Normal “Senior Moments,” Or Alzheimer’s Disease?
Normal “Senior Moments,” Or Alzheimer’s Disease?
The recent passing of vibrant actor Charlton Heston from late-stage Alzheimer’s disease makes us all stop and think about our own mortality. In particular, it is natural to wonder about your own memory, and what is ‘normal’ when it comes to memory loss as a result of aging.Occasional memory lapses, such as forgetting why you walked into a room or having difficulty recalling a person’s name, become more common as we approach our 50s and 60s.
I do love it when scientists prove wrong myths, particularly myths that support particular assertions that people like to lecture others on, and today three well know myths were debunked.
Small Vessel Disease Responbsible For 1/3 Of Risk For Dementia, Autopsy Study Shows
Alzheimer’s disease may be what most people fear as they grow older, but autopsy data from a long-range study of 3,400 men and women in the Seattle region found that the brains of a third of those who had become demented before death showed evidence of small vessel damage: the type of small, cumulative injury that can come from hypertension or diabetes.Dr. Thomas Montine, University of Washington, presented the study results at Experimental Biology 2008 in San Diego on April 6.
A coffee with your doughnut could protect against Alzheimer’s disease | Science Codex
A daily dose of caffeine blocks the disruptive effects of high cholesterol that scientists have linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Harrah’s Foundation pays for PBS special on aging
The Harrah’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Harrah’s Entertainment, is focusing a large portion of its charitable efforts on what it believes is the overlooked population in the United States.
Three Winners Of New Award For Younger Researchers Announced By Coalition Of Alzheimer Organizations
A coalition of leading Alzheimer’s disease organizations today announced the first three recipients of “Tomorrow’s Leaders in Alzheimer’s Disease Research” prizes; a new award mechanism to recognize outstanding young scientists in Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The three winners are: - Sterling C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Alzheimer’s Vaccine Clears Plaque But Has Little Effect On Learning And Memory Impairment
A promising vaccine being tested for Alzheimer’s disease does what it is designed to do - clear beta-amyloid plaques from the brain - but it does not seem to help restore lost learning and memory abilities, according to a University of California, Irvine study.The findings suggest that treating the predominant pathology of Alzheimer’s disease - beta-amyloid plaques - by itself may have only limited clinical benefit if started after there is significant plaque growth.