Is it really Alzheimer's? Treatable condition mimics symptoms of dementia | Fox News: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological disorder in which an excess of fluid collects in the brain’s ventricles. It usually affects people over the age of 60, and it’s a progressive disease that will worsen over time. But what the doctor didn’t say to the Warners— and what is perhaps the most important part of a NPH diagnosis— is that the condition is treatable, and, in fact, it can be completely reversed.
Not willing to accept the neurologist’s suggested fate, the Warners sought the help of Dr. Norman Relkin, an associate professor of clinical neurology and neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, who has been leading research on NPH and Alzheimer’s disease.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
Exercising may improve brain health in old age | Fox News
Exercising may improve brain health in old age | Fox News: The researchers examined the brain scans of the participants to look at how structurally sound the white matter was. One way they did this was by looking for lesions called "white matter hyperintensities," which are common in older people.
The results showed that the more people engaged in moderate or vigorous exercise, the fewer white-matter lesions they had
The results showed that the more people engaged in moderate or vigorous exercise, the fewer white-matter lesions they had
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Healthy living may slow early dementia: study | Reuters
Healthy living may slow early dementia: study | Reuters: A program that emphasizes healthy eating, brain and social engagement, physical activity and heart health may slow dementia among people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, says a new preliminary report from Sweden.
The findings can’t guarantee that healthy living will prevent Alzheimer’s disease but they add to growing evidence that suggests overall health is tied to dementia risk.
The findings can’t guarantee that healthy living will prevent Alzheimer’s disease but they add to growing evidence that suggests overall health is tied to dementia risk.
Strong vitamin D-dementia link surprises researchers | Endocrinology Update
Strong vitamin D-dementia link surprises researchers | Endocrinology Update: Older people who do not get enough vitamin D may be doubling their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large study that has surprised researchers.
“We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated,” says Dr David Llewellyn, co-author of the study published in the journal Neurology.
“We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated,” says Dr David Llewellyn, co-author of the study published in the journal Neurology.
Friday, July 25, 2014
To Keep Your Smarts, Exercise More than Just Your Brain
Why do some people, as they age, “keep their smarts”—that is, they maintain their cognitive functions well—and others do not? A number of longitudinal studies indicate that the successful agers share four traits:
They are more mentally active.
They are more physically active.
They maintain a sense of their social engagement. In other words, they see themselves as still having roles to play in life—in their families, communities, or even in continuing employment.
They pay attention to controlling the risk factors for disease of the heart and brain. They may stop smoking, control their blood pressure, keep cholesterol within normal limits by diet or medications, and/or recognize and treat diabetes.
Moreover, it appears that these factors reinforce one another: the more of them people follow, the better.
Click here for the rest of the article.
They are more mentally active.
They are more physically active.
They maintain a sense of their social engagement. In other words, they see themselves as still having roles to play in life—in their families, communities, or even in continuing employment.
They pay attention to controlling the risk factors for disease of the heart and brain. They may stop smoking, control their blood pressure, keep cholesterol within normal limits by diet or medications, and/or recognize and treat diabetes.
Moreover, it appears that these factors reinforce one another: the more of them people follow, the better.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sleep disorders may raise risk of Alzheimer’s, new research shows - The Washington Post
Sleep disorders may raise risk of Alzheimer’s, new research shows - The Washington Post: Sleep disturbances such as apnea may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while moderate exercise in middle age and mentally stimulating games, such as crossword puzzles, may prevent the onset of the dementia-causing disease, according to new research to be presented Monday.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease – What’s The Link? | Brain Blogger
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease – What’s The Link? | Brain Blogger: Recent studies propose a common pathophysiology between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. The similarities in the pathophysiology have given way to the thought that Alzheimer’s disease could be viewed as a new form of diabetes mellitus. The reasons for such an implication are not so complex and are as follows.
Amyloid plaques are seen in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease patients
The pathology of Alzheimer’s disease is still a hotly debated topic. However, researchers have proposed certain characteristic features of Alzheimer’s diseases that are attributed to the damage caused to the brain. They include the formations of certain protein deposits: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The interesting fact is that these deposits are also seen in the brain autopsies of patients who died with diabetes.
Amyloid plaques are seen in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease patients
The pathology of Alzheimer’s disease is still a hotly debated topic. However, researchers have proposed certain characteristic features of Alzheimer’s diseases that are attributed to the damage caused to the brain. They include the formations of certain protein deposits: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The interesting fact is that these deposits are also seen in the brain autopsies of patients who died with diabetes.
Feeding the Brain’s Curiosity Helps Delay Alzheimer’s, Study Says - Bloomberg
Feeding the Brain’s Curiosity Helps Delay Alzheimer’s, Study Says - Bloomberg: Lifelong intellectual activities such as playing music or reading kept the mind fit as people aged and also delayed Alzheimer’s by years for those at risk of the disease who weren’t college educated or worked at challenging jobs, the researchers said in the study published today in JAMA Neurology.
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and the number is expected to triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Today’s findings show that intellectual enrichment pursued over a lifetime may help reduce the number of people who will develop the disease, the authors said.
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and the number is expected to triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Today’s findings show that intellectual enrichment pursued over a lifetime may help reduce the number of people who will develop the disease, the authors said.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Newly identified compound may halt progression of Alzheimer's disease
Newly identified compound may halt progression of Alzheimer's disease: Without a steady supply of blood, neurons can't work. That's why one of the culprits behind Alzheimer's disease is believed to be the persistent blood clots that often form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, contributing to the condition's hallmark memory loss, confusion and cognitive decline.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)