A recent study by scientist at the Mayo clinic found that MCI is 1.5 times more prevalent in men than in women. The study further suggests that close to 16% of elderly subjects are affected by MCI.

In the study, Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues set out to determine the prevalence of MCI in a sample of elderly subjects who live in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The subjects, ages 70 to 89, were interviewed and tested on a series of neurological and cognitive domains.

“The unexpected finding in the study was that the frequency of MCI in men was greater than that in women. Unexpected because the frequency of women who have Alzheimer’s disease is greater than that of men so in this early stage it was odd that men outnumber the women yet when the disease progresses to the fully developed dementia stage of Alzheimer’s disease the women outnumber the men”, said Peterson in a Mayo clinic interview.

The higher prevalence in men is thought to indicate that men transition into dementia more gradually and sooner in life than women. Women on the other hand, may be affected by dementia more abruptly and at a later stage in life.

The study also found that subjects who never married had a higher prevalence for MCI. Higher education was also found to decrease MCI prevalence.

“We are now following these individuals with MCI over time to see at what rate they develop Alzheimer’s disease” said Petersen.  “The idea being that if we are able to predict which individuals are going to progress more rapidly we might be able to intervene sooner in the disease process as therapies are developed.”

Source: Petersen et al., (2010) Neurology;  Livescience.com, September 6, 2010; mayoclinic.org, August 31, 2010.

Author: Karla Robleto, Ph.D.

This alarming trend is expected to accelerate, as baby boomers begin turning 65 in 2011. The largest risk factor is age. Currently, 1 in 8 persons over age 65 has the mind-destroying disease. Over age 85, almost half have Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.

While small drops in the death rates from heart disease and cancer make headlines, Alzheimer’s-related deaths have increased by 33%. Even more disturbing is the trend toward early-onset Alzheimer’s. The disease in those under age 65 is vastly underreported and is often difficult to recognize in its early stages, before full-scale memory problems are involved.

Despite years of research, the causes of Alzheimer’s progressive brain deterioration are still largely unknown, and there is no cure. Medications on the market only temporarily alleviate symptoms. The disease that gradually robs memories and the ability to provide self-care eventually kills Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Medicare spends nearly three times as much for dementia patients’ care as is does on the average beneficiary — $13,207 a year for Alzheimer’s patients compared to $4,454 annually for others. Medicare expenditures do not add in the expense of families and friends proving round-the-clock care, as most Alzheimer’s patients live at home. However, a new report indicates that close to $83 billion is spent annually on nursing home costs for patients in advanced stages of the disease.

Nine drugs for Alzheimer’s are in the final stages of clinical trials. If some of these drugs are successful in slowing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms by even a few years, millions of dollars could be saved in health care costs in future decades. The toll in human suffering could also be greatly alleviated. Experiencing “the long good-bye” in those you love can be excruciating.

Source:  Yahoo News

According to one researcher at the University of Manchester, Alzheimer’s patients who have the ApoE-4 form of the gene contain more herpes DNA in brain regions than others without that version of the gene. The team found that the herpes virus infiltrates brain cells and is associated with cellular tangles and amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s patients.

The oral herpes virus (herpes simplex 1), known to infect 80% of Americans, hides in the body’s nerves in its predominately latent phase. An outbreak is rarely triggered by factors such as stress, fatigue, or sunlight. HPV1 then becomes active, damaging cells and causing cold sores.

Scientists have long known that the ApoE-4 gene is a player in Alzheimer’s, but the idea that it can work in concert with the herpes virus is new. A group at the University of Rochester Medical Center recently found that this particular gene causes a fertile environment for herpes in the brain.

One theory is that the body’s immune response against herpes somehow damages the brain. The damage can be worse in those with the ApoE-4 copy of the gene than in those with another form of the gene, such as ApoE-2 or ApoE-3. No research is conclusive at this point.

In 2006, the Manchester research team published a study that showed inflammation to be the earliest change detected in a brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, before the hallmark plaques or tangles appear and long before any behavioral changes are seen. Such inflammation can be a byproduct of the body’s immune system fighting an infection.

Much research is being conducted in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is hoped that one day it may be prevented, especially if treatment begins in the early stages before symptoms become obvious.

Source:  Medical News TODAY 

Testosterone in large doses can cause cells to self-destruct and produce a process similar to brain deterioration in Alzheimer’s Disease or Huntington’s Disease.

Athletes or others who resort to steroids may risk incurring damage to their minds and body functions that can’t be reversed. High levels of steroids are converted to extra testosterone in the body, and large doses of testosterone can destroy nerve cells.

Athletes who wish to gain a competitive advantage through steroid use should have second thoughts, even though it can build muscle mass and aid in quicker recovery after exertion.
 

Source:  CNN.com

Delay in seeking help is counterproductive and unnecessary, as the disease becomes harder to treat in more advanced stages. In addition, not knowing for certain can cause heightened anxiety and depression in patients and their caregivers.

Alzheimer’s progresses at different rates in individuals, but the patient may live with the condition for 8 to 20 years. Early diagnosis and treatment is believed to slow its progression and alleviate much of the stress of the patient and family members. In addition, early recognition gives time to put one’s affairs in order. Wills, durable powers of attorney, financial matters, and treatment preferences are better dealt with early in the disease.

Structured activities such as participation in psychotherapy groups, painting classes or musical activities can help patients live more fully after diagnosis. Despite cognitive decline, some Alzheimer’s patients show amazing ability to express themselves in art or musical performance. Support through group therapy also helps many patients bolster their self-image and accept their disease with grace.

As for medical treatments, three cholinesterase inhibitors are FDA-approved and available to treat Alzheimer’s. Razadyne and Aricept are thought to delay mental decline and symptoms in those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Namenda is approved for treatment of later stages of the disease.

Facing the diagnosis early helps patients and caregivers to challenge the stigma of Alzheimer’s by seeking proper care in timely fashion.
Source:  Johns Hopkins Health After 50 Medical Newsletter, August 2006

An Australian study using MRI real-time brain scans to check the brain’s major pain channels gave clear evidence that pain may still be intensely felt in the Alzheimer’s patient. The study compared Alzheimer’s patients who could still describe their pain to other study participants who were volunteers without the disease.

In this study appearing in an online edition of the journal Brain, study authors concluded that dealing with pain became problematic because diseased patients were unable to divert their attention from it, as healthy volunteers were able to do. If patients in the study who could still communicate found pain to be bewildering, it might be even more so for those with Alzheimer’s.

When words can no longer adequately express pain, doctors and other caregivers can look for facial expressions and body movements that show discomfort. Often, the Alzheimer’s patient’s caregiver has a greater capacity to understand these signals of pain than even their physicians. They look for signs of agitation, altered eye contact, grimacing, or other indications.

It is generally impossible to totally eliminate pain in Alzheimer’s patients or in other persons with chronic pain. The goal for those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias should be to find greater levels of comfort and pain management.
Source:  Web MD

Surprisingly, researchers found concentrations of waxy protein clumps typical of patients with full-blown Alzheimer’s in 36% of those who died during the study. None had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or even mild cognitive impairment in their final days.

All had performed well on memory examples, although those whose autopsies showed evidence of Alzheimer’s had slightly lower scores in episodic memory. That is, their recall of recently presented information was somewhat impaired. In other words, their brains could not store new information properly in order to recall it.

This recent study appeared in the June issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Scientists attempted to answer the question why some people with brain impairments found in Alzheimer’s patients (at autopsy) appeared to function normally while others become severely debilitated by the mind-robbing disease.

Scientists believe that high levels of education, feelings of social connectedness, and brain-stimulating activity may help individuals to function well despite their reduced brain capacity.

One in 10 persons over age 65 and almost half of persons over age 85 are afflicted with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s disease. Advancing age and family history seem to be risk factors that contribute to the condition. No single comprehensive test can positively diagnose Alzheimer’s while the person is living. A variety of tests and neurological exams are used to diagnose the disease that proves accurate about 90% of the time.

No medical treatment is able to cure or keep Alzheimer’s from progressing, but five FDA-approved drugs are now available to temporarily relieve some of the symptoms of the disease. Other drugs are under development.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
  • Memory loss that affects job skills
  • Difficulty performing familiar tasks
  • Problems with language
  • Disorientation to time and place
  • Poor or decreased judgment
  • Problems with abstract thinking
  • Placing items in inappropriate places
  • Rapid changes in mood or behavior
  • Dramatic changes in personality
  • Loss of initiative

Normal memory changes in aging:
  • Forgetting names or appointments
  • Occasionally forgetting reasons for entering a room or the route to your destination
  • Sometimes struggling to find the right word
  • Forgetting the day or the week
  • Temporarily misplacing keys or wallet
  • Slight changes in personality
  • Feeling weary of work or social obligations

Keeping mentally active through activities such as attempting cross-word puzzles, playing chess, reading books, and attempting new learning experiences may help to stave off the ravages of Alzheimer’s. Appropriate regular exercise is also thought to be helpful, as well.
Sources: MSNBC, Alzheimer’s Association

Technorati Tags: Cognitive Disorders, Alzheimer’s

This new evidence concerning obesity and brain function was presented in April at the American Academy of Neurology in San Diego, CA. Study author Rachel A. Whitmer, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, reported on her findings as part of a larger study of 9,000 Kaiser patients who were followed for 30 years.

Study participants submitted to measurements of thickness of skin folds both below the shoulder and at the back of the upper arm. Individuals with the thickest shoulder measurements were found to be almost three times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as those who had less thickness in these areas.

Maria Carrillo of the Alzheimer’s Association suggested that overweight people are often more sedentary. As a result, their arteries can become clogged and restrict blood flow. Healthy eating and exercise can contribute to healthy brain functioning, she indicated.

In 2006, 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Risk rises as people age. By 2050, with longevity increasing, the number is expected to increase to 16 million persons with the brain disease.

Sources:  MedicineNet.com; Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California