Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

Several strategies may be worth trying to prevent Alzheimer's.
In the first of a related series of articles focusing on Alzheimer's disease, the Los Angeles Times (7/26, Roan) reports that nothing has been found to prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to an "assessment was issued by a National Institutes of Health task force at an April meeting." However, "several healthy and inexpensive strategies are clearly worth trying, say neurologists and Alzheimer's researchers." Currently, "the strategies with the most support are regular physical activity, a Mediterranean diet, and high levels of cognitive engagement."
Early-stage programs may be valuable for those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Ogilvie) discusses the value of "early stage programs" to assist patients newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's and their families. Such programs provide "a safe place to be heard; educational seminars and day trips; and access to practical advice on matters, such as financial planning and end-of-life care," as well as alleviate the isolation such a devastating diagnosis brings. In fact, according to Steven Arnold, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the Penn Memory Center, "interacting with people who are sensitive to what they're going through...can comfort people with the disease and help alleviate that isolation, as well as the depression that the Alzheimer's Assn. estimates affects 20%-40% of patients."
Five medications have been approved to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's. The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Roan) reports, "Five medications have been approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease." The medicines, which include Namenda (memantine), Razadyne (reminyl galantamine), Exelon (rivastigmine), Aricept (donepezil), and Cognex (tacrine) "can reduce some symptoms -- such as difficulties with memory, language, attention and reasoning -- especially in the early stages of the disease." However, "they don't work for everyone, and none of them works permanently."
Researchers now targeting tau as well as beta-amyloid to develop new therapies . The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Adams) reports that researchers "studying treatments for Alzheimer's disease have focused on telltale plaques that appear in patients' diseased brains as a target for therapy. The plaques are clumps of a small protein called beta-amyloid that build up in the space around nerve cells and interfere with normal brain function." However, "earlier this month at an international conference, different tangled structures inside neurons took center stage alongside plaques. These so-called neurofibrillary tangles involve another protein, called tau, that normally functions to move critical supplies around neurons. Tau tangles are now being targeted with new experimental therapies."
Researchers report progress on Alzheimer's blood test. The Houston Chronicle (7/25, Ackerman) reported, "Texas scientists are on the verge of developing a blood test to identify patients with Alzheimer's disease, a potential breakthrough on the difficult-to-diagnose ailment. The test, details of which were presented at an international conference on Alzheimer's in Hawaii this month, would give nonspecialists who often have trouble diagnosing the disease a tool to catch it earlier and make a referral when its progression can still be slowed. ... The study was the product of the Texas Alzheimer's Research Consortium, a Legislature-created collaboration that includes Baylor, Texas Tech, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth."
Research in mice explores role sirtuin may play in Alzheimer's. The New York Times (7/24, A9, Wade) reported, "A potentially promising approach to treating Alzheimer's disease has been developed by researchers studying sirtuin, a protein thought capable of extending lifespan in laboratory animals." In fact, by "using mice prone to developing Alzheimer's, the researchers showed that activating sirtuin suppressed the disease and that destroying sirtuin made it much worse." The researchers from the "Massachusetts Institute of Technology...say it raises the hope of treating Alzheimer's, and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's, with drugs that activate sirtuin." The Boston Globe (7/26, Weintraub) also covers the story.

Dietary Supplement Alert

Dietary supplements found to contain prescription drugs.
The Los Angeles Times (7/22, Dennis) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Here are two recalls that might not have consumers rushing to get their money back." The FDA "announced today that a lab analysis of Joyful Slim Herb Supplement was found to contain desmethyl sibutramine. Most people know sibutramine as Meridia, a prescription weight-loss drug." In another case, the FDA "announced that some batches of Good Health's Vialipro had been found to contain sulfoaildenafil, a cousin of sildenafil. Most people know that drug as Viagra." The additions "might be one way to counter criticism that many supplements are ineffective. Nonetheless, the FDA is far from pleased."

IBS and Brain Composition

Scientists identify possible connection between IBS, brain.
The Los Angeles Times (7/22, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reported that researchers from McGill University and UCLA have identified "a possible connection between IBS and the brain." After taking "MRI scans of 55 IBS patients and 48 healthy women for comparison," investigators noted that the "women with IBS tended to have different amounts of brain gray matter in certain areas; for example, decreases in gray matter in parts of the brain that govern attention and areas that suppress pain." That association has "been identified in other disorders, such as...fibromyalgia and hip pain," which suggests that IBS, "like these other conditions...may be due to the brain's inability to inhibit the pain response."

Risks of Prolonged Sitting

Prolonged sitting may increase mortality risk, regardless of daily exercise.
The CNN (7/22) "The Chart" blog reported that a paper appearing in the American Journal of Epidemiology reveals that "people who spend more time sitting during their leisure time have an increased risk of death, regardless of daily exercise." In fact, after following some 123,000 healthy adults, American Cancer Society researchers "found women who spend over six hours a day sitting during leisure time (watching TV, playing games, surfing the web, reading) were 40 percent more likely to die sooner than women who spend less than three hours sitting," while "men...have a 20 percent increased risk of death." Investigators say that "prolonged time sitting suppresses" the immune system and may increase "resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels."

PTSD in Children

Children also may be vulnerable to PTSD, studies suggest.
Time (7/22, Hamilton) reported that "new research on child survivors of Hurricane Katrina and witnesses of the 9/11 terrorist attacks" suggests that "young children and teens not only exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression that are similar to those of adults, but that they may react more strongly to trauma because adults do." Recent studies "also show that younger children and girls are more likely to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than boys and older kids." Notably, "girls of any age were twice as likely as boys to have problems adapting after" a disaster, studies found.

Throat Cancer in Men

HPV may be emerging as leading cause of throat cancer in men.
Forbes (7/22, Herper) reports human papilloma virus (HPV), known for causing cervical cancer, "is emerging as the leading cause of throat cancer in men." Researchers "believe it is transmitted via oral sex," and they estimate that "there are 11,300 HPV throat cancers each year in the US -- and the numbers are growing fast as people have been having more sexual partners since the 1960s." By 2015 "there could be 20,000 cases." Some top researchers are arguing that drug makers should test whether HPV vaccines now used to prevent cervical cancer in women "can also prevent throat infections in boys." Two vaccines, Merck's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix are approved for cervical cancer; but the drug makers don't seem keen on conducting studies for throat-cancer vaccine because they probably believe it would be hard to get approved, Forbes said. In that case, the federal government "needs to step in and fund the long study," Forbes added, citing some top researchers.

Appealing Denied Health Claims

Obama Administration to unveil new rules for consumers to appeal denied health claims.
The Washington Post (7/22, Galewitz, Andrews) reports, "Patients will find it easier to appeal the denials of health insurance claims under rules being issued Thursday by the Obama administration." These new "regulations guarantee consumers the right to appeal denials -- directly to their insurers and then, if necessary, to external review boards." The White House said in a fact sheet that the "rules issued today will end the patchwork of protections that apply to only some plans in some states, and simplify the system for consumers."