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July 8, 2005
Alzheimer's effects targeted
A new nationwide study is testing whether valproate, a medicine used to treat epilepsy, might also be useful in stemming the behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s.
- Daily Progress
Read the entire article at: www.dailyprogress.com
July 7, 2005
Paying for Alzheimer’s
Dr. Sam Gandy says it is the most exciting time to be in the field of Alzheimer research. To keep the momentum going, the federal government needs to provide more funding for clinical trials and technology.
- The Washington Times
Read the entire article at: www.washingtontimes.com
Zenith Fellows double support for research
To advance Alzheimer research in new directions, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Zenith Fellows doubled the number of Zenith research awards from five to 10 this year.
- Alzheimer’s Association news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
July 6, 2005
Services keep more seniors in their homes
Like many of today's seniors, Catherine Lewis wants to stay in her own home as long as possible. But a fall several years ago almost ended that dream.
- Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.miami.com (free
registration required.)
High school achievers less likely to develop Alzheimer's
High school academic whiz kids may keep that mental edge throughout life, even to the extent of avoiding Alzheimer's disease, say researchers.
- MedPageToday.com
Read the entire article at: www.medpagetoday.com
July 1, 2005
Reminyl becomes Razadyne
Galantamine’s trade name has changed from Reminyl to Razadyne. The manufacturer changed the name because doctors and pharmacists occasionally confused Reminyl with Amaryl, a diabetes drug.
- Alzheimer’s Association news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
June 29, 2005
Simple lifestyle changes may slow advent of Alzheimer's
Armando Cruz, 44, is thinking of his health in the here and now every time he swims laps or leaves the salt out of his favorite tamale recipe. He may also be building brain health for his later years.
- The Arizona Republic
Read the entire article at: www.azcentral.com
June 28, 2005
Blix honored as top
Alzheimer advocate
In 1989, Fay Blix broke from her civil-litigation background
to specialize in elder law. Since then, she has worked on
Alzheimer's legislation while helping families prepare themselves
legally for what a life wrapped in dementia might bring.
- The Orange County Register (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.ocregsiter.com
June 27, 2005
Genworth Financial,
Association form Alliance
Genworth Financial and the Alzheimer’s Association have entered
into a 5-year, $7.5 million strategic relationship to help
increase public awareness and eliminate the disease through
education and the advancement of research.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Medicare to test
paying for elderly home day care
Medicare will test the possibility of paying for day-care
services for disabled elderly people, including patients with
dementia.
- Reuters
Read the entire news release at: www.reuters.com
Prevention Conference
news
The Alzheimer’s Association’s first-ever Prevention of Dementia
Conference made headlines around the world.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Read all conference news at: www.alz.org
June 20, 2005
No blues from genes
Adult children of people with Alzheimer’s were satisfied and
unharmed by the experience of genetic risk assessment, even
when results suggested they might be at risk.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
Worldwide cost of
Alzheimer care: $156 billion
Research team estimates worldwide direct costs of Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia care at $156 billion, based on a worldwide
prevalence estimate of 27.7 million people with dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
Innovative therapies
show promise for Alzheimer’s
A number of innovative treatment possibilities—-including
a new version of an anti-inflammatory drug, a low-intensity
calisthenics program and what may be the next chapter in the
Alzheimer vaccine story—all show some promise in treating
Alzheimer’s.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
June 19, 2005
New research brings
early detection closer to reality
Advanced imaging technologies and novel biomarkers show great
promise for earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
Lifestyle habits
and Alzheimer’s
A series of new research studies – examining topics including
level of social activity, heart disease risk factors, education,
consumption of fruit and vegetable juices, exercise, and alcohol
intake – add to the growing body of scientific evidence that
lifestyle habits are closely linked to risk of Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
Cultural issues in
Alzheimer’s
There are significant differences in awareness and beliefs
about Alzheimer’s disease among ethnic groups, and health
education programs should be tailored to account for these
different understandings.
- Alzheimer’s Association Prevention Conference news
Read the entire news release at: www.alz.org
June 17, 2005
'Dad, do you remember?'
Everyone has a joyful memory of their father. Not all fathers,
however, share those memories. With Alzheimer’s disease affecting
one of every 10 American families, holidays such as Father’s
Day pose a challenge.
- The Daily News Tribune
Read the entire article at: www.dailynewstribune.com
June 16, 2005
Fighting Alzheimer’s,
saving tax dollars
Washington could take a large bite out of the impending Medicare
and Medicaid crises — perhaps $61 billion a year as early
as 2015 — with a modest investment today in Alzheimer research.
- The Washington Times
Read the entire article at: www.washingtontimes.com
June 13, 2005
Improving sleep for
people with Alzheimer's
Behavioral techniques that are known to improve sleep in non-demented
institutionalized older adults may benefit patients with Alzheimer's
disease who have nighttime insomnia.
- Reuters
Read the entire article at: www.reuters.com
Benefits of adult
day centers
Adult day centers allow caregivers to continue working while
keeping their parents at home and provide loved ones with
a place to socialize and keep active.
- L.A. Times
Read the entire article at: www.latimes.com
June 10, 2005
Living the Alzheimer
journey
Kathleen O’Brien, a senior vice president of the national
Alzheimer’s Association, says her personal experience makes
her work for the organization more than just a job.
- News and Advance
Read the entire article at: www.newsadvance.com
June 6, 2005
Reagan’s legacy lives
on
Ronald Reagan died June 5, 2004, after a long battle with
Alzheimer's. But Reagan inspired countless people to make
donations in his honor, to volunteer for causes important
to him and to learn more about his life, legacy and Alzheimer's.
- Ventura County Star (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.venturacountystar.com
Ministering to those
with Alzheimer's
Innovative worship services are providing special spiritual
care to people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.
- New York Daily News
Read the entire article at: www.nydailynews.com
June 2, 2005
Minding your memory
While people experience measurable declines in memory as early
as their 30s, there's a lot you can do to improve memory and
decrease chances of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
And the best time to start is now.
- Tennessean
Read the entire article at: www.tennessean.com
Nation faces Alzheimer's
funding crisis
Despite the growing awareness of Alzheimer's and the fact
that it strikes most frequently in the fastest-growing segments
of the population, older people, response to what amounts
to an epidemic has been too slow.
- Tulsa World
Read the entire article at: www.rednova.com
May 18, 2005
Princess resolute
in Alzheimer's fight
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan shares her mother's struggle with
Alzheimer’s, her hopes for a cure and her disappointment with
Hollywood. She was here recently for the Alzheimer's Association's
annual Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala, which she named in honor
of her actress mother.
- Chicago Tribune
Read the entire article at: www.chicagotribune.com
May 11, 2005
Final analysis: First
vaccine trial is hopeful but inconclusive
Two reports in the May Neurology close the book on
one of the most closely watched stories in Alzheimer science:
the first clinical trial of a drug targeting beta-amyloid.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
May 10, 2005
Latinos may have
earlier age of onset for Alzheimer’s
U.S. Latinos with Alzheimer’s develop their first symptoms
of the disease, on average, at a significantly younger age
than Anglos, according to a report in the Archives of Neurology.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Alzheimer's and medical
decision-making
People with moderate Alzheimer's disease may have trouble
making competent decisions about their treatment, especially
if they lack awareness of their symptoms and diagnosis, new
research shows.
- Reuters
Read the entire article at: www.yahoo.com
May 9, 2005
Pilot study of Lipitor
hints at benefit
A small pilot study of 63 individuals with mild to moderate
Alzheimer’s disease suggests that those taking 80 milligrams
of atorvastatin (Lipitor) daily for one year tended to do
better on tests of memory and thinking than those receiving
a placebo.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Four days left in
our celebrity auction
Go to your next Trekkie convention in style! Star Trek:
Voyager actress Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway uniform
is up for bid in our celebrity auction. You can also bid on
a backstage meeting with country musician Tracy Lawrence and
dinner with legendary football coach Mike Ditka.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Place your bid today: www.alz.org
May 3, 2005
Flurizan Phase II
trial shows no overall benefit
A recently completed Phase II trial shows that treatment with
R-flurbiprofen (Flurizan) did not help individuals with mild
or moderate Alzheimer’s disease when results for all 207 participants
were considered as a whole, according to a report from Myriad
Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s developer.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
May 2, 2005
eBay auction to rally
for Alzheimer research
"Star Trek: Voyager" actress Kate Mulgrew's Captain Janeway
uniform, dinner with legendary football coach Mike Ditka,
a backstage meeting with country musician Tracy Lawrence and
a chance to tour the set of "Alias" and meet actor Victor
Garber are available for bid as part of the Alzheimer's Association's
online auction "Rally for Research" at eBay.com.
- Alzheimer’s Association news release
Read the entire release at: www.alz.org
April 29, 2005
Study links middle
age obesity to dementia
The most convincing research so far suggests that being fat
in your 40s might raise your risk of developing dementia later
in life.
- The Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.sfgate.com
April 27, 2005
Variety may be the
spice of life for warding off dementia
Older people who stay active in a wide variety of ways seem
to have a better chance of warding off dementia, according
to research that found it's the diversity, not intensity,
of the exercise that counts.
- The Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.washingtonpost.com
Exercise may slow
Alzheimer's
Exercise may prevent damaging changes in the brain that are
associated with Alzheimer's, thereby lowering the risk of
developing the disease, a new study involving mice suggests.
- HealthDay
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
April 26, 2005
The claim: Aluminum
in antiperspirants causes Alzheimer's disease
The rumor that aluminum causes Alzheimer’s lives on, but studies
have found that there is probably no reason to sweat it.
- The New York Times
Read the entire article at: www.nytimes.com
Small study suggests
gene therapy may slow Alzheimer’s
Results from a preliminary six-person study of gene therapy
for Alzheimer’s disease hint the treatment may delay decline,
Mark H. Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues report in the
April 24 online edition of Nature Medicine.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Local awards showcase
caregiver commitment
When the Alzheimer’s Association presented awards to area
residents Monday, one recipient said she was a little embarrassed.
- Oneonta Daily Star
Read the entire article at: www.thedailystar.com
April 25, 2005
Gene therapy may
hold back Alzheimer's
The first attempt at gene therapy for Alzheimer's patients
appeared to significantly delay worsening of the disease in
a few people who have tested it so far, scientists reported.
- The Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.yahoo.com
New clues on aging
Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s long-term aging study
is yielding clues about the aging brain, Alzheimer's disease
and other forms of dementia, and how people can keep their
minds sharper longer by engaging in mentally challenging activities.
- New York Daily News
Read the entire article at: www.nydailynews.com
April 19, 2005
Nationwide study
of new Alzheimer drug
Astellas Pharma U.S. has launched a nationwide clinical trial
of FK962, an experimental drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease. FK962 appears to trigger the release of somatostatin
(soh mat uh STAT in) in regions of the brain important
in learning and memory.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
FDA issues advisory
on atypical antipsychotics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a
public health advisory on the use of a class of drugs called
“atypical antipsychotics” to treat agitation, aggression,
hallucinations, delusions and other behavioral and psychiatric
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Pioneering collaboration
focuses on new therapeutic approaches
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), the Alzheimer’s Association,
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and
The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins
today announced a pioneering collaboration to fund development
of new therapeutic approaches with application to diverse
brain diseases.
- Brain Trust
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
April 15, 2005
Hispanics with Alzheimer's
expected to surge
Oralia Paredes was a talkative woman, a busy entrepreneur
who helped her husband keep the wheels of their tortilla factories
turning in a Mexican border town. Now she sits quietly in
a chair. Doctors say she likely has Alzheimer's disease, expected
to soar among Hispanics over the next 45 years.
- The Arizona Republic
Read the entire article at: www.azcentral.com
April 13, 2005
Study proves concept:
Treatment can delay transition to Alzheimer’s
A large study shows donepezil (Aricept) can temporarily delay
the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease for individuals
with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), marking the first time
any drug has been shown to postpone the transition from MCI
to Alzheimer’s.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
April 12, 2005
New immune treatment
shows early success
A product derived from human donor blood improved mental function
in six out of seven individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and
prevented decline in the seventh, researchers reported in
Miami at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of
Neurology.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
April 11, 2005
Alzheimer’s Association
science advisors honored with top award
John C. Morris, M.D., and Ronald C. Petersen, M.D., Ph.D.,
two neurologists with long-standing ties to the Alzheimer’s
Association, will receive the American Academy of Neurology’s
2005 Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s and
Related Diseases at the Academy’s annual meeting April 12.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
April 4, 2005
Labeling change for
Reminyl
In a measure negotiated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, manufacturer of the Alzheimer
drug galantamine (Reminyl), added a precaution to the package
insert and sent a letter to physicians alerting them of the
change.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
March 29, 2005
Mind mystery
Scientists are still trying to determine what causes Alzheimer’s
disease in old age. Their quest takes on increasing urgency,
with predictions that unless a cure is found, the number of
Americans with the disease will rise.
- The Boston Globe
Read the entire article at: www.boston.com
Boomers worry about
memory
Baby boomers are snapping up memory aids to the tune of $450
million a year in a hunt for what some experts call "brain
Viagra" that might put some oomph back into their flagging
memories.
- Atlanta Journal Constitution
Read the entire article at: www.ajc.com
March 23, 2005
Fish oil may fight
Alzheimer’s
A study of lab mice suggests that there is new evidence that
fish oil could help ward off Alzheimer's disease, according
to research reported in the March 23 online issue of the Journal
of Neuroscience.
- WebMD
Read the entire article at: www.webmd.com
March 22, 2005
What's good for the
heart is good for the head
Growing, scientifically sound evidence suggests that people
can delay and perhaps even prevent Alzheimer's disease by
taking steps like eating low-fat diets rich in antioxidants,
maintaining normal weight, exercising regularly and avoiding
bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking.
- The New York Times (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2005
Senate strikes Medicaid
cuts
The Senate voted 52-48 to support a Republican-backed amendment
to restore $15 billion it had removed from Medicaid in its
version of the budget for the 2006 fiscal year.
- Reuters
Read the entire article at: www.abcnews.com
March 15, 2005
Brain's own stem
cells might fight Alzheimer's
A researcher believes the best solution to Alzheimer's may
lie closest to home: within the brain itself. The activation
of dormant stem cells in the brain could someday allow doctors
to re-grow specific types of cells damaged by disease.
- HealthDay
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
March 11, 2005
Study says exercise
is good for the brain too
The reason that mentally and physically active people are
less likely to get Alzheimer's disease may be that education
and exercise supercharge a broad set of genes involved in
building a healthier brain, University of Chicago researchers
reported.
- The Chicago Tribune
Read the entire article at: www.timesargus.com
March 10, 2005
David Hyde Pierce
urges passage of Reagan Breakthrough Act
David Hyde Pierce, actor and national board member of the
Alzheimer’s Association, joined Senators Barbara A. Mikulski
(D-Md.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) to reintroduce the Ronald Reagan
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act which would authorize Congress
to double federal research funding for Alzheimer’s to $1.4
billion annually.
- Alzheimer’s Association news release
Read the entire release at: www.alz.org
March 8, 2005
Avoiding Alzheimer's
in old age
Imagine living into your 80s and thinking as clearly as ever,
dodging the grasp of dementia, Alzheimer's disease or milder
brain problems like memory loss.
- WebMD
Read the entire article at: www.webmd.com
March 7, 2005
Diabetes-like process
in Alzheimer brain tissue
A provocative new study suggests there may be a "type 3" diabetes
that occurs in the brain and contributes to Alzheimer's disease
— a twist on research that has increasingly found a link between
the two diseases.
- The Atlanta Journal – Constitution
Read the entire article at: www.ajc.com
March 2, 2005
Association letter
urges rejection of proposed Medicaid cuts and caps
The Alzheimer’s Association has joined several other organizations
to send a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to avoid Medicaid
cuts and to work with the signed groups to solve the Medicaid
issue.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Read the entire letter: www.alz.org
March 1, 2005
UK advisory agency
recommends against use of Alzheimer drugs
The independent treatment advisory agency of the United Kingdom’s
government-funded National Health Service (NHS) has issued
a draft recommendation against use of currently approved drugs
to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The drugs covered in the draft
are donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine
(Reminyl) and memantine (Namenda).
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
David Hyde Pierce
on "The Jane Pauley Show"
David Hyde Pierce and other individuals who have been personally
affected by Alzheimer’s joined Jane Pauley on her talk show.
- The Jane Pauley Show
Read about the show at: www.janepauleyshow.com
February 25, 2005
Nerve cell 'traffic
jam' may trigger Alzheimer's
Like cars backed up on a freeway, blockages in nerve cell
signals may lead to the neurological traffic jam that is Alzheimer's
disease, researchers say.
- HealthDay News
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
CNA Alzheimer training
bill advances to full House
Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles urged legislators
to endorse a bill expanding training for certified nurses
aides (CNAs). The bill by would require an additional 15 hours
of training specifically focusing on the treatment of Alzheimer's
disease and dementia.
- Arkansas News Bureau
Read the entire article at: www.arkansasnews.com
February 23, 2005
Alzheimer's Association
names Zaven Khachaturian editor of new journal
The Alzheimer's Association announced that Zaven Khachaturian,
Ph.D., will be the first editor of its new research journal,
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's
Association.
- Alzheimer's Association news release
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Synthetic marijuana
may protect rodent brain
By suppressing inflammation in the brain, a synthetic marijuana
compound could potentially offer some protection against Alzheimer's.
- HealthDay News
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
February 21, 2005
The new face of Medicaid
Medicaid was long thought of as a safety net for poor mothers
and their children. But these days two-thirds of Medicaid
funds are spent on seniors and the disabled, mostly for long-term
nursing care.
- Business Week
Read the entire article at: www.businessweek.com
February 16, 2005
Alzheimer technique
showcases imaging progress
If Time magazine featured a "molecule of the year,"
one strong contender would be Pittsburgh compound B, a cleverly
designed tracer that highlights a hallmark Alzheimer protein
in a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
February 15, 2005
Nancy Reagan says
late president would want Alzheimer's effort
Former first lady Nancy Reagan said her late husband would
want everything possible done to find a cure for Alzheimer's
disease.
- Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.sanluisobispo.com
February 14, 2005
You'll forever be
my Valentine
Leroy and Lollie Sides were married for more than half a century
before Alzheimer's forced Leory to live in a care facility.
Leroy doesn't remember he is married to Lollie. He doesn't
remember their moments, their milestones, the arc of a shared
life. But Lollie does.
- The Charlotte Observer (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.charlotte.com
FDA examining safety
of arthritis drugs
Two advisory groups will meet to see if a balance can be found
between benefits from these kinds of prescription drugs and
the dangers they may pose.
- Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.yahoo.com
February 8, 2005
No, nicotine probably
doesn't ward off Alzheimer's
The final excuse for smoking — that it might reduce the risk
of developing Alzheimer's disease — has just been stubbed
out, findings from an animal study suggest.
- Reuters Health
Read the entire article at: www.reuters.com
February 7, 2005
Bond to reintroduce
Alzheimer's bill
Missouri Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond and Sen. Barbara
Mikulski, D-Maryland, plan to reintroduce the Ronald Reagan
Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act in the next few weeks. The legislation
would increase funding for Alzheimer's and increase support
to Alzheimer' families.
- The News-Leader
Read the entire article at: www.news-leader.com
February 3, 2005
Broyles urges more
spending to fight Alzheimer's
Former Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Frank Broyles shared
with a congressional committee his personal memories of his
wife's six-year bout with Alzheimer's. Broyles urged members
to reintroduce the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough
Act.
- Stephens Washington Bureau
Read the entire article at: www.arkansasnews.com
Alzheimer’s Association
receives community service award from SBLI USA Mutual Life
Insurance
The Alzheimer’s Association was honored to receive SBLI USA
Mutual Life Insurance Company’s 2005 Community Service Award
at its Fifth Annual Gala celebration January 29th at the Hilton
New York. The Gala raised more than $100,000 to benefit the
Alzheimer’s Association.
- Alzheimer's Association
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
February 2, 2005
Alzheimer's troubling
behaviors hard to treat
Along with devastating memory loss, Alzheimer's can trigger
hard-to-manage behaviors. The bad news for caregivers is that
available medications do little to help control behavioral
symptoms.
- Health Day News
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
Association responds
to USA TODAY letter to the editor
USA Today printed a letter to the editor that unfortunately
may reinforce a myth about risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association has responded with a letter of
our own.
- Alzheimer’s Association letter to the editor
Read the entire letter at: www.alz.org
February 1, 2005
New test might help
detect Alzheimer's in early stages
A highly sensitive new test could lead to a different way
to diagnose people with Alzheimer's disease, possibly helping
find the illness in its early stages when there might be time
for treatment.
- Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.abcnews.com
January 26, 2005
Fruits and veggies,
fitness and fun help old dogs learn
Aging beagles have an easier time learning new tricks if they
eat lots of fruits and vegetables, get regular exercise and
play with other dogs and interesting toys, according to a
report in the January Neurobiology of Aging.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Midlife heart risk
factors raise chances of late-life dementia
Individuals in their early 40s who smoke or have diabetes,
high cholesterol or high blood pressure all have an increased
risk of developing dementia as they age, according to a decades-long
study of more than 8,000 Californians published in the Jan.
25 Neurology.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
January 25, 2005
Minds in motion stay
sharp
At 87, Katie Johnson is convinced she has a surefire way to
ward off Alzheimer's: the fox trot. Research suggests those
nights spent whirling around the dance floor are increasing
her chances of avoiding the disease of debilitating memory
loss.
- USATODAY
Read the entire article at: www.usatoday.com
Brain power vs. Alzheimer’s
Sherry Whiteley is nowhere near retirement age, yet she has
adopted an active lifestyle that might delay or prevent Alzheimer's
disease.
- USATODAY
Read the entire article at: www.usatoday.com
Seeds of dementia
sown in midlife
If you are middle-aged and have high cholesterol or high blood
pressure, or are a diabetic or smoker, you face a significantly
higher risk of developing dementia in your later years, a
new study suggests.
- HealthDayNews
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
January 24, 2005
Regulators review
safety data from Reminyl MCI trials
Regulators in the United States, Canada and Europe are reviewing
safety data from two clinical trials testing the Alzheimer
drug galantamine (Reminyl) as a treatment for mild cognitive
impairment (MCI).
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Blacks more prone
to Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a silent epidemic striking black Americans,
who seem more susceptible to the brain-wasting condition than
any other group of Americans, new research finds.
- Health Day News
Read the entire article at: www.usatoday.com
"Alzheimer's gene"
can affect healthy seniors
Study finds that healthy, older people with the higher-risk
genotype for Alzheimer's disease can suffer major problems
with prospective memory -- the ability to remember what they
need to do in the future.
- Medical News Today
Read the entire article at: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Drug-card chaos:
The right steps can help the elderly take charge
Finding the right prescription drug card has become a complex
road rally around coverage options, discounts and pharmacy
formularies. But by taking some steps, seniors can take charge
of their own course.
- The Chicago Tribune (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.chicagotribune.com
January 21, 2005
Brain cells recover
from plaques
Brain cells in mice recovered rapidly after brain plaques
characteristic of Alzheimer's disease were removed, offering
hope that plaque-clearing treatments could benefit patients
with the disease.
- Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.news-leader.com
Daily drink helps
keep brain sharp
Women who imbibe a little wine, beer or even spirits every
day are less likely than teetotalers to see their memories
and other thinking powers fade as they age, according to the
largest study to assess alcohol's impact on the brain.
- The Washington Post (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.washingtonpost.com
January 19, 2005
New trials of two
Alzheimer drugs
Clinical trials of two experimental Alzheimer drugs, both
being tested for their potential to counter basic biological
missteps in the Alzheimer brain, have been announced by their
corporate sponsors.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
January 12, 2005
Together RX Access
program offers cheaper prescriptions to uninsured
Eleven leading pharmaceutical companies launched a new drug
card program that will offer discounts on prescription drug
purchases for uninsured Americans.
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
Read the entire article at: www.bradenton.com
Sensors to track
Alzheimer patients
Researchers will determine whether there's a better way to
track the health of Alzheimer patients by using motion sensors.
- Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Read the entire article at: www.democratandchronicle.com
January 11, 2005
Study links dementia
and weight loss
Weight loss, which has been previously associated with dementia
and Alzheimer's disease may begin up to six years before diagnosis,
a new research suggests.
- HealthDayNews
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
January 6, 2005
Major Alzheimer prevention
trial of naproxen and celecoxib suspended
Use of study drugs in a large, federally funded Alzheimer
prevention trial has been suspended following a decision by
the study's leadership on Dec. 17, 2004. The Alzheimer's Disease
Anti-Inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT), sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), was designed to test
whether either of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) could prevent Alzheimer's in older adults at increased
risk due to a family history of the disease.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 28, 2004
Exercise keeps the
old mind healthy
A small new European study adds to the growing body of evidence
that exercise can stave off mental decline in older people.
The study results appear in the Dec. 28 issue of Neurology,
the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
- HealthDay
Read the entire article at: www.forbes.com
December 27, 2004
Science makes strides
toward Alzheimer cure
A new element has emerged in the seemingly never-ending battle
against Alzheimer's disease: hope. "Our goal of delaying the
disabling symptoms and eventually preventing Alzheimer's is
a feasible objective that we now believe the research community
can achieve in the next decade," said Sheldon Goldberg, Alzheimer’s
Association's CEO.
- HealthDay
Read the entire article at: www.yahoo.com
December 23, 2004
Masala medicine:
Curry spice may target Alzheimer lesions
The curry spice curcumin appears to block buildup of prime
Alzheimer suspect beta-amyloid in laboratory cell cultures
and reduce amyloid plaque levels in the brains of aging genetically
engineered mice.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 20, 2004
Steps to prevent
heart disease may protect brain, pocketbook
Controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and
other cardiovascular risk factors could be the best and most
cost-effective options of currently available strategies to
treat or delay dementia for many people, according to a study
in the Dec. 15 JAMA.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 15, 2004
Inability to smell
may be early warning for Alzheimer’s
An inability to identify 10 specific smells may help predict
which individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will
go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Dec.
13 presentation at the annual meeting of the American College
of Neuropsychopharmacology.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 14, 2004
Enzyme links Alzheimer’s
and Type 2 diabetes
Low levels of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) in brain cells
may be one common thread linking Type 2 diabetes to increased
risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report in the
Dec. 8 Journal of Neuroscience.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 10, 2004
Focus on Alzheimer's
shifts from treatment to prevention
For years, Alzheimer's disease research centered around treating
the ill. But as baby boomers approach the age when Alzheimer's
begins, the focus has shifted from the ill to those who could
become ill — from treatment to prevention.
- Orange County Register (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.ocregister.com
December 9, 2004
Alzheimer drug may
also help Parkinson's dementia
The Alzheimer drug rivastigmine (Exelon) may offer modest
benefit to some individuals with the dementia associated with
Parkinson’s disease, according to a report in the Dec.
9 New England Journal of Medicine.
- Alzheimer's Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
December 6, 2004
Food for thought:
Can diet protect memory?
As concern over Alzheimer’s disease grows, more Americans
are turning to expensive and potentially unsafe supplements
that claim to enhance memory. But prevention of age-related
memory loss may be no further away than your refrigerator,
and no more expensive than a bag of groceries, experts say.
- MSNBC
Read the entire article at: www.msnbc.com
Good for the heart,
good for the brain
Besides eating more fruits and veggies, avoiding saturated
fats and trans fats may also help prevent age-related memory
loss. When it comes to the amount of fat in the diet, researchers
have found that what’s good for the heart is good for the
brain.
- MSNBC
Read the entire article at: www.msnbc.com
In search of lost
time
I noticed a dark-haired woman waving to me from the window
of her car. She looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place
her. Like quite a few others, she had slipped out of my mental
Rolodex. In my brain, the synaptic traces that connected us
had frayed.
- The New York Times (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2004
A workout for your
brain
Shirley Robin has begun noticing some changes in her brain
power recently. "I'm forgetting things very easily,"
she says. "I'm repeating stories all the time. There's
no question that there's a loss of memory here." But
even at the age of 75, Robin isn't giving up without a fight.
- MSNBC
Read the entire article at: www.msnbc.com
November 23, 2004
Congress announces
$700 million in funding for Alzheimer research
The federal investment in Alzheimer’s disease research will
grow to approximately $700 million next year as a result of
legislation adopted by Congress on November 20. This is an
increase of approximately $20 million over funding for 2004.
- Alzheimer’s Association statement
Read the entire statement: www.alz.org
Obesity bad for brain,
study finds
Swedish researchers say that women who have been obese throughout
their lives are more likely to lose brain tissue in the temporal
lobe compared with women of normal weight. Loss of brain tissue
has been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk
for Alzheimer's disease.
- HealthDayNews
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
November 22, 2004
An epidemic looming,
Americans hope to hang onto their memories
At a time when more Americans are living into their 80s and
90s than ever before, the fear of dementia, or "Alzheimer's
anxiety," is rising and motivating many people to try to keep
their brains sharp into old age.
- MSNBC
Read the entire article at: www.msnbc.com
November 17, 2004
Fishing for answers
to Alzheimer's
Could something as simple as eating fish save Shannon Adkins
from a disease that is progressively destroying her mother's
mind? Well, there's fresh evidence that fish - often dubbed
"brain food" - also may be something far more potent: brain-saving
food.
- USA TODAY
Read the entire article at: www.usatoday.com
November 16, 2004
Many Americans worried
about brain health
A new national survey released by the Alzheimer’s Association
shows that Americans aged 55-64 rank brain and memory health
as their second greatest health worry as they age. Yet only
half say they are actually doing something about keeping their
brain healthy.
- Alzheimer’s Association news release
Read the entire release at: www.alz.org
November 15, 2004
Most adults try to
boost the old memory
More than half of Americans polled say they make an effort
to engage in activities that help boost memory, according
to a survey released today by the Alzheimer's Association.
This story appears in the Nov. 15 edition of USA Today
but is not available online. The text is reproduced here.
- USA Today
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
November 12, 2004
High doses of vitamin
E may slightly increase risk of death
Taking more than 400 international units of vitamin E each
day may slightly increase a person’s risk of dying, according
to a study reported at the annual meeting of the American
Heart Association. The small increase applied to death from
all causes.
- Alzheimer’s Association Research News
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
November 11, 2004
Large doses of vitamin
E may be harmful
People who take high doses of vitamin E to improve their health
may not be getting any benefits and may, in fact, be slightly
increasing their risks of dying earlier, researchers reported.
- The New York Times (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.nytimes.com
"Therapeutic lying"
and other ways to handle persons with dementia
Researchers and counselors believe new therapies can ease
the caregivers' stress and help people with dementia, too.
Among the methods: "therapeutic lying," or going along with
elders in their confusion to avoid conflict.
- The Wall Street Journal
Read the entire article at: www.wsj.com
November 10, 2004
Risks for heart disease
linked to Alzheimer's
Older men and women with a cluster of heart disease risk factors
have a greater chance of developing subtle problems in thinking
and memory that could put them at risk for Alzheimer's.
- USA TODAY
Read the entire article at: www.usatoday.com
November 5, 2004
Medicare offers its
patients as research subjects
For the first time in its history, Medicare is offering to
systematically use its vast population of patients as research
subjects to determine if new, expensive and complex treatments
actually work and, if so, in whom.
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Read the entire article at: www.seattlepi.com
Proclamation of National
Alzheimer’s Disease Month
My administration remains committed to funding medical research
programs to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease and improving
care for Alzheimer's patients and increasing support for their
families.
- The White House
Read Proclamation by President Bush:
www.whitehouse.gov
November 2, 2004
Alzheimer's steals
more than memory
Though memory loss is the best-known Alzheimer symptom, the
disease can also cause psychiatric problems that lead to profound
changes in personality, mood and behavior. People who were
happy and good-natured for most of their lives suddenly become
fearful, depressed, deluded or angry, sometimes even violent.
- The New York Times
Read the entire article at: www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2004
Consumer alert: Check
your Alzheimer medicine
Janssen Pharmaceutica has learned of recent prescribing and
dispensing errors with its Alzheimer drug galantamine (Reminyl)
and urges consumers to check that they have the correct pills.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
New tactic targets
key Alzheimer protein
Tapping into the “Trojan horse” strategy, scientists from
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University designed
a small molecule that can recruit a larger molecule to stop
beta-amyloid proteins from clumping together.
- Health Day News
Read the entire article at: www.healthday.com
Free Web seminars
for older drivers
The American Society on Aging in conjunction with the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration is offering free Web
seminars in Nov. and Dec. Topics include dementia and driving,
medications and the older adult driver and senior transportation
options.
- The American Society on Aging
Read more information: www.asaging.org
October 14, 2004
Alzheimer’s Association
supports landmark federal study
The Alzheimer’s Association will contribute $1 million to
the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a
nationwide, five-year effort to determine whether some combination
of brain images, tests of blood and other bodily fluids, and
psychological tests may improve ability to identify individuals
at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as to measure
disease progression and monitor response to experimental drugs.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Policy analysis:
PET scans' change in Medicare coverage
The first call Sheldon Goldberg got on his first day as president
of the Alzheimer's Association was not from a patient or a
doctor but from Michael D. Bromberg, chairman of the Capitol
Health Group, a well-connected Washington lobbying firm.
- The Washington Post (free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.washingtonpost.com
October 13, 2004
Government to launch
Alzheimer's study
About 800 older Americans will be asked to lend their brains
to science this spring, part of a major government study to
track early Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will use brain-scanning
MRIs and other tests to track people who have either early
stage Alzheimer's or a milder type of memory loss known as
"mild cognitive impairment."
- CNN
Read the entire article at: www.cnn.com
The Administration
on Aging awards over $2 million to expand reach
The Administration on Aging (AoA) awarded grants totaling
over $2 million to expand the reach of the Eldercare Locator
and the Alzheimer's Association National Contact Center, especially
in minority communities.
- The Mature Market
Read the entire article at: www.maturemarket.com
October 11, 2004
Blood pressure drug
shows benefit in small Alzheimer trial
Older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and
high blood pressure who took one particular type of ACE inhibitor
had slower mental decline than those who took other kinds
of blood pressure drugs, according to a study in the Oct.
12 Neurology.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
October 4, 2004
Vioxx recalled, similar
drugs on "watch" list
Acting FDA commissioner says agency will closely monitor similar
drugs, including those in federal Alzheimer prevention trials,
for side effects. There is no current evidence linking other
drugs like Vioxx to increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Alzheimer Research Forum
Read the entire article at: www.alzforum.org
September 28, 2004
Next-generation treatments
focus on beta-amyloid
How to prevent a sticky gunk from clogging up, and probably
killing, the brain cells of Alzheimer's patients is the newest
focus in the fight against the disease.
- The Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.thestate.com
 Alzhemed
clinical trial information
September 27, 2004
2004 Research grants:
Fighting the Alzheimer battle on many fronts
Those who are touched by Alzheimer’s have a long wish list.
At the top, of course, is a cure. To support significant,
ongoing research in critical areas, the Alzheimer’s Association
recently announced grants totaling almost $16 million for
2004 to support 71 important research projects.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Scientists find storehouse
of memory
A team headed by Alzheimer's Association-funded researcher
Michael D. Ehlers, M.D., Ph.D., unlocks some secrets of the
biology of memory.
- Health Day News
Read the entire article at: www.rednova.com
September 21, 2004
Alzheimer’s Association
renews call for Congress to increase research funding and
reissues key statistics on the impact of Alzheimer’s to commemorate
World Alzheimer’s Day
To commemorate World Alzheimer’s Day, the Alzheimer’s Association
today renewed its call for increased federal investment in
dementia research to $1 billion annually.
- The Alzheimer’s Association news release
Read the entire release at: www.alz.org
Walking may help
maintain your brain
Older adults who walk the most have a lower risk of dementia
and intellectual decline, according to two studies in the
Sept. 22/29 JAMA.
- Alzheimer’s Association research news
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
Regular
exercise slows an aging brain's decline
 -
USA TODAY
National Board Member
David Hyde Pierce wins Emmy
Congratulations to Alzheimer's Association National Board
Member David Hyde Pierce on his Emmy for best supporting actor
in a comedy. This is Pierce’s fourth Emmy award for his role
as Niles Crane in NBC’s “Frasier, ” which ended its 11-year
run last May.
- Alzheimer's Association
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
September 20, 2004
Alzheimer’s impacts
driving
While some people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease can
drive safely, regular assessments of their driving and memory
are the best way to tell when it's time to take away the keys.
- HealthDayNews
Read the entire article at: www.ajc.com
September 16, 2004
Medicare will pay
for PET scans for Alzheimer’s
Medicare will start paying for specialized brain scans in
some patients to help determine if they have Alzheimer's disease,
the federal agency that runs the reimbursement program announced
yesterday.
- The Washington Post (Free registration required)
Read the entire article at: www.washingtonpost.com
September 14, 2004
Dementia and the
voter
With the upcoming national election, and the aging of the
population, voting by persons with dementia is a timely issue.
Experts are attempting to address the ethical, legal and social
questions.
- The Washington Post
Read the entire article at: www.msnbc.com
"The Forgetting"
wins an Emmy
"The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s" received an Emmy
Award for "Outstanding Nonfiction Special."
- Alzheimer’s Association
Read the entire article at: www.alz.org
September 8, 2004
Alzheimer's focuses
on brain buildup
How to prevent a sticky gunk from clogging up, and probably
killing, the brain cells of Alzheimer's patients is the newest
focus in the fight against the disease.
- The Associated Press
Read the entire article at: www.yahoo.com
September 3, 2004
Drinking and dementia:
Is there a link?
Drinking alcohol in middle age may increase the risk of late-life
dementia in people who are genetically predisposed to develop
Alzheimer's disease, according to findings from a Scandinavian
study.
- WebMD
Read the entire article at: www.webmd.com
September 2, 2004
More evidence fatty
acid protects against Alzheimer's
A diet rich in a type of fatty acid found in salmon and other
types of oily fish might help protect the brain from Alzheimer's,
according to new study of mice.
- USA TODAY
Read the entire release at: www.usatoday.com
September 1, 2004
Forest Alzheimer's
drug fails key test
A cholinesterase inhibitor combined with neramexane, an experimental
drug chemically similar to Forest's recently approved Alzheimer
drug memantine (Namenda), did not help individuals with moderate
to severe Alzheimer's disease any more than a cholinesterase
inhibitor alone.
- CBS MarketWatch
Read the entire release at: www.cbs.marketwatch.com
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top
A note from the Alzheimer’s Association: The Alzheimer’s
Association reviews news wire stories and scientific/medical
journals and selects articles to share with you. Our goal
is to provide you interesting and timely dementia-related
information. The articles are not necessarily the opinion
expressed by the Alzheimer’s Association. We encourage you
to always read the original articles.
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