Alzheimer's Disease - Dementia

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Alzheimer's Disease - Dementia

NIH - Medical Encyclopedia Alzheimer's Disease

"Alzheimer's disease (AD), one form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative brain disease. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Memory impairment is a necessary feature for the diagnosis of this or any type of dementia. Change in one of the following areas must also be present: language, decision-making ability, judgment, attention, and other areas of mental function and personality. The rate of progression is different for each person. If AD develops rapidly, it is likely to continue to progress rapidly. If it has been slow to progress, it will likely continue on a slow course. There are two types of AD -- early onset and late onset. In early onset AD, symptoms first appear before age 60. Early onset AD is much less common, accounting for only 5-10% of cases. However, it tends to progress rapidly. The brain tissue shows "neurofibrillary tangles" (twisted fragments of protein within nerve cells that clog up the cell), "neuritic plaques" (abnormal clusters of dead and dying nerve cells, other brain cells, and protein), and "senile plaques" (areas where products of dying nerve cells have accumulated around protein). Although these changes occur to some extent in all brains with age, there are many more of them in the brains of people with AD."

Highlighted Articles

Education and Alzheimer disease without dementia: support for the cognitive reserve hypothesis. (Neurology. 2007)

"CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the neuropathologic criteria used, education is predictive of dementia status among individuals with neuropathologic Alzheimer disease. These results support the theory that individuals with greater cognitive reserve, as reflected in years of education, are better able to cope with AD brain pathology without observable deficits in cognition."

Nutritional factors, cognitive decline, and dementia. (Brain Res Bull. 2006)

"Nutritional factors and nutritional deficiencies have been repeatedly associated with cognitive impairment. … Deficiencies of several B vitamins have been associated with cognitive dysfunction in many observational studies. More recently, deficiencies of folate (B(9)) and cobalamine (B(12)) have been studied in relation to hyperhomocysteinemia as potential determinants of cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A small number of studies assessed the association between intake of macronutrients and cognitive function or dementia. Among the others, the intake of fatty acids and cholesterol has received particular attention. Although the results are not always consistent, most studies have reported a protective role of dietary intakes of poly- and mono-unsaturated fatty acids against cognitive decline and AD."

Exercise Is Associated with Reduced Risk for Incident Dementia among Persons 65 Years of Age and Older (Annals of Internal Medicine 2006)

"Conclusion: These results suggest that regular exercise is associated with a delay in onset of dementia and Alzheimer disease, further supporting its value for elderly persons."

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Alzheimer's Disease - Dementia

Risk Factors

NEWS:

Abdominal obesity raises dementia risk years later “Having an "apple-shaped," rather than a "pear-shaped" body at middle-age appears to increase the later-life risk of dementia, California researchers report. Moreover, the link between abdominal obesity and increased dementia risk appears to be independent of overall body weight and the presence of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, report Dr. Rachel A. Whitmer, from Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, in Oakland, and colleagues. These findings, published in the medical journal Neurology, add to increasing evidence of the dangers of abdominal obesity.“

B-vitamin Deficiency May Cause Vascular Cognitive Impairment “A deficiency of B-vitamins may cause vascular cognitive impairment, according to a new study. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University used an experimental model to examine the metabolic, cognitive, and microvascular effects of dietary B-vitamin deficiency.”

Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory? “According to Professor Laws from the University’s School of Psychology, taking the drug just once can damage memory. In a talk entitled "Can taking ecstasy once damage your memory?", he will reveal that ecstasy users show significantly impaired memory when compared to non-ecstasy users and that the amount of ecstasy consumed is largely irrelevant. Indeed, taking the drug even just once may cause significant short and long-term memory loss. Professor Laws findings are based on the largest analysis of memory data derived from 26 studies of 600 ecstasy users."

Early Lead Poisoning May Boost Alzheimer's Brain Chemicals Years Later, Lab Tests on Monkeys Show

Help Reduce Your Risk Of Dementia, Protect Your Brain From Injury, Canada “ "Research is finding more and more evidence that there is an increased risk for developing dementia among those who have experienced brain injuries, especially repeated concussions," says Scott Dudgeon, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "Therefore, no matter what your age, protecting your head is a crucial part of taking care of your brain." “

If both parents have Alzheimer's, your risk soars “Counting all 297 of these adult offspring regardless of age, 23 percent already had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, with the disease diagnosed on average at age 66, the researchers found. Bird said that compares to the roughly one in 10 chance that the average person will develop the disease. “

Kidney decline linked to cognitive impairment “"It has long been known that advanced renal disease (i.e., dialysis) is associated with dementia or declining cognitive function," Dr. Joshua I. Barzilay, lead author of the first study, told Reuters Health. "More recently it has been demonstrated that early renal disease ... can also be associated with cognitive decline." “

Link To Maternal Alzheimer's Disease

Low Childhood IQ Tied to Dementia in Old Age “Your IQ in childhood may predict your odds of getting a common form of dementia in old age, according to Scottish researchers who turned to 76-year-old test scores to come to that conclusion. "This study draws on unique childhood IQ data and finds that lower childhood IQ increases risk of vascular dementia, but not the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer's disease," said study co-author John M. Starr, a professor of health and aging at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. “

Low Systolic Blood Pressure Associated With Prevalent Dementia and Alzheimer's “Ms. Fujikami added: ‘Basically, the question now is, what's the optimal blood pressure in very, very late life — over 80 years old? In midlife, hypertension can lead to higher rates of dementia. In late life, should we treat them? Are we overtreating them and causing dementia in late life? That's a question that's on everyone's mind.’ “

Memory Loss Linked To Poor Diet, Study Suggests “Assuming that the same phenomenon occurs in human beings, the study suggests that as humans age, memory may be preserved and brain functions improved by restricting the consumption of cholesterol and saturated fats.”

Men And Women Have Different Dementia Risks “New research from France suggests that men and women have different risks for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and progression to dementia. The researchers suggest stroke is a primary risk factor for men, and depression for women.”

Moms With Alzheimer's May Pass on Risk to Kids “People whose mothers have had Alzheimer's disease may be predisposed to the mind-robbing condition, a new study finds. The link may be a dysfunction in how the brain handles sugar -- something that's probably genetic and starts years before symptoms of Alzheimer's appear, researchers say. "Overall, these findings show that their brains are not working properly to start with, and the metabolic impairment gets worse over time," explained lead researcher Lisa Mosconi, a research assistant professor of psychiatry at the Center for Brain Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. There is evidence that having a parent affected with Alzheimer's disease increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease four- to tenfold, Mosconi said. "However, we don't know why or how this happens. Our study shows for the first time that individuals with an Alzheimer's disease [-affected] mother may be at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease themselves because their brains are not utilizing glucose in an effective way," she said.”

Obesity Can Increase Dementia Risk By Up To 80 Percent, Study Suggests

"Silent" heart attack boosts dementia risk “Men who are found to have had an unrecognized or "silent" heart attack are at increased risk of developing dementia or small lesions in the brain that can affect cognition, Dutch researchers report.”

Smoking Appears Linked With Risk for Poor Memory in Middle Age “"This risk is quite important considering that we are only in middle-age when cognitive decline is just starting," she noted. Evidence of this association at this age could support the hypothesis that smoking is involved in the pathogenesis of preclinical cognitive deficit and decline, which is a risk factor for later dementia, she added.”

Smoking in midlife may impair memory “Middle-aged adults who smoke appear to have a higher than average risk of developing memory impairments, according to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.”

Study Links Middle-Age Belly Fat to Dementia “People who have big bellies in their 40s are much more likely to get Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in their 70s, according to new research that links the middle-aged spread to a fading mind for the first time. The study of more than 6,000 people found that the more fat they had in their guts in their early to mid-40s, the greater their chances of becoming forgetful and confused and showing other signs of senility as they aged. Those who had the most expansive midsections faced more than twice the risk of the leanest. … The research is the latest evidence that fat in the abdomen is the most dangerous kind. Previous studies have linked an apple-shaped physique to a greater propensity for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Researchers suspect that belly fat cells are the worst because of their proximity to major organs. They ooze noxious chemicals, stoking inflammation, constricting blood vessels and triggering other processes that may also damage brain cells. "There is a lot of work out there that suggests that the fat wrapped around your inner organs is much more metabolically active than other types of fat right under the skin," Whitmer said. "It's pumping out toxic substances. It's very potent toxic fat." “

Tofu 'may raise risk of dementia' “Lead researcher Professor Eef Hogervorst said previous research had linked oestrogen therapy to a doubling of dementia risk in the over-65s. She said oestrogens - and probably phytoestrogens - tended to promote growth among cells, not necessarily a good thing in the ageing brain. Alternatively, high doses of oestrogens might promote the damage caused to cells by particles known as free radicals. A third theory is that damage is caused not by the tofu, but by formaldehyde, which is sometimes used in Indonesia as a preservative. The researchers admit that more research is required to ascertain whether the same effects are found in other ethnic groups. However, previous research has also linked high tofu consumption to an increased risk of dementia in older Japanese American men. “

ARTICLES:

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

Aluminum and Silica in Drinking Water and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease or Cognitive Decline: Findings From 15-Year Follow-up of the PAQUID Cohort (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008)

APOE 4 allele predicts faster cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer disease (NEUROLOGY 2008)

Apolipoprotein E genotype and memory in the sixth decade of life (NEUROLOGY 2008) “Conclusions: Small, but significant, APOE- 4-related memory deficits appear in the sixth decade of life in individuals who show no signs of preclinical dementia. The results partially support studies of older adults that suggest that increased cognitive asymmetries reflect risk for dementia and are associated with the APOE- 4 genotype. The results also highlight the potential problems of not having accurate data on prior cognitive ability.”

Blood pressure 'link to dementia' “Two studies support a link between high blood pressure and dementia risk - with one by an Imperial College London team suggesting treatment could cut this. This study, by published in the Lancet Neurology journal, found blood pressure drugs reduce dementia by 13%. The Alzheimer's Society said better control could save 15,000 lives a year.“

Central obesity and increased risk of dementia more than three decades later (Neurology 2008) “Conclusions: Central obesity in midlife increases risk of dementia independent of diabetes and cardiovascular comorbidities. Fifty percent of adults have central obesity; therefore, mechanisms linking central obesity to dementia need to be unveiled.”

Effect of infarcts on dementia in the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging. (Ann Neurol. 2008) “INTERPRETATION: Cerebrovascular disease is a significant and potentially preventable cause of dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Burden and location of infarcts are significantly associated with cognitive decline.”

Inflammation and Alzheimer's disease: possible role of periodontal diseases. (Alzheimers Dement. 2008) “Recently, chronic periodontitis has been associated with several systemic diseases including AD. In this article we review the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis and the role of inflammation in AD. In addition, we propose several potential mechanisms through which chronic periodontitis can possibly contribute to the clinical onset and progression of AD. Because chronic periodontitis is a treatable infection, it might be a readily modifiable risk factor for AD.”

Knee height and arm span: A reflection of early life environment and risk of dementia (Neurology 2008) “Conclusions: Our findings with knee height and arm span are consistent with previous reports and suggest early life environment may play an important role in the determination of future dementia risk. “

Obesity and central obesity as risk factors for incident dementia and its subtypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Obes Rev. 2008)

Risk Factors for Alzheimer Dementia in a Community-Based Birth Cohort at the Age of 75 Years (Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2008) Results: In multivariate analysis an elevated risk for late-onset AD could be found for (1) history of depressive episodes (OR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.25-3.48); (2) the 4 allele of the APOE gene (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.08-3.23); (3) lower serum level of folate (OR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.87-0.98); (4) no chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20-0.81), and (5) lower education (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.03-2.00). Conclusions: Five risk factors for late-onset AD could be confirmed, which might be targets for preventive strategies.”

Risk factors for dementia in a rural area of Northeastern Brazil. (Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2008) “CONCLUSION: Advanced age, arterial hypertension, and vascular brain injury were the main risk factors associated with dementia, which suggests that public health measures adopted to prevent and control modifiable risk factors can mitigate the prevalence of high rates of dementia.”

Risk factors for dementia in the epidemiological study of Munguialde County (Basque Country-Spain). (BMC Neurol. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Greater age, female sex, stroke and depression increase the risk of suffering dementia, AD and VD. The relationship between depression, vascular risk factors and dementia has clear public health implications. Prevention and early treatment of vascular risk factors and depression may have an important impact in lowering the risk of dementia and could modify the natural history of the disease.”

Smoking and Cognitive Decline Among Middle-Aged Men and Women: The Doetinchem Cohort Study. (Am J Public Health. 2008)

The Association between APOE Genotype and Memory Dysfunction in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Related to Age and Alzheimer Pathology. (Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008)

Thyroid Function and the Risk of Alzheimer Disease (Arch Intern Med. 2008) “Conclusion Low and high thyrotropin levels were associated with an increased risk of incident AD in women but not in men. “

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