Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Milk Drinkers Up to Age 98 Scored Better on Memory, Brain Function Tests
Regardless of age those who drank at least one glass of milk daily had advantage in mental performance tests
Jan. 30, 2012 Researchers have found that adults up to the age of 98 with higher intakes of milk and milk products scored
significantly higher on memory and other brain function tests than those who drank little to no milk, according to a news release from the
Milk Processor Education Program funded by the nation's milk processors.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Mild Cognitive Impairment Common Among Elderly, Men, High School Grads
Women, people with some college education fair better fighting off dementia - see video report
|
 Dr.
Rosebud Roberts, Mayo Clinic neurologist and epidemiologist. |
Jan. 25, 2012 - Researchers involved in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging reported today that more than 6 percent of
Americans age 70 to 89 develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) every year. Also, the condition appears to affect men and those who only have a
high school education more than women and those who have completed some higher education.
Read more, see video..
Keeping Brain Active Protects Against Alzheimer’s But May
Be Too Late for Seniors
Study finds beta-amyloid causing protein not as common in those enjoying mental activities
Jan. 24, 2012 – A new study
confirms the long-held belief that keeping the brain active as we age provides protection from the development of Alzheimer’s disease, but it
also pin-points the biological cause. For older people, however, it is not all good news, since the most protection appears to develop before
people become senior citizens. Read more...
Caregiver & Elder Care News
GPS Devices in Shoes a Growing Solution to Wandering Alzheimer’s Patients
GTC sets goal on worldwide network, ships more miniature GPS devices to Aetrex Shoes
Jan. 18, 2012 – Caregivers are increasingly turning to miniature 2-way GPS embedded in shoes to monitor the location of
senior citizens afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, according to GTX Corp. The company announced the second delivery of 1,500 GPS
devices to footwear-maker Aetrex Worldwide. Read more...
Aging News & Information
Age 45 is the New 60, At Least Where It Concerns the Beginning of Mental Decline
New study disrupts assumption that cognitive decline begins about age 60, finds it is more like age 45 to 49
Jan. 9, 2012 - Baby boomers and younger adults in their 40s may have been waiting until they hit their 60s to start
worrying about how to prevent mental decline. But, new research says that may be a little late. Their research shows cognitive decline
beginning about age 45 and continuing with age. Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Aging Brains May Stay Sharp, Avoid Shrinkage, Alzheimer's with Proper Diet
Good choices Bs, C, D, E & omega 3; also diets high in trans fats more likely to produce brain shrinkage, lower scores on
thinking, memory
|
"...exciting to think that people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them
sharp by adjusting their diet,” Gene Bowman |
Jan. 4, 2012 – A new study suggests that people can potentially stop their brains from shrinking, avoid Alzheimer’s
disease and stay mentally sharp just by adjusting their diet. Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
New Clues as to Why Some Senior Citizens May Be Losing Their Memory
Elderly with silent strokes scored worse on memory tests, even if hippocampus was normal size
Jan. 3, 2012 - New research links ‘silent
strokes,’ or small spots of dead brain cells, found in about one out of four
older adults to memory loss in the elderly. The study is published in today’s print issue of
Neurology, the
medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology.
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Fat Hormone Adiponectin May Increase Dementia, Alzheimer’s Risk for Women
Study participants averaged 76 years of age at start of study – in 13 years 19% developed dementia; about 79% of those
had Alzheimer’s
Jan. 2, 2012 – Adiponectin, a hormone in visceral fat, appears to play a role increasing the risk for dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in older women, according to a study published Online First today by the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals. Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Sea Snails Play Key Role in Strategy to Improve Memory Damaged by Aging
This snail has contributed to the understanding of learning and memory
Dec. 27, 2011 – Neuroscientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are encouraged from test
using sea snails that their innovative learning strategy to help improve the brain’s memory may someday help people who suffer impairments
from aging, stroke, traumatic brain injury or congenital cognitive impairments.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Drug from Salk Institute May be First to Prevent AD Progression
Drug known as J147 is first to enhance memory and protect brain from devastating cognitive decline due to loss of
synaptic connection - see video report
Dec. 15, 2011 - A new drug candidate may be the first capable of halting the devastating mental decline of Alzheimer's
disease, based on the findings of a study by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies published in PLoS ONE.
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Swinging One Arm Less Than Other is Early Sign of Parkinson’s Disease
Early detection can allow treatments to slow the disease progression, maybe save lives
Dec. 13,
2011 - People with Parkinson's disease swing their arms asymmetrically - one arm swings less than the other - when walking. This
unusual movement is easily detected early when drugs and other interventions may help slow the disease, according to Penn State researchers.
Read more...
Features for Senior Citizens
Study Finds Stress Relief Helps Overweight Women Lose Weight Without Dieting
Women do better after realizing it is stress that makes them take an extra helping of holiday goodies
Dec. 7, 2011 - Women who experienced the greatest reduction in stress tended to have the most loss of deep belly fat in a
recent study. To a greater degree than fat that lies just under the skin, this deep abdominal fat is associated with an elevated risk for
developing heart disease or diabetes. The researchers say this finding – stress makes you reach for another helping - offers hope for those
who dread gaining weight during the holiday season. Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Eating Baked, Broiled Fish Wards Off Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer’s Disease
Senior citizens nearing danger zone of cognitive problems should eat fish weekly
Dec. 6, 2011 - You can reduce your risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by eating fish
that is baked or broiled every week, according to a study presented last week at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting.
Read more...
Ten-Year Study of Medicaid Depression Patients Sees Big Cost Climb, Small Care Gain
Antipsychotic use increased from 25.9%to 41.9%,cost jumped 939%
Dec. 5, 2011 – The cost of treating Medicaid patients with depression increased substantially over a 10-year period, but
it resulted in just a minimal improvement in the quality of their care, according to a report in the December issue of
Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the
JAMA/Archives
journals. Read more...
Researcher Restores Smell – One of Earliest Losses for Alzheimer’s Patients
Experiment with mice also confirms amyloid beta is the cause; seeking methods to slow AD progression
Nov. 30, 2011 - One of the earliest known impairments caused by Alzheimer's disease - loss of sense of smell – can be
restored by removing a plaque-forming protein in a mouse model of the disease, according to a new study. It also confirms that the protein
amyloid beta causes this loss. Read more...
Senior Citizens Hospitalized with Delirium More Likely to Die in One Year
Delirium in elderly patients is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed as depression, dementia
Nov. 17, 2011 -
Hospital patients who are senior citizens over age 65 who are referred for a psychiatric consultation and found to have delirium are more
likely than those without delirium to die within one year following diagnosis, according to a new study published in the journal General
Hospital Psychiatry. Read more...
Parkinson's, Dementia & Mental Health
New Report Confirms Chemical Exposure Linked to Parkinson’s Disease
National Institutes of Health study finds trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC) are culprits
Nov. 14, 2011 - A research report being published today confirms previous
evidence that occupational exposure to certain
chemical solvents increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease. The disease, for example, was nine times more common in a twin exposed to
trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC) than one who was not. It most often strikes senior citizens.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Alzheimer’s Association Gathers Ideas from 43,000 Americans to Help Develop U.S. Plan
Ideas in new report came from 43,000 people touched by the disease; 10 major challenges emerge - see video
Nov. 8, 2011 – A mammoth undertaking to gather insights and views about Alzheimer’s disease by all 70 chapters of the
Alzheimer’s Association has resulted in a report that will become a tool in developing a national plan by the federal government to combat the
mind-destroying disease. Read more, see video...
Free Memory Screening at 2,500 Places on November 15; All Kmart Pharmacies
9th annual memory day by Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has 30 professional organizations joining in
Nov.
7, 2011 - As federal officials and other experts work toward developing the first-ever national plan that will
address the growing crisis of Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is encouraging Americans to take their own
steps to be proactive about memory health by taking advantage of free memory screenings during its National Memory Screening Day (NMSD) on
November 15. Read more...
People with High Blood Pressure Not So Good at Recognizing Emotion in Faces
Big part of senior population has high blood pressure and may have ‘emotional dampening’
Nov. 3, 2011 – People with high blood pressure, and that’s a big hunk of the senior citizen population, have less ability
than others to recognize anger, fearful, sad and happy faces. They are just not good at recognizing emotional content in faces and texts.
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Prostate Cancer Patients Considering Suicide May Find Help in New Concept
Patients who have these negative thoughts before surgery are more likely to have a lower perceived quality of life 3 months
afterwards
Oct. 31, 2011 - Men with prostate cancer are twice as likely to commit suicide, but a method where they put intrusive
thoughts into words may reduce this risk, reveals research at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Family Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients Find Communications the Major Stress
Losing the ability to communicate frightens all caregivers the most, says survey for National Family Caregivers Association
Oct. 25, 2011 – Family caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients are most fearful of the health and physical decline of their
loved one, and right behind that is their concern about their relative’s loss of the ability to communicate. This communications decline is
also a major source of stress, since it hinders their ability to provide optimum care.
Read more...
|
GPS Shoes for
Alzheimer’s Patients About to Hit U.S. Market
10/23/11 - The first shoes with built-in
GPS devices -- to help track down dementia-suffering seniors who wander off and get lost -- are
set to hit the US market this month, the manufacturer says.
GTX Corp said the first batch of 3,000
pairs of shoes has been shipped to the footwear firm Aetrex Worldwide,
two years after plans were announced to develop the product.
The shoes will sell at around $300 a pair
and buyers will be able to set up a monitoring service to locate "wandering" seniors suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Read
more by AFP at Yahoo… |
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Mild Strokes Appear More Serious; Efforts Needed to ID Depression, Vision, Mental Loss
Seventy-five per cent of severe strokes occur in senior citizens over age 65, mild strokes hit younger
people
Oct. 3, 2011 - On the surface they appear unaffected, but people who have mild strokes may live with hidden disabilities,
including depression, vision problems and difficulty thinking, according to a study released today. The authors call for new guidelines for
the treatment and management of mild strokes, which account for two-thirds of all strokes and usually involve a hospital stay of one to five
days. Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Award-Winning Research Points Toward Targeted Alzheimer’s Vaccine
Oral vaccine targets RAGE and amyloid by using body's immune system
Sept. 26, 2011 – An accomplice to the protein that causes plaque buildup in Alzheimer's disease is the focus of a
potential new treatment, according to research by a Georgia Health Sciences University graduate student.
Read more...
Free Memory Screening November 15 by Alzheimer’s Foundation Draws Support
International Alzheimer’s study finds millions with dementia not diagnosed
Sept. 21, 2011 - More than 30
leading professional organizations are supporting the annual National Memory Screening Day that will be held this year on November 15,
according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. This follows a report released earlier this month by Alzheimer's Disease International
saying that "perhaps as many as 28 million of the world's 36 million people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis, and therefore do
not have access to treatment, information, and care." Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Humor May Be Best Medicine for Agitated Dementia Patients
Australian SMILE study tested ‘clown doctors,’ found 20% reduction in agitation - comparable to anti-psychotic drugs
Sept. 21, 2011 - Humor therapy is as effective as widely used antipsychotic drugs in managing agitation in patients with
dementia and avoids serious drug side effects, says a new study to be presented this week at the National Dementia Research Forum in Sydney,
Australia. Read more...
Memory Complaints by Elderly May Indicate Serious Cognitive Problems
The more memory complaints senior citizens have, the worse off their cognitive functioning
Sept. 15,
2011 – Family members and physicians need to be aware that what may at first seem to be the memory lapses in senior citizens that come with
aging, may actually be cognitive problems that are far more serious, according to findings published today in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society. Read more...
Exercise & Fitness for Senior Citizens
Aerobic Exercise Important Therapy for Preventing, Slowing
Down Dementia
Mayo Clinic: ‘very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild
cognitive impairment’
Sept. 7, 2011 - Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition's
progression once it starts, reported a Mayo Clinic study published this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Brain Imaging Scan Finds Chemical Brain Change in Elderly at Risk of Alzheimer’s
Increasing evidence Alzheimer’s associated with changes in brain starting many years before symptoms show
Aug. 25, 2011 - A brain imaging scan of senior citizens in their 70s and 80s has identified biochemical changes in the
brains of normal people who might be at risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the August 24, 2011, online issue of
Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Read
more...
Senior Citizens Increase Risk of Cognitive Decline with Too Much Salt, Too Little Exercise
Believed to be first study linking benefits of a low sodium diet to brain health in healthy older adults
Aug. 22, 2011 – Senior citizens who lead sedentary lifestyles and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be putting
themselves at risk for more than just heart disease. A new reports says it appears to also be detrimental to your mental health.
Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Fish Oil Supplements Appear to Help Older People Think Better, Save Brains
There was clear association between fish oil supplements and brain volume
Aug. 17, 2011 – The evidence from a recent study of older people indicates that consuming fish oil supplements has a
positive impact on brain health and aging. The researchers report better cognitive functioning as well as a difference in brain structure
between people taking fish oil supplements and non-users. Read more...
Exercise & Fitness for Senior Citizens
Exercise May Help Prevent Brain Damage Caused by Alzheimer's Disease
Could help develop approach for early intervention in preventing brain damage; allows brain chemicals to prevent
inflammation
Aug.15, 2011 – Regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with Alzheimer's and other
neurodegenerative diseases, according to research published this month in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Read more...
Aging News & Information
Older Women with Sleep-Disordered Breathing at Risk of Cognitive Decline, Dementia
Findings suggest potential role for supplemental oxygen for sleep-disordered breathing in elderly
Aug. 9, 2011 - Older women with sleep-disordered breathing, as indicated by measures of oxygen deficiency (hypoxia), were
more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia than women without this disorder, according to a study in the August 10 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This is a common condition among senior citizens, affecting up to 60 percent.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Dementia & Mental Health
Deep Brain Stimulation Appears to Help Parkinson's Disease Patients for 10 Years
|
What is Deep Brain Stimulation - see below news report |
Aug. 8, 2011 - One decade after receiving implants that stimulate areas of their brains,
patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) appear to sustain improvement in motor function, although part of the initial benefit wore off mainly
because of progressive loss of benefit in other functions, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Neurology, one
of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Age and Severity of Heart Failure Associated With Impairment in Verbal Memory
Stable memory function was maintained in patients younger than 63 years
Aug. 8, 2011 - Older patients – those age 63 or older - with lower rates of left ventricular ejection fraction (a measure
of how well the left ventricle of the heart pumps with each contraction) appear more likely than younger patients to have significantly
reduced verbal memory function, according to a report in the August issue of
Archives of Neurology, one of the
JAMA/Archives
journals. Read more...
Features for Senior Citizens
Neighborhood Status Influences Cognitive Ability of Older Women
Non-whites most vulnerable to the effects of living in lower socioeconomic status; income level nor education makes a
difference
Aug. 2, 2011 - Older women – senior citizens age 65 or older - who live in a lower socioeconomic status neighborhood are
more likely to exhibit lower cognitive functioning than women who live in more affluent neighborhoods, according to a new RAND Corporation
study. Read more...
Caregiver & Elder Care News
Dementia Patients Unhappy with Care; Caregivers Do Not Meet Needs
Caregivers fail to understand what is important to their relatives
Aug. 1, 2011 – Caregivers, too often, fail to understand what is important to their relatives suffering with mild to
moderate dementia, which results in frustration for the patient, according to a study from Penn State and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Yale Researchers Reveal How Seniors Lose Memory and How to Get It Back
Clinical trial testing guanfacine's (hypertension medicine) ability to improve working memory in elderly set to begin -
see video
July 27, 2011 - Yale
University researchers can't tell you where you left your car keys- but they can tell you why you can't find them. The neural networks in the
brains of the middle-aged and elderly have weaker connections and fire less robustly than in youthful ones, Intriguingly, the research
published July 27 in the journal Nature suggests that this condition is reversible.
Read more, see video...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Blood Test, Spinal Fluid Analysis Both Find Success in Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease
Blood test successful 83% of time; spinal fluid biomarkers predict AD years in advance
July 20, 2011 - Progress
in an early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was reported in two studies
presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Paris. One is a blood test that has been successful 83% of
the time in determining high amyloid deposits in the brain, a marker of AD. The second used spinal fluid from patients with mild cognitive
impairment to identify biomarkers that predict AD years in advance. Read
more...
Over Half of Alzheimer’s Cases May Be Preventable, Say Researchers
Study presented at Alzheimer's conference identifies key factors that can be modified to lower risk of AD
 Deborah Barnes, PhD |
July 20, 2011 - Over half of all Alzheimer’s disease cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes and
treatment or prevention of chronic medical conditions, according to a study led by Deborah
Barnes, PhD, a mental health researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Broken Heart Syndrome May be Sudden Killer of More People Than Assumed
Stress cardiomyopathy often associated with older women who suddenly fall dead after loss of a loved one; new study says
this is problem for younger people and men, too - videos below story
July 19, 2011
– For generations we have just said people who collapsed and died soon after a severe personal loss just died of a “broken heart.” The cause
was probably stress cardiomyopathy, which is now often referred to as “broken heart syndrome.” New Research, however, indicates this acute
heart failure triggered by stressful events is more common than thought and includes younger people, men and even some without an identifiable
stress. Read more, see videos...
Exercise & Fitness for Senior Citizens
Late-Life Cognitive Decline Slowed in Elderly Women by Minimal Exercise
Two studies support growing evidence that habitual physical activity slows age-related changes in cognition and risk of
dementia
July 19, 2011 – Senior citizen women see their late-life cognitive decline slow down as they engage in regular minimal
exercise. Two studies published as “Online First” by by Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, clearly point
to new hope in a method of slowing age-related mental decline. In one study, the women had vascular or coronary risks.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Finding Alzheimer’s Disease May be as Easy as Switching on a Light to See Amyloid Proteins
Rice U. lab's light-switching complex attaches itself to amyloid proteins, ‘lights up’ Alzheimer’s roots - see video
July 13, 2011 - A breakthrough in sensing at Rice University could make finding signs of Alzheimer's disease nearly as
simple as switching on a light. The technique reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society should help researchers design
better medications to treat the devastating disease. Read more...
ERs Need Better Support for Senior Citizens with
Cognitive Problems
U.S. seniors visit ERs more than other age groups;
review covers patients from the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, New
Zealand and Israel
June 6, 2011 - More needs to be done to improve the
care that older adults with cognitive impairment - including dementia
and delirium - receive when they visit hospital emergency departments,
according to a research review in the July issue of the Journal of
Advanced Nursing.
Read more...
Knocking a Hole in ‘Senior Moment’ – Study Says We
Control Forgetfulness
Freud was correct: in the same way we control our
motor impulses, we can control our memory
July 6, 2011 - Have you heard the saying “You only
remember what you want to remember”? Well, maybe it was not just a
senior citizen making an excuse for a lost fact. Now there is evidence
that it may well be correct. Research from Lund University in Sweden
shows that we can train ourselves to forget things.
Read more...
Parkinson's, Dementia, & Mental Health
Risk of Parkinson’s Disease Triples for Those Who
Worked Near Pesticide Spraying
Study first to implicate pesticide ziram, as part
of the problem with fungicide maneb and herbidice paraquat
May 26, 2011 - In April 2009, researchers at UCLA
announced they had discovered a link between Parkinson's disease and two
chemicals commonly sprayed on crops to fight pests. A new study expands
the list of dangerous chemicals and widens the areas where they are
dangerous.
Read more...
Alzheimer's Risk Gene Disrupts Brain's Wiring 50
Years Before Disease Hits Seniors
Whopping 88% of Caucasians have this clusterin gene; good news is it gives you 50 years to try to stop Alzheimer’s
and it's not most dangerous gene
May 26, 2011 - What if you were told you carried a
gene that increases your risk for Alzheimer's disease? And what if you
were told this gene starts to do its damage not when you're a senior
citizen but when you're young? Brace yourself, here it comes...Read
more...
Drug Stopping Degradation of Pathways to Brain’s
Hippocampus May Delay Alzheimer’s
Study shows the memory of aging senior citizens
fails to record new information; meshes with the old
May 13, 2011 - It's something many seniors just
accept: that the older we get, the more difficulty we have remembering things. We can be introduced to new friends at a party
and will have forgotten their names before the handshakes are over. We
shrug and nervously reassure ourselves that our brains' "hard drives"
are just too full to handle the barrage of new information that comes in
daily. Read
more...
Son Honoring Mother by Climbing 7 Summits, Raising
$1 Million to Fight Alzheimer’s
Climbing tallest mountains on seven continents –
donating to Alzheimer’s Association, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, National
Family Caregivers Association
May 10, 2011 - Alan Arnette is
today trudging a precarious trail up Mr. Everest, the world’s tallest
mountain, as part of his quest to raise a million dollars to fight
Alzheimer’s disease by climbing to the peaks of the 7 Summits – the
highest mountains on each continent. The “7 Summits Climb for
Alzheimer's: Memories are Everything” campaign was established by
Arnette to honor his mother.
Read
more...
Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment Common in
Rapidly Increasing 'Oldest Old' Women
Alzheimer's disease and mixed dementia account
about 80% of dementia cases; vascular dementia about 12.1%
May 9, 2011 - Mild cognitive
impairment, dementia, and their subtypes are common in the "oldest old"
women, which includes those 85 years of age and older, according to a
report in the May issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Alzheimer’s Strikes First in Areas Where Cells 'Talk' Most; Boosts
Plaque Accumulation
Sleep
deprivation and increased stress, which may affect Alzheimer’s risk, may also
increase activity levels in these vulnerable regions
By Michael
C. Purdy
May 2, 2011 - Higher levels of cell chatter boost amyloid
beta in the brain regions that Alzheimer’s hits first, researchers at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis report. Amyloid beta is the main
ingredient of the plaque lesions that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, the disease
most feared by senior citizens.
Read more...
New Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Starts with
Pre-Alzheimer’s, Marks Advances
Some older people have abnormal levels of amyloid
plaques, yet never show signs of dementia… amyloid deposits begin early
in the disease process but tangle formation, loss of neurons occur
later; new report for boomers, see below news story
|
Alzheimer's Association has also
released a new book for baby boomers about AD, read more below
news story. |
April 19, 2011 - For the first
time in 27 years, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease
dementia have been revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages
of the disease have been characterized to reflect a deeper understanding
of the disorder. The guidelines released today cover the disease from
pre-Alzheimer’s and across its many gradually changes over many years.
Read more...
Inability of Senior Citizens to Detect Sarcasm, Lies
May Be Early Sign of Dementia
‘These patients cannot detect lies’ – ‘This fact
can help them be diagnosed earlier’
April 15, 2011 – While millions of dollars are
being spent on scientific research to find an early detection system for
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, scientists at the University of
California, San Francisco think they have found a simple method. They
say senior citizens unable to detect sarcasm and lies are likely victims
of dementia.
Read
more..
Normal Senior Citizens with Amyloid Plaques Show
Changes Associated with Alzheimer’s
Discovery may open door for therapies to prevent
developing Alzheimer ’s disease
March 30, 2011 - Senior citizens with normal mental
abilities, but with brain deposits of amyloid beta – the primary
constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease
patients, also had changes in brain structure similar to those seen in
Alzheimer's patients. The research, published early in the online
edition of the Annals of Neurology, may help identify individuals
who could be candidates for therapies to prevent the development of
dementia.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Alcohol Consumption
by Elderly Reduces Risk of Dementia, Alzheimer’s
Most studies of
senior citizens in last 31 years show association between moderate
alcohol consumption and better cognitive function and reduced risk of
dementia
March
7, 2011 - The evidence is
growing more convincing – even for senior citizens aged 75 and older -
that alcohol consumption reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease. A study released today found elderly drinkers had approximately
30% less overall dementia and 40% less Alzheimer dementia than did
non-drinking subjects. The report is online in Age and Ageing,
published by Oxford University Press for the British Geriatrics
Society.
Read more...
An Alzheimer’s
Vaccine Plus Stroke Prevention in a Nasal Spray?
Tel
Aviv University researchers
develop a vaccine they think will stave off stroke as well Alzheimer’s
Feb. 28, 2011 -
One in eight Americans – almost all of them senior citizens - will fall prey to
Alzheimer's disease, current statistics indicate. Because Alzheimer's is
associated with vascular damage in the brain, many of them will succumb
through a painful and potentially fatal stroke. The odds may improve,
however, if researchers succeed with their new nasal spray.
Read
more...
Storytelling Program Encourages Imagination, Improves Lives of People with
Alzheimer’s
TimeSlips,
drug-free, creative storytelling intervention, improves communication
skills in dementia patients, says UM study - see video
Feb. 27, 2011 –
An estimated 5.3 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease,
including 5.1 million senior citizens aged 65 or older. Fourteen percent
of those aged 71 or older suffer with AD or other mind-erasing
dementias, which rarely can be reversed. A glimmer of hope is being
found in a creative storytelling program, TimeSlips, that seems to improve
communications skills and has other positive affects on dementia
patients.
Read
more, watch video...
Hearing Loss in Senior Citizens Once Again Linked
With Development of Dementia
Risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease also increased with hearing loss - for every 10
decibels of hearing loss, the extra risk increased by 20%
Feb. 14, 2011 – For
years researchers have been finding an association between hearing loss
in senior citizens and dementia, yet, loss of hearing is seldom found in
any list of dementia or Alzheimer’s warning signs. The latest study to
be published also finds older adults with hearing loss appear more
likely to develop dementia and the risk increases as hearing loss become
more severe.
Read
more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
A Positive Attitude
is Good for the Health of Senior Citizens, Research Proves
One way is it
reduces stress, which is a source of many ailments for seniors
Jan. 20, 2011 –
Feeling good and having a positive attitude has often been associated
with good health. A new review of existing research seems to prove this
is true for senior citizens – positive emotions do influence healthy
outcomes for older people.
Read more...
Seniors with
Less Education and Lower Levels of Biomarker Suffer Greater Cognitive
Decline
'To identify those
at risk of dementia, biomarkers like plasma beta-amyloid level that are
relatively easy to obtain and minimally invasive could be useful'
Jan. 18, 2011 -
Older adults without dementia and with lower levels in blood plasma of
the biomarkers beta-amyloid 42/40 (protein fragments) had an increased
rate of cognitive decline over a period of 9 years, according to a study
in the January 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA). They also found this relationship stronger among
individuals with less education and lower levels of literacy.
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Older Women with Diabetes and Depression Have
Twice the Risk of Death
Both
problems linked to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, poor diet and a
sedentary lifestyle
Jan. 3, 2011 – Older women suffering with diabetes and depression have a
significantly increased risk of death from heart disease, as well as an
increased death risk from all causes, over a six-year period, according
to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Senior Citizens
with High Levels of ‘Good’ Cholesterol at Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s
About 1% of senior citizens age 65-69 have Alzheimer’s,
increases to 60% over age 95, but study says high HDL cholesterol
signals decreased risk of possible Alzheimer's
Dec. 13, 2010 - High levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also
known as the "good" cholesterol, appear to be associated with a reduced
risk for Alzheimer's disease in older adults, according to a report in
the December issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Read
more...
Senate Aging Committee Forum to Hear Ideas for
Improving Care for Alzheimer’s Patients
Seven panelists led by Kathy Greenlee, Asst. Sec.
for Aging, will present successful programs
Dec. 6, 2010 - On Wednesday the U.S. Senate Special
Committee on Aging will host a forum that will emphasize the often
overlooked aspect of quality of care for those living with Alzheimer's
disease and other forms of dementia. Much of the focus for Alzheimer’s
advocates has been on finding a cure for this disease that devastates so
many senior citizens.
Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Regular Consumption
of High Cholesterol Diet May Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease
New study used
rats to show brain damage produced from 5% cholesterol-enriched diet
Nov. 24, 2010 –
A new study indicates that regularly consumption of a high fat
cholesterol diet may lead to Alzheimer’s disease. The research using
adult rats is from the Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental
Alzheimers Research at the Medical University Innsbruck and was funded
by the Austrian Science Funds and published in Molecular Cellular
Neuroscience.
Read more...
Small Amounts
of Albumin in Urine Signals Rapid Mental Decline in Older Women
Study
shows cognitive decline at a rate 2 to 7 times faster than that attributed to
aging alone - suggest testing
Nov. 21, 2010 - A new
study, presented yesterday has found that low amounts of albumin in the urine,
at levels not traditionally considered clinically significant, strongly predict
faster cognitive decline in older senior citizen women. The most striking
decline was in verbal fluency.
Read more...
Pericyte Brain Cells Found to be Possible Key
Players in Alzheimer’s, Other Diseases
Pericyte in a
surprising new role as a key player shaping blood flow in the brain and
protecting sensitive brain tissue from harmful substances
Nov. 17, 2010 -
Cells in the brain called pericytes that have not been high on the list
of targets for treating diseases like Alzheimer’s may play a more
crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases than has
been realized.
Read
more...
Death of Neurons
Causing Parkinson’s Disease is Due to Exhaustion from Stress
Parkinson's disease
is second to Alzheimer’s as most common
neurodegenerative disease in U.S.; the average age of diagnosis is about
60
Nov. 10, 2010
-
All senior citizens know that living a stressful lifestyle can take its
toll, making us age faster and making us more susceptible to the latest
cold going around. The same appears to be true of dopamine-releasing
neurons in the brain. New research finds when these neurons become
stressed out they die, which causes Parkinson’s disease.
Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Eating Beets Is A
Safeguard Against Dementia Developing As Senior Citizens Age
Specialists in
healthy foods for senior citizens say beet juice increases blood flow to
brain
Nov.
8, 2010 - Seniors should add beets to the list of superfoods vital to
their diet, say researchers specializing in the study of foods that are
beneficial to people as they age. Their new study shows that a daily
dose of beet juice boosts blood flow to the brain, keeping your mind
sharp and potentially creating a safeguard against dementia as you age.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Omega-3 Fish Oil
Does Not Slow Cognitive or Functional Decline in Alzheimer's Disease
New study indicates
DHA supplementation not useful for those with mild to moderate AD -
watch JAMA video
Nov. 3, 2010 –
There had been some indications that taking omega-3 fatty acid
supplements could reduce the rate of mental and functional decline in
patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. A new study,
however, dashes the hopes of many senior citizens with evidence that it
does not work.
Read more,
watch video...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens
That Survive Sepsis Are Three Times More Likely to Have Cognitive Issues
First large-scale
study shows older patients with severe sepsis face
years of cognitive, physical decline, according to U-M research
published in JAMA - watch video
Oct. 26, 2010 -
Older adults who survive severe sepsis are at higher risk for long-term
cognitive impairment and physical limitations than those hospitalized
for other reasons, according to researchers from the University of
Michigan Health System.
Read
more, watch video...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Seniors
Who Were Heavy Smokers in Midlife Doubled Their Risk of Alzheimer’s,
Dementia
Senior citizens
who smoked more than two packs per day in middle age had an elevated risk of all
dementias in study
Oct.
26, 2010 – Senior citizens who were heavy smokers in middle age appear to have
more than twice as much risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of
dementia, according to a report posted online yesterday that will be published
in the February 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of
the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Exercise & Fitness for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens
Preserve Their Brain Size and Memory by Walking Regularly
Study author wants
more emphasis on physical exercise for older people to prevent dementia
Oct. 20, 2010 –
There is new evidence that senior citizens can preserve the size of
their brain and their memory into old age by walking regularly at least
six miles per week. The study was supported by the National Institute on
Aging.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
New Study Finds
Vitamin B12 May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Memory Loss
Most recent studies
have pointed to folate (B9) as best guard against Alzheimer's - see
report below news story that folate-B12 work together to improve memory
Oct. 19, 2010 –
A new study indicates the vitamin B12 may offer protection from
Alzheimer’s Disease, while the researchers found adding folate to the
diet did not appear to raise or lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
These results appear to counter studies in recent years that have
indicated an AD preventive power in folate, also known as B9, rather
than B12.
Read more...
Aging News & Information
Psychologist Thinks She Can Shock Senior Citizens
Into Remembering Names
The difficulty in remembering proper names is
exacerbated as we get older
Oct. 6, 2010 –
What senior citizen does not want to be able to remember the names of
friends and acquaintances better? Psychologist Ingrid Olson thinks
she has found the answer - she found that electric stimulation of the
right anterior temporal lobe of the brain improved the recall of proper
names in young adults by 11 percent.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Friends, Family Detect Early Alzheimer's Disease
Signs Better Than Traditional Tests
A brief assessment that harnesses the insights of
family and close friends is better at detecting the earliest signs of
Alzheimer's dementia than direct testing
Sept. 27, 2010 – Hundreds of
scientist are spending millions of dollars searching for a means to
detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stage. But, researchers at
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered
that family members and close friends are more sensitive to early signs
of Alzheimer's dementia than traditional screening tests.
Read
more...
World Alzheimer Report Reveals Massive Cost of Most
Significant Health Crisis of Century
After becoming a senior citizen at age 65, the
likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s roughly doubles every five years.
Sept. 21, 2010 - A landmark report on the Global
Economic Impact of Dementia finds that Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias are exacting a massive toll on the global economy, with the
problem set to accelerate in coming years. The World Alzheimer Report
2010 – issued on World Alzheimer’s Day by Alzheimer’s Disease
International (ADI) – provides the most current and comprehensive global
picture of the economic and social costs of the illness.
Read more...
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
New Studies Show Stress Beneficial to Cancer:
Accelerating its Spread, Protecting from Therapy
Stress, even from physical exercise, helps cancer
survive chemo and radiation
Sept. 21, 2010 – Two new studies seem to have found
firm evidence that stress is a friend of cancer. Previous studies have
indicated stress fuels cancer growth, but this new research seems to
nail it down. One study found chronic stress acts as fertilizer to feed
breast cancer and the other says stress helps cancer survive treatment
therapy.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Researchers Identify Genetic Marker of Most
Aggressive Alzheimer’s Disease
New research points to a way to determine how rapidly
Alzheimer’s patients may develop full-blown dementia after their
diagnosis
By Jim Dryden, Washington University
Sept. 17, 2010 - An international team of
Alzheimer’s disease experts, led by Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis, has uncovered a gene variation that appears to
predict the rate at which Alzheimer’s disease will progress.
Read
more...
Mild Memory Loss – Senior Moments – Not a Part of
Normal Aging Says New Research
‘Our study finds that Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias are the root cause of virtually all loss of cognition
and memory in old age’
Sept. 15, 2010 - Simply getting older is not the
cause of mild memory lapses often called “senior moments,” according to
a new study by researchers at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. The
study found that even the very early mild changes in memory that are
much more common in old age than dementia are caused by the same brain
lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Read more...
Brain Exercises May Slow Cognitive Decline
Initially, But Speed Up Dementia Later
Those with more mentally active lifestyles may
experience a faster rate of decline once dementia begins
Sept. 15, 2010 - New research with senior citizens
shows that mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles,
reading and listening to the radio may, at first, slow the decline of
thinking skills but speed up dementia later in old age.
Read more...
Aging News & Information
Mental Decline in
Aging May Be More Gradual Than Many Have Thought
But - ‘Now convincing evidence that even vocabulary knowledge
and what's called crystallized intelligence decline at older ages’
Sept.
14, 2010 – A new look at tests of mental aging reveals a good news-bad news
situation. The bad news is all mental abilities appear to decline with age, to
varying degrees. The good news is the drops are not as steep as some research
showed, according to a study published by the American Psychological
Association. Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Protein-Based Biomarkers in Blood Serum Identify
Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease
Identification of blood-based biomarker profiles
with good diagnostic accuracy would have a profound impact worldwide
Sept. 13, 2010 - Researchers correctly identified
80 percent of the people in their study as having Alzheimer’s disease by
the use of a blood test, but when they added clinical information their
efficiency jumped to 94 percent, according to their report in the
September issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Read more...
Mild Cognitive Impairment More Common in Senior
Citizen Men than Women, Study Finds
Prevalence was also higher in participants who
never married, than those currently or previously married
Sept. 8, 2010 – Senior citizens may be at risk of
developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to
Alzheimer’s disease, earlier in life if they are male, according to a
new study. The researchers found this problem consistently higher among
senior men than senior women at all ages among this study group ranging
in age from 70 to 89.
Read
more...
Aging News & Information
Senior Citizens Most Likely to Forget Who They Told
What, Reluctant to Admit Mistakes
Researchers say this ‘destination amnesia’ can be
embarrassing and even dangerous - 'I know I told you that!'
Aug. 30, 2010 - Senior citizens often forget with
whom they have shared – or not shared - information, according to a new
study. The researchers call it “destination memory failure,” or
“destination amnesia.” But, even more alarming, they find these seniors
extremely reluctant to admit they are wrong.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
No Way Found to
Prevent or Delay Alzheimer’s Disease: Worst Fear of Most Senior Citizens
New
York Times explores the NIH report and the dilemma as part of its Vanishing Mind
series
Aug. 30, 2010 – We are failing in the massive attempt to
stop the disease most senior citizens fear most – Alzheimer’s disease. The New
York Times, as a part of its Vanishing Mind series, published an article by Gina
Kolata on Sunday that takes a close look at this crisis. The article was spurred
by the report of a National Institutes of Health panel that concluded nothing
has been found to prevent or delay AD.
Read more...
Exercise & Fitness for Senior Citizens
Attention, Senior Couch Potatoes!
Modest Walking Boosts Brain Connectivity, Function
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience followed
sedentary adults, aged 59 to 80, who joined a walking group or stretching and
toning group for a year
Aug. 26, 2010 - A group of older
“professional couch potatoes,” as one researcher described them, has
proven that even moderate exercise – in this case walking at one’s own
pace for 40 minutes three times a week – can enhance the connectivity of
important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated
with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.
Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease Hits Wall as Drug
Test Stopped; Maybe Plaque Not Cause
Eli Lilly’s semagacestat targeted amyloid beta
plaques but patients got worse
Aug. 19, 2010 – The efforts to prevent or
successfully treat Alzheimer’s disease – the disease most feared by
senior citizens - with drugs has never advanced very far, but these
efforts suffered a major setback this week when Eli Lilly and Company
announced it was halting development of semagacestat. This potential
treatment for AD was in advanced clinical trials when it was discovered
to be making patients worse instead of better. Many see this failure as
a major blow to the most popular theory on the cause of the disease.
Read
more...
Distinguishing ‘Senior Moments’ from Alzheimer’s
Leads to Key Brain Passage
|
 Tommie
Burns caresses the cheek of his wife of 65 years, who has
late-stage Alzheimer’s. Their daughter Diana participated in a
UCI study that identified an elusive brain passage believed to
indicate the nature of memory loss. |
‘… definitely an ‘aha’ moment when we knew we had
finally found it:’ Mike Yassa, UCI researcher – may lead to early
diagnosis of AD
Aug. 10, 2010 - With the help of adult volunteers
up to age 89, UC Irvine researchers have identified for the first time
in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the "perforant path."
Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which
is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far
more quickly as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more
SIRT1 Gene Important for Memory But Increasing Level Shows No
Improvement
Much-studied protein
involved in aging, and tied to red wine ingredient resveratrol, is
required for recall in mice; but over-expression fails to improve
performance
July
22, 2010 - A protein implicated in many biological processes also may
play a role in memory, according to a study led by the University of
Southern California and the National Institute on Aging. These findings,
published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, agree with
research published online by Nature on July 11. Both studies found that
mice lacking the protein SIRT1 exhibited impaired memory and learning,
suggesting SIRT1's importance to those functions.
Read more...
New Strategy to Fight Alzheimer’s May Come From
Control of a Gene Associated with Aging
SIRT1 gene found to control production of peptides
that form amyloid plaque in AD brains
July 22, 2010 – Drugs to activate the SIRT1 gene
may lead to a way to fight Alzheimer’s disease, according to MIT
biologists that have discovered the first link between the amyloid
plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and this gene
previously implicated in the aging process.
Read
more...
Better Management of Cholesterol in Senior Citizens
May Help Fight Depression
Study of elderly men and women find unexpected
links between depression and LDL, HDL levels
July 21, 2010 - Older women with depression tend to
have low levels of the “good” cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL).
On the other hand, according to this new study, senior men at greater
risk of depression had low levels of the "bad" form of cholesterol, low
density lipoprotein (LDL). The researchers say that properly regulating
the levels of HDL and LDL may help to prevent depression in senior
citizens.
Read more...
Senior Citizens Show Significant
Visual Memory Improvement After Brain Training
‘The brains
of older adults, like those of young people, are ‘plastic’ – the brain
can change in response to focused training’
July 15, 2010 -
A commercial brain fitness program has been shown to improve memory in
senior citizens, at least in the period soon after training. The
findings among this group with an average age of 72 are the first to
show that practicing simple visual tasks can improve the accuracy of
short-term, or “working” visual memory.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Alerts
Aging Brains Experience Long Term Cognitive
Impairment from Common Drugs in Study
Taking one anticholinergic (Tylenol PM, Benadryl,
etc.) significantly increases
risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and taking two doubles this
risk
July
14, 2010 – In a study of elderly African-Americans it was found that
drugs consumed often for a variety of common medical conditions
including insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the
brain causing long term cognitive impairment. The researchers are
confident future studies will find that the results will also apply to
senior citizens of other races.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Obese Older Women With Pear Shapes Have Most Memory,
Cognitive Problems
Apple-Shaped obese women have problems, too, says
first study to link obesity and body shape to poorer brain function in
older women
July 14, 2010 - The more a senior woman weighs, the
worse her memory, according to new research from Northwestern Medicine.
The effect is more pronounced in women who carry excess weight around
their hips, known as pear shapes, than women who carry it around their
waists, called apple shapes.
Read
more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Older People Eating Vitamin E Rich Foods Less
Likely to Suffer Dementia, Alzheimer’s
New tests indicated high levels of the sun vitamin,
D, and now E, both help older people preserve their memory
July 13, 2010 - Consuming more vitamin E through the diet appears
to be associated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease,
according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A report in SeniorJournal.com
yesterday shows new testing has also found that higher levels of vitamin
D also seem to protect against these memory-robbing diseases.
Read more...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Low Vitamin D in Senior Citizens Signals Cognitive
Decline; Higher Parkinson’s Risk
An estimated 40 to 100% of seniors in U.S. and Europe
are deficient in vitamin D: linked to fractures, various chronic
diseases and death
July 12, 2010 - Senior citizens with low levels of
vitamin D are likely to experience declines in thinking, learning and
memory over a six-year period, according to a study in the July 12 issue
of Archives of Internal Medicine. Low levels of the vitamin may
also increase the risk for Parkinson's disease, according to a finding
that people with
higher levels of vitamin D appear to have a reduced risk of developing
Parkinson's disease.
Read
more...
Apathy and Depression Predict Progression from Mild
Cognitive Impairment to Dementia
Mayo Clinic researchers will next study if treating
neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI can delay the onset of dementia
July 12, 2010 - A new Mayo Clinic study finds that
apathy and depression significantly predict an individual's progression
from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a disorder of the brain that
affects nerve cells involved in thinking abilities, to dementia,
including Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
Read
more...
Performance Tests Used to Predict Future Development
of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Predicted the development of mild cognitive
impairment a year later with an accuracy of 80 to 100%
June 28, 2010 – Several recent scientific studies
have claimed new techniques for studying physical changes in senior
citizens that predict the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Now,
researchers claim success with performance testing to make an early
prediction of mild cognitive impairment that often leads to AD.
Read
more...
Changes in Brain White Matter of Senior Citizens an
Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease
High-risk group of seniors showed decreased integrity
in white matter tracts that inter-connect gray matter regions involved
in memory function
June 28, 2010 – Advances in various imaging
techniques appear to bringing scientists much closer to early detection
of Alzheimer’s disease. The latest detection method used a recently
developed form of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the
changes in white matter in the brains of senior citizens at risk for AD.
Read more...
Plaque of
Alzheimer's Disease First Appears in Retinas; Optical Imaging May Lead
to Diagnosis
Noninvasive optical imaging detects retinal plaques in live
laboratory mice, suggesting the possibility of early noninvasive diagnosis
June
24, 2010 – The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with
Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes – and it shows up
there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the
eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the
disease, according to new research.
Read more...
Science Finding Alzheimer’s Hard to Treat; Best
Strategy May Be Prevention
Institute on Aging clinical trial seeks volunteers
to help find the disease at very beginning in senior citizens
Amsterdam, June 14, 2010 – Finding a cure for
Alzheimer’s disease, or an effective treatment, has been difficult for
the world’s best researchers. There is substantial progress in finding
ways to delay or prevent the disease by identifying AD risk factors and
developing targeted treatments, according to a special issue of the
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Read more...
Study with Round Worms Suggests Memory Can Be
Preserved by Dietary Restriction
Scientist hope to use the system to identify new
drugs and treatments for age-related cognitive decline
May 25, 2010 - If you lived longer, would you still
remember everything? It depends. Two methods of extending life span have
very different effects on memory performance and decline with age,
researchers at Princeton University have shown in a study publishing
next week in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
New Study Says Caffeine Slows Alzheimer's, Other
Dementias, Restores Cognitive Function
Positive impact of caffeine on cognition and memory
performance, other benefits of caffeine in special supplement to the
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 17, 2010 - Although
caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide and a
particular favorite for senior citizens who thrive on coffee, its
potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning
has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated. The latest
research says caffeine may be protective against the cognitive decline
seen in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Married Senior Citizens Six Times More Likely to Get
Dementia if Partner Has It
Husbands appear at higher risk than wives says
12-year study of 1,221 senior married couples
May 6, 2010 - Older married adults whose spouse has
dementia are at significantly higher risk for developing dementia
themselves, compared to similar older married adults whose spouse never
develops dementia. This is the key finding of a study published today in
the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Read
more...
Why is late-life depression harder to treat?
Seniors' Abnormal Reaction to Emotional Stimuli
This finding offers important clue in search for
more effective therapies
May 4, 2010 - Scientists have found an important clue in the
quest to understand why people who suffer from depression in later life
are harder to treat and keep well in the long term. A study led by
Toronto's Baycrest has found that older people with depression don't
respond normally to emotional stimuli, such as when they see happy, sad
or neutral faces.
Read more...
Rates of Mood and Anxiety Disorders Decline with Age
but Still Affect Many Older Adults
‘Given the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the
potential public health burden of late-life mental health disorders will
likely grow as well’
May 3, 2010 - Rates of mood and anxiety disorders
appear to decline with age but the conditions remain common in older
adults, especially women, according to a report in the May issue of
Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Alzheimer’s Cause May be Amyloid Oligomers Rather
Than Amyloid Plaques
Memory problems originate with protein clumps
floating in the brain, says new research
April 29, 2010 - Using a new mouse model of
Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
report to have
found that Alzheimer's pathology originates in Amyloid-Beta (Abeta)
oligomers in the brain, rather than the amyloid plaques previously
thought by many researchers to cause the disease.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Senior’s Nightmare: No Prevention, No Cure for
Alzheimer’s Disease Says Expert NIH Panel
‘Alzheimer's disease is a feared and heart-breaking
disease - wish we could tell people that taking a pill or doing a puzzle
every day would prevent this terrible disease, but current evidence
doesn't support this’
April 28, 2010 - Many preventive measures for
cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease—mental
stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements—have been
studied over the years. However, an independent panel convened this week
by the National Institutes of Health determined that the value of these
strategies for delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of
decline or disease hasn't been demonstrated in rigorous studies.
Personality May Influence Brain Shrinkage in Aging
Brains
Accumulating research suggests people tend to
become more neurotic and less conscientious in early-stage Alzheimer's
By Tony Fitzpatrick
April 28, 2010 - Psychologists at Washington
University in St. Louis have found an intriguing possibility that
personality and brain aging during the golden years may be linked.
Read
more...
Alzheimer’s-like Changes Affect Brains of Senior
Citizens Long Before Symptoms Appear
Indicates Alzheimer’s damage to the brain begins to
occur long before there are clinical symptoms
By Jim
Dryden
April 28, 2010 - Older adults with evidence of
amyloid in the brain but no clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
have structures in the brain that don’t communicate readily with each
other, according to researchers at Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis.
Read
me...
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Claims Appear Fishy that Fish Oil Supplements
Improve Cognitive Ability of Senior Citizens
Largest study ever of older people and fish oil finds
no improvement in brain power after two years
April
21, 2010 – Senior citizens have been among the millions that flocked to
the lure of maintaining a health body and mind through consumption of
fish oil supplements. A new study focused on older people has found,
however, there is no evidence they can improve the cognitive ability of
older people.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Clinical Trial Stops the Cognitive Decline for
Alzheimer’s Patients, Slows Brain Shrinkage
Phase II study is first to show combined benefits
of IGIV on clinical outcomes
April 13, 2010 – A Phase II clinical trial using
naturally occurring antibodies in human blood has stopped the decline in
the thinking abilities of mild-to moderate-stage Alzheimer’s patents
over 18 months. It also significantly reduced the rate of shrinkage of
their brains, which is common in AD patients.
Read
more...
Worsening Memory May Be Too Quickly Dismissed:
Could Lead to Alzheimer's
‘Concept of mild cognitive impairment as a
predementia manifestation of Alzheimer's disease is substantiated’
April 5, 2010 – There is more evidence today that
the memory problems many have dismissed as just “normal aging,” or have
paid little attention to, may be more serious than many believed. This
subjective memory impairment or mild deficits in memory appear to
predict progression to more advanced stages of cognitive impairment and
dementia.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Self-Administered Test to Screen for Early Dementia,
Alzheimer's Available Online
Ohio State Neurologist says it takes less than 15
minutes to complete, is a reliable tool for evaluating cognitive
abilities
March 31, 2010 – Senior citizens are besieged by
cancer, heart disease and associated chronic diseases, but what most of
them fear most is Alzheimer’s disease or any loss of their mental
abilities. Now a neurologist at Ohio State says he has developed a
simple, self-test to screen for early dementia that he is making
available online.
Read
more...
Social Security News
Social Security Commissioner Astrue Honored by
Alzheimer’s Association
Humanitarian award recognizes his adding early-onset
AD, other dementias to to SSA’s Compassionate Allowances Initiative
March 15, 2010 - Social Security Administration
commissioner Michael Astrue received the Alzheimer's Association's 2010
Humanitarian Award in recognition of his “exceptional leadership” in
creating the Compassionate Allowances Initiative and the decision to
include early-onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in that
initiative.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
New Tools to Quickly, Accurately Measure Anxiety May
Benefit Increasing Elderly Patients
Growing numbers of caregivers and elderly concerned
about anxiety: once thought not to be a problem for older people - more
about seniors and anxiety below news report
March 9, 2010 – A new questionnaire and measurement
scale to evaluate anxiety may be welcomed by the growing number of
senior citizens concerned about the disorder, because of the simplicity
and rapid results determination using these tools. Anxiety becomes more
common as we get older, according to the American Geriatrics Society
Foundation, because medical, psychological, and social problems tend to
build up. Read
more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Research Leader Says Discovery Offers Hope Early
Alzheimer’s Disease Can Be Cured
Team uncovers new explanation for the spread of key
protein, Tau, within the brain
March 1, 2010 – A research who has spent over 20
years studying Alzheimer’s on the cellular level thinks his team has
made a discovery that he thinks offers hope that patients in early
stages of the disease might someday be cured. The work by his team is
published in the February issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Read more...
Video Games that Include Exercise Appear to Reduce
Depression in Senior Citizens
Subjects chose Nintendo Wii Sports games to play on
their own – tennis, bowling, baseball, golf or boxing
Feb. 25, 2010 - New research suggests a novel route
to improving the symptoms of subsyndromal depression (SSD) in senior
citizens through the regular use of "exergames" – entertaining video
games that combine game play with exercise.
Read more...link
to video
Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Remember Magnesium If You Want to Remember at Any
Age
Study finds new synthetic supplement improves memory
and staves off age-related memory loss
Feb.
22, 2010 - Those who live in industrialized countries have easy access
to healthy food and nutritional supplements, but magnesium deficiencies
are still common. That's a problem because new research from Tel Aviv
University suggests that magnesium, a key nutrient for the functioning
of memory, may be even more critical than previously thought for the
neurons of children and healthy brain cells in aging adults.
Read more...
Control of high blood pressure in this senior
citizen group could cut in half the projected 50% five-year rate of
progression to dementia’
Feb. 8, 2010 - High blood pressure appears to
predict the progression to dementia in senior citizens with impaired
executive functions (ability to organize thoughts and make decisions)
but not in those with memory dysfunction, according to a report in the
February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Read
more...
Industry-affiliated studies = smoking protects
against the development of AD; independent studies = smoking increases
the risk of AD
Older adults show 30% advantage over younger adults;
may be the wiser decision-makers because they pick up so much more
information
Jan. 26, 2010 - The aged brain of a senior citizen
has a weakened ability to filter out irrelevant information, which
sounds like bad news for older people. A new study, however, suggests
this may actually give the older folks a memory advantage over younger
people. Read
more...
Seniors with mental lapses were 4.6 times more
likely to have dementia than those without mental lapses
Jan. 18, 2010 - Older people who have "mental
lapses," or times when their thinking seems disorganized or illogical or
when they stare into space, may be more likely to have Alzheimer's
disease than people who do not have these lapses, according to a study
published in the January 19, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the
medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Read
more...
Significant percentage of people with early
subjective symptoms may experience further cognitive decline; few
without these symptoms decline
Jan. 12, 2010 - Forgot where you put your car keys?
Having trouble recalling your colleague's name? If so, this may be a
symptom of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), the earliest sign of
cognitive decline. Studies have shown that SCI is experienced by between
one-quarter and one-half of the senior citizen population (over age 65).
A new study finds that healthy seniors reporting SCI are 4.5 times more
likely to progress to the more advanced memory-loss stages of mild
cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia than those free of SCI.
Read
more...
Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center study in mice
indicates long-term exposure to cell phone signals may even boost normal memory
Jan. 7, 2010 - The millions of people who spend hours every
day on a cell phone may have a new excuse for yakking. A surprising new study in
mice provides the first evidence that long-term exposure to electromagnetic
waves associated with cell phone use may actually protect against, and even
reverse, Alzheimer's disease.
Read more...
Study previously found it was not effective in
reducing the incidence of Alzheimer dementia or dementia - see video
Jan. 2, 2010 – The idea that a simple herbal
supplement – Ginkgo biloba - could slow the rate of cognitive decline
has long attracted the attention of senior citizens. The final blow to
that possibility seems to have been struck by a study reported in the
December 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA).
Read more...see Video
Researchers studied over 3,000 senior citizens: 478
developed dementia, 376 developed cancer
Dec. 24, 2009 - People who have Alzheimer’s disease
may be less likely to develop cancer, and people who have cancer may be
less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study
published in the December 23, 2009, online issue of
Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology.
Read more...
Looking at the way we age may have more impact on
treatment, prevention of AD than studying basic biology of the disease
Dec. 24, 2009 – Aging, something most senior
citizens try to resist, is the single greatest risk factor for
Alzheimer's disease. In a study released this month, researchers at the
Salk Institute for Biological Studies found that simply slowing the
aging process in mice prone to develop Alzheimer's disease prevented
their brains from turning into a neuronal wasteland.
Read more...
For
Archived Alzheimer's News Reports 2000-2008 -
