Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

Latest Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

Laquinimod drug greatly reduces number of relapses in patients with MS

The drug laquinimod reduced the number of relapses for people with multiple sclerosis, in a large, long-term Phase III clinical study that will be presented as late-breaking research at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 9-16, 2011, in Honolulu.

12 Apr 2011

New guideline on most effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain

The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline on the most effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain, the burning or tingling pain in the hands and feet that affects millions of people with diabetes. The guideline is published in the April 11, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and will be presented April 11, 2011, at the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in Honolulu.

12 Apr 2011

New research: MRI can help detect early stage Alzheimer's disease

New research suggests that magnetic resonance imaging could help detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage, before irreversible damage has occurred, according to a new study published online and in the June print edition of Radiology.

12 Apr 2011

Alzheimer’s drug – a failure of sorts: Study

Results from the study shows that drug, memantine, is no better than a dummy pill when it comes to ameliorating disease symptoms, including the decline of mental abilities and also helping patients with moderate Alzheimer's, the researchers say. Sold under the brand Namenda by Forest Laboratories Inc and Germany's Merz Pharma, the drug had U.S. sales of about $1.2 billion last year.

11 Apr 2011

Air pollution on freeways may lead to brain damage: Study

Earlier research has shown that air pollution from cars and trucks on Southern California freeways – that contains soot, pavement dust and other toxic substances - can cause respiratory disease, heart attacks, cancer and premature death. Now a new study has shown that exposure to pollution particles roughly one-thousandth the width of a human hair may lead to brain damage in mice, including signs associated with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. The study comes from University of Southern California and is published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

10 Apr 2011

Reduction in alcohol prices increases alcohol-related mortality

Does a reduction in the price of alcohol result in an increase in deaths due to alcohol? This was the subject of a study following a significant reduction in taxes in Finland in 2004 (30% for spirits, 3% for wine).The abolition of import quotas by the EU in 2004 also made it possible to import from other member countries and this led to an increase of approximately 10% in alcohol consumption in Finland.

8 Apr 2011

Canadian political parties called upon to focus on health system during election campaign

The Health Action Lobby today called on all political parties to focus on the health system during the federal election campaign. HEAL is a coalition of 35 national health organizations that represents a broad cross-section of health providers, health regions, institutions & facilities.

8 Apr 2011

Targacept's TC-5619 Phase 2 trial data in schizophrenia presented at ICOSR

Targacept, Inc. today announced the presentation of data from a Phase 2 clinical proof of concept trial to assess TC-5619 as an augmentation therapy to improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia at the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

8 Apr 2011

CoMeD urges UN to ban mercury use in pharmaceuticals

While the United Nations actively questions the use of a vaccine preservative that contains the known neurotoxin mercury, the Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs, a Maryland-based, non-profit organization, is urging the UN to ban it.

7 Apr 2011

Neuralstem to present HSSC Phase I trial data in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at AAN meeting

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that the Phase I safety trial of its human spinal cord stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the subject of three presentations at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, April 9-16th, in Honolulu, HI.

7 Apr 2011

Novel strategy to build molecular probes may lead to development of new cancer drugs

Chemical engineers at UC Santa Barbara expect that their new process to create molecular probes may eventually result in the development of new drugs to treat cancer and other illnesses.

7 Apr 2011

Study explores physical effect of freeway pollution on brain cells

If mice commuted, their brains might find it progressively harder to navigate the maze of Los Angeles freeways.

7 Apr 2011

Workers exposed to welding fumes may face risk of developing brain damage

New research suggests that workers exposed to welding fumes may be at risk for developing brain damage in an area of the brain also affected in Parkinson's disease. The study is published in the April 6, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

7 Apr 2011

Brazil's Ministry of Health, PharmaPraxis sign deal to manufacture biologic drugs

PharmaPraxis, from Axis Biotec, Cryopraxis, Silvestre Labs and CellPraxis Group, announces the formalization of an agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Health to manufacture biologic drugs.

7 Apr 2011

Chemical senses scientists to hold 33rd annual meeting, April 13-17, 2011

The Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS), a US-based scientific organization, is holding its 33rd annual meeting. About 700 scientists are gathering to present new information on the role of smell and taste in disease, nutrition, and social interactions in humans as well as animals. Smell and taste play essential roles in our daily lives.

6 Apr 2011

SWHR roundtable to examine sex differences in Alzheimer's disease

At the Women's Health 2011: 19th Annual Conference plenary session, A Wake Up Call to Clinicians: Alzheimer's and Early Diagnosis, Geoffrey Beene Foundation President, Meryl Comer announced the Society for Women's Health Research's upcoming one-day Alzheimer's roundtable, exploring sex differences in this increasingly prevalent disease.

6 Apr 2011

High clusterin levels linked to Alzheimer's prevalence and severity

Higher levels in blood of the protein clusterin, also known as apolipoprotein J, are significantly associated with the prevalence and severity of Alzheimer's disease, but not with the risk of onset of new disease, according to a study in the April 6 issue of JAMA.

6 Apr 2011

MRIs can help predict MCI individuals at greatest risk for developing Alzheimer's disease

Using MRI, researchers may be able to predict which adults with mild cognitive impairment are more likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a study published online and in the June issue of Radiology.

6 Apr 2011

Major depression linked to premature aging of immune cells: Study

Certain cases of major depression are associated with premature aging of immune cells, which may make people more susceptible to other serious illness, according to findings from a new UCSF-led study.

6 Apr 2011

Physical activity may moderate impact of stress on telomeres

UCSF scientists are reporting several studies showing that psychological stress leads to shorter telomeres - the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that are a measure of cell age and, thus, health. The findings also suggest that exercise may prevent this damage.

5 Apr 2011