News as of 3/8/98
For more information call Ed Cabic 410-992-7197
The local Florence Bain Alzheimer Information is at
http://www.connext.net/~seniors/infoad.htm

Drug Fights AD's Aggression - Study of nursing home residents with AD or vascular dementia, 36% of those taking 1 mg of risperidone each day became significantly less aggressive over 3 months, compared with 22% of people taking a placebo. The drug should not be used merely to calm people who are agitated, but should be used only for those with unmanageable aggression. HealthNews

Neurocrine Biosciences Discover New Small Molecule Growth Factor Technology - The small molecules have ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to increase endogenous insulin-like growth factor (IGF). These therapeutic agents can be designed to treat CNS diseases such as AD.

American Biogenetic Sciences Announces Promising Results for ABS 205 - promising preclinical results for its patented lead compound ABS 205 for the treatment of age-dependent cognitive decline and neurodegeneration such as AD. The molecule crosses the blood brain barrier and exhibits memory enhancing effects and promotes nerve cell connections by influencing mechanisms underlying age-dependent cognitive decline.

Humanetics Receives US Patent for the Use of 7-Keto DHEA to Mitigate the Effects of AD - This is a natural metabolite of DHEA which is the most abundant hormone in the human body. Unlike DHEA this compound cannot convert into the sex steroids testosterone and estrogens. (US Patent No. 5,707,983 ?)

NeoTherapeutics to Begin New Phase of AIT-082 Testing in Humans with Multiple Dose Study - It is the first drug in human clinical trials designed to regenerate nerves and has been shown to reduce, delay or prevent memory deficits in animals. It induces the production of theree neurotropic factors, NGF, NT-3 and bFGF. These three factors have been reported to induce multiplication and functional maturation of cholinergic-neurons, those known to die in AD.

Estrogen Therapy for Prevention an Treatment of AD - Studies Look Good But Still Too Soon to Tell - Results of meta-analysis suggest that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) reduces the risk of developing AD and other dementias by almost 30%. But large, placebo-controlled trials are required to determine accurately the role of ERT in prevention and treatment. Several such trials are underway, but meaningful results will not be available for several years. JAMA 3/4/98

Novartis says EMEA Recommends Exelon - The scientific committee of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) recommended the approval of Exelon treatment for AD. Exelon is currently marketed in Switzerland and is under review by the US FDA.

Faulty AD Gene Pinpointed - Duke University researchers determined that at as-yet-unknown gene on chromosome 12 is associated with the development of late-onset AD independent of APOE. The new gene accounts for up to 15% of these cases. JAMA 2/98

Another AD Gene Found - Univ. of Pittsburgh researchers find people who carry a certain form of the bleomycin hydrolase gene are at greater risk of sporadic AD. It is a susceptibility gene and not predictive of AD. The two forms are A and G; those with the G/G type have a 2 fold greater risk of developing AD than those with the A/A type. Nature Genetics 3/98

Genetic Info Raises Insurance Questions - Author in Nature recommends that the insurance industry should develop a life insurance policy that does not require applicants to reveal previous genetic test results. In return, insurers should receive broad support for their request to use genetic test results when underwriting other individual life insurance policies. Article notes that in AD, genetic results do not necessarily indicate a person will get the disease or have decreased life expectancy. Nature (1998;391:835-836)

Genetic Test for AD May Improve Diagnostic Reliability - The results of the ApoE-4 genetic test by itself is inconclusive and does not provide sufficient evidence to diagnosis AD. However, when the ApoE test is administered along with a thorough examination the validation of the clinical diagnosis of AD could be greatly improved. NEJM (1998;338(8):506-511)

New Web Site Delivers Practical Health and Wellness Information for Seniors and their Caregivers - Mediconsult.com Inc page is at www.healthyseniors.com or at its page of www.mediconsult.com.

Rating Health Info on the Net - There is a wealth of health info on the Internet, but few reliable ways to rate the merits of such info, according to report in JAMA (1998:279:611-614)

New Medical Journal  "Alzheimer's Reports" - It will publish commissioned reviews, short communications, full length reports and case studies. There will be a web site as a forum for the exchange of ideas and links to other AD web sites. More info and first table of contents at
www.ar-msj.demon.co.uk/msj.htm Cost is $80.

How Lithium Helps Manic Depression - It protects brain cells against the lethal effect of too much glutamate by affecting the glutamate receptors which in turn affect the extent to which calcium can enter cells. Since glutamate has been implicated in brain-cell death in AD these findings raise the possibility that lithium may prove useful in AD treatment. PNAS (1998;95:2642-2647)

Metropolitan Life Foundation Announces Winners of AD Research Award - Sangram Sisodia of John Hopkins was co-winner. His group was first to document key discoveries related to the processing and metabolism of APP and presenilins, proteins that are mutated in the majority of cases of early-onset, familiar AD. He introduced the human APP gene and presenilin proteins into mice.

Assistance Distresses Many Elderly - Too little or too much family provided care can distress elderly people reinforcing pre-existing feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem and contributing to long term depression. Study finds that family caregiving may not always be as successful as had been assumed. (This was spouse-provided care for arthritis, stroke and heart disease --not AD). Health Psychology (1998;17(2)1-10)

Male Brain Ages Faster Than Female Brain --Male brain shrinks faster with age than the female brain. The neurobiological bases for these sex difference in brain aging are not known. Archives of Neurology (1998;55:169-179)

Transplanted Neurons Restore Function In Rats After Stroke - Transplants of human neurons from a tumor restored the movement and behavioral function of rats subjected to experimental stroke. This suggest that human neuronal cell transplantation may be a useful alternative to fetal tissue in treating strokes and other neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental Neurology 2/98

New Understanding About Process of Learning and Memory - Learning and memory involves strengthening and synaptic connections and it has now found that these connections are strengthened by activating a protein known as Src. Once activated, the protein initiates a cascade of events in the neuron that strengthens the synaptic connections and subsequently enhances the transmission of impulses between nerve cells in the brain. Science 2/27/98

French Paradox Researcher Say Public Policies That Reduce Moderate Wine Consumption ae Short Sighted - Dr. Ellison says that because moderate consumption (defined as 4 to 5 oz of wine daily) is proven to reduce heart disease, and may reduce the risk of stroke, AD and macular degeneration in the eyes, public policy on alcohol should not be based on abstinence.

Alliance for Aging Research Statement on Human Cloning Legislation - The Alliance is concerned that broadly drafted legislation, intended to stop the cloning of a human being, could have the effect of derailing promising lines of research which could benefit older American, their families and the nation as a whole. Reference to AD was made as one of the 8 major illnesses of aging.

Heart Disease? Blame Genes and What You Eat - Researchers have identified one possible gene --apoE --affecting heart disease. People with a variant of the gene, known as apoE4, who eat high-fat diets develop high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL),  "bad" cholesterol. Everyone should eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains: nutrition is the key.

Avoid Pessimism, Be Happy - Ohio State Univ. Researchers studied 224 adults half of whom were caregivers for a relative with AD. Although pessimism and optimism were previously thought to be linked, they are independent. Pessimism predicted anxiety, perceived stress and self-rated health for the next year, while optimism did not predict anything. Rather than the "power of positive thinking" it may be more important to avoid negative thinking.

Device Could Save Alzheimer's Wanderer - Care-Trak Inc. of Carbondale Ill (800) 842-4537
has a system to alert caregivers when the patient leaves the premises. The system includes a door alarm, a perimeter device and a mobile locator. The patient wears a wrist transmitter the size of a wristwatch.

Reuters Health ( http://www.reutershealth.com) used to have their past articles available to the public for free. They have gone to a subscription service. You can do a recent search, but you only obtain titles and you can not obtain the free copies. They do have recent articles up at their web site for a short period of time.

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