Cognitive Labs

Scientists believe that utilizing biomarkers will offer potential for early detection of Alzheimer's.

One study being presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Chicago found that differences in levels of CD-69, a protein involved in white blood cell growth and production, allowed researchers to distinguish between people with Alzheimer's, people with Parkinson's-related dementia and those who were cognitively normal.

The study, from researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany, was based on a theory that Alzheimer's occurs when neurons get a false signal to divide. The more popular theory holds that a build-up of amyloid plaque (made up mostly of beta amyloid protein) in the brain causes Alzheimer's.

"The alternative theory about Alzheimer's is that the [cell] replication process gets triggered pathologically, and then the cells are programmed to die, and that's what's killing the nerve cells, not the amyloid," Kennedy explained. "[This study] all hinges on the theory that it's a false signal to replicate that starts these neurons down the path to killing themselves."

But investigators still have a long way to go. "It's one thing to distinguish the sick group from the healthy group and another to see if you can predict from the healthy group who gets the disease," Kennedy said. "That's the real proof of the pudding."

A second study, from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, confirmed previous findings: that the more amyloid there is in the brain (as measured by PET scans), the less beta amyloid 42 there is in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Beta amyloid 42 is an extra-"sticky" type of amyloid protein which accumulates and forms plaques. The theory is that measurements of beta amyloid 42 in spinal fluid could serve as a marker for Alzheimer's disease.

Labels: biomarkers, icad, kennedy, leipzig, washington

CAPD or Central Auditory Processing Dysfunction represents another possible indicator for changes in mental status - based on your auditory responsiveness.

What does it mean? Those who suffer from CAPD are unable to distinguish sounds from the background noise.

Since we 'hear' in our brains and not in our ears - which are a collection device for sound waves, you see how this could be possible. Sound waves are re-assembled into the corresponding impression that is delivered to the blank audiovisual system of our consciousness.

Previous studies have shown that central auditory processing is impaired in individuals with dyslexia, Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle tested the central auditory processing function of 313 elderly individuals using three tests: one in which nonsense sentences were read over the background of an interesting narrative and two in which separate sentences or numbers were read into each ear simultaneously.

"These central auditory processing test paradigms evaluate how well an individual manages competing signals, a task that requires adequate short-term memory and the ability to shift attention rapidly," study authors write.

Average scores on central auditory processing tests were significantly lower in the group with dementia and in the group with mild memory impairment than in the control group without memory problems.

From their findings, the authors suggest central auditory testing be regularly conducted on aging patients with hearing complaints.

Other senses, such as smell, also are impacted by cognitive decline.

Labels: CAPD, ear, washington

New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that more education in a person leads to a realization that there may be a concern sooner, leading to earlier diagnosis. Self-awareness is key. Just like a car's engine, be sensitive to any signs of systemic change.

A review of epidemiological data finds that people who spend fewer years in school may experience a slight but statistically significant delay in the realization that they're having cognitive problems that could be Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reviewed data on 1,449 Alzheimer's patients from their center and 21,880 patients from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC), a collaboration of approximately 30 Alzheimer's disease research centers nationwide.

"We may have a group of people who are at risk for slightly delayed detection of Alzheimer's disease," says lead author Catherine Roe, Ph.D., a neurology research instructor at the ADRC. "Early detection of Alzheimer's disease is important as we progress toward treatments and cures because those treatments will need to be applied as early as possible to have the maximum possible benefit."

The paper appears in this month's issue of Archives of Neurology.

In an earlier study of patients with a form of Alzheimer's disease linked to a genetic mutation, Roe and other Washington University researchers found patients with more years of education were likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease earlier. This surprised them because higher levels of education have typically been associated with decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The new study confirmed those surprising results, revealing that patients with 12 years or more of schooling were on average slightly younger when diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease than patients with less than eight years of schooling. Age of diagnosis for a group with eight to 11 years of schooling fell in-between the other two groups.

Next, researchers analyzed the severity of patients' dementia when they went to the Alzheimer's disease center for the first time. They found that patients with fewer years of education were likely to be more severely impaired on their first visit.

Labels: adrc, cognitive, louis, st., university, washington

US Presidents' brain gym. We envision this as a way for kids to exercise their brain and learn the faces of the Founding Fathers, Honest Abe, Woodrow Wilson, Kennedy, Richard Nixon - on up to the present. You could also do kings and queens, roman emperors and empresses, Sassanian kings, Medieval rulers, etc.

Same with species of flowers, birds, dinosaurs, squirrels, planets, constellations, baseball teams, seeds, favorite desserts or anything at all.

Maybe even some botox-fueled 'celebrity computers' - like the Atari 400, C-64, and Apple 1 and 2.

Labels: apple I, Atari 400, botox, celebrity, computers, nixon, president, washington

Researchers have reconstructed George Washington's face at 3 ages: 19 - when he was a land surveyor and developed his knowledge of the Country that served him well in the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars - 45 - when he took command of the Continental army in his blue and buff uniform - and 57 when he was sworn in, famously refusing the title "His Excellency"

Labels: washington