Agewell Health

Aging Brain Degradation Harms Memory

Scott — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:19:43 +0000

Researchers are trying to identify where interference affects memory pathways.

It’s something we just accept: the fact that the older we get, the more difficulty we seem to have remembering things. We can leave our cars in the same parking lot each morning, but unless we park in the same space each and every day, it’s a challenge eight hours later to recall whether we left the SUV in the second or fifth row. Or, we can be introduced to new colleagues at a meeting and will have forgotten their names before the handshake is over. We shrug and nervously reassure ourselves that our brains’ “hard drives” are just too full to handle the barrage of new information that comes in daily.

According to a Johns Hopkins neuroscientist, however, the real trouble is that our aging brains are unable to process this information as “new” because the brain pathways leading to the hippocampus- the area of the brain that stores memories- become degraded over time. As a result, our brains cannot accurately “file” new information (like where we left the car that particular morning), and confusion results.

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http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-aging-brain-degradation-harms-memory-051611.aspx?xmlmenuid=51

Memory Loss May Not Be Only Sign of Early Alzheimer’s

Scott — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:30:19 +0000

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease are multifaceted. Sometimes problems with behavior, language or vision occur much earlier than noticeable memory loss.

More than one-third of people who develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may experience initial symptoms such as behavior, language, or vision problems rather than memory loss, a new study shows.

Researchers in Spain say more than half of people who develop Alzheimer’s before age 60 are initially misdiagnosed because they exhibit problems other than the memory loss that doctors normally check for.

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http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20110516/memory-loss-may-not-be-only-sign-of-early-alzheimers

Do Dietary Supplements Improve Memory?

Scott — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:19:34 +0000

Yet another dietary supplement is no help for improving memory.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The hormone supplement DHEA may be promoted as a fountain of youth, but there is no good evidence that it boosts older women’s memory, sexual function or general well-being, a new research review concludes.

DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is converted into other steroid hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. People’s levels of DHEA naturally peak during their 20s, then taper off as they age. Because of this, over-the-counter synthetic DHEA supplements are marketed as an anti-aging weapon.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110414/hl_nm/us_study_doubts_anti_aging_claims_dhea_1

Research Shows That Social Interactions Affect Memory

Scott — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:04:49 +0000

Research shows that our social interactions affect memory

Being sociable can help keep your brain healthy as you age, researchers report.

The team at Rush University Medical Center found that elderly people with the highest levels of social activity — doing things such as visiting friends, going to parties or attending church — showed much lower levels of cognitive decline than those who were the least socially active.

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http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/05/04/socializing-may-keep-elderly-minds-sharp

What’s Good For The Heart Is Good For The Brain

Scott — Mon, 09 May 2011 03:24:49 +0000

Here are the basic guidelines according to the principle “What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.”

Some simple precautions and activities can help keep your mind sharp and your brain healthy throughout your life, an expert says.

Genes and chance certainly play a role in memory loss, brain tumors, strokes and other brain disorders, Dr. Keith L. Black, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, said in a news release.

Follow link below for more…

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/05/07/whats-good-for-your-heart-is-good-for-your-brain

New Test Takes Guesswork out of Diagnosing Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:14:03 +0000

ScienceDaily (Apr. 13, 2010) — A new test developed by Japanese scientists may revolutionize how and when physicians diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

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Guidelines Issued on When People With Alzheimer’s Disease Should Stop Driving

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:12:21 +0000

ScienceDaily (Apr. 13, 2010) — The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline to help determine when people with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia should stop driving. The guideline is published in the April 12, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and will be presented April 12, 2010, at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in Toronto.

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Uncovering Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:09:54 +0000

ScienceDaily (Apr. 18, 2010) — A major Australian study has provided new insights into the loss of structure in regions of the brain and its potential association with Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Predicting the Progression of Alzheimer’s

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:43:01 +0000

ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2010) — An assessment has been developed which reliably predicts future performance in cognition and activities of daily living for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers writing in BioMed Central’s open access journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy followed 597 patients over 15 years to identify factors associated with slow, intermediate and rapid progression.

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Level of Gene Alters Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Researchers Find

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:30:24 +0000

ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2010) — Using sophisticated techniques that scan the genomes of patients, researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found that a gene appears to either help protect against development of Alzheimer’s disease, or promote the disorder depending on the level of gene in the brain.

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