Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, a neurologic disease characterized by loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least six months, and not present from birth. AD usually occurs in old age, and is marked by a decline in cognitive functions such as remembering, reasoning, and planning.
Function found for Alzheimer’s protein — amyloid precursor protein (APP) – A new study reveals that when amyloid precursor protein (APP) fails to convert iron from an unsafe form to a safe one for transport or storage, it leads to rise in iron levels inside neurons mount to toxic levels and eventually causes Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists identify protein that spurs formation of Alzheimer’s plaques – In Alzheimer’s disease, the problem is beta-amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain and causes nerve cells to weaken and die. Drugs designed to eliminate plaques made of beta-amyloid have a fatal problem: they need to enter the brain and remove the plaques without attacking healthy brain cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis signaling protein reverses Alzheimer’s disease in mouse modeln — New study shows GM-CSF reduces AD pathology and eliminates memory loss – A signaling protein released during rheumatoid arthritis dramatically reduced Alzheimer’s disease pathology and reversed the memory impairment of mice bred to develop symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease, a new study by the University of South Florida reports.
Depression May Nearly Double Risk of Dementia – A new study shows that having depression may nearly double your risk of developing dementia later in life, revealed in a research published in the July 6, 2010, issue of Neurology.
Study evaluates association of genetic factors and brain imaging findings in Alzheimer’s disease – By investigating the association between genetic loci related to Alzheimer’s disease and neuroimaging measures related to disease risk, researchers may have uncovered additional evidence that several previously studied genetic variants are associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and also may have identified new genetic risk factors for further study, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Apple juice improves behavior but not cognition in Alzheimer’s patients – Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), revealed by researchers.
Researchers discover how mutations in presenilin gene cause early onset Alzheimer’s disease — Findings could pave the way for novel treatments – Researchers have discovered how mutations in the presenilin 1 gene cause early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The finding is reported online in the journal Cell.
Protein regulates enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s disease – Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have zeroed in on a protein that may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The team found that increasing levels of the protein (called GGA3) prevented the accumulation of an enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s.
World leaders focus on stroke prevention, care as Stroke journal turns 40 – On the 40th anniversary of the journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, stroke leaders from around the world celebrated stroke research accomplishments and set an agenda for the future, according to a special report in the journal.
Abdominal fat at middle age associated with greater risk of dementia — Study confirms that obesity is associated with lower total brain volume – Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine determined that excess abdominal fat places otherwise healthy, middle-aged people at risk for dementia later in life. Preliminary findings suggest a relationship between obesity and dementia that could lead to promising prevention strategies in the future.
