ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2009) — Loss of thinking power is a fear shared by many aging baby boomers. That fear has resulted in a budding industry for brain training products – exercises such as Brain Age, Mindfit and My Brain Trainer – which in 2007 generated $80 million in the United States alone.
The premise of brain training is simple: participants must complete a series of daily exercises such as mental calculation, memorization and enigmas to help increase cognitive ability and avoid certain neurodegenerative diseases. Some companies like Brain Center International, which produces NeuroActive, promise regular users they'll shave 10 years of brain aging after eight weeks of use. Is it surprising some 10,000 copies of the product were sold in Quebec in the last six months?
"To my knowledge, there is no scientific research demonstrating results from such recreational programs," says Sylvie Belleville, a professor at the Université de Montréal' Department of Psychology and associate research director of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal.
According to Belleville, the principles of intellectual stimulation aren't false, but their efficiency haven't been scientifically proven. She argues that Sudoku and crosswords could work just as well.
Yet there are programs that exist that have been proven to benefit seniors and Alzheimer's victims, according to Belleville: "These programs are based on memory strategies. They have nothing to do with the repetitive exercises offered by NeuroActive and others," she says.
While memory products can be helpful, Belleville warns against the unrealistic expectations some may provide. The advertising of these products, she stresses, "Could give false hopes. If someone doesn't see a change they could quit and it could eventually lead to depression."
In her opinion, the best way to keep one's cerebral functions is to do intellectual activities, eat well, control vascular factors, particularly in the case of diabetes and hypertension, and remain physically active.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
MetabolicAnd Neurological Disorders May Share Common Risk Factors
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2009) — Metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes appear to share risk factors with and may influence the development of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, according to several reports published in the March issue of Archives of Neurology.
The issue—a theme issue on neurological disorders related to metabolic diseases—is being published in conjunction with a JAMA theme issue on diabetes, obesity and their comorbidities.
Studies featured in this issue include the following:
Women With More Components of Metabolic Syndrome More Likely to Develop Cognitive Impairment
Women with the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors known collectively as the metabolic syndrome appear likely to develop cognitive impairment over a four-year period. Kristine Yaffe, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and the San Francisco Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, and colleagues assessed 4,895 older women (average age 66.2) who did not have cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study.
Of the 497 (10.2 percent) women who had the metabolic syndrome 7.2 percent (36) developed cognitive impairment during a four-year period, compared with 4.1 percent (181 of 4,398) of those who did not have the metabolic syndrome. Each additional component of the syndrome—such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol levels—was associated with a 23 percent increase in risk of cognitive impairment.
"As the obesity and sedentary lifestyle epidemic escalates throughout the world, identification of the role of these modifiable behaviors in increasing risk for development of deleterious outcomes, such as cognitive impairment, is critical," the authors conclude. "Future research should assess whether identification of cognitive impairment among patients with the metabolic syndrome or more aggressive clinical control of the factors that compose the metabolic syndrome might lessen the risk of developing cognitive impairment in elderly people."
Obesity Associated With Worsening Cognitive Function in Older Men
Older men with higher levels of fat appear more likely to experience declines in cognitive function over seven years, but the same association does not appear to occur in older women. Alka M. Kanaya, M.D., of the University of California–San Francisco, and colleagues studied 3,054 elderly individuals enrolled in the Health ABC Study.
Participants' adiposity (fat level) was assessed by body mass index, waist circumference, sagittal diameter (distance between the back and the highest point of the abdomen), total fat mass and subcutaneous (beneath the skin) and visceral fat (fat between the internal organs) measured by computed tomography. Men whose measurements were higher were more likely to experience declines in scores on a cognitive functioning test administered at the beginning of the study and again after three, five and eight years. However, no association was observed in women.
"Women show trends toward inverse associations, with higher levels of adiposity being associated with less cognitive change," the authors write. "Traditional metabolic factors, adipocytokines [compounds produced by fat tissue] and sex hormones do not explain this sex difference. Future studies should confirm these longitudinal associations with adiposity and cognitive change and investigate why adiposity has inverse associations in men and women."
Obese Middle-Aged Adults and Underweight Older Adults Appear to Have Increased Risk for Dementia
Midlife obesity may be associated with risk for dementia, but after age 65, the relationship between body mass index and dementia appears to reverse so that underweight individuals are at higher risk. Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues analyzed data from 2,798 adults (average age 74.7) without dementia. Participants reported their weight at age 50 (midlife) and had their height and weight measured at age 65 or older (late life).
Over an average of 5.4 years of follow-up, 480 individuals developed dementia, including 245 with Alzheimer's disease and 213 with vascular dementia. In evaluations of midlife obesity, individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of higher than 30—classified as obese—were more likely than those of a normal weight to develop dementia. However, those who were underweight (BMI of lower than 20) in late life had an increased risk of dementia, whereas being overweight in late life was not associated with dementia and being obese appeared to have a protective effect.
"The greatest dementia risk was found in underweight individuals at older ages. These findings suggest the predictive ability of BMI changes across time," the authors write. "These results help explain the 'obesity paradox' as differences in dementia risk across time are consistent with physical changes in the trajectory toward disability."
Heart Disease Risk Factors Associated With Faster Cognitive Decline
Individuals with higher total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels and a history of diabetes appear to experience a more rapid cognitive decline after developing Alzheimer's disease. Elizabeth P. Helzner, Ph.D, and colleagues at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York, studied 156 patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at an average age of 83.
During an average of 3.5 years of follow-up, those who had higher LDL and total cholesterol levels before diagnosis experienced a more rapid decline on cognitive test scores than those whose cholesterol levels were in the normal range, as did those with a history of diabetes when compared with those without diabetes.
The study "provides further evidence for the role of vascular risk factors in the course of Alzheimer's disease," the authors conclude. "Prevention or treatment of these conditions can potentially slow the course of Alzheimer's disease."
Review: Insulin Resistance May Links Metabolic and Cognitive Disorders
Insulin resistance, when tissues in the body lose sensitivity to the hormone that regulates glucose, may underlie both dementia and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. In a review article, Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., of Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, writes that "considerable progress has been made in establishing relationships among metabolic disorders and late-life dementing illnesses," including through the common foundation of insulin resistance.
"A number of challenges must be addressed as we move forward to determine the key mechanisms underlying these associations," Dr. Craft concludes, including establishing clear definitions of both metabolic and neurological conditions. "Future research aimed at identifying mechanisms that underlie comorbid associations will not only provide important insights into the causes and interdependencies of late-life dementias, but will also inspire novel strategies for treating and preventing these disorders."
The issue—a theme issue on neurological disorders related to metabolic diseases—is being published in conjunction with a JAMA theme issue on diabetes, obesity and their comorbidities.
Studies featured in this issue include the following:
Women With More Components of Metabolic Syndrome More Likely to Develop Cognitive Impairment
Women with the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors known collectively as the metabolic syndrome appear likely to develop cognitive impairment over a four-year period. Kristine Yaffe, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and the San Francisco Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, and colleagues assessed 4,895 older women (average age 66.2) who did not have cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study.
Of the 497 (10.2 percent) women who had the metabolic syndrome 7.2 percent (36) developed cognitive impairment during a four-year period, compared with 4.1 percent (181 of 4,398) of those who did not have the metabolic syndrome. Each additional component of the syndrome—such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol levels—was associated with a 23 percent increase in risk of cognitive impairment.
"As the obesity and sedentary lifestyle epidemic escalates throughout the world, identification of the role of these modifiable behaviors in increasing risk for development of deleterious outcomes, such as cognitive impairment, is critical," the authors conclude. "Future research should assess whether identification of cognitive impairment among patients with the metabolic syndrome or more aggressive clinical control of the factors that compose the metabolic syndrome might lessen the risk of developing cognitive impairment in elderly people."
Obesity Associated With Worsening Cognitive Function in Older Men
Older men with higher levels of fat appear more likely to experience declines in cognitive function over seven years, but the same association does not appear to occur in older women. Alka M. Kanaya, M.D., of the University of California–San Francisco, and colleagues studied 3,054 elderly individuals enrolled in the Health ABC Study.
Participants' adiposity (fat level) was assessed by body mass index, waist circumference, sagittal diameter (distance between the back and the highest point of the abdomen), total fat mass and subcutaneous (beneath the skin) and visceral fat (fat between the internal organs) measured by computed tomography. Men whose measurements were higher were more likely to experience declines in scores on a cognitive functioning test administered at the beginning of the study and again after three, five and eight years. However, no association was observed in women.
"Women show trends toward inverse associations, with higher levels of adiposity being associated with less cognitive change," the authors write. "Traditional metabolic factors, adipocytokines [compounds produced by fat tissue] and sex hormones do not explain this sex difference. Future studies should confirm these longitudinal associations with adiposity and cognitive change and investigate why adiposity has inverse associations in men and women."
Obese Middle-Aged Adults and Underweight Older Adults Appear to Have Increased Risk for Dementia
Midlife obesity may be associated with risk for dementia, but after age 65, the relationship between body mass index and dementia appears to reverse so that underweight individuals are at higher risk. Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues analyzed data from 2,798 adults (average age 74.7) without dementia. Participants reported their weight at age 50 (midlife) and had their height and weight measured at age 65 or older (late life).
Over an average of 5.4 years of follow-up, 480 individuals developed dementia, including 245 with Alzheimer's disease and 213 with vascular dementia. In evaluations of midlife obesity, individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of higher than 30—classified as obese—were more likely than those of a normal weight to develop dementia. However, those who were underweight (BMI of lower than 20) in late life had an increased risk of dementia, whereas being overweight in late life was not associated with dementia and being obese appeared to have a protective effect.
"The greatest dementia risk was found in underweight individuals at older ages. These findings suggest the predictive ability of BMI changes across time," the authors write. "These results help explain the 'obesity paradox' as differences in dementia risk across time are consistent with physical changes in the trajectory toward disability."
Heart Disease Risk Factors Associated With Faster Cognitive Decline
Individuals with higher total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels and a history of diabetes appear to experience a more rapid cognitive decline after developing Alzheimer's disease. Elizabeth P. Helzner, Ph.D, and colleagues at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York, studied 156 patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at an average age of 83.
During an average of 3.5 years of follow-up, those who had higher LDL and total cholesterol levels before diagnosis experienced a more rapid decline on cognitive test scores than those whose cholesterol levels were in the normal range, as did those with a history of diabetes when compared with those without diabetes.
The study "provides further evidence for the role of vascular risk factors in the course of Alzheimer's disease," the authors conclude. "Prevention or treatment of these conditions can potentially slow the course of Alzheimer's disease."
Review: Insulin Resistance May Links Metabolic and Cognitive Disorders
Insulin resistance, when tissues in the body lose sensitivity to the hormone that regulates glucose, may underlie both dementia and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. In a review article, Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., of Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, writes that "considerable progress has been made in establishing relationships among metabolic disorders and late-life dementing illnesses," including through the common foundation of insulin resistance.
"A number of challenges must be addressed as we move forward to determine the key mechanisms underlying these associations," Dr. Craft concludes, including establishing clear definitions of both metabolic and neurological conditions. "Future research aimed at identifying mechanisms that underlie comorbid associations will not only provide important insights into the causes and interdependencies of late-life dementias, but will also inspire novel strategies for treating and preventing these disorders."
Monday, March 2, 2009
UltrasoundAnd TPA Effective For Stroke
ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2009) — An experimental therapy using tiny bubbles activated by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound combined with the clot busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is more effective than tPA alone in treating patients suffering from ischemic stroke, according to new research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in San Diego.
The findings, presented by Andrei Alexandrov, M.D., director of the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Carlos Molina, M.D., of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, show that patients can be treated safely with TCD in combination with a specific dose of the bubbles, called microspheres, and tPA.
The microspheres, developed by ImaRx Therapeutics, are tiny gas-filled lipid structures that cavitate (rapidly expand and collapse) when exposed to ultrasound waves, helping to reopen blocked arteries and restore blood flow.
"These findings demonstrate that ultrasound combined with microspheres and tPA can be tested further in a pivotal clinical trial with the goal of providing a more effective treatment option for stroke patients by promoting faster clearing of blocked blood vessels as well as improved patient outcomes," said Alexandrov, UAB professor of neurology. "It's very promising to see such results, which support the potential of this therapy as a more effective and expansive therapy for stroke patients."
The Phase 1/2 trial involved 35 patients and evaluated two different doses of ImaRx's MRX-801 microspheres. Cohort I and cohort II patients received 1.4 mL and 2.8 mL of microspheres respectively. Control patients received the standard dose of tPA alone.
The researchers report that complete recanalization was achieved in 120 minutes in 67 percent of cohort I patients, in 46 percent of cohort II patients and 33 percent of control patients. Dramatic clinical recovery has achieved in 45 percent of cohort I, 10 percent of cohort II and 27 percent of controls.
In addition, clinical improvement after 90 days was reported in 75 percent of cohort I, 50 percent of cohort II and 36 percent of controls.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately one-third of adults in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease. Approximately 700,000 adults in the U.S., are afflicted with, and 150,000 die as a result of, some form of stroke each year.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death, and the leading cause of disability, in the United States. The vast majority of strokes are ischemic strokes, meaning that they are caused by blood clots, while the remainder are the more deadly hemorrhagic strokes caused by bleeding in the brain.
The findings, presented by Andrei Alexandrov, M.D., director of the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Carlos Molina, M.D., of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, show that patients can be treated safely with TCD in combination with a specific dose of the bubbles, called microspheres, and tPA.
The microspheres, developed by ImaRx Therapeutics, are tiny gas-filled lipid structures that cavitate (rapidly expand and collapse) when exposed to ultrasound waves, helping to reopen blocked arteries and restore blood flow.
"These findings demonstrate that ultrasound combined with microspheres and tPA can be tested further in a pivotal clinical trial with the goal of providing a more effective treatment option for stroke patients by promoting faster clearing of blocked blood vessels as well as improved patient outcomes," said Alexandrov, UAB professor of neurology. "It's very promising to see such results, which support the potential of this therapy as a more effective and expansive therapy for stroke patients."
The Phase 1/2 trial involved 35 patients and evaluated two different doses of ImaRx's MRX-801 microspheres. Cohort I and cohort II patients received 1.4 mL and 2.8 mL of microspheres respectively. Control patients received the standard dose of tPA alone.
The researchers report that complete recanalization was achieved in 120 minutes in 67 percent of cohort I patients, in 46 percent of cohort II patients and 33 percent of control patients. Dramatic clinical recovery has achieved in 45 percent of cohort I, 10 percent of cohort II and 27 percent of controls.
In addition, clinical improvement after 90 days was reported in 75 percent of cohort I, 50 percent of cohort II and 36 percent of controls.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately one-third of adults in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease. Approximately 700,000 adults in the U.S., are afflicted with, and 150,000 die as a result of, some form of stroke each year.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death, and the leading cause of disability, in the United States. The vast majority of strokes are ischemic strokes, meaning that they are caused by blood clots, while the remainder are the more deadly hemorrhagic strokes caused by bleeding in the brain.
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