Memory Archives

Heart disorder linked to Alzheimer’s disease dementia

Heart disorder atrial fibrillation linked to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Study of more than 37,000 patients shows relationship between atrial fibrillation and development of Alzheimer’s disease. – Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City believe that they have made a breakthrough connection between atrial fibrillation, a fairly common heart rhythm disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease, the leading form of dementia among Americans.

Alzheimer’s disease risk index predicts Alzheimer’s in elderly

Alzheimer’s Disease risk index – New tool can help predict risk of Alzheimer’s in elderly. – A new tool can help predict whether people age 65 and older have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Research on the tool is published in the May 13, 2009, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Hypertensive kids have learning and attention problems

Hypertensive kids more likely to have learning/attention problems – Children who have high blood pressure are more likely to have learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than children who are not hypertensive. They are also more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI), an indicator of body fat.

Chemical found in medical devices impairs heart function

Chemical found in medical devices impairs heart function – Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have found that a chemical commonly used in the production of such medical plastic devices as intravenous (IV) bags and catheters can impair heart function in rats.

New pill cladribine to treat Multiple sclerosis MS

New pill to treat MS – cladribine will be the first licensed treatment for MS which does not involve regular injections. – A new drug for multiple sclerosis can dramatically reduce the chances of a relapse or a deterioration of the condition, according to a new study from researchers at Queen Mary, University of London.

Memory performance worsens with age

Social factors may have a negative effect on older adults’ memory performance. – Thinking your memory will get worse as you get older may actually be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that senior citizens who think older people should perform poorly on tests of memory actually score much worse than seniors who do not buy in to negative stereotypes about aging and memory loss.

Lower IQ in children of older fathers

Children of older fathers perform less well in intelligence tests during infancy – Children of older fathers perform less well in a range of cognitive tests during infancy and early childhood, according to a study published this week in the open-access journal PLoS Medicine.

Passive smoking linked to dementia

First large scale study demonstrates link between exposure to passive smoking and cognitive problems in dementia and similar neurologic diseases. – Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan have published the results of the first large-scale study to indicate that second-hand smoke exposure could lead to dementia and other neurological problems.

MRI shows brain atrophy pattern that predicts Alzheimer’s Disease

Using special MRI methods, researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer’s disease. – Researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers used special MRI methods.

Insulin may slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Insulin is a possible new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Insulin may slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. – Insulin, by shielding memory-forming synapses from harm, may slow or prevent the damage and memory loss caused by toxic proteins in Alzheimer’s disease, reported by researchers at Northwestern University.

Retired athletes with mental decline after concussion

Brain function decline in healthy retired athletes who sustained their last sports concussion in early adulthood – Researchers have found the first evidence that athletes who were concussed during their earlier sporting life show a decline in their mental and physical processes more than 30 years later.

Dietary DHA benefits preterm infant girls

Intake of certain fatty acid appears to improve neurodevelopment for preterm girls, but not boys – Preterm infant girls who received a high amount of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; an omega-3 fatty acid) had higher measures of neurodevelopment than preterm girls who received a standard amount of DHA, but this effect was not seen among preterm boys, according to a study in the January 14 issue of JAMA.