Author Archives: Fredricko

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems, study suggests

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ScienceDaily (Feb. 24, 2012) — Children with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, Yale researchers and their colleagues report in the February issue of Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

"Serious behavioral problems interfere with everyday living for children and their families," said senior author on the study Lawrence Scahill, professor at Yale University School of Nursing and the Child Study Center. "Decreasing these serious behavioral problems results in children who are more able to manage everyday living."

Scahill and his team completed a federally funded multi-site trial on 124 children ages 4 to 13 with autism spectrum disorders at three U.S. sites including Yale, Ohio State University, and Indiana University. In addition to autism spectrum disorders, children in the study had serious behavioral problems, including multiple and prolonged tantrums, aggression, and/or self-injurious behavior on a daily basis.

The children in the study were randomly assigned to medication alone for six months or medication plus a structured training program for their parents for six months. Parent training included regular visits to the clinic to teach parents how to respond to behavior problems to help children adapt to daily living situations. The study medication, risperidone, is approved for the treatment of serious behavioral problems in children with autism.

"In a previous report from this trial, we showed that the combined treatment was superior to medication alone in reducing the serious behavioral problems," said Scahill. "In the current report, we show that combination treatment was better than medication alone on measures of adaptive behavior. We note that both groups -- medication alone and combined treatment group -- demonstrated improvement in functional communication and social interaction. But the combined group showed greater improvement on several measures of everyday adaptive functioning."

Based on these findings, Scahill and his team are now conducting a study that uses parent training as a stand-alone strategy in treating younger children with autism spectrum disorders. This study is being conducted at Yale and four other medical centers across the country. The investigators also plan to publish the parent training manuals as a way to share this intervention with the public.

Other authors on the study included Christopher J. McDougle, Michael G. Aman, Cynthia Johnson, Benjamin Handen, Karen Bearss, James Dziura, Eric Butter, Naomi G. Swiezy, L. Eugene Arnold, Kimberly A. Stigler, Denis D. Sukhodolsky, Luc Lecavalier, Stacie L. Pozdol, Roumen Nikolov, Jill A. Hollway, Patricia Korzekwa, Allison Gavaletz, Arlene E. Kohn, Kathleen Koenig, Stacie Grinnon, James A. Mulick, Sunkyung Yu, and Benedetto Vitiello.

The National Institute of Mental Health funded the study. The work was also funded, in part, by the Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) grant from the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Yale University. The original article was written by Karen N. Peart.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Lawrence Scahill, Christopher J. McDougle, Michael G. Aman, Cynthia Johnson, Benjamin Handen, Karen Bearss, James Dziura, Eric Butter, Naomi G. Swiezy, L. Eugene Arnold, Kimberly A. Stigler, Denis D. Sukhodolsky, Luc Lecavalier, Stacie L. Pozdol, Roumen Nikolov, Jill A. Hollway, Patricia Korzekwa, Allison Gavaletz, Arlene E. Kohn, Kathleen Koenig, Stacie Grinnon, James A. Mulick, Sunkyung Yu, Benedetto Vitiello. Effects of Risperidone and Parent Training on Adaptive Functioning in Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Serious Behavioral Problems. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2012; 51 (2): 136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.11.010

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems, study suggests

Autism Detection Is Delayed in Minorities

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By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 22, 2012

A new study suggests the symptoms of autism in toddlers from a minority background are more significant than those noted in age-equivalent Caucasian children.

The investigation was the first prospective study of ethnic differences in the symptoms of autism among toddlers.

Researchers determined minority toddlers have more delayed language, communication and gross motor skills than Caucasian children with the disorder. Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute believe subtle developmental delays may be going unaddressed in minority toddlers until more severe symptoms develop.

Autistic spectrum disorders are found in equal prevalence among all racial and ethnic groups. However, some studies have shown that children of African American, Hispanic and Asian descent are less likely to receive an early diagnosis of autism than Caucasian children.

In this new study, Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the institute, investigated whether the symptoms of autism in toddlers play a role in this disparity in diagnosis.

“We found the toddlers in the minority group were significantly further behind than the non-minority group in development of language and motor skills and showed more severe autism symptoms in their communication abilities,” says Landa, whose study included children and parents of African American, Asian and Hispanic descent.

“It’s really troubling when we look at these data alongside diagnosis statistics because they suggest that children in need of early detection and intervention are not getting it.”

The study is published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Researchers examined development in 84 toddlers with ASD at an average 26-28 months of age using three standardized instruments that evaluate child development.

Children were evaluated by their caregivers using the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Caregiver Questionnaire (CSBS-DP CQ) and by research clinicians using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS).

Researchers then controlled for participants’ socioeconomic status. All three tools indicated a significant difference between minority and non-minority children.

Previous studies show that detection of ASD is possible at as early as 14 months of age. While early diagnosis is crucial for accessing intervention services, studies examining children from minority groups suggest considerable delays in the diagnosis of ASD in these children relative to their Caucasian peers.

The results may stem from cultural differences in what communities perceive as typical and atypical development in young children, the relationships between families and respected community physicians, and the stigma that some cultures place on disability as areas where education and awareness could have meaningful impact.

“Addressing cultural influences gives us a clear target to improve service delivery to minority children, but these findings may also suggest biological and other culturally related differences between Caucasian and minority children with autism,” Landa said.

“There are other complex diseases that present differently in different ethnic groups and more research is needed to investigate this possibility.”

Landa has since initiated a new study that will document the age at which minority parents first noticed signs of developmental disruption in their children, the specific nature of the behavior that concerned them, and the children’s intervention history.

Additional research is also needed to study group-specific differences in the presentation of autism symptoms between a variety of minority groups.

“Although questions remain on why these differences exist, by taking steps to develop more culturally sensitive screening and assessment practices, with a special focus on educating parents, clinicians and health educators, I believe we can empower parents to identify early warning signs and ensure minority children have the same access to services as their Caucasian peers,” said Landa.

Source: Kennedy Krieger Institute

Upset Toddler photo by shutterstock.


APA Reference
Nauert PhD, R. (2012). Autism Detection Is Delayed in Minorities. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 26, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/02/22/autism-detection-is-delayed-in-minorities/35136.html

 

See the article here:
Autism Detection Is Delayed in Minorities

Medical Update: Parkinson's Disease Research – Video

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09-11-2011 17:09 David Eidelberg, MD, Director of the Leonard and Susan Feinstein Center for Neurosciences at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, discusses new, innovative and non-invasive methods to capture better images of a patients' brain circuitry, eventually leading to earlier and better diagnoses, and the development of effective treatments for Parkinson's and other diseases. Topics include: The Feinstein Institute's endowment as one of the select Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research, the affiliation agreement between the Feinstein Institute and the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research to better understand Parkinson's, comparisons of MRI, PetScan and other testing methods, the ability to measure side effects from levodopa, and the ability to scan the brain throughout the course of the disease to identify damaged brain circuits at the earliest stage.

Excerpt from:
Medical Update: Parkinson's Disease Research - Video

Medical Update: Parkinson’s Disease Research – Video

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09-11-2011 17:09 David Eidelberg, MD, Director of the Leonard and Susan Feinstein Center for Neurosciences at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, discusses new, innovative and non-invasive methods to capture better images of a patients' brain circuitry, eventually leading to earlier and better diagnoses, and the development of effective treatments for Parkinson's and other diseases. Topics include: The Feinstein Institute's endowment as one of the select Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research, the affiliation agreement between the Feinstein Institute and the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research to better understand Parkinson's, comparisons of MRI, PetScan and other testing methods, the ability to measure side effects from levodopa, and the ability to scan the brain throughout the course of the disease to identify damaged brain circuits at the earliest stage.

Excerpt from:
Medical Update: Parkinson's Disease Research - Video

Picturing Parkinson's

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It's a staggering number. More than 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson's disease.

Right now, doctors diagnose it by conducting a physical exam that's often unreliable.

But, that's about to change.

William Hill used to be a professional welterweight fighter. Today, he's fighting a different yet powerful opponent, Parkinson's disease.

Debora Bergstrom is also battling the condition that causes tremors, balance problems and speech issues. The mom of three was diagnosed four years ago by a neurologist. "She told me to stand up, walk," Bergstrom said. "She rotated my arms and hands, and she said, 'Yes, you have Parkinson's.'"

But, many people wait years before getting that diagnosis. Doctors physically examine patients for the tell-tale symptoms to formulate their conclusion. However, their observations aren't always accurate. 40 percent of Parkinson's patients are undiagnosed, and at least 10 percent who are diagnosed don't really have it.

Dr. Louise Thomson says a new imaging test called DAT-scan is giving doctors a glimpse inside the Parkinson's brain. First, doctors inject patients with a tracer. Then, they scan the brain for dopamine, a chemical that Parkinson's patients lack.

Thomson says the test can tell doctors if the patient has Parkinson's or just a tremor disorder, which is treated differently. "This is a game changer," she said. "It's going to lead to earlier diagnosis and clearer diagnosis for patients with tremor."

An earlier diagnosis means patients can start treatments sooner, potentially slowing symptom development of this devastating disease.

For William and Debora, every symptom-free day matters. Now, doctors are one step closer to figuring that out.

DAT-scan is the first FDA approved diagnostic imaging test for the assessment of movement disorders such as Parkinson's.

But, there is some debate about its effectiveness.

Some doctors say a negative test doesn't provide enough evidence to rule out Parkinson's completely, and they believe the cost of the scan is much more expensive than a consultation and follow-ups with a movement disorders expert.

Read the original here:
Picturing Parkinson's

Picturing Parkinson’s

Posted on by

It's a staggering number. More than 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson's disease.

Right now, doctors diagnose it by conducting a physical exam that's often unreliable.

But, that's about to change.

William Hill used to be a professional welterweight fighter. Today, he's fighting a different yet powerful opponent, Parkinson's disease.

Debora Bergstrom is also battling the condition that causes tremors, balance problems and speech issues. The mom of three was diagnosed four years ago by a neurologist. "She told me to stand up, walk," Bergstrom said. "She rotated my arms and hands, and she said, 'Yes, you have Parkinson's.'"

But, many people wait years before getting that diagnosis. Doctors physically examine patients for the tell-tale symptoms to formulate their conclusion. However, their observations aren't always accurate. 40 percent of Parkinson's patients are undiagnosed, and at least 10 percent who are diagnosed don't really have it.

Dr. Louise Thomson says a new imaging test called DAT-scan is giving doctors a glimpse inside the Parkinson's brain. First, doctors inject patients with a tracer. Then, they scan the brain for dopamine, a chemical that Parkinson's patients lack.

Thomson says the test can tell doctors if the patient has Parkinson's or just a tremor disorder, which is treated differently. "This is a game changer," she said. "It's going to lead to earlier diagnosis and clearer diagnosis for patients with tremor."

An earlier diagnosis means patients can start treatments sooner, potentially slowing symptom development of this devastating disease.

For William and Debora, every symptom-free day matters. Now, doctors are one step closer to figuring that out.

DAT-scan is the first FDA approved diagnostic imaging test for the assessment of movement disorders such as Parkinson's.

But, there is some debate about its effectiveness.

Some doctors say a negative test doesn't provide enough evidence to rule out Parkinson's completely, and they believe the cost of the scan is much more expensive than a consultation and follow-ups with a movement disorders expert.

Read the original here:
Picturing Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease patients can become more creative when they take dopamine

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Public release date: 23-Feb-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Annette Whibley
annette.wizard@gmail.com
Wiley-Blackwell

Some Parkinson's Disease patients can suddenly become creative when they take dopamine therapy, producing pictures, sculptures, novels and poetry. But their new-found interests can become so overwhelming that they ignore other aspects of their everyday life, such as daily chores and social activities, according to research published in the March issue of the European Journal of Neurology.

Italian researchers studied 36 patients with Parkinson's Disease - 18 with increased artistic production and 18 without - and compared them with 36 healthy controls without Parkinson's. None of the patients had engaged in artistic hobbies before they took dopamine.

"Patients were included in the artistic group if they started working on creative projects for two or more hours a day after starting taking dopamine" explains lead author Dr Margherita Canesi, a neurological specialist at the Centro Parkinson e Disordini del Movimento in Milan.

"Our findings suggest that the patients' newly acquired artistic skills were probably there all along, but did not start to emerge until they took the dopamine therapy. They did not appear to be connected with abnormal repetitive behaviours, such as impulse control disorders or punding - stereotyped behavior characterised by an intense fascination with a complex, excessive, non-goal oriented, repetitive activity.

"Other researchers have noted that altered creative drive has been observed in patients who have neurodegenerative diseases or have had a stroke. However the anatomical and physiological understanding of creativity is difficult to establish and quantify."

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres. It helps to regulate movement and emotional responses and enables people to see rewards and work towards them. Parkinson's Disease is caused by dopamine deficiency and using medication to increase dopamine levels in the brain is one of the most popular kinds of therapy.

Key findings of the study included:

The artwork presented by the patients was mainly drawings/paintings (83%), poetry/novels (50%) and sculpture (28%). In 78% of cases, the patients showed more than one skill, normally writing plus painting or drawing. Some of the patients produced art that was sold and books that were published, but, at the other end of the scale, some of the creative work was of a very poor quality. By using the Torrence Test of Creative Thinking to compare the three groups, the researchers showed that the artistic Parkinson's Disease patients had similar overall and individual scores to the healthy controls. However the non-artistic patients had significantly lower overall scores than the healthy controls and significantly lower scores than the artistic patients when it came to the elaboration sub-score. There was no correlation between the Torrence Test of Creative Thinking scores and the scores obtained using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, one of the oldest and most widely used measures of impulsive personality traits. The researchers also used the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview. This showed that one creative patient was positive for compulsive sexual behaviour, one creative patient for compulsive buying and two creative and three non-creative patients for pathological gambling. However, there was little difference in the Torrence scores for patients who tested positive or negative on the Minnesota scale. None of the patients or healthy controls displayed the stereotyped behaviour measured by the Punding Rating Scale.

"In conclusion, we found that newly acquired creative drive in patients with Parkinson's Disease, after the introduction of dopaminergic therapy, is not related to impulsivity or impulse control disorders as measured by the Barratt Impulsivity Scale or the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview" says Dr Canesi.

"We believe that their desire to be creative could represent emerging innate skills, possibly linked to repetitive and reward-seeking behaviours. Further studies are needed to support our preliminary observations."

###

Notes to editors

Artistic productivity and creative thinking in Parkinson's disease. Canesi et al. European Journal of Neurology. 19, pp468-472. (March 2012) doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03546.x The European Journal of Neurology covers all areas of clinical and basic research in neurology, including pre-clinical research of immediate translational value for new potential treatments. Emphasis is placed on major diseases or large clinical and socio-economic importance (dementia, stroke, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, and infectious diseases). The journal provides a forum for European activity in clinical neuroscience and medical practice and helps strengthen the links between research workers and clinicians in Europe and other parts of the world. The journal also publishes the official EFNS taskforce papers. http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ENE Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit http://www.wileyblackwell.com or our online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities. [ | E-mail | Share ]

 

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Read more from the original source:
Parkinson's disease patients can become more creative when they take dopamine

Parkinson’s disease patients can become more creative when they take dopamine

Posted on by

Public release date: 23-Feb-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Annette Whibley
annette.wizard@gmail.com
Wiley-Blackwell

Some Parkinson's Disease patients can suddenly become creative when they take dopamine therapy, producing pictures, sculptures, novels and poetry. But their new-found interests can become so overwhelming that they ignore other aspects of their everyday life, such as daily chores and social activities, according to research published in the March issue of the European Journal of Neurology.

Italian researchers studied 36 patients with Parkinson's Disease - 18 with increased artistic production and 18 without - and compared them with 36 healthy controls without Parkinson's. None of the patients had engaged in artistic hobbies before they took dopamine.

"Patients were included in the artistic group if they started working on creative projects for two or more hours a day after starting taking dopamine" explains lead author Dr Margherita Canesi, a neurological specialist at the Centro Parkinson e Disordini del Movimento in Milan.

"Our findings suggest that the patients' newly acquired artistic skills were probably there all along, but did not start to emerge until they took the dopamine therapy. They did not appear to be connected with abnormal repetitive behaviours, such as impulse control disorders or punding - stereotyped behavior characterised by an intense fascination with a complex, excessive, non-goal oriented, repetitive activity.

"Other researchers have noted that altered creative drive has been observed in patients who have neurodegenerative diseases or have had a stroke. However the anatomical and physiological understanding of creativity is difficult to establish and quantify."

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres. It helps to regulate movement and emotional responses and enables people to see rewards and work towards them. Parkinson's Disease is caused by dopamine deficiency and using medication to increase dopamine levels in the brain is one of the most popular kinds of therapy.

Key findings of the study included:

The artwork presented by the patients was mainly drawings/paintings (83%), poetry/novels (50%) and sculpture (28%). In 78% of cases, the patients showed more than one skill, normally writing plus painting or drawing. Some of the patients produced art that was sold and books that were published, but, at the other end of the scale, some of the creative work was of a very poor quality. By using the Torrence Test of Creative Thinking to compare the three groups, the researchers showed that the artistic Parkinson's Disease patients had similar overall and individual scores to the healthy controls. However the non-artistic patients had significantly lower overall scores than the healthy controls and significantly lower scores than the artistic patients when it came to the elaboration sub-score. There was no correlation between the Torrence Test of Creative Thinking scores and the scores obtained using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, one of the oldest and most widely used measures of impulsive personality traits. The researchers also used the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview. This showed that one creative patient was positive for compulsive sexual behaviour, one creative patient for compulsive buying and two creative and three non-creative patients for pathological gambling. However, there was little difference in the Torrence scores for patients who tested positive or negative on the Minnesota scale. None of the patients or healthy controls displayed the stereotyped behaviour measured by the Punding Rating Scale.

"In conclusion, we found that newly acquired creative drive in patients with Parkinson's Disease, after the introduction of dopaminergic therapy, is not related to impulsivity or impulse control disorders as measured by the Barratt Impulsivity Scale or the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview" says Dr Canesi.

"We believe that their desire to be creative could represent emerging innate skills, possibly linked to repetitive and reward-seeking behaviours. Further studies are needed to support our preliminary observations."

###

Notes to editors

Artistic productivity and creative thinking in Parkinson's disease. Canesi et al. European Journal of Neurology. 19, pp468-472. (March 2012) doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03546.x The European Journal of Neurology covers all areas of clinical and basic research in neurology, including pre-clinical research of immediate translational value for new potential treatments. Emphasis is placed on major diseases or large clinical and socio-economic importance (dementia, stroke, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, and infectious diseases). The journal provides a forum for European activity in clinical neuroscience and medical practice and helps strengthen the links between research workers and clinicians in Europe and other parts of the world. The journal also publishes the official EFNS taskforce papers. http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ENE Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit http://www.wileyblackwell.com or our online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities. [ | E-mail | Share ]

 

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Read more from the original source:
Parkinson's disease patients can become more creative when they take dopamine

New Blood Test for Parkinson's Studied

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Test Has High Degree of Accuracy; Parkinson's Experts Cautiously Optimistic

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 22, 2012 -- An experimental blood test for Parkinson's disease is more than 90% accurate in diagnosing the progressive disorder that affects movement and balance, according to its developers.

The test requires a single drop of blood, says Robert Nagele, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.

It looks for specific proteins that are produced by the body in response to Parkinson's disease, he tells WebMD.

Nagele is also the founder of Durin Technologies, the test developer. Another co-researcher is a paid consultant for the company.

No blood test is yet commercially available for Parkinson's, which affects 5 million people worldwide. The study is published in PLoS One.

The news was met with cautious optimism by two experts.

About Parkinson's

In Parkinson's, the nerve cells or neurons in a brain region responsible for muscle movement and coordination deteriorate over time. Normally these cells produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps regulate such bodily functions as movement.

"Parkinson's affects a specific part of the brain known as the substantia nigra," Nagele says. At least a third of the neurons in this area have already died before symptoms appear, he says.

Symptoms include shaking, tremor, slowness of movement, stiffness in the arms, legs, and trunk, and balance problems.

Doctors diagnose it by taking a medical history and doing a neurological exam.

A blood test could help doctors diagnose and treat the disease earlier. Many teams are working on such tests.

Blood Test for Parkinson's: Study Details

When brain cells die, Nagele says, they explode ''like a water balloon breaking."

The contents of those dying cells spill partially back into the blood. "Their debris is released and your body will sense it and develop autoantibodies to clear that debris," he says.

The new test looks for these autoantibodies in the blood specific to the disease. The researchers narrowed down a list of more than 100 of these autoantibodies to 10 that looked most promising. When these antibodies rise to a certain level, it signals disease, Nagele says.

To evaluate the Parkinson's test, Nagele's team looked at more than 150 blood samples, including:

Overall, the test identified 93% of those who had Parkinson's. It identified correctly 100% of those who did not have it. Both results are considered important.

It could tell the difference between blood samples from patients with Parkinson's, those with the other disorders, and those who were healthy.

Nagele estimates the test, when and if available, would cost about $200.

The new research is a ''proof of principle'' study, he says, and much more research is needed.

Blood Test for Parkinson's: Second Opinion

"It is very exciting to see that many groups around the world have been attempting to develop blood tests for Parkinson's disease," Michael Okun, MD, medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, tells WebMD. He reviewed the results.

Although Okun calls the new study interesting, he says that ''it only included 29 patients."

However, he remains hopeful that the research will lead to a usable blood test.

"It sounds feasible and probably worth pursuing," says M. Flint Beal, MD, the Anne Parrish Titzell professor of neurology and neuroscience at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He also reviewed the findings. He is also developing an early blood test for Parkinson's disease that uses a different approach.

"This is something that should be validated," he says of the new test. "What frequently happens is, the test looks very good initially. When you expand it to a larger population, the accuracy falls off." Further study is needed, he says.

SOURCES: Robert Nagele, PhD, professor of medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine; founder, Duran Technologies, Inc.PLoS ONE, published online Feb. 22, 2012.Michael Okun, MD, medical director, National Parkinson Foundation.M. Flint Beal, MD, Anne Parrish Titzell professor of neurology and neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

©2012 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Go here to see the original:
New Blood Test for Parkinson's Studied

New Blood Test for Parkinson’s Studied

Posted on by

Test Has High Degree of Accuracy; Parkinson's Experts Cautiously Optimistic

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 22, 2012 -- An experimental blood test for Parkinson's disease is more than 90% accurate in diagnosing the progressive disorder that affects movement and balance, according to its developers.

The test requires a single drop of blood, says Robert Nagele, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.

It looks for specific proteins that are produced by the body in response to Parkinson's disease, he tells WebMD.

Nagele is also the founder of Durin Technologies, the test developer. Another co-researcher is a paid consultant for the company.

No blood test is yet commercially available for Parkinson's, which affects 5 million people worldwide. The study is published in PLoS One.

The news was met with cautious optimism by two experts.

About Parkinson's

In Parkinson's, the nerve cells or neurons in a brain region responsible for muscle movement and coordination deteriorate over time. Normally these cells produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps regulate such bodily functions as movement.

"Parkinson's affects a specific part of the brain known as the substantia nigra," Nagele says. At least a third of the neurons in this area have already died before symptoms appear, he says.

Symptoms include shaking, tremor, slowness of movement, stiffness in the arms, legs, and trunk, and balance problems.

Doctors diagnose it by taking a medical history and doing a neurological exam.

A blood test could help doctors diagnose and treat the disease earlier. Many teams are working on such tests.

Blood Test for Parkinson's: Study Details

When brain cells die, Nagele says, they explode ''like a water balloon breaking."

The contents of those dying cells spill partially back into the blood. "Their debris is released and your body will sense it and develop autoantibodies to clear that debris," he says.

The new test looks for these autoantibodies in the blood specific to the disease. The researchers narrowed down a list of more than 100 of these autoantibodies to 10 that looked most promising. When these antibodies rise to a certain level, it signals disease, Nagele says.

To evaluate the Parkinson's test, Nagele's team looked at more than 150 blood samples, including:

Overall, the test identified 93% of those who had Parkinson's. It identified correctly 100% of those who did not have it. Both results are considered important.

It could tell the difference between blood samples from patients with Parkinson's, those with the other disorders, and those who were healthy.

Nagele estimates the test, when and if available, would cost about $200.

The new research is a ''proof of principle'' study, he says, and much more research is needed.

Blood Test for Parkinson's: Second Opinion

"It is very exciting to see that many groups around the world have been attempting to develop blood tests for Parkinson's disease," Michael Okun, MD, medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, tells WebMD. He reviewed the results.

Although Okun calls the new study interesting, he says that ''it only included 29 patients."

However, he remains hopeful that the research will lead to a usable blood test.

"It sounds feasible and probably worth pursuing," says M. Flint Beal, MD, the Anne Parrish Titzell professor of neurology and neuroscience at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He also reviewed the findings. He is also developing an early blood test for Parkinson's disease that uses a different approach.

"This is something that should be validated," he says of the new test. "What frequently happens is, the test looks very good initially. When you expand it to a larger population, the accuracy falls off." Further study is needed, he says.

SOURCES: Robert Nagele, PhD, professor of medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine; founder, Duran Technologies, Inc.PLoS ONE, published online Feb. 22, 2012.Michael Okun, MD, medical director, National Parkinson Foundation.M. Flint Beal, MD, Anne Parrish Titzell professor of neurology and neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

©2012 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Go here to see the original:
New Blood Test for Parkinson's Studied

RAMS preliminaries successful

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RAMS preliminaries successful

The competition ends a month of events fundraising for multiple sclerosis.

By Katie Yaeger

Published Feb. 24, 2012

Justin Pierce/Staff Photographer

Members of Alpha Phi perform Wednesday for the preliminaries of the Rockin' Against Multiple Sclerosis lip-syncing competition at The Blue Note. The finals for the competition will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at The Blue Note.

Cait Campbell/Graphic Designer

(View large image browser)

Elaborate costumes, carefully choreographed dancing and dramatic lip-syncing annually bring MU students together for a charitable cause: the Rockin' Against Multiple Sclerosis Rock-It lip-sync competition.

During the past 18 years, RAMS has evolved into the largest on-campus philanthropy at MU. The organization raises money for supplies for multiple sclerosis patients in the mid-Missouri area and works closely with patients in the Columbia community.

"That's one of my favorite parts about it," RAMS co-director Alex Prestel said. "It's why I keep coming back every year and why they can't get rid of me. Because I love Mizzou, but I love Columbia just as much, and this really ties the campus and the community together, which I think is one of the many unique aspects of RAMS."

Members assist multiple sclerosis patients with small jobs year-round, RAMS co-director Sarah Bowman said.

"(Wednesday), we had a few steer-co members help a woman who has MS," Bowman said. "We cleaned her car, waxed it, hung a mirror in her house and she could not stop thanking us. We made her day."

Each February, RAMS hosts a series of events at MU and around Columbia in which campus organizations participate, earning points for each activity, according to the RAMS website. Money raised from each event is donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Institute and directly benefits patients in mid-Missouri. Events include Comedy Night, Jail-N-Bail and Cup Night.

Rock-It, the month's final event, showcases the performing and lip-syncing talents of participating organizations as well as the talents of smaller in-between-acts. Originally held at Midway, the competition has been held at The Blue Note for at least five years.

"The Blue Note is a great atmosphere," Bowman said. "I love coming and seeing it packed. It's so cool to see the excitement when The Blue Note comes to life."

This year, nine Interfraternity Council chapters and 12 Panhellenic Association chapters competed in Tuesday and Wednesday night's preliminary round. Acts in between consisted of individuals and small groups, with the Mizzou Competitive Dance Team dancing to a Top 40 mash-up Tuesday and a cappella group Mizzou Forte singing Wednesday.

Although the competing acts have historically been mostly Greek Life chapters, all organizations are welcome and encouraged to compete, Bowman said.

"We like to try to involve as much of campus as possible, not stopping with the Greek community," she said.

The show might be a competition, but many don't place much importance on the competitive aspect, Prestel said.

"It's not about the competition," Prestel said. "It's about having a great time with each other, enjoying entertaining acts and coming together to fight for such a great cause."

Chapters incorporated their personalities and senses of humor into each act to entertain full houses Tuesday and Wednesday night. Each performance had a theme.

Many acts included Top 40 hits in their set lists. Chi Omega channeled Lady Gaga and Britney Spears in "Getting Down with Divas," Delta Gamma danced to songs such as Ludacris' "My Chick Bad" during "Criminals" and Zeta Tau Alpha's "Zeta Swag" featured rap songs, ending with a dancer dressed as Lil Wayne throwing paper money at the audience.

Others channeled past music eras. Alpha Gamma Rho's "Boy Band Dance-off" featured songs by '90s stars *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, Pi Kappa Alpha's "One Hit Blunders" featured '80s and '90s songs from forgotten artists and Alpha Delta Pi's "Ladies Night Out with ADPi" featured selections by Kool & The Gang and The Weather Girls.

Still others centered around humor. Alpha Gamma Sigma's "The Seductive Sigmas" had the Grim Reaper in the background during the late Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," Delta Tau Delta's "The 2012 Grammys" imitated the music video of Dave Chappelle's "Piss on You" and "The Lonely Phi Kaps Part II" featured the parody "Frat Boy Swag" and reenacted parts of the YouTube video "We Are Mizzou."

Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, FarmHouse, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Chi Omega, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta will compete in the final round 7 p.m. Friday at The Blue Note, according to the organization's Twitter account.

Originally posted here:
RAMS preliminaries successful

Genzyme Announces EMA Accepts Oral Teriflunomide Marketing Application for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the filing of the marketing authorization application (MAA) for once-daily oral teriflunomide for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Acceptance of the MAA starts the EMA’s review process.

“The filing represents another important milestone for teriflunomide and brings us one step closer to offering a new treatment option to patients with relapsing MS,” said Bill Sibold, Senior Vice President, Head of Multiple Sclerosis, Genzyme. “As an oral therapy with a promising clinical profile, teriflunomide is extremely well positioned to provide an alternative therapeutic option to patients who are currently taking injectable therapies. Those injectable therapies make up approximately 80 percent of the MS market today.”

The purpose of the MAA is to secure approval to market and allow prescription of teriflunomide in the European Union based on data from two completed pivotal Phase III trials, TEMSO and TENERE. These trials represent two of five efficacy studies of teriflunomide in MS that are completed or underway, making the clinical program one of the largest and broadest of any MS therapy in development.

An application to market teriflunomide in the United States is under review by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

About Teriflunomide

Teriflunomide is an immunomodulatory, disease-modifying oral drug with anti-inflammatory properties, and is under investigation for the treatment of MS. Teriflunomide blocks the proliferation and functioning of activated T and B lymphocytes – which are thought to be especially damaging in MS – by selectively and reversibly inhibiting a mitochondrial enzyme. Slowly dividing or resting lymphocytes are generally unaffected by teriflunomide, suggesting that the immune system’s response to infection should not be compromised.

Teriflunomide is being studied in a large clinical program that is expected to include more than 5,000 trial participants in 36 countries. Five efficacy clinical trials are either completed or underway with teriflunomide, making the clinical program one of the largest and broadest of any MS agent under development. In addition to the TEMSO and TENERE trials, the Phase III, placebo-controlled trial TOWER is ongoing in people with relapsing forms of MS. Another Phase III study, TOPIC, is underway in early MS or CIS (clinically isolated syndrome). Teriflunomide is also being evaluated as an adjunct therapy to interferon-? in the Phase III TERACLES trial. With up to 10 years of continuous use in a Phase II extension, teriflunomide has the longest clinical experience of any investigational oral MS therapy.

About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company

Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme’s portfolio of transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine. As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at http://www.genzyme.com.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN.PA - News) and in New York (NYSE: SNY - News).

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

Genzyme® is a registered trademark.

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Genzyme Announces EMA Accepts Oral Teriflunomide Marketing Application for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Hope for multiple sclerosis victims

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Posted: Friday, February 24, 2012 3:00 am | Updated: 8:05 pm, Tue Feb 21, 2012.

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society reports that most people with the illness have a normal or near-normal life expectancy and that most do not become severely disabled.

There also are medications that have been shown to reduce the number of relapses and “modify” or slow down the underlying course of MS, the society said.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, according to a report from the MS Society.

Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. New treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease, the society said.

Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), the kind which afflicts Melany McQueeny, a Mount Olive Middle School teacher, is the most common disease course at the time of diagnosis. About 85 percent of people with MS are initially diagnosed with RRMS, compared to 10-15 percent with progressive forms.

Relapsing-remitting MS is defined by inflammatory attacks on myelin (the layers of insulating membranes surrounding nerve fibers in the central nervous system). During the attacks, activated immune cells cause small, localized areas of damage.

MS is different from muscular dystrophy (MD), a group of disorders that cause progressive and irreversible wasting away of muscle tissue. Although muscular dystrophy has some symptoms in common with MS, like weakness and problems with walking,  muscular dystrophy affects the muscles directly while MS affects the central nervous system, the society said.

MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited.

Phil Garber

Originally posted here:
Hope for multiple sclerosis victims

Lancashire dementia sufferers hit in £2.3m scam

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Lancashire dementia sufferers hit in £2.3m scam

2:48pm Friday 24th February 2012 in News By Catherine Pye , Reporter

DEMENTIA sufferers in Lancashire have been cheated out of £2.3million as a result of scam mail, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

Now the group is backing a campaign being run by Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service and Lancashire Constabulary, which asks carers and relatives to put scams they receive in ‘Scamnesty’ bins.

Running until the end of the month, there are 70 bins in locations including police stations, libraries and council receptions.

Last year the scheme helped to identify 400 separate scams, which, had they worked, could have cost Lancashire residents £10.6million.

County Coun Albert Atkinson said he was shocked to find that almost a fifth of scams identified in last year’s campaign came from criminals posing as psychics or clairvoyants, often containing threats that something awful would happen to the person or family members unless money was sent.

He said: “Most people see these for what they are, but those who are vulnerable for all kinds of reasons, whether due to dementia or declining mental health, or because they are socially isolated, over-trusting or superstitious, can easily become victims."

The Alzheimer's Society report ‘Short changed’ also revealed that nationally, 62 per cent of carers said the person they care for had been approached by cold callers or salespeople on their doorstep, while 70 per cent were regularly targeted by telephone cold callers.

DC Tony McClements said: “Carers and relatives of vulnerable people are in an ideal position to act as the first line of defence against scammers by spotting that the person they look after is receiving lots of scam mail, making unusual or large payments, or has less money than they should have.

“Scammers work together to share details of people who they discover to be vulnerable and bombard them with scam mail which is designed specifically to play upon those vulnerabilities to create fear or the promise of a better life.

"The main perpetrators are almost always overseas, making effective investigation almost impossible.”

More advice is available from Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.org.uk

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Lancashire dementia sufferers hit in £2.3m scam

Risk found with drugs used for dementia

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The Irish Times - Friday, February 24, 2012

DR MUIRIS HOUSTON

DRUGS USED to treat symptoms of dementia in older people in nursing homes have been linked to an increased risk of death, research published today suggests.

The largest study of nursing home residents in the US, carried out by researchers from Harvard University Medical School, has established the risk associated with individual anti-psychotic drugs. Some 75,500 nursing home residents over the age of 65 were studied over six months.

Almost half of deaths in those taking anti-psychotic medication were due to circulatory disorders, such as stroke and heart attack. Some 10 per cent of deaths were due to brain disorders, while 15 per cent were attributed to respiratory disorders.

After adjusting for age, sex and other physical illnesses that could raise the risk of mortality, the researchers report in the British Medical Journal that patients treated with the drug haloperidol had double the risk of death compared with those taking a more modern drug called risperidone.

The prescription of this class of drugs has diminished following warnings from drug regulatory authorities in recent years about its overuse.

A 2006 study carried out in the west of Ireland found that more than one in 10 residents of nursing homes and long-stay units for the elderly were receiving inappropriate medication to deal with the symptoms of dementia.

Anti-psychotic drugs, also known as major tranquillisers, are primarily used to treat schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar disorder and other causes of psychotic behaviour. Using the drugs to treat restlessness, wandering and the intermittent aggression found in some patients with dementia is considered inappropriate.

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Risk found with drugs used for dementia

Dementia patient twice as likely to die from drugs, researchers warn

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By Jenny Hope

Last updated at 9:44 AM on 24th February 2012

Elderly people in nursing homes with dementia run double the risk of dying from certain ‘chemical cosh’ drugs, warn researchers.

Alarm bells have been sounded about the dangers of premature death caused by antipsychotic drugs in recent years, but a new study shows some are more risky than others.

It found people over 65 taking haloperidol had double the risk of death compared with those taking a newer drug called risperidone.

A study has found that people over 65 taking haloperidol, pictured, had double the risk of death compared with those taking a newer drug called risperidone

Those taking highest doses of antipsychotic drugs - often known as the ‘chemical cosh’ because they are wrongly used to sedate elderly patients - were at greatest risk.

The Harvard Medical School study, the largest ever undertaken among US nursing home residents, looked at 75,445 older nursing home residents between 2001 and 2005.

The drugs investigated in the study are all used in nursing homes and on general hospital wards in the UK.

 

A Government-commissioned review in 2009 found 180,000 people with dementia were prescribed antipsychotics, of which 144,000 were given them inappropriately.

Research suggests this could mean 23,500 people dying prematurely each year.

Haloperidol, which was originally licensed for schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions, is one of the oldest used, while newer antipsychotics include risperidone and quetiapine.

A Government-commissioned review in 2009 found 180,000 people with dementia were prescribed antipsychotics, of which 144,000 were given them inappropriately

In the six-month study published in bmj.com - the online edition of the British Medical Journal - researchers found 6,598 nursing home residents died, almost nine per cent.

Patients treated with haloperidol had double the risk of death compared with those taking risperidone, the most commonly prescribed drug which was used for comparison with the other five drugs.

The effect of haloperidol was strongest in the first 40 days of treatment, while those taking quetiapine (sold under the brand Seroquel) had a slightly reduced risk of death.

There was no significant effect on death rates from the other drugs, aripiprazole, olanzapine (marketed as Zyprexa) and ziprasidone.

Almost half of deaths were recorded as due to circulatory disorders, 10 per cent due to brain disorders and 15 per cent to respiratory disorders.

The experts concluded ‘The data suggest that the risk of mortality with these drugs is generally increased with higher doses and seems to be highest for haloperidol and least for quetiapine.’

The Daily Mail has long called for an improvement in the care of dementia sufferers as part of our Dignity for the Elderly Campaign.

Manchester University academics earlier this week found more than a quarter of elderly patients with dementia were receiving antipsychotics, sometimes for years even though they are supposed to be used for a few weeks at most.

Most antipsychotic drugs are not licensed for treatment of dementia but are frequently prescribed to control agitation and aggressive behaviour, making life easier for carers and nursing home staff.

But Dr Anne Corbett, research manager at the Alzheimer’s Society charity, said the practice must stop.

She said ‘This research supports existing studies that have shown antipsychotics can raise the risk of death, particularly when used over the longer term.

‘As many as 150,000 of the 180,000 people with dementia who are on the drugs in the UK have been prescribed inappropriately. For a minority of people with dementia antipsychotics should be used, but then only for up to twelve weeks, and under the correct circumstances.

‘People with dementia are currently having their lives put at risk because of dangerous antipsychotic medication. Too often we hear about an over-reliance on medication as a response to distressed reactions of people with dementia, when a person-centred approach is what is required.

‘This needs to stop now. There has been some progress but good care rather than antipsychotics must become the norm. Staff need to be trained and supported to be empowered to provide person-centred care.’

 

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Dementia patient twice as likely to die from drugs, researchers warn

Certain Antipsychotics Up Risk of Death for Patients With Dementia: Study

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THURSDAY, Feb. 23 (HealthDay News) Compared to other antipsychotic drugs, haloperidol (Haldol) raises the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia, a new study finds.

One outside expert believes the finding should aid in dementia care. "This data provides much-needed guidance and reassurance for the ever-increasing number of health care practitioners treating older demented patients," said Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

The study was published online Feb. 23 in the British Medical Journal.

In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that certain antipsychotic drugs are associated with an increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia. This warning was expanded to include conventional antipsychotics in 2008, according to a journal news release.

The authors of the new study said that, despite the FDA action, the use of antipsychotic drugs for this patient population is likely to grow. According to the Harvard Medical School researchers, that's because there are a growing number of elderly patients with dementia who require some type of treatment.

Wolf-Klein agreed, noting that safety concerns over the use of antipsychotics are "leaving primary care physicians, geriatricians, neurologist and psychiatrists in a quandary as they attempt to respond to overwhelmed caregivers dealing with unmanageable behaviors at home. Discussion with family members of the risks and benefits of atypical antipsychotics creates additional stress and burden in an already difficult situation."

In the study, the Harvard group examined 2001-2005 data from more than 75,000 nursing home residents, aged 65 and older, in facilities across 45 states. They sought to assess the risk of death associated with widely used antipsychotic drugs such as aripiprazole, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone.

During the six-month study period, about 6,600 of the nursing home residents died from causes that were unrelated to cancer. Those who took haloperidol had double the risk of death compared to those who took risperidone, while those who took quetiapine (Seroquel) had a lower risk of death.

The researchers found that the effect of haloperidol was strongest during the first 40 days of treatment and that this did not change after doses were adjusted. Circulatory disorders accounted for 49 percent the deaths, respiratory disorders for 15 percent and brain disorders for 10 percent.

Not all antipsychotic medications carry the same risk of death in elderly patients and doctors "may want to consider this evidence when evaluating ... the best approach to treatment of behavioral problems," the researchers wrote.

Wolf-Klein said the study offers doctors valuable guidance going forward, and she called it "a landmark approach to addressing the pressing clinical need of practicing physicians confronted with behavioral issues in elderly demented patients."

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about dementia.

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Certain Antipsychotics Up Risk of Death for Patients With Dementia: Study

Maven Semantic: Lewy Body Dementia Research Database

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Maven Semantic (http://www.mavensemantic.com) announces updates to their Lewy Body Dementia research database.

The new database is now available to marketing, business development, competitor intelligence, KOL, medical affairs and related departments in the life sciences sector.

The database currently tags 11,000 individuals working in Lewy Body Dementia. http://bit.ly/xwvhED.

Top 10 Countries for Lewy Body Dementia Research (ranked by number of senior researchers)

Leading organisations in Lewy Body Dementia research include:

Addenbrooke's Hospital Albert Einstein College of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Case Western Reserve University Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research Columbia University Medical Center Duke University Medical Center Emory University School of Medicine Harvard Medical School Indiana University School of Medicine Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Karolinska Institutet King's College London Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Institute on Aging National Institutes of Health Sun Health Research Institute Tel Aviv University The Scripps Research Institute The University of Melbourne University of California University of Illinois at Chicago University of Kentucky University of Kuopio University of Pisa University of Pittsburgh University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center University of Würzburg Washington University School of Medicine Yale University School of Medicine

The database also includes pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, CROs, hospitals, government labs and other organisations active in the Lewy Body Dementia research field.

Sample companies in database include:

ACENTA DISCOVERY, INC Advanced Cell Technology and Mytogen, Inc ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION ALEXZA MOLECULAR DELIVERY CORPORATION ALKERMES, INC Alviva Biopharmaceuticals, Inc Amgen Inc Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc Analysis Group, Inc Angiogen Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd Archemix Corporation ArmaGen Technologies, Inc ARONEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC AVID RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC Cephalon Inc CytoTherapeutics Inc F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Fujimoto Pharmaceutical Corporation Genzyme Corporation Japan Science and Technology Corporation Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH NEOCYTEX BIOPHARMA, INC Novartis Pharma Inc Ortho Biotech Clinical Affairs, LLC Pfizer Inc Phylonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc PINNACLE TECHNOLOGY, INC Power3 Medical Products, Inc X-RAY OPTICAL SYSTEMS, INC

What is Maven:

- Largest database of international medical professionals, with over 6,000,000 people and over 500,000 medical organisations;

- All records are downloadable to excel or in-house database, with email, postal address and phone contacts;

- Profile and segment the entire database using over 47,000 diseases and therapeutic areas

For more information visit http://www.mavensemantic.com/

Link:
Maven Semantic: Lewy Body Dementia Research Database