Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

RSS

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.

Dreaded cod liver oil in a variety of flavours

The stomachs of the generation of 50 year olds and above, will be churning at the thought of their parents and grandparents serving up spoonfuls of the much dreaded cod liver oil. As a practice, parents giving their children cod liver oil has all but died, and yet, as a population, we have seen more and more inflammatory conditions effect people's lives, which are due in no small part to the 'modern day diet', which many of us live.

12 Nov 2010

Seven stages of Alzheimer's disease

Now, during Alzheimer's Awareness month, is an important time to recognize Alzheimer's and its symptoms. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia that has a higher risk factor with increasing age. It is a progressive disease that worsens with time. Besides the most common early symptom of Alzheimer's, which is difficulty remembering new information, there are seven stages of Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It is important to track the different stages to have an understanding and be an efficient caregiver to a loved one.

12 Nov 2010

Neuroscience of magic

The unorthodox research collaboration between two Barrow Neurological Institute scientists and some of the world's greatest magicians is detailed in a new book called Sleights of Mind.

12 Nov 2010

Oligomerix receives SBIR Phase II grant to develop drugs for Alzheimer’s disease

Oligomerix, Inc. today announced the receipt of a two-year Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant for $1.6M from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH), for a program to discover small molecules and antibodies targeting tau protein oligomers in the development of disease modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.

12 Nov 2010

NIST develops new Vaccinium berry suite of standard reference materials

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have developed new certified reference materials for measuring amounts of organic acids in dietary supplements formulated with Vaccinium berries-cranberries, blueberries and bilberries. As described in a recent paper, manufacturers and researchers can use this new suite of standard reference materialsTM (SRMs) as quality assurance tools.

11 Nov 2010

Researchers suspect amyloid beta causes neural damage in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers suspect that a protein superstructure called amyloid beta is responsible for much of the neural damage of Alzheimer's disease. A new study at the University of California, San Diego, shows that amyloid beta disrupts one of the brain's anti-oxidant proteins and demonstrates a way to protect that protein, and perhaps others, from amyloid's harmful effects.

11 Nov 2010

High cholesterol in midlife does not increase risk for Alzheimer's disease among women

High cholesterol levels in middle age do not appear to increase women's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia later in life, new Johns Hopkins-led research finds, despite a body of scientific evidence long suggesting a link between the two.

11 Nov 2010

Cortex applauds Servier for intent to move High Impact AMPAKINE compound into Phase I clinical studies

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it had been notified by Les Laboratoires Servier ("Servier"), France's largest privately held pharmaceutical company, of their intent to move forward into Phase I clinical studies with the jointly-discovered High Impact AMPAKINE® compound S47445 (CX1632).

11 Nov 2010

Media has misrepresented facts about Omega-3 DHA Alzheimer's study, says Ocean Nutrition Canada

Several media outlets published articles last week suggesting that Omega-3 fish oil supplements fail to show positive results for Alzheimer's patients. This reporting by media outlets came after the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the study "Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Trial", where researchers reported that "Supplementation with DHA compared with placebo did not slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease."

11 Nov 2010

Exhausted neurons die prematurely and trigger disease symptoms

We all know that living a stressful lifestyle can take its toll, making us age faster and making us more susceptible to the cold going around the office.

11 Nov 2010

Resolve Therapeutics enters license with University of Washington for autoimmune disease treatment

Resolve Therapeutics, LLC today announced that it has entered into an exclusive license with the University of Washington for certain biologic compounds and technology developed to treat autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

11 Nov 2010

Study suggests mid-life cholesterol level may not linked to later development of Alzheimer's disease

Contrary to earlier research, a new, long-term study suggests that cholesterol level in mid-life may not be linked to later development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the November 10, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. However, the results suggest that large decreases in cholesterol levels in old age could be a better predictor of developing the memory-robbing disease.

11 Nov 2010

Dementia deaths & incidence on the rise

A new report highlights the fact that one in six deaths are caused by dementia in England. The report looked at death certificates between 2001 and 2009 and found that conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease account for 15 per cent of deaths in England. Two-thirds of victims died in nursing or residential care homes and a third in hospital. Most campaigners claim that the actual figures may be higher and put it as one in three deaths. The report also says that the total number of deaths due to dementia are rising.

10 Nov 2010

Simple test and an MRI predicts future Alzheimer’s disease

Until now is has been believed that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia could be diagnosed only when symptoms appear which almost always means when patients are in their 70s or 80s. Now the latest research shows that some brain lesions are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and can be detected in the brains of healthy people in their 40s. Along with this a simple mental skills test may be able to detect the problem many years sooner than previously thought.

10 Nov 2010

Omeros identifies orphan GPCR compound that potentiates tumor-killing activity of doxorubicin

Omeros Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing products focused on inflammation and disorders of the central nervous system, today announced that a compound identified by the Company as an antagonist of GPR87, an orphan GPCR recently unlocked for drug development by Omeros and linked to squamous cell carcinoma, potentiates the tumor-killing activity of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent.

10 Nov 2010

Jefferson awarded $2.6M grant for study on cognitive decline in older African Americans with MCI

Researchers in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University were recently awarded a $2.6 million grant from The National Institute of Health to study whether increasing participation in cognitive, physical and/or social activities prevents cognitive decline in older African Americans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

10 Nov 2010

18 partner consortium to develop lab-on-a-chip to detect brain diseases

A consortium of 18 partners embarks on the development of a lab-on-a-chip to detect Alzheimer´s disease and similar diseases in the brain. The project is funded by the EU´s 7th Framework programme for nanotechnology.

10 Nov 2010

NeuroDerm commences enrollment in ND0801 Phase 2a clinical study of ADD/ADHD in adults

NeuroDerm, Ltd. announced today that patient enrollment has begun in a Phase 2a clinical study of ND0801, a new product for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) in adults. ND0801, based on a new, proprietary combination with nicotinic actions, is being developed as a dermal patch and will be evaluated for the treatment of cognitive impairment in several disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and advanced Parkinson's disease, among others.

9 Nov 2010

DHA improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairments

A study published in the November edition of Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association suggests that taking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may improve memory and learning in older adults with mild cognitive impairments. This is promising news for many aging Americans who are searching for options to maintain memory and support overall cognitive health.

9 Nov 2010

UC Irvine study: Small amount of brain bleeding is common among older individuals

Neurologist Dr. Mark Fisher and neuropathologist Dr. Ronald Kim found that cerebral microbleeds are highly prevalent in the aging brain - and not primarily products of stroke-related injury, hypertension or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, as had been thought.

9 Nov 2010

Alzheimer's Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Dreaded cod liver oil in a variety of flavours

Seven stages of Alzheimer's disease

Neuroscience of magic

Oligomerix receives SBIR Phase II grant to develop drugs for Alzheimer’s disease

NIST develops new Vaccinium berry suite of standard reference materials

Researchers suspect amyloid beta causes neural damage in Alzheimer's disease

High cholesterol in midlife does not increase risk for Alzheimer's disease among women

Cortex applauds Servier for intent to move High Impact AMPAKINE compound into Phase I clinical studies

Media has misrepresented facts about Omega-3 DHA Alzheimer's study, says Ocean Nutrition Canada

Exhausted neurons die prematurely and trigger disease symptoms

Resolve Therapeutics enters license with University of Washington for autoimmune disease treatment

Study suggests mid-life cholesterol level may not linked to later development of Alzheimer's disease

Dementia deaths & incidence on the rise

Simple test and an MRI predicts future Alzheimer’s disease

Omeros identifies orphan GPCR compound that potentiates tumor-killing activity of doxorubicin

Jefferson awarded $2.6M grant for study on cognitive decline in older African Americans with MCI

18 partner consortium to develop lab-on-a-chip to detect brain diseases

NeuroDerm commences enrollment in ND0801 Phase 2a clinical study of ADD/ADHD in adults

DHA improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairments

UC Irvine study: Small amount of brain bleeding is common among older individuals

Aneuro: A Year of Neuroscience in Review eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News