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\ New York Times: "Interest in living wills - the documents that let people specify what medical measures they want or do not want at the end of life - has surged in the aftermath of the fierce nationwide battle over the fate of Terri Schiavo, lawyers and other experts on all sides of the issue say."

LINKA non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called arterial spin labeling is just as accurate as invasive scanning techniques in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in the brains of elderly people, according to a new study at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).
Frontotemporal dementia is a degenerative condition involving the front part of the brain. It is the second-most common dementia after Alzheimer's disease, which mainly affects other brain areas such as the hippocampus and the temporal lobe. In their early stages, the two diseases present similar symptoms, making accurate diagnosis difficult, said Schuff, who is also an associate professor of radiology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In its later stages, FTD affects social conduct, social inhibitions, and personality, while Alzheimer's is a progressive impairment of multiple cognitive functions, often involving memory decline. "Progression of frontotemporal dementia is usually faster than Alzheimer's, and the underlying pathology is different, so it is important to know the difference," Schuff observed.

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Alzheimer's robs a person's brain of a lifetime of memories. Family, friends and events seem to only resurface during rare instances of clarity. "A birth certificate shows that you were born, a death certificate shows that you died, but a photo album proves that you lived," Knotts stated.

"I am introducing photo albums to Alzheimer's patients, families and caregivers as a means of comfort, therapy and legacy preservation. This multi-generational activity encourages the involvement of family and caregivers with the patients to produce a tangible, permanent life story that affirms and honors the Alzheimer's patient."

FOXNews.com - LINKNew research shows that plaque buildup in the brains of Alzheimer%u2019s patients may be related to immune system problems.

LINKThe test involved showing a participant a list of 15 everyday words, such as "moon" and "parent," and going over them several times. A minute or so later, the subject was asked to recall as many of the words as possible.

Many of those who scored poorly - remembering as few as four words - went on to develop Alzheimer's 10 years later.."In many ways, it probably reflects what Alzheimer's disease is," said Tierney, whose study is published this week in the journal Neurology.

In the earlier stages, Alzheimer's primarily affects more immediate memory. Later, other areas of the brain are affected, said Tierney.

"So not only do you have immediate memory, you have long-term memory that's being affected, as well as just the ability to generate words to a category (animals)."

Reuters Health - headlinesPeople over 70 who aren't active are more likely to develop problems walking or climbing stairs within a few years, according to a new study.

These findings suggest that it's very important to stay active in old age, study author Dr. Marjolein Visser told Reuters Health.

"Physical activity in old age is as important as taking your medications," Visser noted. "You do not need to join an expensive, fancy sports club with high-tech equipment. Your body will already benefit from regular walking."

Visser explained that staying active helps prevent people from becoming breathless during simple activities, increase muscle mass and strength, and maintain the balance people need to walk up stairs, for instance.

linkAccording to a source close to the case, Joan Kennedy has reached a settlement with her children that calls for two trustees to manage her estate, with a guardian supervising her personal affairs.

Health News Article | Reuters.com...LINK

MedlinePlus: LINKA new U.S. study finds that women infected with chronic cytomegalovirus are more likely to become frail as they age.

The findings reported in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society were the first to link an infection in early life with problems in old age. The frail elderly are more likely to be injured and hospitalized and have a higher death rate.