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Neuropathologic changes in Alzheimer's disease: potential targets for treatment

New Guidelines Offer Power to Prevent Stroke....MORE
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement

"Healthy habits and appropriate treatments help prevent stroke, according to graded, evidenced-based recommendations issued today by the American Heart Association and it's division, the American Stroke Association.

These "primary prevention" guidelines are published in the rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a major source of disability in the United States. Every year about 700,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke, resulting in nearly 158,000 deaths. From 1993 - 2003, the stroke death rate fell 18.5%, but the actual number of stroke deaths declined only 0.7%, according to 2006 association statistics.

"Stroke remains a major public health problem. Its human and economic toll is staggering," said Larry B. Goldstein, MD, the guidelines' lead author and chair of the association's Stroke Council.

The estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke in 2006 is $57.9 billion.

"Stroke can be prevented and we are learning more about ways of accomplishing that," said Goldstein, professor of medicine (neurology) and director of the Duke Center for Cerebrovascular Disease at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. The guidelines addressed risks that can't be altered and those that can be influenced.

Non-modifiable risk factors
Risk factors that can't be changed include age, gender, race/ethnicity and family history. Older people, men, African Americans, and people with a family history of stroke are generally at greater risk than others.

Modifiable risk factors
In the guidelines, modifiable risk factors are categorized as "well-documented" or "less well-documented or potentially modifiable."

The guidelines reiterate some well-known prevention measures such as controlling high blood pressure, not smoking, avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke, being physically active and treating disorders that increase the risk of stroke such as atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat), carotid artery disease and heart failure.

The guidelines suggest physicians consider using a risk assessment tool such as the Framingham Stroke Profile to assess patients' risk.

"It is important to identify patients at high risk of stroke because research shows that many strokes can be prevented if those individuals modify their risk factors," Goldstein said.....[more]

Navigating patients and caregivers through the course of Alzheimer's disease - Abstract

Neuroprotection in vascular dementia

Doctor's Guide - Abstract: This review article discusses the current understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and lesion types that underlie vascular dementia, methods for diagnosing this condition, the role that ischemic processes play in the development of this condition, clinical research findings on the use of various agents for treatment, and the benefits of treating identifiable vascular risk factors

FDA Approves Smoking-Cessation Drug :
"The FDA today approved the smoking-cessation drug Chantix (varenicline tartrate), which targets nicotine receptors in the brain.

The approval followed a priority review that the FDA said was necessary because of the drug's 'significant potential benefit to public health.'"

FDA Flashes Red Light on Green Tea Heart Benefits: "Green tea does not lower heart-disease risk, according to the FDA. The agency rejected a request for a 'qualified health claim' that would have permitted labeling for cardiovascular benefits from the consumption of green tea, either as a drink or a dietary supplement. In its letter of denial, the FDA concluded that the studies presented to support the claim were flawed in design, inconclusive, or found no evidence of a beneficial relationship."

15 ways to live longer...Forbes.com

Women Low on Testosterone Get Boost from Patch
BOSTON — Hormone-deficient women who tried a testosterone patch for a year grew stronger bones, bigger muscles, and a more robust libido, according to a study here.

"Seniors must act fast or pay the price" (Click to read full story - Chicago Tribune)

"6.5 million seniors have 6 days to make sense of the Medicare maze and pick a plan"

"....This is the first time Medicare is paying for prescription drugs, an essential and expensive treatment for most seniors, and the largest expansion of the government health plan in more than 40 years. But persuading seniors to sign up has been an uphill battle.

Like Mayer, large numbers of people are baffled by the complexity of Medicare's drug benefit, which is being administered by dozens of private companies. And like him, they're weighing the costs of joining against the benefits, and worrying about a financial penalty for people who don't sign up in time. The fine is 1 percent of an average drug plan's monthly premium.

Even critics of the drug program say this is reason enough to take the plunge.

"Select a plan now and avoid the penalty," said Vicki Gottlich, a senior attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy. "Insurance is important. You get car insurance and hope you never have an accident. So, get drug insurance even if you hope you won't need it."

Elaine Aulig, a MS patient, takes medications to keep the disease and its complications under control. Copaxone, costs more than $1,400 a month. Until February, Aulig's former company was paying for her prescriptions; now she belongs to Blue Medicare Rx Standard, a Medicare drug plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. But with a $250 deductible, the $2,850 doughnut hole, a $27 monthly premium, and drug co-payments, her expenses will still come to almost $5,000 a year, Aulig estimated....."

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL:
Improve Your Memory: 10 research-proven tips for a better memory

"Normal age-related changes in the brain can slow some cognitive processes, making it a bit harder to learn new things quickly or to ward off distractions. The good news is that, thanks to decades of research, most of us can sharpen our minds with proven, do-it-yourself strategies. Here are some ways to boost your ability to remember as you age.

1. Believe in yourself.

Myths about aging can contribute to a failing memory. Middle-aged and older learners do worse on memory tasks when exposed to negative stereotypes about aging and memory, and better if exposed to messages about memory preservation into old age.

2. Economize your brain use.

Take advantage of calendars and planners, maps, shopping lists, file folders, and address books to keep routine information accessible. Designate a place at home for your glasses, keys, and other items you use frequently.

3. Organize your thoughts.

New information that’s broken into smaller chunks, such as the hyphenated sections of a phone or social security number, is easier to remember than a single long list, such as financial account numbers or the name of everyone in a classroom.

4. Use all your senses.

The more senses you use when you learn something, the more of your brain will be involved in retaining the memory. For example, odors are famous for conjuring memories from the distant past, especially those with strong emotional content, such as visits to a cookie-baking grandparent.

5. Expand your brain.

Widen the brain regions involved in learning by reading aloud, drawing a picture, or writing down the information you want to learn (even if you never look back at your notes). Just forming a visual image of something makes it easier to remember and understand; it forces you to make the information more precise.

6. Repeat after me.

When you want to remember something you have just heard or thought about, repeat it out loud. For example, if you’ve just been told someone’s name, use it when you speak with him or her: “So John, where did you meet Camille?”

7. Space it out.

Instead of repeating something many times in a short period, as if you were cramming for an exam, re-study the essentials after increasingly longer periods of time — once an hour, then every few hours, then every day. Spacing out periods of study is particularly valuable when you are trying to master complicated information.

8. Make a mnemonic.

Mnemonic devices are creative ways to remember lists. They can take the form of acronyms — such as the classic “Every good boy does fine,” to remember the musical notes E, G, B, D, and F on the lines of the treble clef. For older learners, a particularly helpful system is a story mnemonic — that is, a brief narrative in which each item cues you to remember the next one.

9. Challenge yourself.

Engaging in activities that require you to concentrate and tax your memory will help you maintain skills as you age. Discuss books, do crossword puzzles, try new recipes, travel, and undertake projects or hobbies that require skills you aren’t familiar or comfortable with.

10. Take a course.

Memory-improvement courses are becoming more common. Choose one run by health professionals or experts in psychology or cognitive rehabilitation. Stay away from courses that center on computer or concentration games, which generally won’t help you with real-life memory problems. Select a course that focuses on practical ways to manage everyday challenges.

For more information on the many things you can do to protect and improve your memory, order our special health report, Improving Memory: Understanding and preventing age-related memory loss, available at www.health.harvard.edu/IM."

Where There's Smoke There's Often an ICD That Fires :
" Smokers, even former smokers, with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are more likely to be shocked than are patients who never smoked, researchers here found.

Current smokers have more than a sevenfold increase in risk of appropriate shocks and former smokers are more than five times more likely to receive appropriate shocks than never-smokers"

Eisai Will Initiate First Clinical Study for E2012, A Potential New Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

Statin Therapy Improved Retinal Blood Circulation - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Ultrasound Can Help Predict Heart Attack Risk :
"Ultrasound imaging to detect plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the carotid artery of the neck may help doctors predict heart attack and other cardiac events in adults considered at low-risk for heart disease.

That's the conclusion of a study presented Monday at the American Heart Association's seventh Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, in Washington, D.C.

"A significant proportion of people who have heart attacks do not have traditional heart disease risk factors," study lead author Dr. Kwame O. Akosah, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement.

"In this study, we looked at whether using carotid ultrasound -- a simple, noninvasive, relatively cheap test that is available in many doctors' offices -- might help identify which patients are at risk for cardiac events," Akosah said.

He noted that atherosclerosis is systemic -- if there's plaque buildup in the carotid artery, it may also be present in other important arteries, such as the coronary and leg arteries......"

Men More Likely to Die From Stroke Than Women - FOXNews.com - :
"Men may be more likely to die or develop serious complications from a stroke than women.

A new study shows that despite the fact that men tend to have strokes at an earlier age than women, they face an 8 percent higher risk of death and 90 percent higher risk of developing pneumonia as a complication of a stroke.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.; each year more than 700,000 people suffer a stroke. Researchers say the results suggest that although men tend to have strokes at a younger age, they may be more vulnerable after a stroke..."

VSM reports progress on using MEG for diagnosing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

Alzheimer's programs could face funding cut
:
"President Bush has proposed eliminating $20M in grants"

Brain Change in Mild Cognitive Impairment:
"Mild cognitive impairment, a memory disorder considered an early predictor of Alzheimer's disease, results in structural brain changes, a U.S. study finds.

I think our study provides an anatomical basis for the clinical condition of mild cognitive impairment, says study leader Dr. Joseph Parisi, a Mayo Clinic neuropathologist. This shows that there are structural changes in the brains of patients who may develop Alzheimer's disease.

Autopsies were performed by Mayo Clinic pathologists on the brains of 15 people who died while they had clinical mild cognitive impairment, as well as on the brains of 28 patients who were cognitively normal and 23 with probable Alzheimer's....."