[Michaelangelica]

COMING UP

ALL IN THE MIND: When words and science meet
Saturday 31 May 1.05pm, Radio National
Stefan Merrill Block’s debut novel, The Story of Forgetting, is a clever tale about familial Alzheimer’s disease. Spanning time and place, it's the surprising story of a gene, a fantasy land where memory is absent, a hunchback, and one boy’s quest to understand the disease stealing his mother’s mind. And, Canadian emergency physician, Dr Vincent Lam, takes us inside the lives of four young doctors in his compelling debut, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures.
All In The Mind

[Michaelangelica]

More on diet

Blueberries may reverse memory decline, Reading University finds
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
Last Updated: 5:19PM BST 06/06/2008
Eating blueberries can improve memory and could lead to a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, researchers have said.

Scientists have found that chemicals in the fruit can reverse age-releated decline in memory.

The team at Reading University found the equivalent of a punnet of blueberries a day, between 120g and 150g, significantly improved the memory of rats.
. . .
However, this study indicates that rather than acting as simple antioxidants, flavonoids may interact directly with nerve cells.

The team believe the flavonoids may work by improving communication between cells and encourage nerves that carry electrical signals in the brain to regenerate.

Blueberries may reverse memory decline, Reading University finds - Telegraph

[Michaelangelica]

More on diet

Blueberries may reverse memory decline, Reading University finds
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
Last Updated: 5:19PM BST 06/06/2008
Eating blueberries can improve memory and could lead to a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, researchers have said.

Scientists have found that chemicals in the fruit can reverse age-releated decline in memory.

The team at Reading University found the equivalent of a punnet of blueberries a day, between 120g and 150g, significantly improved the memory of rats.
. . .
However, this study indicates that rather than acting as simple antioxidants, flavonoids may interact directly with nerve cells.

The team believe the flavonoids may work by improving communication between cells and encourage nerves that carry electrical signals in the brain to regenerate.

Blueberries may reverse memory decline, Reading University finds - Telegraph

[Michaelangelica]

Results For "antipsychotic therapy older adults dementia" - SearchMedica - Professional Medical Search

Results For "Alzheimer statin" - SearchMedica - Professional Medical Search

Red/Purple Group
(beets, eggplant, purple grapes, red wine, grape juice, prunes, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, red apples)
These are loaded with powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins believed to protect against heart disease by preventing blood clots. They may also delay the aging of cells in the body. There is some evidence they may help delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Joie de Vivre! - What Color is Your Diet?: Booknotes

[Michaelangelica]

An interesting page on Alzheimer's from Stanford uni

*

Some important FACTS about dementia include:

* A person with dementia is not insane, necessarily psychotic, or learning disabled.
* There are many different types of dementia. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, it is not the only kind.
* Patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions may have dementia.
* Frontal Temporal Dementia involves an impairment in the ability to plan and
organize.
* What may seem like aggressive behavior may be an indication of fear, anger, dissatisfaction, particularly in the early stages of dementia.
* Persons with dementia are not necessarily incompetent, particularly in the early and intermediate stages. Persons with mild dementia may be able to comprehend and make choices about their own health.

Often, some problems are overlooked in assessing a person’s well being and may be confused with dementia. There may be competing causes as to why a person develops certain symptoms, which may or may not be dementia. Here are some things to watch:

* A fall is not always just a fall. It could be an indication of macular degeneration or poor balance.
* People with dementia may have other disabilities including, for example, trouble walking, poor balance, and sleep problems.
* Forgetfulness may indicate a medication interaction.
* Sometimes persons with dementia may speak very well despite the onset of other symptoms that reveal dementia.
* Some persons with early onset dementia try to compensate for it and hide it.
* Persons with depression and dementia often exhibit the same symptoms including loss of interest, withdrawing, and apathy. The two conditions may occur simultaneously and be misdiagnosed.

For more information:

Movement Disorders Team at Stanford
Our Team - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Alzheimer’s Association - Northern California and Northern Nevada
Norcal Home

Stanford’s “Farewell to Falls” program helping older adults prevent falls:
Farewell to Falls Program - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Geriatric Health Services – Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Geriatric Health Services, Geriatric Health Services, older adults, Geriatric Health - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

http://www.shlnews.org/?p=21

[Michaelangelica]

An interesting page on Alzheimer's from Stanford Hospital

*

Some important FACTS about dementia include:

* A person with dementia is not insane, necessarily psychotic, or learning disabled.
* There are many different types of dementia. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, it is not the only kind.
* Patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions may have dementia.
* Frontal Temporal Dementia involves an impairment in the ability to plan and
organize.
* What may seem like aggressive behavior may be an indication of fear, anger, dissatisfaction, particularly in the early stages of dementia.
* Persons with dementia are not necessarily incompetent, particularly in the early and intermediate stages. Persons with mild dementia may be able to comprehend and make choices about their own health.

Often, some problems are overlooked in assessing a person’s well being and may be confused with dementia. There may be competing causes as to why a person develops certain symptoms, which may or may not be dementia. Here are some things to watch:

* A fall is not always just a fall. It could be an indication of macular degeneration or poor balance.
* People with dementia may have other disabilities including, for example, trouble walking, poor balance, and sleep problems.
* Forgetfulness may indicate a medication interaction.
* Sometimes persons with dementia may speak very well despite the onset of other symptoms that reveal dementia.
* Some persons with early onset dementia try to compensate for it and hide it.
* Persons with depression and dementia often exhibit the same symptoms including loss of interest, withdrawing, and apathy. The two conditions may occur simultaneously and be misdiagnosed.

For more information:

Movement Disorders Team at Stanford
Our Team - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Alzheimer’s Association - Northern California and Northern Nevada
Norcal Home

Stanford’s “Farewell to Falls” program helping older adults prevent falls:
Farewell to Falls Program - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Geriatric Health Services – Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Geriatric Health Services, Geriatric Health Services, older adults, Geriatric Health - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Dementia - Myths and Realities : Notes from the Doc Talks

i am not sure if this is a FREE downloadable video or not

Memory Matters

This video provides a basic understanding of Alzheimer's disease and examines the ways it affects people living with or caring for those affected by it. Some important issues that often need to be discussed and decided upon to prepare for the future include appointing guardians, power of attorneys, discussing and changing activities (eg. whether to avoid or stop driving). It offers practical advice on dealing with everyday life to make living with Alzheimer's disease more manageable, through experiences shared by people living with the disease. Medical professionals also discuss treatments that can slow down the progress of the disease, and organisations that offer support.

* Aricept
* Alzheimer's disease
* Memory loss symptoms
* Tips for carers of dementia patients lifestyle

Medical Videos

[Michaelangelica]

New hope offered to Alzheimer's sufferers
Source: ABC News
Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:42 AEST
Expires: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:42 AEST

Alzheimer's Australia has released a study offering new hope for the hundreds of thousands of Australians whose lives are affected by the disease.

Tags: alzheimers-and-dementia, australia
Available Formats

* Windows Media (Broadband)
* Windows Media (Dial-up)
* Real Media (Broadband)
* Real Media (Dial-up)

New hope offered to Alzheimer's sufferers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[Michaelangelica]

New hope offered to Alzheimer's sufferers
Source: ABC News
Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:42 AEST
Expires: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:42 AEST

Alzheimer's Australia has released a study offering new hope for the hundreds of thousands of Australians whose lives are affected by the disease.

Tags: alzheimers-and-dementia, australia
Available Formats

* Windows Media (Broadband)
* Windows Media (Dial-up)
* Real Media (Broadband)
* Real Media (Dial-up)

New hope offered to Alzheimer's sufferers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[Ganoderma]

anyone here ever looked into Tabernaemontana divaricata?

i am growing it for its nice flowers and just learned of some studies when researching its chems.

http://www.research.nu.ac.th/home/pr...%D2%BE_6_6.pdf



Biomedical Engineering Center :: Chiang Mai University

ABSTRACT

We have demonstrated that Tabernaemontana divaricata extract (TDE) acts as a novel reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor in vivo. To investigate the physiological properties of TDE in slices of hippocampus we used extracellular recordings of field potential, and found that TDE significantly reduced field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) elicited by paired-pulse stimulation of Schaffer collateral pathways in the CA1 hippocampus. The reduction in potentials was prevented by atropine, but not by pancuronium, and was not accompanied by evident changes in the EPSP waveform. The modulation of glutamatergic synaptic responses in the CA1 hippocampus with TDE was similar to the effect of exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). These findings suggest that TDE, an AChE inhibitor, acts to increase endogenous synaptic ACh levels, which influences the reduction of excitatory transmission in the CA1 hippocampus. Paired-pulse facilitation with TDE application was reliably increased, indicating that the depressed synaptic responses occurred through the reductions in transmitter release. Our findings describe novel characteristics of TDE as an AChE inhibitor in the hippocampal circuit. Therefore, TDE may be of benefit in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the future. Supported by TRF-RMU 4880013 (SC), TRF-RMU4980001 (NC), Fac of Medicine Endowment Fund, CMU (AP, SC, NC) and Biomedical Engineering Center, CMU

[Michaelangelica]

Systematic review on the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for Alzheimer's disease.

J Alzheimers Dis. 2008 Jun;14(2):209-23

Authors: Man SC, Durairajan SS, Kum WF, Lu JH, Huang JD, Cheng CF, Chung V, Xu M, Li M

A systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of herbal medications (HM), as either monotherapy or adjunct to orthodox medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and nootropic agents, OM) for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sixteen studies testing different HM were included. Out of the 15 HM monotherapy studies, 13 reported HM to be significantly better than OM or placebo; one reported similar efficacy between HM and OM. Only the HM adjuvant study reported significant efficacy. No major adverse events for HM were reported and HMs were found to reduce the adverse effects arising from OM. Imbalance in ethnicity among participants was observed; gender distribution was unclear. Heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria, interventions and outcome measures hindered comprehensive data analysis. Studies comparing HM with OM suggest that HM can be a safe, effective treatment for AD, either alone or in conjunction with OM. Methodological flaws in the design of the studies, however, limited the extent to which the results could be interpreted. Among various HMs, the safety and tolerability of EGb761 was best established. Further multi-center trials with large sample size, high methodological qualities and standardized HM ingredients are necessary for clinical recommendations on the use of HM in treating AD.

PMID: 18560132 [PubMed - in process]