Gene variation linked to earlier onset of Alzheimer's symptoms

clipped from mednews.wustl.edu Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a genetic variation associated with an earlier age of onset in Alzheimer's disease. Unlike genetic mutations previously linked to rare, inherited forms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease — which can strike people as young as their 30s or 40s — these variants influence an earlier presentation of symptoms in people affected by the more common, late-onset form of the disease. "We focused on this gene for two reasons: First, it codes for the tau protein that we find in neurofibrillary tangles, and secondly, some studies in the scientific literature show an association between the gene and Alzheimer's disease, while others do not," says principal investigator Alison M. Goate

Quick Quiz helps Doctors distinguish Dementia from forgetfullness

clipped from medschool.wustl.edu A 3-minute quiz that asks patients about recent changes in memory is helping physicians differentiate signs of mild dementia from plain forgetfulness, a new study shows. The quiz was developed by neurologist James Galvin. More  >

A Safety and Efficacy Study of Oral Dimebon in Patients With Mild-To-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease (CONNECTION)

Follow the link to Clinical Trials.gov for additional information and available locations.

clipped from clinicaltrials.gov Medivation Condition Alzheimer's Disease Phase III This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled 6-month study designed as an adequate and well-controlled trial to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Dimebon in the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Dimebon is an investigational drug for Alzheimer's disease. The target of Dimebon's mechanism of action are the mitochondria (a cell's primary source of energy).The Connection Study is the second of two pivotal studies evaluating the effect of Dimebon. It is a 6-month study enrolling 525 patients in the United States, Europe, and South America. All patients completing the 6-month study will be eligible to receive Dimebon in an open-label extension trial. The patient population will be carefully selected to ensure inclusion of patients with AD, rather than other types of dementia. Mild-to-moderate disease will be defined by the screening MMSE.

Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Sun Health Research Institute Enrolling Patients in Alzheimer's Study

If you or a loved one are taking Aricept you should find this announcement of interest. Follow the link to Banner Health for additional information.

clipped from www.bannerhealth.com Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Sun Health Research Institute today announced that they are actively enrolling patients in a new study of the investigational drug Dimebon™ for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Dimebon in patients with Alzheimer’s disease taken in combination with Aricept® (donepezil HCI tablets), an FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatment. Results from a one-year study of Dimebon in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease – showing statistically significant improvements in memory, thinking, function and behavior – were highlighted at the recent 2008 Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium (AAC) Annual Conference, a community service event. Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Sun Health Research Institute are both members of the Consortium.

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Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among U.S. Elderly Population

Previous studies have suggested that an active social life may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among the elderly.

Memory loss is a strong risk factor for dementia, a syndrome estimated to affect up to 10% of the U.S. population 65 years and older.

The researchers wanted to test whether memory loss might also be associated with social connectedness.


Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among U.S. Elderly Population

One of the features of aging is memory loss, which can have devastating effects on the quality of life among older people. In a new study, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found evidence that elderly people in the U.S. who have an active social life may have a slower rate of memory decline. The study appears in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health and appears in an advance online edition on May 29, 2008.

"We hope this study adds to and advances our growing understanding of the important role that social forces play in shaping health," said Karen Ertel, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at HSPH.

Previous studies have suggested that an active social life may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among the elderly. Memory loss is a strong risk factor for dementia, a syndrome estimated to affect up to 10% of the U.S. population 65 years and older. The researchers wanted to test whether memory loss might also be associated with social connectedness.

Ertel and her HSPH colleagues, senior author Lisa Berkman, chair of the Department of Society, Human Development and Health, and Maria Glymour, assistant professor, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, used data gathered from 1998 to 2004 from the Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative population of U.S. adults 50 years and older. (Previous studies were conducted outside of the U.S. or using smaller, non-representative population samples.) Memory was assessed in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 by reading a list of ten common nouns to survey respondents, then asking them to recall as many words as possible immediately and after a five-minute delay. Social integration was assessed by marital status, volunteer activities, and contact with parents, children and neighbors.

The results showed that individuals with the highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from 1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less than half the rate among the least integrated. These findings were independent of sociodemographic factors (such as age, gender, and race) and health status in 1998. The researchers found that the protective effect of social integration was largest among individuals with fewer than 12 years of education.

The researchers found no evidence that the results could be due to reverse causation, that is, poor memory or memory decline causing social withdrawal.

"Social participation and integration have profound effects on health and well being of people during their lifetimes," said Berkman. "We know from previous studies that people with many social ties have lower mortality rates. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory. As our society ages and has more and more older people, it will be important to promote their engagement in social and community life to maintain their well being."

Memory loss and dementia pose a major public health burden among the elderly U.S. population. The results suggest that increasing social integration may help slow memory decline among older Americans and could help alleviate the public health burden, particularly because the aging population in the U.S. is expected to increase substantially. "We need to understand more about how social integration reduces the risk of memory decline in order to target interventions that can help slow the decline," said Ertel. "Future research should focus on identifying the specific aspects of social integration most important for preserving memory."

Support for the study was provided by the National Institute of Aging.

"Effects of Social Integration on Preserving Memory Function in a Nationally Representative U.S. Elderly Population," Karen A. Ertel, M. Maria Glymour, Lisa F. Berkman, American Journal of Public Health, July 2008, Vol. 98, No. 7.
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Harvard School of Public Health (www.hsph.harvard.edu) is dedicated to advancing the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 400 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 1,000-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world.

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Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Study of PRX-03140 Monotherapy in Subjects With Alzheimer's Disease

This is a Phase II study. Follow the link in the clip for complete information.

clipped from clinicaltrials.gov This study is currently recruiting participants. Sponsored by: Epix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Early Alzheimer's patients speak up for others

Those in early stages of disease increasingly lobby for better care, research.
To me this is very uplifting. My mother refuses to believe she suffers from Alzheimer's or dementia. This makes the situation much more difficult to handle. I am sure I am not alone in this.

Follow the link the clip to read the complete story.

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com Don Hayen has a handy way of deflecting the instant pity that comes when he reveals his Alzheimer's disease: "But I haven't lost my keys all day," he quickly jokes. Hayen is part of a growing new movement in Alzheimer's: Patients diagnosed early enough to still be articulate and demand better care and better research. They are giving a voice to a disease whose victims until now have remained largely silent, and powerless. It is a shift with big ramifications.