Alzheimer's? Why?

[Ganoderma]

HAHA, that is a good one!

[Michaelangelica]

Terry Pratchett : Living With Alzheimer's

Terry Pratchett : Living With Alzheimer's

The transmission dates have been finalised and we can exclusively reveal that the much anticipated documentary will be broadcast on the following dates:

BBC2 Wednesday @ 21:00 GMT

Part 1 - 4th February / Part 2 - 11th February
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[Michaelangelica]

One year on: Terry Pratchett - the year I could never forget
Alzheimer's left Terry Pratchett sometimes feeling down - but definitely not defeated
Terry Pratchett

(Lauar Pannack)
Terry Pratchett

Sir Terry Pratchett cannot help wondering why it was this year - after 30 years as a bestselling writer - that he was honoured with a knighthood: 'All I know is
. . .
. . .
Pratchett suffers from a rare variant of Alzheimer's known as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), which appears to have spared his fertile mind from the disease's usual crashing wave. So when he looks around and asks for a second time, 'Did I drink my tea?', he puts the memory lapse down to the rushed way in which the tea was drunk. 'See, Alzheimer's can make you distrust yourself when in fact you may be right. Sometimes it is just old age. And no one is more neurotic about themselves than an author.
. . .
Not usually a man who's lost for words, the only one he could muster on the day his knighthood was announced was 'Flabbergasted!' Today he says: 'That still applies! But seriously, as a science-fiction writer, it is an achievement. Despite its popularity, sci-fi is still a ghetto genre. So when a hand of welcome comes from the Establishment, you can do nothing but shake it.

One year on: Terry Pratchett - the year I could never forget - Times Online
He is not science-fiction or fantasy. He is a"terrypratchett" starting a new genre that needs a new name. A bit like Tolkien, who single handily spawned the revival in fantasy and made it respectable. (Although I'm sure Terry would hate to be called "respectable").
He is among the world's top 3 selling authors. TP's books are life-affirming,great stories/yarns, irrelevant, satirical, funny, intelligent, iconoclastic, human, inclusive, gentle and strong, O shut-up MA

His books are multi-layered and are the only books I can read and re-read and still find something new. The only other author I can do that with is Shakespeare. (Who, given his play King Lear", had first hand experience of Alzheimer's too)


(What is it about journalist's and pun headlines-they can't help themselves can they?)

[Michaelangelica]

Aβ catabolic pathway may offer an effective way to prevent as well as treat Alzheimer's disease
up-regulation of these Aβ-catabolic targets offers a novel, effective way to tackle Alzheimer's
.
This approach is gaining increasing attention and researchers are interested in finding pharmacological activators of these enzymes (NEP, IDE etc.).

In this context, it is interesting to note that a pre-approved drug for epilepsy, epilim (sodium valproate), has been shown to significantly elevate Neprilysin levels]

A? catabolism - An important Alzheimer's disease therapeutic target
The enzymes involved in Aβ degradation and clearance are- Neprilysin (NEP), . . .

It is a great pity that doctors are prevented from prescribing drugs for other than what they have been approved for. You would think they could be trusted, if not some sort of request or review process with health authorities should be in place. Many drug companies may not bother to try to have their drug approved for other disorders given the expense
And how are they going to know if their drug is good for something else unless Docs. begin to ask for it to be used in other ways and reporting their findings?

[pamela]

new treatments may show promise

from Discover
Two unconventional treatments for Alzheimer’s disease show promising early results. Both Rember (methylthioninium chloride) and Dimebon (dimebolin hydrochloride) appear to slow the mental decline associated with the illness.

No effective medicines exist for Alzheimer’s, which is estimated to afflict more than 4 million people in the United States alone. The disease is characterized by a decline in cognition and function and usually strikes after age 60. Most Alzheimer’s treatments have targeted amyloid, the main protein component of the associated plaques that form in the brain; Rember is the first to target the tangled, abnormal fibers of a protein called tau. At an Alzheimer’s conference in Chicago, the drug, made by TauRx Therapeutics, was reported to slow the progress of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease by 81 percent over the course of a year. In a phase 2 trial of 321 people with mild to moderate disease, those on the drug stayed at about the same cognitive level for up to 19 months, while those on the placebo got worse. A final trial is expected to begin in 2009.

The second drug, Dimebon, is an allergy drug used in Russia 20 years ago. A Lancet [subscription required] article in July reported that over 26 weeks of treatment, Dimebon significantly improved memory, thinking, and overall functioning in 68 Alzheimer’s patients, compared with a 66-member control group. Although researchers don’t know exactly how Dimebon does this, it may work by protecting mitochondria—the powerhouses of cells—from injury, says Rachelle Doody, the study’s lead author and a neurology professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. A phase 3 trial for the drug began recruiting participants in June

#18: Two Alzheimer?s Drugs Show Promise | Alzheimer's | DISCOVER Magazine

[Michaelangelica]

a warning on dementia treatment from the FDA

Zyprexa (olanzapine tablets) August 2008



WARNINGS







BOXED WARNING

WARNING: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis —

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients.
Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group.
Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality.
The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. Zyprexa (olanzapine) is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis (see WARNINGS).

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/S.../ucm123272.htm

[Michaelangelica]

Drug trials
Dimebon and other drug trials Help for caregivers of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer's drug study in Orlando area offers hope to patients
Alzheimer's drug study in Orlando area offers hope to patients -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Turmeric again

Health
Eating curry can prevent dementia: Researcher

London (IANS): Eating Indian curry meal regularly can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, an Indian-born researcher has told a meeting of British psychiatrists.

Prof Murali Doraiswamy of Duke University in America told members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at their annual meeting in the city of Liverpool that curcumin, an ingredient in turmeric can prevent changes in the brain by blocking the spread of amyloid plaques - toxic protein deposits thought to play a key role in Alzheimer's.

The Hindu News Update Service
and
Spice of Life Might Help Prevent Alzheimer?s | Retirement on a Budget

Vitamin D
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia

New Tool Helps Predict Alzheimer’s Risks
Reuters May 29, 2009
Epoch Times - New Tool Helps Predict Alzheimer?s Risks

[Michaelangelica]

Drug trials
Dimebon and other drug trials Help for caregivers of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer's drug study in Orlando area offers hope to patients
Alzheimer's drug study in Orlando area offers hope to patients -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Turmeric again

Health
Eating curry can prevent dementia: Researcher

London (IANS): Eating Indian curry meal regularly can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, an Indian-born researcher has told a meeting of British psychiatrists.

Prof Murali Doraiswamy of Duke University in America told members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at their annual meeting in the city of Liverpool that curcumin, an ingredient in turmeric can prevent changes in the brain by blocking the spread of amyloid plaques - toxic protein deposits thought to play a key role in Alzheimer's.

The Hindu News Update Service
and
Spice of Life Might Help Prevent Alzheimer?s | Retirement on a Budget

Vitamin D
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia

New Tool Helps Predict Alzheimer’s Risks
Reuters May 29, 2009
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17495/

[ntuc]

Generally speaking, it's a medical scenario of loss of brain cells / tissues due to senility.

[Michaelangelica]

As there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, protecting the health of your mind is key to ensuring neurological wellbeing.
The Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription details simple yet effect changes in lifestyle and diet that can help stave off the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s.
With Australians living longer than ever before, the fear of ending our days unaware of what’s going on around is very real.
Damage associated with Alzheimer’s occurs decades before symptoms appear so it’s never too early to start taking the health of your mind seriously.

Dr Vincent Fortenesce is the Rehabilitation Director at the Fortanasce Neurology Centre in Arcadia, California and has over 20 years experience in dealing with medical issues.
Through The Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription, he helps you to identify your risk profile and follow a simple four-step program to brain health. The steps are:
1. The Anti-Alzheimer’s anti-inflammatory diet
2. Brain boosters (smart exercise for brain health)
3. Brain boosters (mental challenges to build cognitive reserves)
4. Rest and recovery (finding your circle of quiet)


Also included in the book are chapters on how to obtain a medical diagnosis and the latest medical treatments available.
Living with Alzheimer’s is a terrible way to end a life which has previously been rich in experiences and memories and can destroy family relationships.

If simple steps can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, then surely they’re worth trying.
RRP: $34.95
Dr Vincent Fortenesce
Random House

http://www.aboutseniors.com.au/index...#viagra_on_pbs