Promising test for Alzheimer's
(a state of confusion)
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Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes the memory to slowly erode, eventually ending in death. When symptoms of dementia appear, it's common for patients to seek out memory centers such as the one at Johns Hopkins to find out what's going on.
Though a good medical history, a physical and cognitive tests are typically the first type of work-up a person receives, there are an increasing array of methods for evaluating brain function earlier and more accurately, says Alzheimer's Association chief medical and scientific officer Bill Thies.
Tests for biomarkers —substances in the body such as proteins that indicate underlying disease — hold promise. They include newer and more complex MRI and PET scan imaging, not widely used yet, which can measure the size of brain regions and can look for the amyloid plaques and tau tangles that are the physical hallmarks of the disease, Thies said. Genetic tests for certain "risk genes" also can be done.
The availability, accuracy and value — especially early on — of such Alzheimer's tests are subject to debate because effective treatments have yet to be found, he says. "This whole scene will change when and if we develop more effective treatments," said Ron Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Read more: poughkeepsiejournal.com
Japanese supplement and functional food
Green tea, soy and CoQ10 are some of the best known ingredients for supplements and functional foods from Japan, but a wealth of lesser-known foodstuffs are also the subject of inquiry into their potential health benefits. Read more: nutraingredients.com
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