Daily Dementia & Alzheimer's News: Jun 5, 2009

Looking for clues inside the brain

A video news story from the BBC, discussing brain research and the hopes that neurological diseases may be better understood with the help of a UK-wide Brain Bank Network...

Harnessing The Brain's Own Ability For Repair

An interesting article on how scientists are investigating how the brain repairs itself in the hopes of identifying why this process doesn't work sufficiently enough to stop neurological diseases, and perhaps one day discovering how to use this ability to fight such diseases more effectively...

Spike In Severe Weather And Looming Alzheimer's Disease Epidemic - A Formula For Disaster

This article provides ten useful tips for caregivers, so that they can be better prepared for the emergencies caused by natural disasters and the effect these may have on their ability to care for their loved ones...

Alzforum News Stories

I personally find the articles from Alzforum website, cutting edge, but quite difficult to read and understand at times due to all of the scientific jargon used. But, as an ex-language teacher I believe in an immersion approach and so work on the idea that if I keep reading this stuff I will beging to understand more and more of what they are saying, so here's the Alzforum news stories posted in the last few days...

Neither Fish Nor Fowl—Dementia With Lewy Bodies Often Missed

Research Brief: Friends, Toys, Exercise Build Synapses in Mice

Form or Function: How Does Pink1 Deficiency Mar Mitochondria?

Like DLB, Like AD—Do Oligomers Stir Up the Trouble?

Ordnung, Please—Can Biomarkers Tame a Bewildering Overlap?

Research Brief—Do Chaperones Need Protection From α-Synuclein?

Still Early Days for α-synuclein Fluid Marker

All Shook Up: TDP-43 an Instigator of Aggregation

Perpetrator and Savior—Presenilins Cut Both Ways

Meet Progranulin, The Biomarker—A Simpler Story?

Its good to see that Lewy Bodies dementia is getting some attention too...

Snoring Associated With Sleep Apnea May Impair Brain Function More Than Previously Thought

Here's a reason for me to lose weight so I stop snoring, and waking up suddenly gasping for air...

Let's Look, Spring 2009

From YouTube site: "Lets Look is a Spring 2009 group effort between the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Metro Theater Company, the Alzheimers Association, and Cole Elementary. Adults with early stage dementia are paired with fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students from Cole in a ten-session workshop on Old Masters. The lessons include art history, architecture, storytelling, and nonverbal communication. Using arts as a tool, the programs goal is to bridge the gap between generations, to promote community and an understanding of diversity.

To read the progress of the project, visit its blog: letslook.pulitzerarts.org/"

Staging Old Masters rap for Let's Look:

JoAnn Sanditz (Alzheimer's Association Worker) Interview on the Let's Look Program:

Carol North (Metro Theatre) Interview on the Let's Look Progam:

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Mystery Solved: Tiny Protein-activator Responsible For Brain Cell Damage In Huntington Disease

Research answers the question of why a faulty protein in Huntington's Disease sufferers only kills cells in the part of the brain that controls movement...

Interview w/ Dr. Lawrence Goldstein, stem cell research expert and advocate

An excerpt from an interview done for a Work-in-Progress documentary examining the societal and personal impact of Alzheimer's...

Commonly Used Medications May Produce Cognitive Impairment In Older Adults

Before you jump to the conclusion that you have early stage Alzheimer's disease, read the article linked to above and check the medications you are on...

Alzheimers Awareness

Video posted to YouTube today, creating awareness, asking for donations to research, or letters to politicians, in the hopes that this will increase chances of finding a cure...nice soundtrack too...

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Alzheimer's drug study in Orlando area offers hope to patients

The article linked to above highlights a drug trial for the drug,bapineuzumab, one of the most well known and supposedly promising Alzheimer's drugs currently under development.

A week or two ago I also posted this story:

* Groundbreaking Drug Helping Alzheimer's Patients

..which originally was also accompanied by a video (which has since been taken off the net). At the time I couldn't work out what drug the story was referring to as it didn't mention its name, so I promised I would investigate and get back to my readers when I found out. An email from, Dr. Andrea Bozoki, assistant professor of neurology at MSU, a researcher involved in the study, finally reached me yesterday morning, and she confirms that this story was also about a bapineuzumab trial. In the email Dr. Bozoki wrote:

"A similar story but with much better, more complete information can be found in the Lansing State Journal from May 11th, titled A study in hope: experimental drug at MSU may help Alzheimer’s patients. In addition, there is a website to look at: www.icarastudy.com. The drug, bapineuzumab, is a monoclonal antibody directed against amyloid protein, the “bad” protein that is thought to destroy brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease. By giving people the antibody, it is hoped that it will allow their bodies’ immune system to come in and “eat up” (remove) the amyloid from between cells before it can cause more damage.

Our study coordinator is Diane Flatley, who can be reached at 884-2273. You should suggest that individuals look at the website, and if they feel they qualify and want to participate (age 50-88, mild-early moderate AD, no other neurologic diseases, no autoimmune disease and no cancer, living at home with a caregiver who sees them at least 5 days/week), to call us at that number."

Here, also is a recruitment video: