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Alzheimers

Definition of Alzheimers

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, a neurologic disease characterized by loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least six months, and not present from birth. AD usually occurs in old age, and is marked by a decline in cognitive functions such as remembering, reasoning, and planning.

Memory and Learning Podcast This week we learn about Alzheimer's disease, how it changes the brain and may be caused by the virus which causes cold sores. We probe your grey matter to find out how memory works, what goes wrong to give us false memories, and the science behind earworms - the songs that we can't get out of our heads! Listen to the Podcast
Acupressure May Help Dementia Patients Regular acupressure treatment helps reduce agitated behavior in dementia patients, according to a small study by Taiwanese researchers. Acupressure involves the application of pressure to certain points of the body. This study of 20 dementia patients found that 15-minute acupressure sessions given twice a day, five days a week, led to noticeable improvements, including reduced wandering and less verbal and physical aggression. Read the Article
Neurological Disorders Strike Millions Neurological disorders have struck millions of people, young and old alike, in the United States, new estimates show. Some 67 per 1,000 elderly Americans now have Alzheimer's disease, up substantially from past estimates, and nearly one out of every 1,000 people have multiple sclerosis (MS), a rate that is about 50 percent higher than earlier estimates. It's not clear if that represents improvements in diagnosis or an actual increase in incidence of MS. Read the Article
Health Tip: Postpone Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's disease has no cure, and there's no surefire way to prevent it. But research has shown there are some activities that may help delay its onset. The National Women's Health Resource Center offers these suggestions: * Get regular physical exercise. * Participate in mentally stimulating activities such as playing cards, chess, a musical instrument, or doing crossword puzzles. * Eat a diet rich in antioxidants with plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts and fish such as salmon, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. * Stay at a healthy body weight. People who are overweight may be more likely to develop the disease. Read the Article
Loneliness Could Boost Alzheimer's Risk Being lonely may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, new research suggests. Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago assessed loneliness and dementia in 823 people, averaging almost 81 years of age, for up to four years. At the start of the study, the participants' overall average loneliness score was 2.3 on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5. Read the Article
Imaging Compound IDs Telltale Signs of Alzheimer's Scientists have confirmed that an imaging agent known as Pittsburgh Compound B binds to abnormal protein growth in the brain that are a signature of Alzheimer's disease. The results hold a two-fold promise, both for being able to better diagnose the disease and for being able to judge the effectiveness of drugs that target the amyloid beta protein. Read the Article
Many Blacks, Hispanics Misinformed About Alzheimer's Black and Hispanic communities harbor many misconceptions about Alzheimer's disease, a new survey shows. Conducted by Harris Interactive for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, the survey results showed, among other things, that black and Hispanic caregivers were more likely (37 percent and 33 percent) than caregivers of other races (23 percent) to believe that Alzheimer's is a normal part of aging. Read the Article
Health Tip: Take Care of the Caregiver Being a caregiver for an elderly family member or friend can be overwhelming and stressful. The Alzheimer's Association offers these suggestions to help caregivers handle their responsibilities while alleviating stress: * Take advantage of services that can help -- adult day care, visiting nurses and other services can offer a caregiver much-needed breaks. * Continue educating yourself on the condition that your loved one has. Learn better ways to care for the patient and understand what to expect. * Don't be afraid to ask friends and other family members for help. * Reduce stress and take care of your body by eating right, getting exercise and making time for activities that you enjoy. * Get legal and financial planning under control, and consult an attorney or legal advisor on what needs to be done. * Be proud of what you are doing, rather than feeling guilty about what you can't accomplish. Read the Article
More Than 5 Million Americans Now Have Alzheimer's Confirming the long-standing prediction that Alzheimer's disease will approach epidemic proportions as the U.S. population ages, a new report finds that more than five million Americans are now living with the mind-robbing condition. That represents a 10 percent increase from five years ago and more than double the number in 1980, according to the study released Tuesday by the Alzheimer's Association. Read the Article
Fish Oils Delay Cognitive Decline, Studies Find Omega-3 fatty acids from fish may help prevent age-related cognitive decline, according to two new studies. In one study, Dutch researchers examined the diet and cognitive function of 210 men, ages 70 to 89, who did not have Alzheimer's disease. The men were assessed in 1990 and again in 1995. Read the Article
Smell Test Device May Sniff Out Health Problems A new device to test for loss of smell could help alert doctors to problems ranging from a deviated septum to Alzheimer's disease, say University of Cincinnati researchers who are developing it Read the Article
Dementia Care Costs Worldwide Reach $315 Billion Longer life spans pushed up the cost of caring for the 6 million-plus Americans with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia to an estimated $76 billion in 2005. That is approximately one-sixth of what the U.S. government is expected to spend this year on Medicare, the federal insurance program that covers 44 million seniors and disabled people. Read the Article
Omega-3 Fatty Acid May Thwart Alzheimer's Disease A type of omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help slow the growth of two kinds of brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Read the Article
Brain Protein Makes for Lasting Memories American and Canadian scientists say a protein called CREB plays a major role in telling brain cells whether or not to store memories. Reported in the April 20 Science, the finding suggests a new approach to preserving memories in people with Alzheimer's disease or other types of brain disease and injury. Read the Article
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