Early Detection of Alzheimer's Now Possible
Daily News Central, NV - Aug 2, 2005 An exhaustive search for clues has uncovered a set of warning sign symptoms for Alzheimer's disease that occur before the illness is diagnosed, it was revealed

Hope for Alzheimer's blossoms
Medical News Today (press release), UK - 8 hours agoA substance found in the Welsh national flower, which could offer hope for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease, is being supported for large scale manufacture by ...Take your brain to the gym Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription)

Alzheimer's Patients'Vision Going Uncorrected
Forbes - 18 hours agoTUESDAY, July 26 (HealthDayNews) -- One in three nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease are not getting their vision corrected so they can see clearly ...Vision problems of Alzheimer's patients in nursing homes I-Newswire.com (press release)

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Alzheimer disease examined, phospho-beta-catenin accumulation revealed
2005 JUL 18 - -- A study from the United States has documented phospho-beta-catenin accumulation in Alzheimer disease and ...
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Beta-amyloid is toxic to rodent neural microvascular endothelial cells
2005 JUL 22 - -- Beta-amyloid is toxic to rodent neural microvascular endothelial cells. "Several studies have shown that beta-amyloid deposits are associated with damage of cerebral vessels and that in Alzheimer disease beta A peptides are cytotoxic for cerebral endothelial cells .
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Research add new data to prions body of knowledge
2005 JUL 29 - -- New findings from the United Kingdom, United States and Germany describe advances in prions. Study 1: A study from England has reported on dynamic simulations of mutants of human prion protein at room temperature and elevated temperatures. "Fatal familial insomnia and ...
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New clues for the understanding of dementia
I-Newswire.com (press release) - Jul 24, 2005 London - in collaboration with groups from Copenhagen, Aarhus, Lund and Cambridge - have identified a gene that, when mutated, causes an early onset dementia.

Alzheimer's conference today in Irvine
OCRegister (subscription), CA - Jul 28, 2005 IRVINE The Orange County chapter of the Alzheimer's Association will hold its third annual research conference today and Friday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine

Alzheimer's more likely among diabetics
Science Daily (press release) - Jul 25, 2005 July 11, 2005) -- Use of statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs by older adults reportedly offers no protection against Alzheimer's disease or other

Alzheimer's more likely among diabetics
Science Daily (press release) - Jul 25, 2005 July 11, 2005) -- Use of statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs by older adults reportedly offers no protection against Alzheimer's disease or other

Prepare for Alzheimer's
Enterprise-Record, CA - Jul 26, 2005 My heart sank when I read the article on Morrison Ewing, the gentleman with Alzheimer's disease who wandered away and met with a tragic ending.

Alzheimer's Patient Safe After Going Missing
RedNova.com, TX - 7 hours agoPolice found a 74-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease Friday morning after she went missing from the University of Utah Hospital Thursday. ...Alzheimer's patient goes missing near U. hospital Salt Lake TribuneMissing Woman Found KUTVMissing Elderly Woman Found In Downtown SLC KTVXKSL-TV - KSL Radio -

Alzheimer's Study Tests Old Drug on New Target
eMaxHealth.com, NC - 14 hours ago... researchers have begun testing an epilepsy drug already on the market to determine whether it may be even more promising against Alzheimer's disease than ...

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TopAbstracts in Alzheimer's 07/14/2005

by: Michael G. Rayel, MD

I m surprised when some patients and caregivers confuse dementia and Alzheimer s as one and the same. Each time a family member is suffering from memory loss, the conclusion is always Alzheimer s. Is it reasonable to label all dementias as Alzheimer s?
As a clinician, my answer to queries is that Alzheimer s dementia is only one type of dementia and that not all dementias are Alzheimer s. Aside from Alzheimer s disease, other dementias exist such as Dementia with lewy body, Vascular dementia, Parkinson s disease with dementia, and dementias due to various neurologic and medical conditions.
How will you know if a person is suffering from Alzheimer s dementia? What is Alzheimer s dementia?

Alzheimer s dementia is a neurologic disorder characterized by a progressive and irreversible cognitive decline associated with impairment in functioning. The cognitive deterioration consists of memory impairment. Initially there is recent memory impairment but as the disease progresses, even the long term memory is affected.
In addition to memory impairment, a patient with dementia has impairment in one of four cognitive areas: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, and impairment in executive functioning. Aphasia is a problem in language characterized by inability to express oneself, repeat words or phrases, or understand what is being said. Apraxia is inability to adequately perform a usual motor activity such as combing the hair or brushing the teeth despite no paralysis or musculoskeletal abnormality.

Agnosia is inability to recognize objects or things despite intact sensory functions. For instance, a demented patient cannot recognize a key or a pen placed in his or her hands without looking at it.

Impairment in executive functioning is characterized by difficulty in abstract reasoning and in organizing things, schedule, and activities. Patients with this problem give concrete meaning to proverbs. For example, when a patient is asked what don t cry over spilled milk means, the patient responds, It s easy. Just wipe it! Moreover, knowing the specific similarities and differences of certain things (e.g. apple versus orange) is a struggle for some patients.
What are the possible causes of Alzheimer s?

The cause of Alzheimer is still unknown. However, several risk factors have been identified. One major risk factor is age. The risk of developing dementia increases as our age advances. Older individuals therefore are more at risk. Having said this, Alzheimer s can also happen to young individuals.

Other important risk factors include the presence of apolipoprotein E4 allele, the predominance of plaques and tangles in the brain, and the brain s impaired cholinergic system.

Is there any successful treatment for Alzheimer s?
Alzheimer s disease is irreversible so current medications are only geared to slow down the deterioration. These acetylcholisterase inhibitors, namely galantamine, rivastigmine, and donepezil, are aimed at improving the cholinergic functioning in the brain by inhibiting the cholinesterase enzyme. Although initially indicated for mild to moderate dementia, some recent evidence shows that some of these drugs may also benefit patients with moderate to severe dementia. Further studies are warranted to determine its efficacy in this group.

About The Author
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. Dr. Michael G. Rayel author (First Aid to Mental Illness Finalist, Reader s Preference Choice Award 2002), speaker, workshop leader, and psychiatrist. Dr. Rayel pioneers the CARE Approach as first aid for mental health. To receive free newsletter, visit
His books are available at major online bookstores.

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