Newswise — NEW ORLEANS – A new drug is showing promise in shielding against the harmful effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, according to a study that was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

“There are currently no primary treatments for TBI, so this research provides hope that effective treatments can be developed,” said study author Michael Kaufman, a second year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The principal investigator on the study is Christian Kreipke, MD, also with Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Traumatic brain injury causes a decrease in blood flow in the cerebrum of the brain, which if prolonged, can cause permanent cell dysfunction and death. A receptor in the brain called endothelin receptor A (ETrA) contributes to the restriction of blood flow as early as four hours after a brain injury. The new drug, called clazosentan, is thought to specifically block these receptors.

Researchers gave brain-injured rats the drug clazosentan through an intravenous (IV) line at several different points in time after the injury. Next, they measured the rat’s blood flow in the hippocampus and sensory motor cortex with an MRI brain scan and tested their behavior in learning a maze.

Preliminary data from the study found that clazosentan decreased the effects of the traumatic brain injury on blood flow to the hippocampus by 25 percent at four hours and 23 percent at 48 hours after TBI. However, giving the rats the drug at 12 hours post-injury caused some to improve, while others worsened or remained the same. In the trial, the drug was most effective when given at two hours post-injury and again at 24 hours after the trauma. The rats also performed better on the maze test when given the drug at two and 24 hours post-injury.

“This research is the foundation for future clinical trials that will investigate the possibilities of using clazosentan in the treatment of TBI,” said Kaufman.

Learn more about traumatic brain injury at http://www.aan.com/patients.

The study was supported by the American Academy of Neurology, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s 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.

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New Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury Shows Promise in Animals

Mayo Clinic Florida sports medicine physician Daniel Montero, M.D., provides tips on avoiding injuries while running in a marathon. He also addresses tips on:

- safely keeping up when running in large crowds
- staying hydrated
- dressing for weather conditions
- running the way you were trained to do

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Adverse drug events are important preventable causes of hospitalization in older adults.

4 medications linked to 67% of drug-related hospitalizations

Four medications or medication classes were implicated alone or in combination in 67% of hospitalizations:

- warfarin, 33%
- insulins, 14%
- oral antiplatelet agents, 13%
- oral hypoglycemic agents, 11%

High-risk medications were implicated in only 1.2% of hospitalizations.

50% of these hospitalizations were among adults 80 years of age or older. 65% of hospitalizations were due to unintentional overdoses.

Classification of adverse reactions to drugs: "SOAP III" mnemonic (click to enlarge the image):

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) affect 10–20% of hospitalized patients and 25% of outpatients.

Rule of 10s in ADR

10% of patients develop ADR
10% of these are due to allergy
10% of these lead to anaphylaxis
10% of these lead to death

Insulin is one of the top 10 high risk medications

Insulin has been identified as one of the top 10 high risk medicines worldwide. Errors are common - the first national audit in England and Wales showed prescribing errors in 19.5% of cases.

Not only are mistakes common, they often lead to harm - 3% of medication errors are related to insulin, but these errors were also twice as likely to cause harm as errors for other prescribed drugs.

Over 20 different types of insulin are in use, in various strengths and forms, and with a range of delivery devices, including insulin syringes (from vials), insulin pens (prefilled or reusable), or infusion pumps.

Top 10 most prescribed medications

According to a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the top 10 most-prescribed drugs in the U.S. are:

- hydrocodone (combined with acetaminophen)
- simvastatin
- lisinopril
- levothyroxine
- amlodipine
- omeprazole
- azithromycin
- amoxicillin
- metformin
- hydrochlorothiazide

References:

Emergency Hospitalizations for Adverse Drug Events in Older Americans. Daniel S. Budnitz, M.D., M.P.H., Maribeth C. Lovegrove, M.P.H., Nadine Shehab, Pharm.D., M.P.H., and Chesley L. Richards, M.D., M.P.H. N Engl J Med 2011; 365:2002-2012, November 24, 2011.
Insulin is one of the top 10 high risk medications worldwide for prescription errors
Top 10 Most Prescribed Medications
Drug Allergy: Introduction and Epidemiology
Drug Allergy
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

Comments from Google Plus and Twitter:

Wendy Hemken - I noticed that opioids weren't on that list. All the talk seems to be about how deadly they are. Is this not the case?

Aaron Sparshott @IVLINE: An important one for #medstudents

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On the third floor of U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley, a new clinic operates out of vacant patient rooms helping those with disorders that affect the nervous system, until it finds a more permanent residence. The Neurology Department opened for business Dec. 28, 2011. The growing in- and out-patient clinic provides consults, and diagnostic and treatment options for general neurological disorders, such as migraines and seizures.

The clinic only sees adult patients by referral from their primary care providers, so appointments cannot be made directly through the appointment line. The clinic is opened Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

With one neurologist, Dr. Jane Peng, two neurology technicians, two nurses and one administrative assistant, anywhere from six to eight patients with a variety of symptoms are seen daily. Routine procedures, such as tests using an electromyography machine to evaluate the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles, and consultations are completed to determine the neurological disorder and the best course of treatment.

Due to its limited space and capacity at this time, the Neurology Department cannot service acute neurological disorders, such as stroke or spinal cord injury. According to Col. Jerry Wizda, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron commander, the clinic does have plans to develop, and able to treat all neurological disorder conditions.

"This is a growing service," said Wizda. "Once space becomes available, equipment becomes available, the services will expand."

According to Lt. Col. Maria Melendez, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron Internal Medicine and Specialty Clinics flight commander, the establishment of the Neurology Department helps to re-capture patients in the USAF Hospital Langley system, providing continuity and saving time for the patient.

"We want the patient to be able to come back to the Neurology Department and get feedback," said Melendez. "We want to be able to focus on patient satisfaction and customer service."

Editor's Note: U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley has been identified by the Air Force Surgeon General as one of seven Air Force Medical Service currency platforms, a full-spectrum location to receive and provide for patient needs in an encompassing medical environment. To fulfill the currency platform plan, USAF Hospital Langley is adding new specialty departments to cover all conditions in patient care. Throughout 2012, The Peninsula Warrior will feature these new departments as they become operational.

More:
New departments have come to USAF Hospital

Dr. Jeffrey L. Saver of Thousand Oaks, professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the UCLA Stroke Center, received the William Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke at the American Stroke Association's 2012 International Stroke Conference in New Orleans on Feb. 2.

The Feinberg Award recognizes a Stroke Council Fellow actively involved in patient-based research who has made significant contributions to clinical stroke research.

Saver, a stroke physician and scientist for nearly 20 years, has been a principal investigator or co-investigator in numerous national and international trials spanning a spectrum of stroke care.

In addition, Saver has trained more than 20 neurology fellows and created the UCLA Visiting Scholars Program for international vascular neuroscientists to perform clinical research within the UCLA Stroke Center.

Founded in 1994, the UCLA Stroke Center is designated as a certified Primary Stroke Center by the national Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

To share news about your company or business-related organization, email dpeschka@VCStar.com. If there is an event involved, please email the information at least three weeks in advance of the event.

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UCLA Stroke Center researcher honored

Even though he recently turned 100, Dr. Engleman still sees arthritis patients regularly at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). He has some rather unconventional longevity secrets to share:

"I think exercise is mostly overrated. And the use of vitamins, forget it. And I don't encourage a lot of doctors.

Fall in love and get married. Sex is to be encouraged. Children are a priority."

His two sons are physicians. His daugher, a lawyer, is a married to a doctor, and their son is a physician.

From NBC’s Nightly News:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The extended 17-minute version of the report is embedded below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

References:

100-year-old doctor still practicing at UCSF, shares unconventional longevity secrets

Comments from Twitter:

Mauna @MissMauna: How many times? RT @DrVes: 100-year-old doc, still practicing, shares longevity secret: "Fall in love and get married" goo.gl/fb/cw0ge

Jamie Carracher @JamieCa: That might be the hardest doctor's orders to follow of them all!

Michelle Kane @mishysmosh: I'm doomed.

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Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 16 Feb 2012 - 6:00 PST

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A report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals states that increases in brain cortical binding of the chemical marker called [18F]FDDNP were related to increases in clinical symptoms of neurodegeneration, whilst regional baseline values of this marker seem to be linked to with future cognitive decline.

The researchers explain:

"Nearly 20 percent of people 65 years or older have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 10 percent have dementia. Such a high prevalence has led to recent research on the development of brain imaging tools to track the neuropathologic changes associated with these conditions.

Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that [18F]FDDNP brain binding patterns correspond to the known neuropathologic deposition patterns determined from autopsy studies."

Gary W. Small, M.D., and colleagues with the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed 43 individuals aged between 40 to 87 years old (22 patients with normal aging and 21 patients with mild cognitive impairment [MCI]), in order to evaluated if baseline [18F]FDDNP binding values are predictors of future cognitive decline, and if brain regional binding values increase as cognitive decline progresses.

Among participants in the MCI and normal aging group, the researchers measured longitudinal [18F]FDDNP positron emission tomography (PET) binding values in specific regions of the brain.

At the two-year follow up, the researchers discovered that individuals in the MCI showed considerably increases in [18F]FDDNP binding values in parietal, frontal, global and posterior cingulate regions of the brain, although levels in the medial temporal region did not considerably increase.

In addition, frontal and parietal [18F]FDDNP binding among individuals in the MCI group, showed the greatest diagnostic accuracy in detecting individuals at highest risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than individuals who were not at risk of converting after two years. The researchers found no considerable binding increases in any region of the brain among individuals in the normal aging group.

Furthermore, the team found that among all participants, increases in global, frontal and posterior cingulate binding at follow-up were linked to progression of memory decline after 2 years. In addition, they found that higher [18F]FDDNP binding at baseline was connected with future decline in most cognitive domains including attention, visuospatial, language and executive abilities.

The researchers conclude:

"Our findings indicate that in vivo regional [18F]FDDNP binding patterns are consistent with known patterns of disease deposition and associated with future disease course. Using [18F]FDDNP PET may not only assist in predicting future cognitive decline and identifying individuals more likely to benefit from prevention treatments, but it may also track the effectiveness of such treatments to accelerate drug discovery efforts."

Written by Grace Rattue
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Chemical Marker May Predict Cognitive Decline Risk

Public release date: 17-Feb-2012
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rseroka@aan.com
651-695-2738
American Academy of Neurology

NEW ORLEANS ? New research looks at whether clot-busting drugs can safely be given to children who have strokes. The research was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

In adults, the clot-busting drugs can reduce disability if given within a few hours after stroke symptoms begin. But few studies have looked at whether the drugs are safe for children.

The study used a national database to look at all children admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke from 1998 to 2009. Only ischemic strokes can be treated with clot-busting drugs; they are the most common type of stroke.

Of the 9,367 children who were admitted with ischemic stroke, only 75 children, or 0.8 percent, received clot-busting drugs, also called thrombolytic therapy. Intracerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, is a risk of thrombolytic therapy. The four percent rate of hemorrhage in the 75 kids who received thrombolytic therapy was higher than the 0.38 percent rate in kids who did not receive the therapy, but it was similar to the rate in adults who receive thrombolytic therapy.

Children who received thrombolytic therapy were no more likely to die following the stroke than those who did not receive the therapy.

"These findings provide evidence that clot-busting drugs can be safely used with children," said study author Amer Alshekhlee, MD, of St. Louis University in St. Louis. "More research is needed to determine whether the drugs are as effective in preventing disability from stroke in children as they are in adults."

The children in the study who received the therapy were older than those who did not, an average of 13 years old compared to eight years old. There were no differences in treatment regarding race, gender, or family income.

###

Learn more about stroke at 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 stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's 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.

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Is clot-busting drug safe for kids with strokes?

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 16 Feb 2012 - 6:00 PST

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According to a study in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) may be healthier for the brain. Researchers have discovered that a MeDi diet is associated with reduced damage of small blood vessels in the brain.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are markers of chronic small vessel damage and can be seen using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The researchers explain:

"Although diet may be an important predictor of vascular disease, little is known about the possible association between dietary habits and WMHs. Studies have suggested that consumption of a MeDi [Mediterranean Diet] is associated with a reduced risk of the metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, stroke and cognitive disorders, but no studies to date, to our knowledge, have examined the association between a MeDi and WMH volume (WMHV)."

To examine this association, data from 966 participants in the Northern Manhattan Study were assessed by Hannah Gardener, Sc.D., of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and her team. In order to evaluate dietary patterns during the previous year, the researchers gave participants a food frequency questionnaire. The researchers then used the answers from the questionnaire to determine a MeDi compliance score. The team measured WMHV by quantitative brain MRI.

The researchers found that on a MeDi scale from 0 to 10:

11.6% of participants scored 0 to 2 15.8% scored 3 23% scored 4 23.5% scored 5 and 26.1% of participants scored between 6 to 9 In addition they discovered that men and had higher MeDi scores than women, as well as those who reported moderate to heavy levels of physical activity. Furthermore, results showed that individuals with a MeDi score of 6+ had lower BMI.

Results from the study indicate that among participants, those who consume a MeDi have a lower burden of WMHV. This connection was independent of vascular and sociodemographic risk factors including smoking, blood lipid levels, physical activity, BMI, history of cardiac disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The researchers found that the only component of the MeDi score that was independently linked to WMHV was the ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fat.

The researchers conclude:

"In summary, the current study suggests a possible protective association between increased consumption of a MeDi and small vessel damage. The associations with WMHV may be driven by the favorable ratio of monounsaturated fat consumption over saturated fat.

However, the results of the analysis of the individual MeDi scale components suggests that the overall dietary pattern, rather than any of the individual components, may be more etiologically relevant in relation to WMHV."

Written by Grace Rattue
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Mediterranean Diet Good For Brain

Public release date: 15-Feb-2012
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Contact: Rachel Seroka
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651-695-2738
American Academy of Neurology

NEW ORLEANS ? Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke. That's according to new research that was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

"These are basic office tests which can provide insight into risk of dementia and stroke and can be easily performed by a neurologist or general practitioner," said Erica C. Camargo, MD, MSc, PhD, with Boston Medical Center.

More than 2,400 men and women with an average age of 62 underwent tests for walking speed, hand grip strength and cognitive function. Brain scans were also performed. During the follow-up period of up to 11 years, 34 people developed dementia and 70 people had a stroke.

The study found people with a slower walking speed in middle age were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop dementia compared to people with faster walking speed. Stronger hand grip strength was associated with a 42 percent lower risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in people over age 65 compared to those with weaker hand grip strength. This was not the case, however, for people in the study under age 65.

"While frailty and lower physical performance in elderly people have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, we weren't sure until now how it impacted people of middle age," said Camargo.

Researchers also found that slower walking speed was associated with lower total cerebral brain volume and poorer performance on memory, language and decision-making tests. Stronger hand grip strength was associated with larger total cerebral brain volume as well as better performance on cognitive tests asking people to identify similarities among objects. "Further research is needed to understand why this is happening and whether preclinical disease could cause slow walking and decreased strength," said Camargo.

###

Learn more about dementia and stroke at http://www.aan.com/patients.

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

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, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's 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.

Media Contacts:
Rachel Seroka, rseroka@aan.com, (651) 695-2738
Angela Babb, APR, ababb@aan.com, (651) 695-2789

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How fast you walk and your grip in middle age may predict dementia, stroke risk

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Also Included In: Alzheimer's / Dementia;  Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 16 Feb 2012 - 0:00 PST

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A new study, which will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, April 21st to April 28th, reveals that the amount of shut-eye people sleep may later affect their memory's function and the risk of Alzheimer's.

Study author, Yo-El Ju, M.D., from the University School of Medicine, St. Louis, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, explained:

"Disrupted sleep appears to be associated with the build-up of amyloid plaques, a hallmark marker of Alzheimer's disease, in the brains of people without memory problems. Further research is needed to determine why this is happening and whether sleep changes may predict cognitive decline."

To determine their findings, the authors analyzed the sleep patterns of 100 patients, aged between 45 and 80, who did not show any signs of dementia. 50% of these patients had a history of Alzheimer's disease in their families, the other 50% did not have any history of Alzheimer's disease in their families.

The researchers placed a monitor on the patients in order to record their sleep for 2 weeks. They were also asked to record their sleeping habits and fill out surveys.

The study determined that 25% of the patients showed signs of amyloid plaques, which predict Alzheimer's in the future, and can be seen many years before they are diagnosed with the progressive disease. The mean amount of time the participants slept during the study was 8 hours. However, the average was reduced - to 6.5 hours - because of disruptions in their sleep throughout the night.

The people who did not wake up frequently during the night were 5 times less likely to possess the amyloid plaque build-up than the people who did not sleep well. The people who did not sleep well were also found to have a greater chance of having the "markers" of early stage Alzheimer's. This means, those who spent 85% of their time in bed, sleeping soundly, have a lower risk of Alzheimer's than those who spent 85% of the time in bed tossing and turning.

Ju concludes:

"The association between disrupted sleep and amyloid plaques is intriguing, but the information from this study can't determine a cause-effect relationship or the direction of this relationship. We need longer-term studies, following individuals' sleep over years, to determine whether disrupted sleep leads to amyloid plaques, or whether brain changes in early Alzheimer's disease lead to changes in sleep.

Our study lays the groundwork for investigating whether manipulating sleep is a possible strategy in the prevention or slowing of Alzheimer's disease"

This study was funded by the Ellison Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Written By Christine Kearney
Copyright: Medical News Today
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Sleeping More Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer's

CHICO, CA--(Marketwire -02/16/12)- Masula Chiropractic, Neurology and Family Wellness in Chico, California announced that the practice has successfully helped treat high blood pressure patients through chiropractic adjustments. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension found that chiropractic adjustments were more effective at lowering blood pressure than two different medications combined. Research suggests that an injury to the neck earlier in life may impede the flow of blood. Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment to the cervical spine and correct this problem, reducing blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure increases the risk for stroke, heart attack and other health problems.

Dr. Larry Masula, a Chico chiropractor and wellness doctor, announced that his practice, Masula Chiropractic, Neurology and Family Wellness, has had great success treating high blood pressure patients. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and other chronic conditions.

"For years, doctors have prescribed a variety of different medications to lower heart disease," said Dr. Masula. "While some medications can be effective, they all come with different side effects, and many patients must take these medications for life in order to experience continued benefits. Adjustments are a natural, conservative treatment that is just as effective, if not more so, than leading medications."

According to a 2007 study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, chiropractic adjustments were more effective at lowering blood pressure than two different medications combined.

The eight week study tracked 25 patients with early-stage high blood pressure. The adjustments led to an average 14mm Hg drop in the top number and 8mm Hg drop in the body number

According to the Chico wellness doctor, a minor injury to the neck early in life may affect the flow of blood at the base of the skull. Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment to the cervical spine, correcting the underlying problem caused by the neck injury and lowering blood pressure.

"This landmark study found that localized adjustment to the upper cervical spine can reduce blood pressure, and may even be more effective than some medications," said Dr. Masula. "At our chiropractic clinic, we are proud to offer this life-changing treatment."

The study tracked the effectiveness of adjustment to the Atlas vertebra, also known as "C-1." The Atlas vertebra is the uppermost vertebra in the body and holds up the head.

"Think of the Atlas vertebra as the 'fuse box' for the body," said Dr. Masula. "At the base of the brain are two centers that control the muscles in the body. If the vertebra is out of alignment and pinches nearby nerves, many patients may never experience pain, but they may experience the effects of misalignment in other ways, such as higher blood pressure."

Dr. Masula said that chiropractic adjustments, combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet, could help lower and control blood pressure without the need for medication.

Adjustments at a chiropractic clinic may also help patients manage back pain, neck pain and vertigo.

Individuals who wish to make an appointment with the chiropractor may do so by using the online appointment request form on the chiropractic clinic's website http://masulachiropractic.com.

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Chico Chiropractor Announces Success Treating High Blood Pressure Patients

Newswise — NEW ORLEANS – The amount and quality of sleep you get at night may affect your memory later in life, according to research that was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

“Disrupted sleep appears to be associated with the build-up of amyloid plaques, a hallmark marker of Alzheimer’s disease, in the brains of people without memory problems,” said study author Yo-El Ju, MD, with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Further research is needed to determine why this is happening and whether sleep changes may predict cognitive decline.”

Researchers tested the sleep patterns of 100 people between the ages of 45 and 80 who were free of dementia. Half of the group had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. A device was placed on the participants for two weeks to measure sleep. Sleep diaries and questionnaires were also analyzed by researchers.

After the study, it was discovered that 25 percent of the participants had evidence of amyloid plaques, which can appear years before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin. The average time a person spent in bed during the study was about eight hours, but the average sleep time was 6.5 hours due to short awakenings in the night.

The study found that people who woke up more than five times per hour were more likely to have amyloid plaque build-up compared to people who didn’t wake up as much. The study also found those people who slept “less efficiently” were more likely to have the markers of early stage Alzheimer’s disease than those who slept more efficiently. In other words, those who spent less than 85 percent of their time in bed actually sleeping were more likely to have the markers than those who spent more than 85 percent of their time in bed actually sleeping.

“The association between disrupted sleep and amyloid plaques is intriguing, but the information from this study can’t determine a cause-effect relationship or the direction of this relationship. We need longer-term studies, following individuals’ sleep over years, to determine whether disrupted sleep leads to amyloid plaques, or whether brain changes in early Alzheimer’s disease lead to changes in sleep,” Ju said. “Our study lays the groundwork for investigating whether manipulating sleep is a possible strategy in the prevention or slowing of Alzheimer disease.”

Learn more about sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease at http://www.aan.com/patients.

The study was supported by the Ellison Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

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, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s 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.

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Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 14 Feb 2012 - 0:00 PST

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A study released today and scheduled to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012, shows that those over 70 eating more than 2,100 calories per day, nearly double their risk of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is considered to be the stage between normal memory loss that comes with aging and early Alzheimer's disease. Study author Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, with the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona and a member of the American Academy of Neurology said : "We observed a dose-response pattern which simply means; the higher the amount of calories consumed each day, the higher the risk of MCI."

1,233 people between the ages of 70 and 89 and free of dementia residing in Olmsted County, Minn. were studied. 163 had MCI and participants noted the amount of calories they ate or drank in a food questionnaire. They were divided into three equal groups based on their daily caloric consumption. One-third of the participants consumed between 600 and 1,526 calories per day, one-third between 1,526 and 2,143 and one-third consumed between 2,143 and 6,000 calories per day.

Even after adjusting for history of stroke, diabetes, amount of education, and other factors that can affect risk of memory loss, the risk for the highest calorie group was nearly double that of the lower calorie group. There was no noticeable difference in risk for the middle group.

Geda concluded :

"Cutting calories and eating foods that make up a healthy diet may be a simpler way to prevent memory loss as we age."

The co-authors of the study include Ronald C. Petersen, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and other investigators of the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging in Rochester, Minn.

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Overeating Linked To Memory Loss

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Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 13 Feb 2012 - 2:00 PST

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A new study suggests that overeating in older people may double their risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a term that describes the stage between the memory loss that normally comes with aging and that seen in early Alzheimer's disease. The study, announced in a press release on Sunday, is to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN's) 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28 and has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

For the study, Dr Yonas E Geda, from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and colleagues examined data on 1,233 dementia-free adults aged 70 to 89 living in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Of those, 163 had MCI.

They found that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day was linked to double the risk for MCI.

Geda, who is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, told the press:

"We observed a dose-response pattern which simply means; the higher the amount of calories consumed each day, the higher the risk of MCI."

"Cutting calories and eating foods that make up a healthy diet may be a simpler way to prevent memory loss as we age," said Geda.

The researchers obtained the participants' daily calorie consumption from questionnaires they had filled in that included questions about their food and drink consumption.

They ranked the results into three groups where one-third of participants consumed between 600 and 1,526 calories a day, another third consumed 1,526 to 2,143, and the remaining third between 2,143 and 6,000 calories per day.

They found that for the highest calorie consumers, the odds for having MCI was more than double that of the lowest calorie consumers.

But there was no significant difference in risk between the lowest calorie group and the middle group.

The figures didn't change when they accounted for other risk factors for memory loss, including history of stroke, diabetes, and years of education.

Funds from the National Institutes of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Robert H. and Clarice Smith and Abigail van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Program helped pay for the study.

Geda recently co-authored a paper published in January 2012 in the AAN's journal Neurology that found incidence rates for MCI varied substantially by subgroups, and were higher in men. That study also drew its data from a cohort of Olmsted County residents.

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Memory Loss In Seniors Tied To Overeating

Overeating may have effects beyond a big waistline -- a new study shows it could also affect seniors' memory.

A new study, to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in April, shows that elderly people who eat up to 6,000 calories a day may have a doubled risk of developing a type of memory loss called mild cognitive impairment.

"We observed a dose-response pattern, which simply means the higher the amount of calories consumed each day, the higher the risk of MCI," study researcher Dr. Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., said in a statement.

Mild cognitive impairment is more pronounced memory loss than what normally comes from aging, and is considered a risk factor of later developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Recently, a study in the journal Neurology showed that rates of mild cognitive impairment may be higher than previously expected, with men having a higher risk of the condition than women.

Geda's study involved 1,233 people who were between ages 70 and 89, who didn't have dementia; 163 of these people had mild cognitive impairment.

Researchers had the study participants say how many calories they ate or drank each day, and then they divided them up into three groups based on their caloric consumption. One group took in between 600 and 1,526 calories a day; the second group took in between 1,526 and 2,143 calories a day; and the third group took in between 2,143 and 6,000 calories a day.

Researchers found that the third group, which took in the most calories a day, were more than twice as likely to have mild cognitive impairment as the group that took in the fewest calories. These results held true even after researchers factored in history of diabetes and stroke, level of education and other memory-loss risk factors.

The recommended daily intake of calories differs by age group, sex and physical activity level, according to WebMD. For example, a woman between age 19 and 30 who is moderately active should consume between 2,000 to 2,200 calories a day, while a moderately active woman age 51 and older should get 1,800 calories a day. (For the full chart from WebMD, click here.)

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Overeating Raises Risk Of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Study Shows

Cross-examination of the Prosecution’s witnesses continued yesterday in the seventh day of the trial of former University student George Huguely, as expert witnesses described their analysis of former University student Yeardley Love’s brain. Huguely is charged with the murder of Love, his former girlfriend.

Dr. Christine Fuller, a neuropathology Prof. at Virginia Commonwealth University, conducted the initial study of Love’s brain, after the initial autopsy. Fuller identified contusions and hemorrhaging in the space surrounding the surface of the brain, which indicates blunt force trauma.

“It’s trauma. Period,” Fuller said. “It isn’t anything else.”

Fuller said these injuries can be the results of a fall, but usually not one from ground level. She said being punched severely, particularly while against a flat surface, could result in similar contusions.

Fuller found Love’s injuries in the brain stem, the part of the brain which controls basic functions such as consciousness, respiration and circulation, she said. The location of the hemmorhaging in the brain stem, toward the back and side, make the cause of the injury clear, she added.

Fuller explained these contusions in the cerebral hemispheres might cause headaches or small strokes if the patient survived, but the hemorrhaging and contusions she identified in another region of the brain have more severe possible consequences.

This damage “could potentially cause sudden death,” or death within several hours, Fuller said. She later testified during cross-examination she believes Love died two hours after receiving these injuries.

Fuller said the type of hemhorraging found in Love’s brain is not associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is the defense’s claim.

Fuller told the court she agreed with the report of Dr. Beatriz Lopes, a pathology professor at the Medical School who conducted a second analysis of Love’s brain.

Lopes, who also testified as an expert yesterday, conducted a test Fuller did not have access to — the Beta amyloid precursor protein stain, a process which shows a better time of injury than other methods, she said.

The prosecution re-questioned medical examiner Bill Gormley who testified Monday. Gormley ruled out alcohol and amphetamines for the cause of Love’s death, citing

Love’s 0.14 blood alcohol content and 0.05 for amphetamines. Gormley said the cause of death was “most likely the cardiac arrest” with “contusions to the head” serving as the primary cause.

A slew of forensic specialists took the witness stand for the remainder of the trial.

Curt Harper, a forensic toxicologist in the University’s Department of Forensic Science said although amphetamines such as Adderrol can eventually lead to death, Love exhibited a blood level ten times less than the lethal dose.

The prosecution also brought Jenny Mouer, a latent print expert who explained tests she had performed on Love’s bedroom door and a crushed Natural Light beer can. The white door was on display in the courtroom and visibly showed traces of black powder, which had been used to perform the fingerprint tests. Mouer said none of the prints on the door and the beer-can were usable. “There were no latent prints of value for identification purposes,” she said.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney Chappman presented his next witness, Marjorie Harris, with photographic images of the crime scene. Though the pictures were not explicitly shown to the audience, they were translucent and could be identified from the back as images of Love and a bed covered in red stains.

Harris, an expert of blood stain patterns, classified the majority of the stains on the comforter, bed-skirt and pillow as transfer stains, which indicate the transfer of blood from a blood-bearing source to another source.

When Chappman presented Harris with a picture of a blood-stained pillow, he inquired whether it was possible for Harris to determine whether the image was indicative of “fabric moving over a person or a person moving over fabric,” but Harris said it was impossible to speculate.

“It’s much more difficult working with just photographs,” Harris said.

DNA specialist Angie Rainey provided the final testimony in day seven of the Huguely trial and explained more than 30 pieces of evidence.

The evidence included Love’s left and right fingernail clippings, her underwear, swabs from her bedroom floor, her pillow case, scrapings from both of Huguely’s hands, items of clothing found in Huguely’s apartments and swabs taken from the bath-mats, shower curtains and towels in Huguely’s and Love’s apartments.

Rainey said the blood found under Love’s fingernails belonged to Love and the scrapings taken from Huguely’s hands placed both Love and Huguely at the crime-scene.

The trial resumes today at 9 a.m.

Read more:
Neurology Prof. says force caused Love’s initial brain damage, hemorrhaging

09-02-2012 13:33 This is neurofunk (future step),cybergrind and dnb connection Tasty , wash your brain -----I---

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Public release date: 13-Feb-2012
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American Academy of Neurology

ST. PAUL, Minn. ? A larger waistline may be linked to an increased risk of decreased mental functioning in people infected with the AIDS virus HIV, according to research published in the February 14, 2012, print issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Interestingly, bigger waistlines were linked to decreased mental functioning more than was general obesity," said study author J. Allen McCutchan, MD, MSc, of the University of California, San Diego. "This is important because certain anti-HIV drugs cause weight gain in the center of the body that is most dramatic in the abdomen, neck, chest and breasts."

The study was performed in 130 HIV positive people from six clinics. Participants were around the age of 46 with HIV infection for an average of 13 years. Most participants were taking combinations of anti-HIV drugs called antiretroviral therapy. Impaired mental functions such as poor memory and concentration, called neurocognitive impairment (NCI), was diagnosed in 40 percent of study participants.

People with NCI had waist circumferences of an average of 39 inches, compared to 35 inches for those without memory difficulties. NCI was also linked to older age, a longer time living with HIV and diabetes in people older than 55 years. For example, five times as many people with memory problems also had diabetes compared to those with no memory problems (15 percent compared to 3 percent).

"Avoiding those HIV drugs that cause larger waistlines might protect or help to reverse NCI," said McCutchan. "We don't know if central obesity is causing NCI directly or is just a marker for exposure to a more direct cause such as anti-HIV drugs. People with HIV should talk to their doctors before considering changes in their anti-HIV medications."

###

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

To learn more about cognitive impairment, 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.

Media Contacts:
Rachel Seroka, rseroka@aan.com, (651) 695-2738
Angela Babb, APR, ababb@aan.com, (651) 695-2789

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Larger belly linked to memory problems in people with HIV

New psychoactive substances, mainly stimulants and cannabinoids from China sold on the internet, proliferate too quickly for anyone to keep track of them. Websites such as Erowid.org create lists of those drugs.

It is all part of the rapid diversification of recreational drugs, fuelled by chemical ingenuity and by new distribution possibilities opened up by the internet.

"Talk to Frank" is a British government-funded website for drug abuse prevention and treatment tips for the general public available at http://talktofrank.com

The "A to Z" list of substances explains appearance and use, effects, chances of getting hooked, health risks and the UK law. It also includes information on peer pressure, etc.

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Drug use and abuse. The Economist, 2011.

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Pierrette Mimi Poinsett: And alcohol and tobacco remain the two most abused drugs eclipsing all the others combined.

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