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.

Scientist discovers molecular switch controlling synthesis of ribosomes

A scientist from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has discovered a molecular switch that controls the synthesis of ribosomes. Ribosomes are the large machineries inside all living cells that produce proteins, the basic working units of any cell. These new findings offer a novel target for potential treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer.

23 Dec 2010

Fried fish consumption may increase risk of stroke

People living in the "stroke belt" states eat more fried fish than people living in the rest of the country, which may contribute to the high rate of death from stroke in those states, according to a study published in the December 22, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Dec 2010

Time magazine declares NYSCF member as 2010 "Person who Matters" for innovative stem cell research

The New York Stem Cell Foundation extends congratulations to Derrick Rossi, PhD, a member of the inaugural class of NYSCF-Robertson Investigators, who was named one of Time Magazine's 2010 "People Who Mattered" in the December 27, 2010 Person of the Year Issue.

22 Dec 2010

Charity Navigator provides four-star rating to Alzheimer's Foundation of America

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) announced today that it has received the highest rating -- four stars -- from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator of charitable organizations.

22 Dec 2010

Anavex files regulatory submission in Germany for ANAVEX 2-73 Phase I trial in Alzheimer's disease

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. announced today that it has filed the regulatory submission for ANAVEX 2-73 with the German Health Authority, BfArM, and the local Ethics Committee of Saxony to begin clinical studies for ANAVEX 2-73, its lead compound for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

21 Dec 2010

ExonHit awarded QTDP grants for AclarusDx and EHT 107 programs

ExonHit Therapeutics today announced that the Company was awarded two grants to support two of its Research & Development projects under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program: AclarusDx™ in Alzheimer's disease and the EHT 107 program in oncology.

21 Dec 2010

Scientists boost protein supply to enhance muscle function, reduce nerve-dependent fatigue in mice

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have "engineered" a mouse that can run on a treadmill twice as long as a normal mouse by increasing its supply of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter essential for muscle contraction.

21 Dec 2010

Biogen Idec acquires Neurimmune subsidiary

Biogen Idec and Neurimmune Holding AG today announced that Biogen Idec has acquired a subsidiary of Neurimmune, which includes the world-wide rights to three pre-clinical immunotherapy programs. The three programs are focused on the discovery and development of novel human antibodies that address three central nervous system (CNS) targets: alpha-synuclein, tau and TDP-43.

21 Dec 2010

Lilly completes acquisition of Avid

Eli Lilly and Company today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company developing novel molecular imaging compounds intended for the detection and monitoring of chronic human diseases. The transaction, first announced on November 8, 2010, has received the approval of Avid stockholders and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. All other closing conditions have also been met.

20 Dec 2010

DNA tunneling detector embedded in a ‘Nanopore’

Scientists from Imperial College London are developing technology that could ultimately sequence a person's genome in mere minutes, at a fraction of the cost of current commercial techniques.

20 Dec 2010

BSI: Guidance is key to improve dementia care

Dementia is a critical health concern, but are the current care services able to offer appropriate support? Only a few days ago, the review by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found many dementia patients were not getting the support on nutrition and mental health that they should. The need for improved care is higher than ever.

20 Dec 2010

Proteins that unlock the mystery of over 100 brain diseases

An Anglo-American team of researchers have made a medical breakthrough after identifying a large collection of nerve proteins that are involved in around 130 brain diseases including Alzheimer’s and autism.

20 Dec 2010

Hyperpriming in early stages of Alzheimer's disease explained

The capacity to remember that a zebra has stripes, or that a giraffe is a four-legged mammal, is known as semantic memory. It allows us to assign meaning to words and to recall general knowledge and concepts that we have learned. The deterioration of these capacities is a defining feature of semantic dementia and can also occur in Alzheimer's disease.

20 Dec 2010

Comprehensive guidance for care providers on Dementia Care Mapping process

20 Dec 2010

DiaGenic issues notification of trade among insiders

On 17 December 2010 mandatory notification of trade among insiders of DiaGenic ASA took place.

20 Dec 2010

FVCG invests $175,000 in Celvive for stem cell research in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological condition with limited therapeutic options. In the United States alone, there are more than 250,000 people living with SCI; approximately three million worldwide are affected.

20 Dec 2010

Diagenic, Pfizer enter collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease

DiaGenic ASA and Pfizer Inc today signed an agreement for explorative R&D collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using DiaGenic's patented gene expression technology and its blood samples from ongoing clinical studies.

17 Dec 2010

Alzheimer's Association applauds Congress for passage of NAPA Bill

As the leading care, research and advocacy organization for Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association applauds Congress for passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (S. 3036, H.R. 4689), a significant step forward in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The National Alzheimer's Project Act provides an essential framework for the development of a national strategic plan.

17 Dec 2010

Gene variant affects brain function long before brain begins accumulating amyloid: Study

People with a known, high risk for Alzheimer's disease develop abnormal brain function even before the appearance of telltale amyloid plaques that are characteristic of the disease, according to a new study.

17 Dec 2010

Mayo Clinic ACTS project supports African-American dementia caregivers

With a rapidly expanding population of elders, the number of dementia caregivers in Florida is increasing exponentially. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 10 million caregivers provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimer's disease. Finding the best way to support caregivers, especially with fewer state resources available, is one focus of ongoing research at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

17 Dec 2010