Category Archives: Research

Can Household Chores Help Prevent Alzheimer’s?

Posted on by

News from the web:

In recent years, several studies have found that older people are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia if they engage in vigorous exercise, such as jogging, swimming, or brisk walking.

People who are too frail or out of shape to hit the pool or treadmill shouldn’t despair, however. According to a new study, even mundane, low-key tasks like gardening, cooking, and washing dishes can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s if they’re performed often enough.

The study, which was published this week in the journal Neurology, included 716 dementia-free men and women in their 70s and 80s. Compared to the most active people, those with the lowest levels of overall physical activity had more than double the risk of going on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Greater physical activity was also associated with a slower rate of aging-related memory and cognitive decline.

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com

Alzheimers drug Amyvid raises ethical questions

Posted on by

News from the web:

Last Friday, the FDA approved Amyvid, a drug for Alzheimer’s diagnosis that was created and developed by Penn faculty Daniel Skovronsky and Hank Kung. It dyes brain deposits of amyloid plaque, which are correlated with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the FDA has treaded cautiously, approving Amyvid only for limited uses. If brains scanned with Amyvid test negative, then the patient will be deemed Alzheimer-negative.

Cases where the Amyvid scans test positive will only signify the patient has significant levels of plaque, but will not confirm an Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis.

Since there is no drug on the market that successfully removes amyloid plaque, Saboury said there should be no rush to market the tracer. How useful can it be for patients to know they are at risk when there is no cure or treatment?

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com

Alzheimer Diagnosis Possible With Scan

Posted on by

News from the web:

A much-anticipated test developed by Eli Lilly LLY +0.05% & Co. that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer’s disease was approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.

A much-anticipated test developed by Eli Lilly that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer’s disease was approved Friday by the FDA . Shirley Wang has details on Lunch Break.

The tool could enable clinicians to detect Alzheimer’s earlier and more accurately in patients at the earliest sign of memory problems—a potential boon to treatment and developing drugs against the disease.

The test uses a chemical called florbetapir, known by the brand name Amyvid, which is a radioactive agent that tags clumps of a sticky substance called an amyloid. Amyloid proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. The chemical, which costs $1,600 per dose, then is detected using a brain imaging technique called positron emission tomography, known as PET scans.

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com

New Gene Thought to Be Cause in Early-Onset Forms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on by

News from the web:

A new gene that causes early-onset of Alzheimer’s disease has been discovered by the research team of Dominique Campion at the Insert unit 1079 “Genetics of cancer and neuropsychiatric diseases” in Rouen. The research scientists showed that in the families of 5 of 14 patients suffering from the disease, mutations were detected on the gene SORL1. This gene regulates the production of a peptide involved in Alzheimer’s disease.

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com

Alzheimer’s and brain deposits: Researchers study connections

Posted on by

News from the web:

With recent studies focusing more attention on memory loss, there is concern among Baby Boomers. However, some hopeful news has been emerging on the important topic of brain amyloid (protein deposits).ScienceDaily (Mar. 30, 2012) noted in reporting about amyloid beta in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease that although “there may not be a consensus as to whether the deposition contributes to the disease or is a consequence of the disease, there is agreement that it is not favored thermodynamically, meaning that something else is promoting the process.”Amyloid beta in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com

Antibiotics for Alzheimer’s?

Posted on by

News from the web:

Researchers believe they have gained key insights on the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings could lead to the development of antibiotic treatments that could prevent the onset of the devastating illness.

Investigators have learned that a key protein, called a tau-protein, transforms from being a critical component of normal brain function to a sinister malformed villain that destroys brain cells.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) developed the technology that distinguishes the two tau isoforms — one healthy and one disease-causing. Their research shows that only the disease-causing isoform is found in the neurons of Alzheimer’s patients and is exhibited at a very early stage of disease.

Read all about it HERE

visit us at AlzheimerHeadlines.com