A new marker of Alzheimer's disease can predict how rapidly a patient's memory and other mental abilities will decline after the disorder is diagnosed, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Just released in Neurology were the results of a three-year long study that followed 60 patients with early Alzheimer's disease. The study found that rapid mental decline was predicted by the presence of larger levels of visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1) in the spinal fluid.

Part of the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease is not knowing how rapidly or slowly the mental changes, memory loss, and eventually loss of personal identity will progress in your family member. Will you be able to celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary, or will it simply be a reminder of how much your and your spouse have lost? The general prognosis is known, but the rate at which the disease progresses varies widely from patient to patient, leaving both patient and caregivers in a sea of uncertainty.

In this study, patients with very mild or mild Alzheimer's disease were identified using an extensive battery of tests to assess their cognitive function. The researchers then measured VILIP-1 levels in the patient's spinal fluid. Cognitive testing was repeated yearly to provide data on rates of cognitive decay.

Two additional indicators were examined for predictive accuracy in the same study, the proteins amyloid beta and tau. They appear to reflect different aspects of the disease's progress. Changes in the amyloid beta and tau levels are associated with the formation of abnormal deposits of these proteins in the brain. VILIP-1 levels appear to reflect how much brain cell damage has actually occurred as the result of Alzheimer's.

In an earlier study, members of this research team showed that healthy subjects with high levels of VILIP-1 were more likely to develop cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease over a two- to three-year follow-up period. The predictive ability of measuring VILIP-1 levels thus appears to extend to healthy or presymptomatic individuals, as well as those who present with early Alzheimer's.

"Memory and other mental abilities declined faster in patients with the highest levels of VILIP-1," according to lead author Rawan Tarawneh, MD, now an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Jordan. "VILIP-1 appears to be a strong indicator of ongoing injury to brain cells as a result of Alzheimer's disease ... VILIP-1 seems to be at least as good as - and potentially even better than - the other prognostic indicators we used in the study. That could be very useful in predicting the course of the disease and in evaluating new treatments in clinical trials."

Washington University in St. Louis

View original post here:
Bio-marker predicts rate of mental decline in Alzheimer's patients

27-10-2011 16:10 University of Colorado School of Medicine Neurology Grand Rounds SEPT 14 2011

Original post:
University of Colorado School of Medicine Neurology Grand Rounds SEPT 14 2011 - Video

Public release date: 7-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 651-695-2738 American Academy of Neurology

ST. PAUL, Minn. Women who have multiple pregnancies may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published in the March 7, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"In our study, the risk went down with each pregnancy and the benefit was permanent," said study author Anne-Louise Ponsonby, PhD, of Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia.

Researchers reviewed information about 282 Australian men and women between the ages of 18 and 59 who had a first diagnosis of central nervous demyelination, which means they had their first symptoms similar to MS but had not yet been diagnosed with the disease. They were compared to 542 men and women with no MS symptoms. For women, the number of pregnancies lasting at least 20 weeks and the number of live births were recorded. For men, the number of children born was recorded.

The study found that women who were pregnant two or more times had a quarter of the risk of developing MS symptoms and women who had five or more pregnancies had one-twentieth the risk of developing symptoms than women who were never pregnant. There was no association between the amount of children and risk of MS symptoms in men.

"The rate of MS cases has been increasing in women over the last few decades, and our research suggests that this may be due to mothers having children later in life and having fewer children than they have in past years," said Ponsonby.

###

The study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of the United States of America, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia.

To learn more about multiple sclerosis, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

Link:
Past pregnancies linked to reduced MS risk in women

02-03-2012 13:46 http://www.narayana-verlag.de Dr. AU Ramakrishnan is one of the world's leading homeopaths. Besides treating cancer patients, he has also achieved groundbreaking success in the treatment of other serious chronic diseases. In his seminar, he presents outstanding case studies of patients with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and cardiovascular disease interspersed with numerous differential diagnoses and valuable tips drawn from his years of experience. This recording was made during the 2nd Badenweiler Congress -- Cancer and Other Severe Pathologies, held in September 2010. DVD 1 -- NEUROLOGY - Multiple sclerosis: impressive cases with diplopia, paraesthesia and spastic paresis - Myasthenia gravis: cases with proven homeopathic remedies - Parkinson's disease: cases and most frequently used remedies - Epilepsy: case studies of children DVD 2 -- NEUROLOGY - Epilepsy continued - ADHD: tried-and-tested remedies with case study - Hydrocephalus: congenital hydrocephalus in children - Stroke/apoplexy: useful homeopathic remedies for treating hemiplegia, management of acute apoplexy - Alzheimer: impressive case with tips on remedies - Trigeminal neuralgia: most important remedies DVD 3 -- CARDIOLOGY - Myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, diuretics, cardiac insufficiency, cardiac valve diseases, peripheral vascular disease, iron deficiency anaemia, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, Raynaud's disease, varicosis, thrombosis with numerous case ...

Read more from the original source:
Neurological

04-03-2012 16:09 http://www.FunctionalCranialRelease.com Essential tremor (ET) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder of which the most recognizable feature is a tremor of the arms or hands that is apparent during voluntary movements such as eating and writing.[1] This type of tremor is often referred to as "kinetic tremor." The general pattern being that the tremor begins in the arms and then spreads to these other regions in selected patients. Some patients may have unsteadiness and problems with gait and balance that are above and beyond that due to normal aging. Aside from enhanced physiological tremor, it is the most common type of tremor and one of the most commonly observed movement disorders.[11] Essential tremor was also previously known as "benign essential tremor", but the adjective "benign" has been removed in recognition of the sometimes disabling nature of the disorder. Although essential tremor is often mild, patients with severe tremor have difficulty performing many of their routine activities of daily living.

See the rest here:
Essential Tremor is treated using the latest in Neurology by Sarasota Doctor. Watch video on how. - Video

05-03-2012 21:12 Quantum Neurology® Testimonial: Dr. Allen Goode, DC http://www.QuantumNeurology.com

Link:
Patients are calling to thank me for Quantum Neurology® - Video

01-03-2012 08:57 http://www.blueridgehealth.org - Neurologist Mark Mandlebaum, MD discusses neurology services available at Blue Ridge Neurology. He treats migraine headaches, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, neuropathy, and more. He hopes to bring a high level of care to Burke County and Morganton, NC, along with his partner Kadry Allaboun, MD. They are conveniently located in Morganton on the Blue Ridge HealthCare Grace Hospital campus.

The rest is here:
Mark Mandlebaum Interview - Neurology at Blue Ridge HealthCare.mp4 - Video

Newswise Neuroimaging for stroke patients may be unnecessarily costly and redundant, contributing to rising costs nationwide for stroke care, according to University of Michigan research.

The research, published in the Annals of Neurology, found that 95 percent of stroke patients who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also had a computed tomography (CT) scan.

Compared to CT, MRI is a more accurate test for stroke, says James F. Burke, M.D., lead author of the study and a clinical lecturer in the University of Michigan Medical Schools Department of Neurology. But our results showed that MRI is not replacing CT as the primary stroke neuroimaging study instead, patients are getting both.

Minimizing the use of multiple studies could be a viable strategy to reduce costs.

The costs of inpatient stroke care have climbed by 42 percent between 1997 and 2007, an increase of $3,800 per case, Burke and his University of Michigan found. Neuroimaging MRIs and CTs were the largest driver of costs.

Diagnostic imaging has been the fastest growing component of total hospital costs, increasing 213 percent from 1999 to 2007.

The data shows that neuroimaging practices in stroke are neither standardized or efficient, Burke says. This represents an area where we have an opportunity to substantially reduce the cost of care without adversely effecting the quality of care.

Burkes research spurred an accompanying editorial in the Annals, written by editors S. Clairborne Johnson, M.D., Ph.D. and Stephen L. Hauser, M.D.

The issue of duplicative imaging in stroke is just one example of wasteful care, the editors wrote. Quite simply, it is very easy to order more test and to treat with more expensive therapies

We should track waste as another measure of quality care The failure to find a political solution to rising healthcare costs only increases our responsibility to become leaders and not victims.

See more here:
Physicians Order Costly, Redundant Neuroimaging for Stroke Patients, Study Says

High intake of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) could help protect the aging brain, according to research.

The new data published in Neurology suggests that a diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids could cause the brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities. The researchers, led by scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA),USA, revealed that middle-aged and elderly adults who regularly consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids could slow the mental decline that leads to dementia noting that those with the highest blood levels of DHA and EPA were more likely to perform well on tests of mental functioning and to experience less age-related brain shrinkage.

The authors said that whilst previous research linking dementia risk with the omega-3 fatty acids had looked at in blood plasma, which reflects how much people had eaten in the past few days, their current work estimated the amount of omega-3 participants had consumed over the last few months by looking at how much had built up in red blood cells.

"People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging," explained study author Dr Zaldy Tan of UCLA.

In particular, Tan and his colleagues concluded that low DHA levels in red blood cells are associated with smaller brain volumes and a vascular pattern of cognitive impairment even in persons free of clinical dementia.

Study details

In the new study, over 1,500 dementia free participants with an average age of 67 underwent MRI brain scans. The group were also tested to measure mental function, body mass, and the omega-3 fatty acid level in their red blood cells was sampled.

Tan and his colleagues found that people with DHA levels in the lowest 25% of the participants (the bottom quartile) had lower brain volume compared to people who had higher DHA levels. They said that the brain volume was enough to make people in the bottom quartiles brains appear two years older than those of people in the top three-quarters.

The researchers added that participants with levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in the bottom quartile also scored lower on tests of visual memory and executive function, such as problem solving and multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

Brain scans also showed signs of less blood supply in the brains of people with the lowest omega-3 levels. Tan suggested that this may mean DHA plays a role in promoting general health of blood vessels in the brain in a similar way to how the omega-3s are suggested to be aid heart health.

Link:
Omega-3 rich diet could protect against brain aging: Study

ScienceDaily (Mar. 1, 2012) The association of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane with Alzheimer's-disease-like changes in mammalian brains may by caused by the drug's effects on mitochondria, the structures in which most cellular energy is produced. In a study that will appear in Annals of Neurology and has received early online release, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report that administration of isoflurane impaired the performance of mice on a standard test of learning and memory -- a result not seen when another anesthetic, desflurane, was administered. They also found evidence that the two drugs have significantly different effects on mitochondrial function.

"These are the first results indicating that isoflurane, but not desflurane, may induce neuronal cell death and impair learning and memory by damaging mitochondria," says Yiying (Laura) Zhang, MD, a research fellow in the MGH Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and the study's lead author. "This work needs to be confirmed in human studies, but it's looking like desflurane may be a better anesthetic to use for patients susceptible to cognitive dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's patients."

Previous studies have suggested that undergoing surgery and general anesthesia may increase the risk of Alzheimer's, and it is well known that a small but significant number of surgical patients experience a transient form of cognitive dysfunction in the postoperative period. In 2008, members of the same MGH research team showed that isoflurane induced Alzheimer's-like changes -- increasing activation of enzymes involved with cell death and generation of the A-beta plaques characteristic of the disease -- in the brains of mice. The current study was designed to explore the underlying mechanism and behavioral consequences of isoflurane-induced brain cell death and to compare isoflurane's effects with those of desflurane, another common anesthetic that has not been associated with neuronal damage.

In a series of experiments, the investigators found that the application of isoflurane to cultured cells and mouse neurons increased the permeability of mitochondrial membranes; interfered with the balance of ions on either side of the mitochondrial membrane; reduced levels of ATP, the enzyme produced by mitochondria that powers most cellular processes; and increased levels of the cell-death enzyme caspase. The results also suggested that the first step toward isoflurane-induced cell death was increased generation of reactive oxygen species -- unstable oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cellular components. The performance of mice on a standard behavioral test of learning and memory declined significantly two to seven days after administration of isoflurane, compared with the results of a control group. None of the cellular or behavioral effects of isoflurane were seen when the administered agent was desflurane.

In another study by members of the same research team -- appearing in the February issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia and published online in November -- about a quarter of surgical patients receiving isoflurane showed some level of cognitive dysfunction a week after surgery, while patients receiving desflurane or spinal anesthesia had no decline in cognitive performance. That study, conducted in collaboration with investigators from Beijing Friendship Hospital in China, enrolled only 45 patients -- 15 in each treatment group -- so its results need to be confirmed in significantly larger groups.

"Approximately 8.5 million Alzheimer's disease patients worldwide will need anesthesia and surgical care every year," notes Zhongcong Xie, MD, PhD, corresponding author of both studies and director of the Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit in the MGH Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine. "Developing guidelines for safer anesthesia care for these patients will require collaboration between specialists in anesthesia, neurology, geriatric medicine and other specialties. As the first step, we need to identify anesthetics that are less likely to contribute to Alzheimer's disease neuropathogenesis and cognitive dysfunction." Xie is an associate professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School (HMS)

Additional co-authors of the Annals of Neurology study are Zhipeng Xu, MD, PhD, Hui Wang, MD, and Yuanlin Dong, MD, MGH Anesthesia; Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, MGH Neurology; Hai Ning Shi, DVM, PhD, MGH Pediatrics; Deborah Culley, MD, and Greg Crosby, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital; and Edward Marcantonia, MD, MS, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Geriatrics Society, the Alzheimer's Association and the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The rest is here:
How anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains

26-02-2012 18:29 NeuroLogic Djset @ The gate of Waves Filmed by:Telmo Tryon 18-02-2012

Read the rest here:
NeuroLogic Djset @ The gate of Waves - Video

March 5, 2012 Bron Ault-Connell Bron Ault-Connell

UCLA researchers have recently conducted a study on the correlation between Omega-3 fatty acid levels in the diet and brain capacity.

The research, published in the February 28, 2012 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, studied 1,575 dementia-free participants, with an average age of 67. They underwent a variety of tests including MRI scans, tests measuring mental function, body mass and omega-3 fatty acid levels in red blood cells.

Omega-3 fatty acid, commonly found in fish, contains the nutrients docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

The UCLA researchers found that those whose DHA levels were amongst the lower 25 percent of participants had lower brain volumes than those individuals with higher DHA levels. Similarly, participants whose levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in the bottom 25 percent also scored lower on tests of visual memory and executive function, including problem-solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

The findings indicated that the individuals with lower levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet have lower brain capacities equivalent to approximately two years of structural brain ageing.

Link:
Study shows Omega-3 fatty acids increase brain capacity

27-02-2012 08:30 PCU's Believe That im Deadly--from Classic Debut Album--(Struggle-Big Ox-Password)--in 2008 the unification of Scuz was formed with the Neurologists to create such a classic!

The rest is here:
PCU - Believe That im Deadly- (Produced By The Neurologists) 2008 - Video

27-02-2012 06:22 Gala celebrates 50 years of U of Miami Neurology Department

Original post:
Gala celebrates 50 years of U of Miami Neurology Department - Video

Public release date: 1-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dawn Peters healthnews@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley-Blackwell

New research shows an increased risk of ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women who consume higher amounts of trans fatty acids, commonly found in baked goods, fried foods, and packaged products. Study findings now available in Annals of Neurology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggest aspirin use may moderate the stroke risk caused by a diet high in trans fats.

Ischemic stroke is a result of a blockage in an artery leading to the brain. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke in the U.S. each year. Reports from the AHA indicate that stroke is the fourth cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 137,000 Americans each year with 60% of those deaths in women. Previous research suggests that increased incidence of cardiovascular diseaseone of the risk factors for strokeis associated with trans fat consumption. However, in other prior studies no significant association was found between dietary fat intake and stroke.

In the largest study of stroke in postmenopausal women to date, Dr. Ka He and colleagues analyzed data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS)a prospective cohort study of 87,025 women between the ages 50 and 79 who are generally in good health. At the time of enrollment participants were given a self-administered food frequency questionnaire and again three years later to assess their diet. The questionnaire asked about frequency of intake and portion size for 122 goods and food groups during a 3-month period and included questions related to fat consumption from meat, dairy, cooking, and reduced fat food items.

Results show 1,049 incident cases of ischemic stroke over 663,041 person-years of follow-up. Women who had the highest trans fat intake (6.1 grams/day) had a 39% greater incidence of stroke compared to those who consumed less (2.2 grams/day). Researchers found no significant associations between total fat, other types of fat, or dietary cholesterol. Aspirin use was shown to reduce the association between trans fat intake and stroke.

Additionally, researchers determined that of the ischemic stroke cases, there were 101 atherotherombotic, 234 cardioembolic and 269 lacunar infarctions, with another 445 unspecified cases that were not included in the subtype analysis. After adjusting for clinical, lifestyle and dietary factors results showed trans fat intake was associated with a higher risk of lacunar infarction.

"Our findings confirm that postmenopausal women with higher trans fat intake had an elevated risk of ischemic stroke, but aspirin use may reduce the adverse effects," concludes Dr. He. "We recommend following a diet low in trans fat and adding an aspirin regimen to help women reduce their risk of stroke, specifically following the onset of menopause."

###

The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study by Dr. He and colleagues was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Read more here:
Postmenopausal women at greater risk of stroke from high trans fat intake

01-03-2012 08:42 Rt. Epley maneuver

See original here:
do neurology clinic.edu.bppv.PC.Rt.Epley maneuver.wmv - Video

Newswise ST. PAUL, Minn. The American Academy of Neurology Foundation and The ALS Association are announcing the creation of the Richard Olney Clinician Scientist Development Award in ALS, named after Richard K. Olney, MD, a leading neurologist and pioneer in clinical ALS research who died late last month of ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrigs disease.

We came together to create this research fellowship in record time as a tribute to Dr. Olney, not only as a courageous person, but one whose pioneering ALS research improved the lives of many people diagnosed with this dreadful disease that gradually robs the body of its ability to use its muscles, said John Mazziotta, MD, PhD, Chair of the American Academy of Neurology Foundations Board of Trustees and Professor and Chair of UCLAs Brain Mapping Center in Los Angeles.

Applications for the $240,000 research prize will be accepted through October 1, 2012.

Olney was founder and director of the ALS Treatment and Research Center at the University of California-San Francisco before he was diagnosed with ALS in 2004 and turned over the reins to Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD. Lomen-Hoerth was Olneys former student who went on to become his physician.

This is an incredible initiative to honor Rick Olney's legacy and his work in ALS as an advocate, researcher, clinician, and teacher. It will be inspirational for the recipient of this award to hear about his life and strive to follow in his footsteps, said Lomen-Hoerth, who is a past recipient of an American Academy of Neurology Foundation clinical research training fellowship. As a recipient myself of a clinical research training fellowship in the past, it was an essential springboard for me to enter the field of ALS research. I am grateful to these organizations for providing this fellowship and for honoring Rick Olney and his family in this special way.

Dr. Olney will be remembered not only as a courageous person with ALS, but someone who as an outstanding clinician and scientist made major contributions both for patients and the scientific field, said ALS Association Chief Scientist Lucie Bruijn, PhD. He has been an inspiration to those of us who work every day to understand the disease with a hope to find meaningful therapies for ALS. It is an honor to have known him personally, and The ALS Association is proud to have the opportunity to name this award in his memory.

The loss to our ALS community is immeasurable, said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. Dr. Olney's commitment to excellence in patient care, clinical research and advocacy has contributed to people with ALS living longer, better quality lives.

In 2006, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation presented Olney with a special Public Education Award for his efforts to raise awareness of the disease and money for research by sharing his story as a researcher/doctor turned patient with the national media.

The American Academy of Neurology Foundation supports vital research into finding cures for brain disease. The Foundation is committed to improving patient care, quality of life and public understanding of brain disease. To learn more or to make a donation to support research, visit http://www.aan.com/foundation.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimers disease, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

Continue reading here:
ALS Researcher Who Died of ALS Honored with New Research Fellowship

22-02-2012 01:37 Animated Pocket Dictionary: Neurology & Psychiatry defines and illustrates 80 Neurology and Psychiatry-related medical terms with true-to-life 3D animation. Easily understand complex medical terms through simple animated videos, audio commentaries, and written definitions. The Animated Pocket Dictionary is a must-have resource to be referred to time and again. Perfect for health professionals, students, and laypeople alike. http://www.focusappsstore.net

More:
Neurology and Psychiatry: Multiple Sclerosis (Animated Pocket Dictionary) - Video

18-02-2012 00:17 Dr. Ramachandran Lecture Neurology and the Passion for Art http://www.youtube.com Dr. Ramachandran BBC special "Phantoms in the brain" episode 1 part 1 http://www.youtube.com part 2 http://www.youtube.com part 3 http://www.youtube.com part 4 http://www.youtube.com part 5 http://www.youtube.com episode 2 part 1 http://www.youtube.com part 2 http://www.youtube.com part 3 http://www.youtube.com part 4 http://www.youtube.com part 5 http://www.youtube.com Dr. Hellen Fisher lecture "Your Brain On Love" http://www.youtube.com

Follow this link:
Communication and Personality Typing - Video

Public release date: 27-Feb-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka
rseroka@aan.com
651-695-3738
American Academy of Neurology

ST. PAUL, Minn. ? A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a study published in the February 28, 2012, print issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

"People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging," said study author Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH, of the Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Division of Geriatrics, University of California at Los Angeles.

For the study, 1,575 people with an average age of 67 and free of dementia underwent MRI brain scans. They were also given tests that measured mental function, body mass and the omega-3 fatty acid levels in their red blood cells.

The researchers found that people whose DHA levels were among the bottom 25 percent of the participants had lower brain volume compared to people who had higher DHA levels. Similarly, participants with levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in the bottom 25 percent also scored lower on tests of visual memory and executive function, such as problem solving and multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

###

The study was supported by the Framingham Heart Study's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Aging.

To learn more about memory problems, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

[ | 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.

See more here:
Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems