuana that makes some terminally and chronically ill patients, particularly the elderly, uncomfortable and anxious, The Toronto Star reports. The med is aimed directly at the $4 billion neuropathic pain market that is mainly serviced by various opiates, anti-convulsants and anti-depressants. The idea is to mimic smoked cannabis throu... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119360 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:45:04 +0100 1119360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1117868&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F206671457%2F Belated holiday greetings, especially to those who encountered Santa yesterday. Officially, we are off this week, but since our e-mail is easily clogged, we thought we would stop by while conducting some housecleaning and drop off a few interesting items. See you shortly…. Researchers Hunt For Suicide Gene (The Salt Lake City Tribune) Idera Pharmaceuticals President Resigns (Yahoo/AP) Cohen Boosts Stake In Pharmion (The Wall Street Journal) Celebrex Blocks Unwanted Effects Of Morphine (Reuters) Researchers Ponder Genes That Influence Alzheimer’s (The New York Times) Glaxo’s Alli Is Headed For The UK (The Daily Mail) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1117868 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:27:03 +0100 1117868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1107128&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F203132076%2F Another late sign-off as we tend to one of the short people. The homework is nearly done and we look forward to unwinding now. We hope you will have a chance to do the same. These items should help… Altus Stock Falls On Revised Genentech Pact (Yahoo/Reuters) Array, AstraZeneca Drug Fails Trial (Yahoo/AP) Alzheimer’s Institute Strikes Technology Deal With AstraZeneca (The Arizona Republic) Astellas Low-Dose Drug Bests Rivals For Kidney Transplant Rejection (Yahoo/Reuters) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1107128 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:02:05 +0100 1107128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=947342&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F10%2Fan-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.medworm.com/index.php?rid=944568&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F10%2Fupdate-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 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=941988&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F168025615%2F As you digest lunch and brace yourself for the next meeting, catching up can help you unwind. So here is a collection of items we rounded up while you were busy…. Would A Pfizer Deal With Sanofi-Aventis Work? Maybe (Fortune.com) RNAi Is All The Rage, But Will It Pay Off? (CNNMoney.com) New Ardana CEO Boasts About His Pipeline (The Herald) Chicago Launches Free Med Program With Donations (The Chicago Tribune) Alzheimer’s Drug Stocks That Are Worth Remembering (TheStreet.com) Merck KgGA Gets Disappointing Results On MS Drug (Yahoo/Reuters) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=941988 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:32:41 +0100 941988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=925505&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F164834602%2F Just as you finished that meeting, caught up on the never-ending project and began daydreaming about tonight, that nagging feeling returns - what am I missing? Never fear, we have that base covered for you. Here you go…. Stem Cell Bank For Drug Testing May Cut Animal Experiments (The Guardian) Glaxo And Ireland’s Trinity College Create $20.6M Alzheimer’s Program (FinFacts.com) J&J Psoriasis Drug Effective In Trials (Yahoo/Reuters) MIT Receives $500K Endowment From Merck (MIT press release) FDA To Decide On Bristol-Myers Cancer Drug This Month (CNNMoney.com) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=925505 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:33:23 +0100 925505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=921720&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F10%2Fpatty-dohertys-.html My friend and fellow blogger Patty Doherty (The Unforgettable Fund) took care of her father for eleven years. He died just after my father did. Patty and I have been talking about the proposed cuts in funding for the newly opened Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute here in Florida. She's posted a video on YouTube with her thoughts. You can comment on her video using YouTube - either in writing, or by uploading a video of your own. Anyone can watch her video, but you'll need to register for a free YouTube account to comment or to upload your own video. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=921720 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:10:40 +0100 921720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=917968&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F10%2Fkeep-byrd-insti.html My father had dementia. His illness and death made me feel helpless, and left me with a lot of questions. In the two years since Dad died, I’ve been talking with Alzheimer’s researchers, looking for answers. I’m especially interested in the research in my home state of Florida. An estimated 450,000 Floridians have Alzheimer’s disease, more than any other state except California. And because the population is older, we have a high prevalence of Alzheimer’s here in the Sunshine State. With the large number of Alzheimer’s cases here, what better place for research on prevention and treatment of the disease? When I went to the grand opening of the new Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute here in Tampa Bay a couple of weeks ago, I was pleased to ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=917968 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:21:15 +0100 917968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=915357&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F09%2Fthe-alzheimers-.html Summary: Alzheimer’s researchers say it’s difficult to recruit participants for clinical trials. Whether or not you have memory problems, joining the Alzheimer’s Research Registry is one way you can help move research forward. In a post about Alzheimer’s research at Sun Health Research Institute, I wrote about the difficulties researchers face in recruiting participants for clinical trials. This can delay a study by months or even years. To address this problem, the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, a group of Arizona research institutions, has set up a clinical trial registry to recruit and screen participants for current and future studies. The Alzheimer’s Research Registry was launched in March of this year to screen people with and without memory problems ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=915357 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:42:33 +0100 915357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=808943&cid=t_162246_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F145788843%2F There are many good reasons to send out reminders, starting with the fact that several million in the US alone suffer from the disease. The drugmaker has, so far, invested $430 million and 350 scientists who have been involved in nearly two dozen projects in an effort to come up with something useful, as indicated in a profile today in The Star-Ledger of New Jersey (full disclosure: the paper owns Pharmalot). “Unfortunately, I’ve seen it up close,” says Wyeth ceo Bob Essner, who declines to reveal anything further because the person is a family member who is still living. “And when you see it up close, it’s devastating.” And there are other members of the Wyeth team who saw relatives suffer from Alzheimer’s, including Steve Jacobsen, associate dire... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=808943 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:26:08 +0100 808943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=740472&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F07%2Fdr-rudolph-tanz.html Summary: Genetic variations linked with Alzheimer’s provide clues on potential treatments. Many drugs currently in trials are based on these clues. With advances in technology, software and the Human Genome Database, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi is optimistic about the future for personalized medicine, where prevention and treatments could be tailored to a person’s specific genetic profile. Because an estimated 70 percent of Alzheimer’s genetics is still unknown, researchers have a lot of work to do before this vision can be realized. Scientists study genetic variations and how they are linked with pathologies and symptoms to determine who is at risk for developing diseases. But there’s another important reason they study genetic variations: to look for clues about potential treatments. ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=740472 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:59:51 +0100 740472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707659&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F07%2Fgail-rae-hudson.html A couple of posts ago, I wrote about a book I really like - Dementia Caregivers Share Their Stories - and about meeting Lynda Markut, one of the authors. Over at The Mom and Me Journals, Gail Rae Hudson has also been reading the book - one or two more bloggers and we'll have an online book club! You can check out her comments here and here. (Source: The Tangled Neuron) The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707659 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 20:09:43 +0100 707659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707660&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F07%2Fearly-memory-lo.html In late October, I’ll be going out to Los Angeles to attend a one-day symposium for people with early memory loss. The symposium, called “Living Our Lives, Planning Our Futures” will feature talks by David Shenk, the author of The Forgetting, and Dr. Gary Small, Director of the UCLA Center on Aging and author of several books on improving memory and brain health. The event is hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association California Southland Chapter, in cooperation with the University of Southern California (UCLA) and the UCLA Alzheimer’s Research Center. The real meat of the program will be the eight breakout sessions on topics such as “Communications and Relationships,” “Stimulating the Brain,” and “Re-defining Early Stage Dementia.” Persons with early memory loss or demen... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707660 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:47:54 +0100 707660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=696885&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F06%2Fchlamydia-pneum.html Summary: Infection with a common bacterium called Chlamydia pneumoniae may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The bacterium has already been linked to heart disease and hardening of the arteries. Work to investigate the role of viruses and bacteria such as Chlamydia pneumoniae in chronic diseases is in the early stages, but researchers hope it will help identify and treat the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s. More study is needed to confirm the bacterium’s relationship with dementia, and rigorous clinical trials would be necessary before any treatments based on this research could be recommended. I’ve written before about how viruses and bacteria can contribute to chronic diseases not previously linked to infections. It is now accepted that a type of bacteria contribu... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=696885 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:21:15 +0100 696885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693018&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F06%2Fbernie-cavis-di.html Bernie Cavis, Director of Dementia Product Line Management at Brookdale Senior Living, gave me a copy of Dementia Caregivers Share Their Stories. I’m fascinated by the stories in this book. The caregiving experiences of the authors, Lynda A. Markut and Anatole Crane, are woven in with those of the twenty-six families interviewed. In May, I found Lynda browsing the displays at the Wisconsin Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. She is Education and Dementia Care Specialist at Family Care Alliance Inc., a not-for-profit geriatric health facility in Illinois, and consults on the specialized care needs of persons with dementia. She also is an adjunct professor at McHenry College, where she teaches Introduction to Gernontology, an upper level psychology course. Ly... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693018 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:15:43 +0100 693018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623561&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F05%2Fi_dont_know_why.html “I don’t know why I can’t remember words lately,” my maternal grandmother said to my mother. Grandma Ben (shown here at her college graduation in 1924) was then in her early 80’s, brisk and competent. Around the same time, my paternal grandmother (right) started getting lost while driving around our small town. “Kilo,” as we called her, was in her early 70’s. And when my father (below, on the Pamlico River with his dog Beau) was in his late 60’s, he too had trouble finding words. They all went on to develop dementia. So it isn’t surprising I had a personal interest in a presentation called “Family History as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s” at the Wisconsin State Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders earlier this month. The talk was given by... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623561 Sun, 20 May 2007 17:40:41 +0100 623561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=579656&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F04%2Fcognitive_rehab.html Summary: Results of a small trial show cognitive rehabilitation can help people with mild Alzheimer’s improve their ability to perform practical tasks. Unlike cognitive stimulation programs, cognitive rehabilitation is designed to improve specific skills. Rehabilitation may help people with memory loss stay functional and independent, but more research is needed. Morris Friedell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1998. “I had a feeling that all I could do was wait for the axes to fall, one after the other,” the retired sociology professor wrote in his year 2000 essay “Potential for Rehabilitation in Alzheimer’s Disease.” “I’d lose my ability to drive, to budget, to speak coherently, to dress myself, to use the toilet. I thought: I must plan to die when I can stil... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=579656 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:16:47 +0100 579656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=571262&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F04%2Fearly_onset_alz.html People typically develop Alzheimer's in their late 60's or in their 70's. But there's a growing awareness that younger people can have the disease too. The Alzheimer's Association is ramping up publicity and educational efforts for Early Onset Alzheimer's disease, and now the Alzheimer's Research Forum has developed a section of its site devoted to Familial Early Onset Alzheimer's James Smith and his wife Juanita have been working to increase awareness of Early Onset through web-based sites, speeches and meetings such as the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum where I met them. Check out the short RealLife.tv video of James talking about his life after diagnosis with Early Onset Alzheimer's, as well as a companion video of Juanita talking about how their lives have changed. (Sourc... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=571262 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:58:11 +0100 571262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=549838&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F04%2Fherpes_simplex_.html Summary: A British scientist, Dr. Ruth Itzhaki, has shown that the combination of latent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV1) in the brain and the type 4 form of the APOE gene could account for 60 percent of all cases of late onset Alzheimer’s disease. Almost all elderly brains are infected with HSV1, which often causes no symptoms. Dr. Itzhaki’s lab found the virus in areas of the brain most damaged by Alzheimer’s, and has data relating HSV1 to plaques and tangles. The idea that a viral infection could underlie Alzheimer’s is part of an emerging understanding of the role of bacteria and viruses in chronic diseases. This kind of research is neither well-accepted nor well-funded, so don’t expect any Alzheimer’s treatments targeting HSV1 to be on the market anytime soon. I have o... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=549838 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:32:12 +0100 549838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=524406&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F04%2Fmeetings_for_pe.html Most of the Alzheimer’s meetings and conferences I’ve been to here in Florida are for caregivers – persons with dementia accompanying the caregivers were put in “daycare.” But some with early stage dementia have started to assert their rights to take charge of their lives and care, and are involved in organizing events tailored to their needs. Here are three such events: 2007 Early Stage Memory Disorders Forum The Alzheimer’s Association New York City Chapter April 11, 2007 New York, New York forMemory First Annual Get Together Workshops and roundtable discussions for people with early onset Alzheimer’s disease May 4-8, 2007 Madison, Wisconsin (contact Chris Baum VanRyzin at cbvanryzin@aol.com for information) “Living Our Lives, Planning Our Futures” Early Memory Los... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=524406 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:08:28 +0100 524406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=513863&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F03%2Frichard_taylor_.html The meeting room was jammed. Huge speakers were set up on the porch so that those who couldn’t get a seat in the main room could still hear the presentation. The organizer announced two more sessions would be held the next day to accommodate everyone who had registered in advance. The caterer added giant gulf shrimp to a tower of pineapples and greenery arranged to look like a palm tree. Attendees filled their glasses from a three-level fountain of punch, and snacked on cheese and chocolate. The mayor arrived. A real estate pitch? A motivational seminar? No, it was Richard Taylor’s talk on Alzheimer’s last Monday at Arden Courts of Largo, an assisted living facility. Richard, a psychologist diagnosed with “dementia, probably of the Alzheimer’s type” at 58, is one of the most ... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=513863 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:11:00 +0100 513863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512455&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F03%2Fhead_injuries_a.html This study suggests that mild head trauma is not a major risk factor for dementia or AD in the elderly.” Erasmus University, The Netherlands, 1999 review of data from The Rotterdam Study of more than 6000 people - “Moderate and severe head injuries in young men may be associated with increased risk of AD and other dementias in late life. However, the authors cannot exclude the possibility that other unmeasured factors may be influencing this association.” Duke University, 2000 study of the medical records of approximately 1800 retired military personnel, 548 of whom had had head injuries - “Head injury is a risk factor for AD. The magnitude of the risk is proportional to severity and heightened among first-degree relatives of AD patients.” Boston University, 2000 review of da... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512455 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:20:31 +0100 512455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512456&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F03%2Fforbescom_artic.html On March 1st, Forbes.com posted an eight part series The Fundamentals Of Running A Senior Living Home. “American senior citizens will account for 20% of the nation's total population by 2030… That demographic tsunami presents a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs in the already swelling senior-living industry,” Brett Nelson, the author of the piece points out. I’ll be part of that 20 percent. So will most readers of Forbes.com (average age 42). But if the condescending tone of the Forbes.com series is any indication of how we’ll be treated, I’m looking for an alternative to these “senior-living” arrangements. Mr. Nelson refers to potential assisted living entrepreneurs’ paying clients as “oldsters,” and doles out helpful bits of wisdom like “Just because your res... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512456 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:20:21 +0100 512456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512457&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F03%2Fcholesterol_sta.html Summary: A new study shows that a decline in total cholesterol may be associated with the early stages of dementia. More research is needed to understand what this means. When Dad was in his mid-60’s, the results of his annual physicals were straight out of an advertisement about healthy aging. His weight and blood sugar were normal, and his blood pressure and cholesterol were low. Now it seems Dad’s low cholesterol levels weren’t such a good sign after all. Some research links high cholesterol in mid-life to increased risk of heart problems and dementia. But later in life, low cholesterol levels, not high, are linked to increased risk of dementia and even death. A new study, published in the Archives of Neurology, shows that a decline in total cholesterol may be associated with... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512457 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:17:24 +0100 512457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512459&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F02%2Fcholesterol_sta_1.html Summary: In a small pilot trial, Lipitor (a statin), seemed to improve scores on neuropsychological tests, especially for patients with mild Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol and the APOE4 genetic variation. The results of two large trials of statins for treatment of Alzheimer’s should be published in 2008. Whether or not statins prove to be effective against Alzheimer’s, this research adds to the evidence of a connection between heart disease and some dementias. In my last post, I wrote how recent research has dampened hopes that the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins can reduce the risk of dementia. But what about people who’ve already been diagnosed with dementia? Two large trials of statins to treat Alzheimer’s are underway. Dr. Larry Sparks, Head of the Ralph & Murie... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512459 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:15:07 +0100 512459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512460&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F02%2Fcholesterol_sta.html Summary: Cholesterol is the Anna Nicole Smith of the Alzheimer’s world – it’s always in the news, and its relationships are hard to understand. High cholesterol in mid-life may be a risk factor for developing dementia. Studies on whether cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins can reduce that risk have had mixed results, with more recent research finding no effect. As with the men claiming to be the father of Ms. Smith’s baby, further tests will determine the role cholesterol-lowering drugs will play. Going through my father’s medical records, I found a 2004 notation from his first neurologist: The recent total cholesterol (on Mevacor) was only 139 (LDL 81). Therefore, the Mevacor will be decreased to 10 mg. daily beginning today. Mevacor is a statin, prescribed to lower chol... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512460 Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:15:34 +0100 512460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512462&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F02%2Falzheimers_ulce.html My brother James called from his hospital bed in New Mexico to ask me to research cyclosporine, a potential treatment for his ulcerative colitis. He is weak and has lost more than thirty pounds. The beeping in the background means his IV system needs attention. I hold on while the nurses add steroids, morphine and the solution he gets his nourishment from. James at Dripping Springs, Las Cruces, New Mexico As with Alzheimer’s, no one is sure what triggers ulcerative colitis. And although medicines for ulcerative colitis are more effective than those for Alzheimer’s, there are not a lot of studies about treating an acute case like my brother’s. This is probably due to the fact that most people in the midst of painful, severe, life-threatening ulcerative colitis attacks don’t volun... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512462 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:43:59 +0100 512462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512463&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledneuron.info%2Fthe_tangled_neuron%2F2007%2F01%2Falzheimers_tang.html Summary: The tangles seen in Alzheimer’s brains are made up of a protein called tau. Tau is involved in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, but scientists don’t yet understand its role. In the long run, understanding how tau contributes to brain cell death may help researchers develop new Alzheimer’s treatments. More than a year after Dad died, I’m still trying to understand what caused his dementia and death. His primary diagnosis was cerebral amyloid angiopathy, but “it is likely that the presence of plaques and tangles contributed to his neurologic difficulties,” his autopsy consultation report says. These plaques and tangles are signs of Alzheimer’s disease. A lot of Alzheimer’s research focuses on plaques and on beta amyloid, the protein that makes up... The Tangled Neuron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512463 Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:42:20 +0100 512463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511729&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F06%2Freview_the_hous.html The House on Beartown Road is one of the most engaging books I’ve read about the caregiving experience.  It will pull at all your heart strings at the same time it entertains you with humor, grace, and style.  The author, Elizabeth Cohen, shows us the path of her baby Ava’s learning as it coincides with her father’s forgetting.  In the beginning, “Daddy” teaches Ava, but by the end, he loses huge chunks of knowledge while Ava devours them voraciously.  The contrast is illuminating and tragic, but Elizabeth holds onto and encourages every precious accomplishment her father makes.  We could feel sorry for Elizabeth when her husband leaves six weeks after her father arrives, but she is so tough and resourceful that the feeling we end up with is a... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511729 Sat, 03 Jun 2006 15:37:13 +0100 511729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511730&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fthe_trauma_of_s.html For those suffering from Alzheimer’s or any kind of dementia, routine and regularity are important for stability.  I learned this the hard way with my mother-in-law and my father.  Rae had fairly advanced Alzheimer’s disease when her son, Adrian, and I got married.  We thought it would be wonderful to all live together in a big house—Rae, her caregiver, Adrian, me, and our children from previous marriages.  As you can imagine, that turned out to be a fairly chaotic household and a real shock for Rae, who had been living quietly in her home with just her caregiver and the caregiver’s teenage daughter.  Our efforts lasted a few months, until we realized it was never going to work for Rae.  She was more agitated, confused, and aggressive than she’... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511730 Thu, 25 May 2006 14:45:25 +0100 511730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511731&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fare_humor_and_w.html Does the ability to crack jokes disappear when you have Alzheimer’s disease?  Recently a psychiatrist friend said that a sophisticated sense of humor was a clear sign that Alzheimer’s was not present.  No matter how forgetful you are, he said, if you can crack clever jokes like that, you don’t have Alzheimer’s.  I wondered about this because the one thing my father seemed to keep to his grave was his sense of humor.  He had advanced dementia to the point where he couldn’t remember a conversation past a couple of sentences, had no idea where he lived or what year it was—in short, he would not pass the typical test for Alzheimer’s.  Yet he still made jokes. When I said to him one day as we were walking down the hall of his assisted living facil... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511731 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:43:17 +0100 511731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511732&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fradio_interview.html This coming Saturday, May 20 at 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (6 p.m. EST), you can listen to a live interview with me on Jacqueline Marcell's internet radio program "Coping with Caregiving" heard free worldwide on http://www.wsradio.com/copingwithcaregiving/.  Topics discussed wil include survival strategies for caregivers, the joys and benefits and being a primary caregiver, communication strategies, and dealing with institutions such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  I will also talk about the memoir form as an ideal way to tell one's life story and to read about another's.  If you miss the live broadcast the interview will be archived by Monday afternoon, May 22, for listening-on-demand in the Archives.  Listen via Windows Media Player, a ... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511732 Sat, 13 May 2006 15:46:27 +0100 511732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511733&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fcontrol_freak.html I’m not sure if it’s a trait of all caregivers or just me, but I was some kind of control freak when I was responsible for my father’s care.  I kept a sharp eye out for his special needs—like making sure there were facial tissues and toilet paper in the bathroom.  With his severe short-term memory loss, he certainly wouldn’t remember to restock those items! So perhaps the controlling started with the best of intentions to make things better for Dad, but I think they escalated to the point where I expected everyone else in the family to take care of him exactly the way I would.  When my husband and I went away for a month, leaving two of my brothers in charge, I sent them a three-page letter of detailed instructions they were to follow.  What Dad really love... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511733 Mon, 08 May 2006 14:20:16 +0100 511733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511734&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fhow_to_improve_.html How can you ensure that your loved ones (let’s call them parents for the sake of this article) are getting the best possible care at a nursing home or assisted living facility? The first step is to pick the best institution you can afford, if you have a choice in the matter, but after that you can’t simply sit back and relax. It’s a fact that most nursing homes and assisted living facilities are understaffed, and even when they aren’t, you need to be sure the staff are doing everything they are supposed to do.There are several things you can do to improve the service your parents receive:Get involved with the institution on a regular basis. Going in person is best, but if you can’t manage that, keep up with frequent phone calls. Learn who is in charge of which services and who to... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511734 Thu, 04 May 2006 12:56:42 +0100 511734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511735&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F05%2Fpodcast_intervi.html A couple weeks ago I was interviewed by podcaster Paul Toth about my book, The Bipolar Dementia Art Chronicles.  We talked, among other things, about surviving as a primary caregiver and the connections between being bipolar and being creative. At the end of the interview I read the section from my book where we bring my father by plane from his home in Florida up to Ithaca, New York, to move him into an assisted living facility near me.  To listen to the interview, go to Tothnews.libsyn.com and right click on the direct download for Tothworld #35.  Paul has a short introduction before he begins the interview.  (Source: Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's) Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511735 Mon, 01 May 2006 19:03:34 +0100 511735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511736&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F04%2Fhow_to_survive_.html When we’re under stress as caregivers, it’s important to have outlets for relief and to periodically rejuvenate ourselves.  Otherwise we do harm to ourselves and everyone around us.  Now, getting relief is more easily said than done.  Sometimes there’s just no alternative but to buck up under the load.  However, even a small gesture can often be tremendously beneficial.  One of these assists that meant a great deal to me was offered by my sister Laura when I was the primary caregiver for my 93-year-old father. Laura lived miles away and could not physically be there to help more than two or three times a year, but she allowed me to call her as often as I needed to and listened with a supportive ear to all my complaints. I referred to her then as “my pries... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511736 Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:49:20 +0100 511736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=511737&cid=t_162246_137_f&fid=35364&url=http%3A%2F%2Fartbylt.blogs.com%2Fcaregiving%2F2006%2F04%2Fthings_to_do_wh.html As reported by the Associated Press  in today’s newspaper, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City has started a free program called “Meet Me at MoMA” in order to give those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers a place to visit together.  They schedule the visits on Tuesdays when the museum is closed in order to provide a safe and peaceful environment. Other museums have similar programs in place, such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Greenwich, Connecticut.  As an artist, this sounds like a great idea to me, especially for those in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  It’s hard for visiting families to fill the time in meaningful ways, and this is one outing they... Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=511737 Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:43:44 +0100 511737