Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. AD is the most common cause of dementia among older people, but it is not a normal part of aging. Dementia refers to a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life and activities. AD starts in a region of the brain that affects recent memory, then gradually spreads to other parts of the brain. Although treatment can slow the progression of AD and help manage its symptoms in some people, currently there is no cure for this devastating disease.

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Johns Hopkins University bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions.

24 May 2011

Israel President announces launch of new international centre for brain research

On the opening of the ILSI Biomed Israel 2011 week, President Peres has announced the launch of a new international centre in Israel, set to conduct brain research and to promote the neuro-technology field.

24 May 2011

African-Americans with multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels

African-Americans who have multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels than African-Americans who don't have the disease, according to a study published in the May 24, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 May 2011

Key U.S. patents increase commercial rights and clinical indications

Australian regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB; OTC ADR: MBLTY), today announced that the company’s product development strategy has been significantly strengthened by novel composition of matter claims granted by the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO) in two distinct patent families to which Mesoblast has exclusive worldwide commercial rights.

23 May 2011

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

According to two new surveys, increased hospital admissions in the last three months of life could be of little benefit to dying people and are in contrast to the wishes of many.

23 May 2011

Johns Hopkins bioethicists urge disaster preparedness for mentally impaired

Johns Hopkins bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions. Survivors already diagnosed with schizophrenia, dementia, addictions and bipolar disorder are vulnerable long before a disaster strikes, they point out.

23 May 2011

Multiple toxic mechanisms link elevated iron, copper levels in the brain and extensive DNA damage

No one knows the cause of most cases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders. But researchers have found that certain factors are consistently associated with these debilitating conditions.

21 May 2011

Cholesterol drug may help treat mitochondrial diseases

A human drug that both prevents and cures kidney failure in mice sheds light on disabling human mitochondrial disorders, and may represent a potential treatment in people with such illnesses.

20 May 2011

American Academy of Neurology breaks ground for new headquarters, donates 1,000 children's bike helmets

The American Academy of Neurology will provide 1,000 free bike helmets for children who attend one of the many Bike Fests in north Minneapolis this summer, beginning with the first Bike Fest this Saturday, May 21, 2011. The donation coincides with today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Academy's new headquarters in Minneapolis, across from the Guthrie Theater.

20 May 2011

Gingrich focuses attention on aging research

The presidential hopeful urged more investment in Alzheimer's research as a step that would lead to savings down the road. Meanwhile, The AP reports how the tight budget could pit scientific priorities against each other in a funding competition.

18 May 2011

UW C4C, Pharmigene execute licensing agreement for warfarin personalized medicine technology

The University of Washington Center for Commercialization and Pharmigene, a leader in advancing personalized medicine and reducing severe adverse reactions to drugs through genetic-based diagnostic solutions, today announced the execution of a licensing agreement between the parties.

18 May 2011

Anavex comments on new Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic guidelines

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex”) (OTCBB: AVXL) today commented on new diagnostic criteria and guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease published recently by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer’s Association, which have been updated for the first time in more than 25 years. The new guidelines discuss the importance of new technologies, including brain imaging and biomarker analysis, in research and clinical diagnosis. They describe Alzheimer’s disease at a preclinical stage, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia due to Alzheimer’s pathology.

18 May 2011

Coffee reduces prostate cancer risk

In the 20-year study of almost 50,000 men, researchers noted that those who drank at least six cups a day were 20 per cent less likely to get prostate cancer than those who never took coffee. Strikingly, they were 60 per cent less likely than the non-coffee drinkers to die of the disease. The researchers also say that decaffeinated coffee is just as effective.

17 May 2011

First Edition: May 17, 2011

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, Guy Gugliotta writes: "Minnesota state Rep. Steve Gottwalt, a three-term Republican with 10 years experience in the health care industry, is no fan of last year's health care law -- or its requirement that states set up insurance exchanges. But as chairman of the Health and Human Services Reform Committee, he decided he needed to weigh in on the exchange.

17 May 2011

PGT, Quintiles collaborate to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development

Quintiles, the world's leading biopharmaceutical services company, and Population Genetics Technologies Ltd., creator of innovative solutions to reduce the costs and complexity of large-scale genomic testing and enable correlations with clinical outcomes, today announced a commercial collaboration to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development in order to produce safer, more effective medicines.

17 May 2011

Early stages of Alzheimer’s difficult to detect: Study

According to a new study, more than half of people who develop Alzheimer's disease before the age of 60 are initially misdiagnosed as having other kinds of brain disease when they do not have memory problems. The research is published in the May 17, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 May 2011

New York Academy of Sciences and Zeltia to host marine drug discovery forum on May 20, 2011

Substances produced by living organisms found in nature-so-called "natural products"-have played a critical role in the development of drugs for life-threatening conditions. The anticancer agent Taxol was sourced from a plant, penicillin from a fungus, and a number of recent breakthroughs have resulted in the development and approval of anticancer drugs derived from marine sources such as coral and sponges.

16 May 2011

Alzheimer's Association commends U.S. House Representatives for new legislation

As the leading advocacy, research and support organization for Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association commends Representatives Christopher Smith and Edward Markey for their leadership in introducing the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act (H.R.1897) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

16 May 2011

Scientists discover new class of compounds that selectively block 'serine hydrolases'

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have identified a class of compounds that could be a boon to basic research and drug discovery.

16 May 2011

Researchers uncover unexpected role of estrogen receptors in brain inflammation

Researchers have uncovered an unexpected role for estrogen receptors in the brain in keeping inflammation under control. The findings reported in the May 13 issue of the Cell Press journal Cell may have important implications for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and many other neurodegenerative diseases.

13 May 2011

Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Israel President announces launch of new international centre for brain research

African-Americans with multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels

Key U.S. patents increase commercial rights and clinical indications

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

Johns Hopkins bioethicists urge disaster preparedness for mentally impaired

Multiple toxic mechanisms link elevated iron, copper levels in the brain and extensive DNA damage

Cholesterol drug may help treat mitochondrial diseases

American Academy of Neurology breaks ground for new headquarters, donates 1,000 children's bike helmets

Gingrich focuses attention on aging research

UW C4C, Pharmigene execute licensing agreement for warfarin personalized medicine technology

Anavex comments on new Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic guidelines

Coffee reduces prostate cancer risk

First Edition: May 17, 2011

PGT, Quintiles collaborate to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development

Early stages of Alzheimer’s difficult to detect: Study

New York Academy of Sciences and Zeltia to host marine drug discovery forum on May 20, 2011

Alzheimer's Association commends U.S. House Representatives for new legislation

Scientists discover new class of compounds that selectively block 'serine hydrolases'

Researchers uncover unexpected role of estrogen receptors in brain inflammation

Aneuro: A Year of Neuroscience in Review eBook

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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