New finding could mark shift in Alzheimer's research

(targeting oligomers may work best for prevention)

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New research could change the way scientists view the causes -- and potential prevention and treatment -- of Alzheimer's disease. A study published online this month in the Annals of Neurology suggests that "floating" clumps of amyloid beta (abeta) proteins called oligomers could be a prime cause of the disorder, and that the better-known and more stationary amyloid-beta plaques are only a late manifestation of the disease. "Based on these and other studies, I think that one could now fairly revise the 'amyloid hypothesis' to the 'abeta oligomer hypothesis,'" said lead researcher Dr. Sam Gandy, a professor of neurology and psychiatry and associate director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
The new study could herald a major shift in Alzheimer's research, another expert said. Maria Carrillo, senior director of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, said that "we are excited about the paper. We think it has some very interesting results and has potential for moving us in another direction for future research."
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5.3 million Americans now suffer from the neurodegenerative illness, and it is the seventh leading cause of death. There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer's, and its origins remain unknown. For decades, research has focused on a buildup of amyloid beta plaques in the brain, but whether these deposits are a cause of the disease or merely a neutral artifact has remained unclear.  Read more: kansascw.com
 

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Lycopene may reduce risk of asthma

Supplements of lycopene may protect against inflammation in the lungs and reduce the risk of developing asthma, suggest results from a study with mice.  Read more: nutraingredients.com

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 Exercise Might Help Keep Alzheimer's At Bay

(a 20 to 30 percent reduction)

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People have been trying for years to keep their brains sharp by exercising, staying mentally active and watching their diets. But a panel convened by the National Institutes of Health warned the public Wednesday that it's not clear whether any of these measures can prevent Alzheimer's disease or other forms of mental decline in people.
Many scientists are still optimistic about prevention, partly because they are also considering research done on animals.
At about the time the panel was releasing its report, a 78-year-old senator was doing something he hopes is good for his brain.
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) was competing in an annual charity race a few miles from Capitol Hill. He's been a runner since grade school and says he thinks exercise helps him remember a lot of stuff, including "the names and places of thousands of people and events that I bring up frequently in the course of debate. Read more: npr.org
 

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Juice concentrates show anti-inflammatory potential

Concentrates of fruit and vegetables taken as capsules may reduce levels of markers of inflammation, and potentially reduce the risk of chronic disease, suggests a new study. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Dementia

(study shows the highest risk)

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New findings confirm atrial fibrillation (AF) is independently associated with the risk of all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's and other senile and vascular dementia types. According to a study published in the April edition of the HeartRhythm Journal, the presence of atrial fibrillation indicated higher mortality rates in all dementia subtypes; however, mortality risk was most prominent in the youngest population studied.

The study evaluated 37,025 patients from the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study database between the ages of 60 and 90 years over a 5-year period. The study population included all patients who were seen by cardiologists for the development of atrial fibrillation and different types of dementia including vascular, senile, Alzheimer's and other non-specified types. During the five-year period, a total of 10,161 patients (27 percent) developed atrial fibrillation and 1,535 (4.1 percent) developed dementia. Researchers also assessed the impact of AF on mortality risk in those patients diagnosed with dementia.

Study findings revealed AF is independently associated with all dementia types and, across all dementia states, cognitive decline occurred earlier in patients with AF versus no AF. Among the 764 patients who developed both AF and dementia, AF developed first, or in some cases simultaneously with dementia diagnosis. Most notably, the greatest risk of dementia was seen in the youngest AF patient group (less than 70 years old). Furthermore, the greatest increased risk of mortality was also observed in the youngest patient group. Read more: ktla.com
 

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The science of beverage emulsions

Innovative ingredients and solutions are emerging to help formulators add flavours, colours and healthy ingredients and keep up with consumer demands for innovative beverages.  Read more: nutraingredients.com

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 No Proven Way to Prevent Alzheimer's

(the National Institutes of Health)

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 It was discouraging news for seniors who hoped they could exercise, make diet changes, or stay mentally alert enough to ward off Alzheimer's disease.

CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports a panel of experts at the National Institutes of Health reviewed the science and bluntly concluded there is no proven way to prevent or even slow down the onset of Alzheimer's.

"There really isn't a lot that we have to offer right now for therapies that can prevent this disease," said Dr. Evelyn Granieri, chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. "We think that other people need to know this."

The panel was especially tough on supplements like ginko biloba or fish oil - with one panelist calling them garbage, and the others saying they just don't work.

"The evidence is inadequate to conclude that any are effective," said Dr. Donald Silberberg, of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

But while those are the facts, some groups called the message too negative. The Alzheimer's Association, which still touts "brain healthy diet" as a prevention strategy, says most current research does link heart disease and hypertension with the increased risk of Alzheimer's.

So even if you can't prevent Alzheimer's, the group says a better diet and healthy heart improves your odds.

"Reduction of your risk of heart disease in middle life even in late life, can help you reduce your risk of cognitive decline," said Maria Carrillo, Director of Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association.

Even the experts who say you can't prevent Alzheimer's agree a better diet could lower the chance of getting it. A family doctor summed it up by saying: don't take the blueberries away from Grandma. Read more: www.wwj.com
 

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Omega-3-rich drink may affect omega-3 index

Consuming a convenience drink enriched with omega-3 fatty acids led to increases in blood levels of the beneficial fatty acids, and may enhance heart health, says a new study from Germany.  Read more: www.nutraingredients.com

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 No Cognitive Benefits In Seniors Taking Fish Oil

(not long enough for any true beneficial effects to be detected)

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The largest ever trial of fish oil supplements has found no evidence that they offer benefits for cognitive function in older people. The OPAL study investigated the effects of taking omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements over a two year period on the cognitive function of participants aged 70-80 years.

The number of people with cognitive impairment is rising and it is estimated that by 2040, more than 81 million people globally will have dementia. Some studies have suggested that high intakes of omega-3 fatty acids, most commonly found in oily fish, are important for the maintenance of good cognitive health in later life. Read more: medicalnewstoday.com
 

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Calls for increased vitamin D intake to boost public health

A combination of vitamin D-enriched food products and supplements could provide the backbone to a European-wide strategy for tackling vitamin D deficiency, which affects more than half the population. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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 Clinical and biological predictors of Alzheimer's disease
(diagnostic methods, including imaging and CSF biomarkers)

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The efford has made to identify predictors of the progression from pre-dementia stages of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease is relevant to clinical management and to substantiate the decision of prescribing antidementia drugs. Longitudinal study of a cohort of elderly adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls, carried out to estimate the risk and characterize predictors of the progression to Alzheimer's disease.
The scientists show that patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment had a higher risk to develop Alzheimer's disease during follow-up (odds ratio = 4.5, CI_95% [1.3-13.6], p = 0.010). At baseline, older age, lower scores on memory tests and presence of the APOE*4 allele predicted the progression from amnestic mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. In a sub sample of amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients, those who progressed to Alzheimer's disease had lower cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ₄₂, p = 0.020) and higher concentrations of total TAU (p = 0.030) and phosphorylated TAU (p = 0.010), as compared to non-converters.
This is the first Brazilian study to report cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in the prediction of the conversion from MCI to Alzheimer's disease. Our data are in accordance with those reported in other settings. The measurement of cerebrospinal fluid total-TAU, phospho-TAU and Aβ₄₂ may help identify patients with mild cognitive impairment at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Read more: scielo.br
 

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Probiotics show potential to stop C. difficile 

Daily supplements of a proprietary blend of probiotic bacteria may virtually prevent diarrhoea-associated with Clostridium difficile infection, according to new research from North America. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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 New Alzheimer vaccine to be tested
(affects about six million people in Europe every year)

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A new vaccine against Alzheimer's, developed by the Austrian biotechnology firm Affiris, will soon be tested in six European countries, the company announced Friday. Some 420 patients will be recruited to take part in clinical trials in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Slovakia, Affiris said in a statement. The AD02 vaccine, developed with British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, was already tested for safety and tolerability over the past year.

The clinical trials will now test its efficacy, with results expected as early as 2012, the company said. ADO2 is meant to prevent the building up of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which cause the degradation of nerve cells and are believed to play a crucial role in causing Alzheimer's disease. The vaccine works by causing the body to attack these plaques by producing more antibodies, Till Jelitto, a spokesman for Affiris, told AFP.More specifically, these antibodies are meant to attack only the part of the beta-amyloid protein that causes the plaques, he added.This would reduce the risk for patients, as the protein as a whole already exists in healthy individuals.

The current vaccine is therapeutic, meaning it is aimed at treating patients already affected by the disease. But if results are positive, the technology could also be used to manufacture a prophylactic, or preventative, vaccine, Jelitto said. Read more: thestarphoenix.com

 

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Study claims organic milk offers no nutritional advantages

A new study has suggested that there may be little nutritional difference between conventional and organic milk. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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Curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease

(Curry consumption in old age)

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Curcumin has a long history of use as a traditional remedy and food in Asia. Many studies have reported that curcumin has various beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antitumor. Because of the reported effects of curcumin on tumors, many clinical trials have been performed to elucidate curcumin's effects on cancers. Recent reports have suggested therapeutic potential of curcumin in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In in vitro studies, curcumin has been reported to inhibit amyloid-beta-protein (Abeta) aggregation, and Abeta-induced inflammation, as well as the activities of beta-secretase and acetylcholinesterase. In in vivo studies, oral administration of curcumin has resulted in the inhibition of Abeta deposition, Abeta oligomerization, and tau phosphorylation in the brains of AD animal models, and improvements in behavioral impairment in animal models. These findings suggest that curcumin might be one of the most promising compounds for the development of AD therapies. At present, four clinical trials concerning the effects of curcumin on AD has been conducted. Two of them that were performed in China and USA have been reported no significant differences in changes in cognitive function between placebo and curcumin groups, and no results have been reported from two other clinical studies. Additional trials are necessary to determine the clinical usefulness of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of AD. Read more: interscience.wiley.com

 

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Curcumin’s immune-boosting powers pin-pointed

Curcumin, the natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow colour, has increasingly come under the scientific spotlight in recent years, with studies investigating its potential benefits for reducing cholesterol levels, improving cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's, and potential protection against cancer.  Read more: nutraingredients.com

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Providers should be educated about the potential Alzheimer’s disease

(an important clinical symptom of MCI)

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People who are not aware they are developing mild memory problems as they age may develop Alzheimer’s disease at a faster rate than those who do notice their memory is slipping. Studying the part of the brain that appraises and makes decisions could help predict who is at risk for rapidly advancing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health researcher. “The disease is a significant public health concern with the number of cases rising dramatically, ” says Michele Ries, a neuropsychologist and researcher at the UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.3 million Americans live with the disease. There will be half a million new cases this year alone.
In Ries’ study, published by the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, a group of people with MCI were compared to a group of healthy older adults. All were given a battery of neuropsychological tests and performed a series of tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Ries found that the brain’s cortical midline area showed activity during self-assessment exercises and that MCI participants with less insight into their impairment had considerably less brain activity than those who were aware of their mental difficulties. Ries says MCI is always a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, but people with MCI don’t always develop Alzheimer’s. Read more: berthoudrecorder.com

 

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Carotenoid-rich probiotics

Carotenoid-producing bacteria with potential probiotic activity may offer food and drink formulators a double nutritional boost for their products, says the academic behind the development. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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New drug target for Alzheimer's disease

(the beta-2 adrenergic receptor)

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Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a potential drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a receptor that is embedded in the membrane of neurons and other cells. A protein fragment associated with Alzheimer's disease activates this receptor, sparking increased activity in the affected neurons, eventually leading to cell death, the researchers report. The new findings appear in the FASEB Journal. Scientists have known for decades that a protein fragment, called amyloid-beta (AM-uh-loyd BAIT-uh), is a key to the riddle of Alzheimer's disease. Alois Alzheimer himself first found aggregates of this "peculiar substance" in the brain of a dementia patient after her death. These bundles of protein, or plaques, are composed almost entirely of amyloid-beta, and still are used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease after death.
Animals with amyloid plaques in the brain experience a decline in brain function that mirrors that of Alzheimer's disease. A recent study found that neurons closest to these plaques tend to be hyperexcitable relative to normal, while activity in the surrounding neurons is depressed, indicating an imbalance in brain activity associated with these plaques.
Other studies have found that clumps of only two, or a few, amyloid-beta fragments somehow stimulate a receptor, called the AMPA receptor. When amyloid-beta binds to a neuron, the AMPA receptor opens a channel that lets calcium or sodium ions into the cell.
Normally the AMPA receptor opens this channel only when it binds to glutamate, a potent neurotransmitter that is important to normal brain function as well as memory and learning. In either case, the quick influx of ions causes a nerve impulse. Read more: eurekalert.org
 

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Vitamin K may cut lymph cancer risk

Increased intakes of vitamin K from dietary and supplementary sources may reduce the risk of cancer of the lymphatic system, according to new findings from the Mayo Clinic.   Read more:  nutraingredients.com

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