Alzheimer Related News Items
News as of 4/06/99
For more info on these abstracts write/call Ed Cabic (edcabic@home.net or 410-992-7197)
For more AD information, see Alzheimer Information
athttp://www.connext.net/~seniors/infoad.htm
Copies of these reports are posted there
This web page was started at the Florence Bain Senior Center in Columbia MD
Top Items
New Category of Memory Loss - A state of memory loss somewhere
between that associated with normal aging and that of AD has been
described by Mayo Clinic researchers. Scientists identified a group of 76 patients who
experienced forgetfulness beyond what was typical for their age, but who didn't have the
dementia of AD. The term for this new category of memory loss is mild
cognitive impairment, or MCI. The findings were part of a study of aging
and dementia funded by the National Institute on Aging and published in the March 15,
1999, issue of the journal Archives of Neurology. The study's results provided the first
quantitative data for this distinctive type of memory loss. Identification of this
category of memory loss could help physicians more accurately diagnose and advise
patients. This might include alerting patients to the appearance of greater risk for
developing AD. Although the patients with MCI in the study performed
worse on memory tests than healthy people, they were equal to healthy people in other
cognitive areas. Patients with MCI did not experience the disorientation, general
confusion and inability to perform activities of daily living that are characteristic of AD.
Over time, the mental and functional abilities of people with MCI declined at a rate
greater than that of healthy people, but less rapidly than with those diagnosed with mild AD.
"The study also determined that people with MCI appeared to be at increased risk of
developing AD at a rate of 10 percent to 15 percent per year," Dr.
Petersen adds. "With the ability to identify people with MCI, research can focus on
finding a treatment that will slow the development of AD." Mayo
Clinic 3/15/99
New AD Studies To Begin - Scientists have just discovered that a
memory problem called "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI) can be
an early warning sign of AD - and they're beginning three huge studies to
see if certain drugs could prevent those patients from ever getting AD.
Mild cognitive impairment doesn't mean you're definitely destined for AD.
But studies show that every year, 12 percent to 15 percent of those patients will progress
to AD - in other words, up to 45 percent will have AD
within three years. In contrast, only 1 percent of healthy people over age 65 get AD
each year. Three new studies are hunting such a therapy in patients diagnosed with mild
cognitive impairment:
(1) A National Institute on Aging-sponsored study will give 720 patients ages 55-90 either
high- dose vitamin E, the current AD medication Aricept
or a dummy pill. Results expected by 2003.
(2) Novartis Pharmaceuticals is enrolling 900 patients ages 55-85 in a three-year study
comparing its experimental drug Exelon to a placebo. Exelon, which also
inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, is awaiting government permission to sell in the
United States as an AD treatment.
(3) Merck & Co. is enrolling more than 1,000 Americans over age 64 in a study
comparing itsexperimental drug Vioxx to placebo. Vioxx is a novel
painkiller awaiting government sales approval. But it works by inhibiting inflammation,
considered another possible cause of AD. By Lauran Neergaard AP
Medical Writer 3/19/99
Jefferson Scientists Find Link Between Learning and Preventing AD - A new study suggests that a stimulating, learning environment early in life might actually help ward off neurodegen- erative diseases later. They found that rats living in a stimulating environment filled with running wheels, tunnels, balls and food had 45 percent less brain cell death commonly associated with normal development and aging than rats living in basic surroundings. The researchers were surprised how robust the enriched rat brains were. "We showed in this study that an enriched environment switched on genes in the brain, and we believe by that mechanism the brain becomes super-resilient, resistant to aging and diseases, such as AD, Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury." PR 3/31/99 citing Nature Medicine April 99.
New PBS Series Presents Latest Medical Technologies; Former HHS Secretary Louis Sullivan Hosts Series - The PBS series Frontiers of Medicine will have a single topic special which will explore AD -- possible causes, diagnoses and treatments. That program will air the week of May 9. In Maryland WMPT has the show Monday May 10th at noon. PR 2/18/99
Drugs
Drug Improves AD Symptoms - The first large trial of rivastigmine
(made by Novartis AG under the brand name Exelon), a new class of drugs
known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, improved the brain function and aspects of life
for many of the 725 patients who took part in the European study. "This is the first
treatment to show compelling evidence of efficacy..," reports Dr Michael Rosler, who
led the European study, in The British Medical Journal. The drug helps patients perform
normal daily activities. That can reduce their dependence on caregivers and prolong the
time they are able to live in their own homes. Reuters 3/8/99
First Filing for Galantamine in Europe - Shire Pharmaceuticals announced 3/31/99 the first European regulatory submission for galantamine (Reminyl™), a new treatment for AD with both acetylcholinesterase inhibition and nicotinic receptor modulation. Galantamine has been developed as a symptomatic treatment for mild to moderately severe dementia of the AD type. Research indicates that galantamine has a dual mechanism of action. Like other therapies currently on the market, galantamine preserves levels of a critical neurotransmitter calledacetylcholine in the brain by blocking the action of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (which inactivates acetylcholine). A progressive lack of acetylcholine, caused by the death of acetylcholine producing nerve cells, is related to the symptoms of AD. However, unlike other agents, research indicates that galantamine also appears to act on the brain's nicotinic receptors. The "modulation" of these receptors could lead to release of more acetylcholine. PR 3/31/99
Progenics Licenses Novel Anti-Oxidant Therapy from Memorial Sloan-Kettering - The agreement gives Progenics an exclusive worldwide rights to use dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), a derivative of vitamin C capable of entering the brain, for treatment of diseases involving oxidative damage to tissue, including those of the central nervous system. It is believed that compounds with antioxidant properties can slow the progression of degenerative neurological diseases such as AD. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and is known to act as a scavenger of free radicals -- highly unstable molecules that play a role in damaging tissues. By increasing the blood level of DHA it is possible to get large amounts of the well known antioxidant, vitamin C, into cells and directly into the brain. It was not possible to achieve the same effects by taking vitamin C itself because most of it would be excreted before it was converted to DHA. PR 3/16/99
AD Drug May Treat Down Syndrome - The drug donepezil (Aricept), used to slow the effects of AD, may improve the communication and socialization skills of individuals with Down syndrome. The researchers report that AD and Down syndrome share "neuropathological and neurochemical similarities." In both disorders, for example, certain areas of the brain suffer from "a loss of cholinergic input." Acetylcholine is a chemical that serves as a transmitter of neural impulses. Drugs such as donepezil block the enzyme that terminates acetylcholine's activity, thereby allowing more of the chemical to remain functional. These drugs have proven somewhat effective in slowing the progression of AD. Six months into therapy, the authors found that "improvements in communication, expressive language, attention, and mood stability were noted in all four patients." No serious side effects to the therapy were noted. Reuters 3/26/99 The Lancet 1999;353:1064-1065
AD Clinical Trials Expanded Globally by NeoTherapeutics - After the positive clinical results they are now in phase 1 and phase 2 North American studies with Neotrofin™ (AIT-082, leteprinim potassium) which is NeoTherapeutics' lead compound for the treatment of AD, they are now accelerating the development of this compound for AD by increasing the number of clinical sites and the number of patients involved through this global expansion. The recent results from their U.S. Phase 2a study have demonstrated that Neotrofin™ can induce behavioral and cognitive improvement in patients with AD after only one month of treatment. The compound is being developed for nerve regeneration, with AD as its first clinical indication. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated it can control the production of multiple natural neurotrophic factors and restore function in animal models of aging, brain injury and spinal cord injury. PR 3/15/99
Cortex Receives Exclusive Patent Protection for AMPA-Receptor Modulating Drugs to Improve Memory and Cognition - Cortex Pharmaceuticals has received U.S. Patent No. 5,891,876 for two claims that cover the use of AMPA-receptor modulating compounds, regardless of structure, to improve memory and cognition. The new patent covers Cortex's compounds, Ampakines® -- as well as those made by others -- for treating memory and cognition. "This may well be the most important patent that Cortex will receive," said the President and CEO of Cortex. "It will allow us and our licensees to exclude others in the United States from making and selling AMPA-receptor modulating compounds for the treatment of memory or dementia, including AD, as well as for psychiatric conditions including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and phobic disorders." PR 4/6/99
SIBIA Neurosciences Announces Issuance of U. S. Patents - Patent No. 5,863,902 relates to compounds and methods for treating amyloid plaque deposition in AD, and patents 5,587,958, 5,874,236 and 5,876,958 relating to drug screening directed at voltage-gated calcium channels which are implicated in chronic pain, epilepsy, stroke and migraine, diseases with significant unmet needs in treatment. PR 3/15/99
MitoKor Receives Patent Covering Novel Cell Lines Useful in Modeling Mitochondrial Disorders, Including AD - MitoKor announced 3/31/99 they obtained U.S. Patent No. 5,888,498, which covers certain cytoplasmic hybrid (i.e., cybrid) cell lines, a particular form of cellular hybrid. Cybrids may be used as models for diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. MitoKor is the first company to advance cybrid models for neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and Parkinson's, and metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes. MitoKor is the pioneering company in the field of mitochondrial medicine. Mitochondria drive energy production, metabolism, and the life and death of cells, participating in apoptosis and other key signaling pathways. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major contributing factor in the pathophysiology of AD and Parkinson's diseases and type II diabetes mellitus. PR 3/31/99
Genes & Genetic Issues
First Draft Of Human Genome Will Be Ready In 2000 - The first working
draft of the human genome -- all the genes in the body - will be completed a year ahead of
schedule next February. The pooling of expertise and the increase in resources between
British and American genome centers have proved that a working draft can be available much
earlier than the previously expected 2001 date. The mammoth task has already produced new
findings in diseases such as breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The mapping of the
entire genome promises to revolutionize medicine and provide new treatment for diseases
ranging from cancer to AD. Reuters 3/16/99
Caregivers
Stress of Caregiving Impairs Immune Function - The chronic
stress of caring for an ailing loved one can reduce the body's ability to fight off
illness, researchers conclude. Dr. Paul J. Mills of the University of California, San
Diego, and colleagues have found "functional immune deficits in elderly caregivers of
patients with AD." In this study, the authors measured immune system
markers in the blood of 41 elderly men and women caring for spouses suffering from AD.
Ten of these individuals were classed as highly vulnerable to stress -- rarely receiving a
break from attending to their loved one's needs around the clock. The report found
vulnerable caregivers had 60% fewer active CD8 T cells, and significantly fewer active CD4
T cells compared with less-stressed caregivers. A deficit of active T cells would leave
the stressed caregiver more open to infection and illness. Indeed, Mill and colleagues
note that "in this study, the vulnerable caregivers reported that their illnesses
lasted three times longer than the nonvulnerable caregivers." Reuters 3/22/99
Psychosomatic Medicine 1999;61:168-174
AgeNet "Bridges the Distance" Between Aging American and Adult Children with Long Distance Caregiving Information and Resources - The AgeNet Web site (http://www.agenet.com) covers a gamut of topics that are of special concern to older adults and caregivers including health, geriatric drugs, financial, legal and insurance issues. The site is divided into eight major topic areas: Health, Drugs, Legal, Insurance, Financial, Helpful Products, Caregiver Support and Housing Options. Other major areas of interest include Ask a Pharmacist and Drug Reviews: Highlighting drugs used for treating Diabetes, AD (see overall article at http://www.agenet.com/drug_review_alzheimer.html and the AD drug review at http://www.agenet.com/drug_review_alzheimer.html#review ), Parkinsons' Disease and Arthritis. PR 3/19/99
Volpe Brown Whelan Releases Landmark Report On AD Care Crisis - The report entitled "Assisted Living: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia," comprehensively addresses the demographic, financial, medical and social implications of AD. The report illustrates the severity of the disease for an aging population, while identifying forward-thinking companies in the assisted living sector that are best equipped to deal with the national AD care crisis. "The current healthcare system is woefully prepared to handle the crisis of AD care," said Andrew MacPherson, senior analyst at VBW. "The problem is compounded by the reality that there are few alternatives for care. We believe the care providers examined in my report offer real solutions to the AD crisis. All of the companies profiled in the report offer specialized settings dedicated to those suffering from the disease," MacPherson added. "This report is the first to analyze the severity of the AD crisis while at the same time offering a solution," said Peter Rogers, VBW's Director of Research. "We firmly believe that the programs being developed by these assisted living companies will fundamentally change the way we care for the elderly." PR 3/23/99
Testing
Early Diagnosis May Slow Course Of AD - Early diagnosis of AD
could improve the treatment of the degenerative brain disorder and slow its progression.
Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, of the Institute of Psychiatry at The Maudsley Hospital in London, said
new brain imaging techniques, psychological testing and new drugs may allow doctors to
detect and treat mild cognitive impairments, such as memory loss, before the disease
really takes hold. The key to early detection is functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI), a scanning technique that gives doctors almost real-time information about brain
function. fMRI is already being used to being used to map the effects of antipsychotic
drugs on the brains of schizophrenia patients. The device will help doctors detect early
signs of the disease, before diagnosis, and to monitor drug treatments by charting
increased blood flow in the message signalling system in the brain. Sharma and his
colleagues are beginning a three-year study to assess the impact of new drugs, called
cognitive enhancers, when given to people with mild cognitive impairments who could be on
a trajectory to AD. By Patricia Reaney Reuters 3/18/99
'Motion Blindness' Causes Some AD Trouble - AD victims may get lost not because they are confused, but because of a kind of physical blindness called "motion blindness." Writing in the March 23, 1999 issue of the journal Neurology, Dr. Charles Duffy and colleagues at the University of Rochester in New York said some people with AD just are not getting enough information to their brains to navigate. "People with AD get lost not because they can't remember where they've been, but because they can't see where they're going," he said. "Many of these patients are basically blind to the kinds of cues most of us absorb unconsciously every day. It's almost like they're walking around with their eyes closed." Duffy said it might be possible to pick out patients most in danger of losing their way while driving or walking. He has done some experiments including having them walk from the hospital lobby to the lab and having them sit in front of a screen to watch computer-generated moving patterns of dots and from these test he can identify those patients in danger. Because visual disorientation is an early symptom in many AD patients, it could be useful in diagnosing the disease, the researchers suggest. It could also help identify those patients at greater risk for getting lost so families could better judge whether or not to allow the patient to drive or take walks alone, Duffy concludes. Reuters 3/28/99 Neurology 1999;52:958-965
First In-Home Alzheimer's Test Coming Soon - Beginning May 1st the In-Home Alzheimer's Screening Test (I-HAST) will be available so that family members, home care nurses, and social workers can administer and score in the privacy of the test subject's home. To make it even more accessible, it will be available through bookstores and libraries, a major departure from current tests which are generally conducted in a physician's office. The test concentrates on mental agility in a half dozen areas most commonly affected by AD. It comes with easy-to- follow instructions as well as all the 'props' needed to administer it. The six parts of the test resemble a word-and- pictures game, take an average of less than ten minutes to administer, and grading is equally simple; points are scored for missed answers, then totaled. Suggested indications and follow-up actions are provided for each scoring range. The I-HAST can be purchased for under $30 and may be used periodically to monitor the test subject. To purchase the test materials call toll-free 877-427-0220, write the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Inc, P.O. Box 9106, Virginia Beach, VA 23450, visit the foundation's web site at http://www.alzheimers-research.org, or contact their local bookstore. PR 3/25/99
Synapse Technologies Announces License Agreement with Kyowa Medex for Introduction of AD Diagnostic in Japan - The agreement gives Kyowa exclusivity for promotion of Synapse's leading-edge p97 Diagnostic assay for AD, in Japan. Synapse reports their blood- serum p97 assay has recently shown excellent results in clinical trials for AD assessment. As a blood-serum test, it offers significant benefit over traditional cerebrospinal fluid tests, which carry great patient risk PR 3/18/99
Prevention
USC Findings Explain Estrogen's Ability to Enhance Memory - Dr.
Thompson and his colleagues at the University of Southern California measured the
excitability and long-term potentiation between neurons from the brain of a rat, both
before and after exposing slices of the brain's hippocampus to estrogen. The researchers
looked specifically at the hormone's influence on a neurotransmitter called glutamate and
two of its receptors, NMDA and AMPA. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that mediate the
transmission of electrical impulses across the synapses between neurons. "The
estrogen activated both receptors within minutes - causing a lasting increase in neuronal
activity," Thompson reports. "Estrogen also enhanced the process of long-term
potentiation. Activating the NMDA receptor apparently initiates long-term potentiation,
and the AMPA receptors maintain it." Thompson believes that learning more about the
mechanism of long-term potentiation could lead to highly refined treatments for AD.
Researchers are studying compounds that are similar or related to estrogen in the hope of
finding a drug precisely targeted for the treatment of disease while avoiding unwanted
side-effects. The estrogen study was published in the February issue of the Journal of
Neurophysiology. PR 2/29/99
FDA Mandates New 'Supplement Facts' Labeling - Beginning March 23, manufacturers of all vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements must standardize product labels, using guidelines similar to nutrition labels on food products. The mandate, passed by the FDA, is part of an effort to regulate the burgeoning supplement industry and protect consumers from misusing the very products they are taking to promote good health. The new regulation calls for "Supplement Facts" panels on all vitamin, mineral, herbs and other dietary supplements to list ingredients by potency and weight, giving the percentage of Reference Daily Intake (RDI), expressed as Percent Daily Value (DV). Terms such as "high potency'' and "extra strength'' must be defined, and for herbal products, the part of the plant used in the product must be identified. Among the first books to include a chapter on how to read and understand the new labels is "The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs: The A-Z Guide to Enhancing Your Health and Treating Illness with Nutritional Supplements" from Reader's Digest ($30, hardcover). PR 3/18/99
Experts Say Herbal Medicine Works But Checks Needed - Medical experts at a day-long conference on the efficiency and safety of herbal medicine agreed it could complement synthetic drug treatments but said it should be controlled because the treatments are becoming so popular. "The general belief that natural products are always safe has been proven inaccurate," said Dr Bart Halkes, of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. "Herbal medicine products should be adequately controlled," Halkes said, adding that the use of known toxic plants should be restricted. Research has shown that ginkgo biloba can improve memory in patients with AD and St. John's Wort can relieve mild and moderate depression. Scientists are conducting a long-term study on the effectiveness of crataegus extract for treating patients with heart failure. By Patricia Reaney (Reuters 3/23/99
Other Items
AD: Not a Normal Part of Aging - AD is a
progressive, degenerative disease of the brain,'' explains Karen Bellenir, editor of
Alzheimer's Disease Sourcebook, 2nd edition. "However, AD and
related dementia are not a normal part of aging. When brain cells die and are not
replaced, there results impaired memory, thinking, and behavior," she says. The book
is 524 pages; $78 from Omnigraphics 800-234-1340. PR 4/6/99
Animal Group Claims Lab Damage - An animal rights group claimed
responsibility for ransacking 12 University of Minnesota labs, taking dozens of research
animals and causing an estimated $1 million in damage. University officials said the
damage will seriously impede research on AD, Parkinson's, cancer and
other diseases. Researcher Dr. Walter Low said the damage set back the AD
research alone by two years. One of the pieces of equipment damaged was an incubator
containing brain cells from a patients participating in a research project.
"You begin to have an impact on a patient who's donated their cells for us to develop
a vaccine,
and we no longer have that vaccine to offer to that patient," Low said "That
patient has no other
hope." AP 4/6/99
Showbiz People Briefs - HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Colm Feore (''Stephen
King's Storm of the Century'') has been cast opposite Mia Farrow and Martin Sheen in the
CBS TV movie ``Forget Me Never.'' The film is based on Diana Friel McGowin's autobiography
''Living in the Labyrinth'' about the ravages of AD. Feore plays a former
university professor suffering from the disease who befriends a woman (Farrow) diagnosed
with early-onset AD. Sheen plays Farrow's husband. Reuters/Variety
4/6/99
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