Saturday, October 28, 2017

Alzheimer's: Brain's protective mechanism revealed

The neurons' so-called dendritic spines may improve cognitive resilience against dementia, according to new research.

Buildups of "clumpy" proteins in the brain are well-known hallmarks of Alzheimer's, but not everyone who has them goes on to develop this neurodegenerative disease. Why is that? New research investigates.

Tangles of the protein tau and plaques of beta-amyloid are known to be precursors of Alzheimer's disease. That being said, between 30 and 50 percent of those who present these brain pathologies do not go on to develop Alzheimer's symptoms within their lifetime. 

Read more »

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Alzheimer's: Word processing duration may predict onset

Seniors whose brains take longer to process written words may go on to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Recent research published in the journal NeuroImage Clinical suggests that the time it takes for someone to process written words may be a reliable predictor of their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The new study focused on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition in which seniors — typically over the age of 65 — develop minor but noticeable memory and cognitive problems.
Read more »

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Uproar as Capitol Hill pharmacist dishes on Alzheimer's prescriptions for the powerful

On October 6, 2017, Dr. Michael Kim (center), a pharmacist and owner of Grubb's Pharmacy, prepares medication in the compound of his Northeast, Washington D.C. store with Ron Thompson(left, Compound Technician). Grubb's Pharmacy, established in 1867, is the oldest pharmacy in D.C., and with its convenient location to the U.S. Capitol, services many Members of Congress.  (Photo by Eric Kruszewski)

The owner of the Capitol Hill pharmacy that supplies prescription drugs for members of Congress and staff has sparked a frenzy of speculation after claiming he gives meds to lawmakers with “pretty serious health problems” and appearing to question their mental faculties. 

Read more »

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Can This New Gadget Diagnose Alzheimer’s?

Credit: Courtesy of Dhruv PatelStudent inventor Dhruv Patel, co-creator of the device


Students at the University of Maryland won a national prize for their invention

The many boomers who worry they might get Alzheimer’s or who have relatives with Alzheimer’s often have two wishes for the next scientific breakthrough. One is a method for accurate diagnosis. The other is effective treatment.
Read more »