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ORKING TOWARD that cure are the scientists and researchers at the UC Irvine Institute for Mental Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), one of only 29 such research institutes in the United States, according to spokesman Linda Scheck. The facility offers state-of-the-art assessments for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases and illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Down syndrome, ALS and others. Each assessment includes a thorough examination during the course of two visits; about 400 such assessments are completed each year, Scheck says. In April, Frank LaFerla, director of UCI MIND, researcher Mathew Blurton-Jones and their colleagues were awarded a $3.6 million grant by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine toward development of an Alzheimer’s therapy
Alzheimer’s & dementia
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Frequently there is confusion between the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s disease.” According to Loma Linda University Medical Center, dementia is “a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases.” The two major causes of non-reversible (degenerative) dementia are Alzheimer’s and a series of small strokes (vascular dementia). The two conditions often occur together. Other causes include Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, which is a leading cause of dementia in elderly adults. People with this condition have abnormal protein structures in parts of the brain. In some situations, dementia — memory loss — is the result of a problem that can be treated, such as hypothyroidism, a lack of vitamin B-12 or a fluid buildup on the brain. Once these are corrected, the dementia may be cured. In some people, depression can cause memory loss that may appear to be dementia, but which can be treated. In addition, some medicines may interact with each other resulting in memory loss.
Gauging the risks Doctors generally agree that age and family history play roles in the development of Alzheimer’s. Most individuals with the disease are 65 or older and the likelihood of its occurrence doubles about every five years after age 65.
involving human neural stem cells. Three months later, in July, lead author Blurton-Jones and LaFerla shared the findings of their breakthrough study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the study, neural stem cells can rescue memory in mice with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. The team successfully used injections of neural stem cells to repair damaged brain cells. “Essentially, the cells were producing fertilizer for the brain,” LaFerla said at the time. The discovery could be a key to unlocking a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s. It may be years away, but the door is cracked open, and there is a glimmer of light. After the study was published, LaFerla was optimistic for the future. “This gives us a lot of hope that stem cells, or a product from them ... will be a useful treatment for Alzheimer’s,” he said.
After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent. Research also has shown that those who have a parent, brother, sister or child suffering from Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease than those who do not. New research also offers insight into risk factors that can possibly be influenced, reports the Alzheimer’s Association. These include: s Head injury — There appears to be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s. s Heart-head connection — Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health. The brain is nourished by one of the body’s richest networks of blood vessels. Every heartbeat pumps about 20 to 25 percent of a person’s blood to the head, where brain cells use at least 20 percent of the food and oxygen the blood carries. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. People should work with their doctor to monitor heart health and treat any problems that arise. s General healthy aging — Other evidence suggests that strategies for overall healthy aging may help keep the brain healthy and may even offer some protection against Alzheimer’s and related diseases.