Reporting on the Middle East, Science, and Education » Health Sciences

Psychology of facial recognition

CNP Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:37 +0000

For embarrassing memory lapses blame your neurons

Reprinted from Sify News, July 29, 2010

A specific part of our brain processes information about human and animal faces and is responsible for how we recognize them and interpret facial expressions. Now, Israeli researchers are exploring what makes this highly specialized area of the brain unique.

In her “Face Lab” at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Galit Yovel of TAU’s Department of Psychology is trying to understand the mechanisms at work in the face area of the brain called the “fusiform gyrus” of the brain. She is combining cognitive psychology with techniques like brain imaging and electrophysiology to study how the brain processes information about faces. Her most recent research on the brain’s face-processing mechanisms appears in the Journal of Neuroscience and Human Brain Mapping.

The study of face recognition does more than provide an explanation for embarrassing memory lapses. For instance, it may help business executives better match names with faces, and more important can lead to better facial recognition software to identify terrorists or criminals. Similar to faces, bodies are also processed by distinct brain areas. How we perceive faces is not totally intuitive, she says, and therefore raises the question of how this information is combined in our brain to understand how separate face and body areas generate a whole body-image impression.

In her research, Dr. Yovel has found that we are better able to recognize faces when we regularly see and interact with them in meaningful settings. It’s as though the face-processing sections of the brain – the fusiform face area being the most distinct – recognizes faces holistically. Additions to your face, such as a beard or glasses, are assimilated into or incorporated into the face recognition gestalt of the brain, unlike other elements that are irrelevant to facial recognition, such as the chair you’re sitting on. This may be why fashions in hairstyle and eyewear have become so important to personal appearance, she theorizes.

The inability to recognize faces is more common than most people think. Dr. Yovel says that two percent of all people are born with “face blindness,” scientifically known as prosopagnosia. She hopes her research will enable these people to train themselves, via software and other methods, to better differentiate one face from another – especially when the face is that of a loved one.

“Faces are important. We meet so many people every day, on the street or at work, and should know whether or not each face is important to us. In principle, faces are very similar to one another. That’s probably why we’ve evolved these complex and specialized face areas in the brain – so that we can more accurately discriminate among the countless faces we encounter throughout our lives,” says Dr. Yovel, who first began to study the neurological basis of face recognition as a post-doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Yovel hopes her studies will lead to new algorithms that can help computers do a better job of recognizing faces, as well as help people who somehow lack this critical social skill. She is currently collaborating with computer scientists at Tel Aviv University to explore new computational algorithms for facial recognition. (ANI)

Powerful Jewish nose

CNP Webmaster — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:17:27 +0000

Sniffing Device Helps Disabled People Move, Write

Technology Helps Severely Disabled People Use Their Noses to Drive Electric Wheelchairs, Write Text Messages

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News, July 27, 2010

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

July 26, 2010 — Israeli scientists have developed a device that allows severely disabled people to sniff to precisely control objects such as wheelchairs and personal digital assistants, a new study says.

The nasal-mask device works so well that disabled people who can’t move at all can learn to write text messages and drive electric wheelchairs by sniffing, researchers report in the July issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Noam Sobel, PhD, of the department of neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and colleagues set out to find a way to allow people with disabilities ranging from quadriplegia to “locked-in syndrome” to learn how to control devices with their noses just as they would using a joystick or computer mouse.

The Weizmann Institute has filed for a patent on sniff-controlled technology, which the researchers report as a possible conflict of interest.

The researchers built a “sniff controller” that measures changes in nasal pressure, which occur when the soft palate (the soft area at the back of the roof of the mouth) is repositioned. The device was tested on healthy and disabled people. The researchers report that sniffing can be done with precision, and that it requires precise movements of the soft palate, which receives signals from cranial nerves that often are not affected by paralytic injury and other disorders.

‘Sniffing’ Study

The study involved 96 healthy and 15 severely disabled people who were taught to sniff in different ways to send various electrical signals to a controller. For example, two in-sniffs meant forward, and two out-sniffs backward. Various sniffing sequences allowed participants to turn and steer a wheelchair.

In the end, a quadriplegic person could use the sniff controller to drive an electric wheelchair with precision after only 15 minutes of practice, the study says.

The researchers report that healthy people played computer games with the device as adeptly as they might with a mouse, joystick, or other controller.

Quadriplegic patients managed to use computers to write text messages and learned to control electric wheelchairs as well as the healthy people taking part in the research, the study says.

People who are “locked in” — completely paralyzed but cognitively intact — also were able to use the device to produce text messages.

One woman communicated for the first time in seven months, and another wrote for the first time in a decade, the researchers say.

Researchers say the device now awaits testing in disorders of consciousness, including the vegetative state.

View Article Sources

SOURCES:

News release, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Plotkin, A. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2010.

Test for Type 2 Diabetes

CNP Webmaster — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:54:33 +0000

Common Glucose Test for Gestational Diabetes Predicts Type 2 Diabetes

A common test to diagnose gestational diabetes — a temporary condition which can harm both mother and child if left untreated — also has predictive power for Type 2 adult-onset diabetes, a new Tel Aviv University study finds.

Dr. Gabriel Chodick of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine has proven that women who “fail” the glucose challenge test, a series of four blood tests conducted over a single four-hour period, have a higher chance of developing adult onset diabetes later in life. In his latest published research, Dr. Chodick found that nearly half the women who fail all four of the four-part tests, demonstrating an elevated blood sugar level, developed Type 2 diabetes within ten years.

Dr. Chodick’s study statistically proves what has been anecdotally believed by healthcare practitioners in the past. “While doctors take this into consideration, there usually isn’t close follow-up in the clinical setting,” says Dr. Chodick. He says that women in the highest risk group (those who fail all four of the tests) should be given special counseling and intervention to prevent the onset of diabetes, which can greatly diminish quality of life and lead to adverse effects including heart disease, blindness and liver cancer.

In the retrospective study, Dr. Chodick, Dr. Varda Shalev and their colleagues collected data on more than 185,000 women in Israel who took the glucose challenge test, then acquired information from the health registry as to what percentage of these women contracted diabetes later in life.

Dr. Chodick and his colleagues ascertained that women who failed all four glucose challenge blood tests had a nearly 50% chance of developing Type 2 diabetes within the ten years following the test. Those who failed three of the four tests had a 20% overall chance of developing the disease within the same period.

“This is the first-ever study to show the long-term health of those who failed the glucose challenge test,” says Dr. Chodick.

While doctors commonly advise that women with gestational diabetes exercise and supplement their diet with fiber and fruit (and, in the most extreme circumstances, take insulin injections), women who take the advice usually have the health of their child in mind, not themselves. After giving birth, they resume adverse eating and lifestyle habits.

Dr. Chodick, whose life’s work is focused on preventative medicine, hopes to change attitudes and policies through his new study. Gestational diabetes currently affects 3 to 5% of all pregnant women in the U.S., and rates are continuing to rise, Dr. Chodick says. “It’s an epidemic that can be stopped with information and action.”

Diabetic Medicine, July 2010 American Friends of Tel Aviv University (2010, July 8). Women with gestational diabetes: Common glucose test also accurately predicts adult-onset diabetes.

Autism conference in Israel

CNP Webmaster — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:53:22 +0000

Autism in the Holy Land: Conference Skyrockets Interest

Av 6, 5770, 17 July 10 11:51

by Ruth Amber Gristak and Maayana Miskin

(Israelnationalnews.com) One in 91 children worldwide, and one in 58 boys, are diagnosed with autism. Where do Jewish children rank in autism numbers? As there is no research in that specific area of autism, there is no answer. In Israel, the official statistic is 1 in 241. “Lack of answer” is the common end point for most questions about autism. There is no definitively known cause for the disorder.

This may be one reason that the Icare4autism 2010 International Autism conference in Jerusalem brought in over 500 attendees from Israel and around the globe. Attendees included educators, researchers, and those touched by autism. This conference was Israel’s first major international autism conference.

The event was held on July 5-6, 2010, by the NY-based, global non-profit, the International Center for Autism Research and Education (Icare4autism). It featured 30 speakers from around the globe and was held at the Ramada- Renaissance Hotel.

The conference aimed at connecting professionals from around the globe to synchronize the research and various methods of successful autism treatment. At the conference, professionals discussed their latest research and findings in the medical and educational fields. Conference attendees heard about how to better the lives of the children diagnosed with autism. Icare4autism’s Founder and President, Joshua Weinstein, said that he made it a special point to speak with as many attendees as possible, saying he feels “fortunate to be able to provide this helpful and educational event.”

In addition to the autism professionals, there were a variety of other speakers. The event’s opening address featured Yuri Geiron, the President of the Israel Bar Association. Geiron spoke about his own experience as a father to a child with autism. Later, in the day, at a special afternoon award ceremony and address, Israel’s Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Hershkowitz, spoke to the attendees. Hershkowitz also took time to leave a video message for online viewers.

Video footage of the speaker’s presentations will be available online, at www.icare4autism.org, beginning within the next month. Some of these presentations will be available to view at no cost; some will be for sale for a nominal fee.

Icare4autism is currently working on raising funds to purchase a small college campus in Jerusalem to turn into a model autism center. This venture would provide a venue for information, connection and collaboration between researchers, educators and family.

In Israel at present, the largest organizaton for dealing with autism is ALUT, the Israeli National Autism Association, which provides pre kindergarten, kindergartens, occupational centers and adult homes in some areas to people with autism, works to advance their rights and to improve the services available to them and their families. Special methods such as Mifne, for dealing with infants, and the Meir Autism Treatment Center for home care are other sources for care in Israel.

On 2 April 2010, the United Nations marked World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). The principal events were led by Israel and Qatar.

In a recent study, Dr. Ditza Zachor of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine reported a possible link between IVF and mild to moderate cases of autism. Her findings were presented in May 2010 at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia and reported in Science Daily.

Over 5,000 individuals in Israel have been diagnosed with autism and 250 infants are diagnosed annually in Israel, according to ALUT.

www.IsraelNationalNews.com

Integrative treatment of ADHD

CNP Webmaster — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:29:38 +0000

Psychiatric Times. Vol. 27 No. 7

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Integrative Management of ADHD: What the Evidence Suggests

By James Lake, MD | July 7, 2010

Dr Lake is in private practice in Monterey, Calif, and is on the clinical faculty in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University Hospital. He chairs the American Psychiatric Association Caucus on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine (www.APACAM.org) and is the author of the Textbook of Integrative Mental Health Care (Thieme, 2006) and Integrative Mental Health: A Therapist’s Handbook (Norton, 2009).

It is important for mental health professionals to be familiar with emerging research findings about widely used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in order to provide patients with accurate information on efficacy, safety, and appropriate use.

A high percentage of children and adults who have been given a diagnosis of ADHD use alternative therapies alone or in combination with conventional pharmacological treatment.¹More than half of parents of children with ADHD treat their children’s symptoms using 1 or more CAM therapies, most commonly vitamins, dietary changes, and expressive therapies; yet only about 10% disclose use of such nonpharmacological therapies to their child’s pediatrician.² Most nonpharmacological therapies used to treat ADHD are supported by limited evidence; however, as many as 80% of patients who use herbal preparations and other natural products regard these therapies as the primary treatment of their symptoms.²

Conventional treatment

Stimulant medications, including dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, and related compounds, are the most widely used treatments of ADHD. The nonstimulant atomoxetine has less potential for abuse but also may be less effective than stimulants.³ SSRIs and other antidepressants are used with varying degrees of success. Behavioral modification aimed at rewarding desirable behavior and extinguishing disruptive or inappropriate behavior continues to be a mainstay of conventional treatment. Psychotherapy and psychosocial support help reduce anxiety and feelings of loss of control that frequently accompany ADHD. It is estimated that ADHD is correctly diagnosed and treated in fewer than one-fifth of adults, which results in significant social and occupational morbidity.

Limitations and risks of conventional treatment

Long-term amphetamine use in childhood is associated with delays in normal development.⁴ One-third of individuals of all ages who take stimulants for ADHD report significant adverse effects, including insomnia, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain.⁵ Cases of stimulant-induced psychosis have also been reported.⁶ Stimulants and other conventional treatments of ADHD in adults are probably only half as effective as they are in children.⁴

Adverse effects of nonstimulant drugs used to treat ADHD include hypertension, decreased appetite, nausea, fatigue, liver toxicity, insomnia, and seizures. A meta-analysis of 6 controlled trials concluded that stimulant therapy started in childhood reduces the risk of subsequent substance abuse by as much as one-half. In contrast, stimulants started in adolescence or adulthood increase the risk of future substance abuse.⁷ Nonstimulant medications and extended-release stimulants are less likely to be abused.⁸

As many as 80% of patients who use herbal preparations and other natural products regard these therapies as the primary treatment of their [ADHD] symptoms.

Nonconventional therapies

Dietary changes. Early studies on a highly restrictive diet that eliminates all processed foods reported promising findings in children with ADHD⁹; however, a review of controlled studies failed to support these findings.¹⁰ The oligoantigenic diet (OAD) is a highly restrictive elimination diet in which food colorings and additives as well as dairy products, sugar, wheat, corn, citrus, eggs, soy, yeast, nuts, and chocolate are eliminated. Numerous studies on the OAD reported significant reductions in hyperactivity in children with ADHD when specific food items were eliminated from the diet using an open-label protocol.¹¹ In most studies, symptoms recurred when children were subsequently challenged with the eliminated food item following a placebo-controlled protocol. The significance of findings on elimination diets is limited by study design flaws, including heterogeneity of patient populations, absence of standardized outcome measures, high dropout rates and, in some studies, nonblinded raters.

Although research findings are mixed, sugar has long been suspected as an underlying causative factor in ADHD. In a 9-week placebo-controlled study, children without ADHD who were randomized to diets high in sucrose, aspartame, or saccharin showed no differences in behavior.¹² The expectations of parents may bias the perceptions of their children’s behavior following the consumption of large quantities of sugar. In one controlled trial, mothers who believed their child had eaten sugar were more likely to label their child’s behavior as hyperactive.¹³

In their comprehensive review of nonpharmacological therapies for ADHD, Weber and Newmark¹⁴ remarked that the study design did not adequately control for fruits, juices, or other dietary sources of sugar and suggested that future studies should not focus primarily on sugar but rather on a possible link between high-glycemic-index foods and hyperactivity. Large prospective controlled studies on dietary restrictions as therapeutic interventions in ADHD have been elusive because of difficulties in controlling eating behavior in both children and adults.¹⁵

EEG biofeedback. Children and adults with ADHD often have abnormal patterns of brain electrical activity; underarousal in frontal and midline cortical regions is found in up to 90% of cases, and frontal hyperarousal is especially noted in individuals who have not responded to stimulants.¹⁶ Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback is aimed at normalizing EEG activity by correcting the brain’s state of relative underarousal, thereby optimizing cognitive and behavioral functioning.¹⁷

Two EEG biofeedback protocols have been extensively studied as treatments of ADHD. With sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) training, the goal is to reinforce EEG activity in the faster beta frequency range (16 to 20 Hz) in the midline cortical regions, and it is targeted at reducing symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity. In contrast, theta suppression aims to reduce EEG activity in the slower theta frequency range (4 to 8 Hz) and is used primarily to treat symptoms of inattention.

Controlled studies that compared EEG biofeedback to a stimulant medication with a wait list report consistent beneficial clinical effects and EEG normalization with SMR and theta suppression EEG biofeedback protocols.^18,19 However, causal relationships between improvements in attention and increased or decreased alpha activity (12 to 18 Hz) have not been clearly established. The significance of most findings on EEG biofeedback is limited by study design flaws that include small study sizes, heterogeneous populations, absence of a control (ie, sham biofeedback) group, inconsistent outcome measures, self-selection bias (the majority of enrolled subjects were highly motivated to receive treatment), and limited or no long-term follow-up.

Natural products used to treat ADHD. The finding that children with ADHD have lower plasma concentrations of certain essential fatty acids (EFAs) than those in a healthy population has led to the hypothesis that fatty acid deficiencies during critical developmental phases increase the risk of acquiring ADHD.^20,21 Few controlled studies have examined the effect of EFAs in children with ADHD, and findings are inconsistent.

One study on EFAs as an adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications found no differential benefit of EFAs compared with stimulants plus a placebo.²² Another adjunctive study found only modest improvements over placebo in disruptive behavior and attention.²³

In a placebo-controlled trial on EFAs as a stand-alone treatment of ADHD, parents of children in the treatment group reported more improvement than did parents of children receiving a palm oil placebo.²⁴This study has been criticized because a high dropout rate biases findings in a positive direction.¹⁴The use of olive oil as a placebo may mask the beneficial clinical effects of EFAs because an active constituent of olive oil is converted into oleamide, which is known to affect brain function.²⁵ It has also been suggested that the relatively short durations and low doses of EFAs used in these studies may not be adequate to result in changes in neuronal membrane structure required for clinical improvement.²²

The issue of dosing has been addressed by a small open-label study (N = 9) in which children with ADHD were given supplemental high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) concentrates (16.2 g/d) while they continued to take stimulant medications. Most children were rated by a blinded psychiatrist as having significant improvements in both inattention and hyperactivity that correlated with reductions in the arachidonic acid to EPA ratio at the end of an 8-week treatment.²⁶ Large prospective trials in different age-groups are needed to replicate these findings before omega-3s can be generally recommended for ADHD.

Herbal preparations

In a 4-week study, 36 children with ADHD were randomized to an herbal preparation containing Ginkgo biloba and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) or to a combination of the herbal preparation and stimulant medication.²⁷ Beneficial effects in attention and impulsivity were observed in children taking the herbal preparation alone; however, the absence of a comparison group (ie, taking a stimulant only) and small study size limit the significance of the findings.

Findings of several open studies suggest that a standardized extract of Pinus pinaster (French maritime pine) bark is an effective treatment of ADHD, although to date, only 1 double-blind placebo-controlled trial has been published.²⁸ Children and adolescents randomized to a standardized extract of French maritime pine bark (Pycnogenol, 1 mg/kg/d for 1 month) experienced significant improvements in hyperactivity, inattention, and visual-motor coordination over those receiving placebo; however, symptoms returned to pretreatment baseline levels after a 1-month washout.²⁸One case of mild gastric discomfort was reported, and there were no serious adverse effects. Well-designed controlled studies are needed to replicate these preliminary findings.

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is an Ayurvedic medicinal herbal preparation that is widely used as a tonic and memory enhancer. In a small, 12-week double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT), 36 children who had ADHD and who were randomized to bacopa 50 mg twice a day showed significant improvement over those receiving placebo in tests of sentence repetition, logical memory, and pair-associative learning.²⁹ Large placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of bacopa as a treatment of ADHD.

Supplementation with trace elements

Zinc. Children who have ADHD frequently have abnormally low plasma zinc levels, which may interfere with optimal information processing and correlate with the severity of inattentive symptoms.^30,31Zinc supplementation is a widely used alternative treatment of ADHD; nevertheless, few studies have been done and findings are inconsistent. In a large 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial (N = 400), children and adolescents who were randomized to a high dose of zinc (150 mg/d) experienced significant improvement in hyperactivity and impulsivity but not inattention over those receiving placebo.³² A high dropout rate limits the significance of these findings.

In another study, the addition of zinc to methylphenidate therapy resulted in greater improvement than methylphenidate alone.³³ Large prospective studies are needed to replicate these preliminary findings and to confirm optimum dosing of zinc sulfate.³⁴

Iron. The incidence of iron deficiency as measured by serum ferritin levels may be higher in children with ADHD than in a matched population of children without ADHD.³⁵ Abnormally low serum ferritin levels may be associated with relatively greater hyperactivity in non-anemic children with ADHD but not with differences in cognitive performance tasks.³⁶ In an open trial, non–iron-deficient children given oral iron for 1 month were perceived as less hyperactive and distractible by teachers—but not by parents.³⁷

In a small, 12-week placebo-controlled trial, non-anemic children with ADHD who had abnormally low serum ferritin levels were randomized to oral iron (ferrous sulfate, 80 mg/d). Progressive improvements in the severity of ADHD symptoms were observed relative to placebo throughout the study: the effect was comparable to clinical improvements obtained with stimulants.³⁵ Large controlled studies are needed to confirm putative beneficial effects of iron supplementation in ADHD and to determine optimal dosing.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is required for energy metabolism and synthesis of fatty acids. Findings from a small study suggest that acetyl-L-carnitine significantly reduces the severity of ADHD symptoms. However, study design flaws, including failure to report pretreatment and posttreatment symptoms, limit the significance of the findings.³⁸ In a multisite, 16-week pilot study, 112 children with ADHD, aged 5 to 12 years, were randomized to placebo or to acetyl-L-carnitine (500 to 1500 mg bid).³⁹The Conners parent and teacher rating scales administered at baseline, and at 8, 12, and 16 weeks showed the superiority of acetyl-L-carnitine over placebo in inattentive-type children; however, there was no improvement over placebo in combined-type children. Significant adverse effects were not reported. Future studies are warranted to examine specific therapeutic effects of acetyl-L-carnitine in the inattentive type of ADHD. Findings of a small randomized placebo-controlled study suggest that acetyl-L-carnitine given in doses of 50 mg/kg/d improves symptoms of hyperactivity in young boys with fragile X syndrome and ADHD.⁴⁰

Homeopathic remedies

Homeopathic remedies are widely used in the United States and other countries to treat or self-treat ADHD. A recent systematic review of RCTs on homeopathic treatments in ADHD concluded that there is no evidence of beneficial effects of homeopathy on symptom severity, core symptoms, or the course of ADHD.⁴¹

Frei and colleagues⁴² have pointed out that conventional RCT study designs may interfere with the goal of demonstrating clinically relevant treatment effects of specific homeopathic remedies for ADHD. They suggest that long-term studies are needed that incorporate an initial open-label phase to identify the optimal treatment for each patient who can then be randomized to his or her optimum remedy or to a randomly selected homeopathic preparation in a subsequent placebo-controlled phase.

Yoga and massage

In a small pilot study, children with ADHD randomized to yoga experienced more significant reductions in symptoms over time than children assigned to a conventional exercise group. Children who continued to take stimulants while practicing yoga experienced the greatest improvements.⁴³Two small controlled studies suggest that yoga and regular massage therapy may reduce the severity of ADHD symptoms.^44,45 Large prospective studies are needed to confirm beneficial effects and test for possible group expectation effects of yoga and massage in ADHD.

Green play environments

A recently proposed theory conceptualizes ADHD as the result of attention fatigue caused by limited contact with green spaces during early childhood development. Findings of a large observational study suggest that children with ADHD who spend more time playing outdoors in natural environments may experience fewer and less severe symptoms of ADHD.⁴⁶ These findings have been criticized because of design flaws, including a highly heterogeneous population that included children with severe symptoms or comorbid oppositional-defiant disorder, absence of independent raters, absence of a comparison group, and reliance on the impressions of parents using nonstandardized rating scales.⁴⁷

Summary of key findings

To be most effective, the integrative management of ADHD should be individualized, taking into account the specific causes of the syndrome in each patient, including genetic factors, perinatal insults or toxic exposure, food sensitivities, and social factors. Stimulant and nonstimulant medications are often beneficial and are well tolerated for a significant percentage of children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD. When stimulants are ineffective, poorly tolerated, or refused by the patient (or the patient’s parents), validated EEG biofeedback protocols—including SMR training for primarily hyperactive-type ADHD and theta suppression for primarily inattentive-type ADHD—are reasonable alternatives.

The Table summarizes significant research findings for the nonconventional and integrative therapies for ADHD discussed in this article. Dietary restrictions on food colorings and additives or on foods that may be causing allergic reactions may significantly reduce symptoms of hyperactivity in some cases. Zinc supplementation may be helpful in cases when hyperactivity and impulsive behavior do not respond to stimulants alone. Emerging findings suggest that supplementation with iron and acetyl-L-carnitine may reduce symptoms of distractibility and inattention in some cases of ADHD. Large prospective placebo-controlled studies are needed before zinc, iron, or acetyl-L-carnitine can be generally recommended for the treatment of ADHD. High doses of omega-3 EFAs (up to 16 g/d) may have beneficial effects on symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity. More studies are needed to determine the optimal form and dosing of omega-3s in children and adults in whom ADHD is diagnosed. Extracts of Ginkgo biloba, Panax quinquefolius, Pinus pinaster, and Bacopa monnieri may be beneficial; however, conclusive findings from large prospective controlled trials are needed before any of these herbal preparations can be recommended as adjunctive or first-line treatments.

References

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Israeli scientist working on brain chip

CNP Webmaster — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:41:57 +0000

TAU Works on Computer Chip Implant to Treat the Brain

Tammuz 17, 5770, 29 June 10 02:23

by Hana Levi Julian, Arutz Sheva

(Israelnationalnews.com) A team of scientists at Tel Aviv University is working on a project that involves implanting a computer chip into the brain in order to treat conditions such as depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Professor Matti Mintz, a member of the Psychobiology Research Unit at the Department of Psychology, is part of a European consortium that is working on issues relating to neurophysiology, human behavior and mental health.

TAU colleague Professor Yossi Shaham-Diamond is also involved, working on the issue of adding sensors while miniaturizing the size of the deep brain electrodes used to deliver the stimulation. Two other TAU scientists, Professor Hagit Messer-Yaron and Dr. Mira Kalish, are also involved in the project as well as partners from Spain, Austria and England.

The Rehabilitation Nano Chip (ReNaChip), as it is called, is designed to help doctors connect computer software to the brain. If it is successful, the chip will deliver deep brain stimulation precisely to the areas where it is needed. It is hooked up to tiny electrodes implanted directly into the brain – only the electrodes are implanted. The chip itself can be placed just under the skin, “like pacemakers for the heart,” explained Mintz, “ensuring the brain is stimulated only when it needs to be.”

However, scientists are working towards a chip that can be made small enough to be “etched” on to the electrodes themselves, rather than have to be hooked up.

It is hoped that such technology may someday be used to treat neurologically-based conditions such as depression, Parkinson’s disease and possibly diseases involving damage to specific areas of the brain.

www.IsraelNationalNews.com

Common fitness myths

CNP Webmaster — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:44:47 +0000

Top 9 Fitness Myths — Busted!

Think you know the facts about getting fit? You may be surprised to learn how many are really fiction.

By Colette Bouchez, WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

It’s easy to fall into the trap: A workout buddy passes along an exercise tip, and then you pass it on to several folks you know. Your kid’s coach gives you advice, and sure enough you hear the same thing from several other parents. So you figure it must be true. But experts say that in the world of fitness, myths and half-truths abound – and some of them may be keeping you and your family from getting the best and safest workout.

“Some myths are just harmless half-truths, but many others can actually be harmful,” says professional triathlete and personal coach Eric Harr, author of The Portable Personal Trainer. “They can cause frustration in working out and sometimes even lead to injury,” he notes.

One reason myths get started, says Harr, is that we all react to exercise a little differently. So what’s true for one person may not be true for another.

“In this sense you sometimes have to find your own ‘exercise truths’ – the things that are true for you,” says Harr.

That said, experts say there are also some fitness myths that just need busting, and the sooner the better!

To help put you and your family on the path to a healthier, safer, and more enjoyable workout, WebMD got the lowdown from several top experts on what’s true and what’s not when it comes to exercise tips.

Fitness Myth No. 1: Running on a treadmill puts less stress on your knees than running on asphalt or pavement.

“Running is a great workout, but it can impact the knees — and since it’s the force of your body weight on your joints that causes the stress, it’s the same whether you’re on a treadmill or on asphalt,” says Todd Schlifstein, DO, a clinical instructor at New York University Medical Center’s Rusk Institute.

The best way to reduce knee impact, says Schlifstein, is to vary your workout.

“If you mix running with other cardio activities, like an elliptical machine, or you ride a stationary bike, you will reduce impact on your knees so you’ll be able to run for many more years,” says Schlifstein.

Fitness Myth No. 2: Doing crunches or working on an “ab machine” will get rid of belly fat.

Don’t believe everything you hear on those late-night infomercials! Harr says that while an ab-crunching device might “help strengthen the muscles around your midsection and improve your posture,” being able to “see” your abdominal muscles has to do with your overall percentage of body fat. If you don’t lose the belly fat, he says, you won’t see the ab muscles.

But can doing ab crunches help you to lose that belly fat? Experts say no.

“You can’t pick and choose areas where you’d like to burn fat,” says Phil Tyne, director of the fitness center at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center in Dallas. So crunches aren’t going to target weight loss in that area.

“In order to burn fat, you should create a workout that includes both cardiovascular and strength-training elements. This will decrease your overall body fat content,” including the area around your midsection, he says.

Fitness Myth No. 3: An aerobic workout will boost your metabolism for hours after you stop working out.

This statement is actually true — but the calorie burn is probably not nearly as much as you think!

Harr says that while your metabolism will continue to burn at a slightly higher rate after you finish an aerobic workout, the amount is not statistically significant. In fact, it allows you to burn only about 20 extra calories for the day. While there’s a little bit more of a metabolic boost after strength training, he says, it’s still marginal.

“It doesn’t really count towards your caloric burn,” he says.

Fitness Myth No. 4: Swimming is a great weight loss activity.

While swimming is great for increasing lung capacity, toning muscles, and even helping to burn off excess tension, Harr says the surprising truth is that unless you are swimming for hours a day, it may not help you lose much weight.

“Because the buoyancy of the water is supporting your body, you’re not working as hard as it would if, say, you were moving on your own steam — like you do when you run,” says Harr.

Further, he says, it’s not uncommon to feel ravenous when you come out of the water.

“It may actually cause you to eat more than you normally would, so it can make it harder to stay with an eating plan,” he says.

Fitness Myth No. 5: Yoga can help with all sorts of back pain.

The truth is that yoga can help with back pain, but it’s not equally good for all types.

“If your back pain is muscle-related, then yes, the yoga stretches and some of the positions can help. It can also help build a stronger core, which for many people is the answer to lower back pain,” says Schlifstein.

But if your back problems are related other problems (such as a ruptured disc) yoga is not likely to help, he says. What’s more, it could actually irritate the injury and cause you more pain.

If you do have back pain, get your doctor’s OK before starting any type of exercise program.

Fitness Myth No. 6: If you’re not working up a sweat, you’re not working hard enough.

“Sweating is not necessarily an indicator of exertion,” says Tyne. “Sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself.”

It’s possible to burn a significant number of calories without breaking a sweat: Try taking a walk or doing some light weight training.

Fitness Myth No. 7: As long as you feel OK when you’re working out, you’re probably not overdoing it.

One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make when starting or returning to an exercise program is doing too much too soon. The reason we do that, says Schlifstein, is because we feel OK while we are working out.

“You don’t really feel the overdoing it part until a day or two later,” he says.

No matter how good you feel when you return to an activity after an absence, Schlifstein says you should never try to duplicate how much or how hard you worked in the past. Even if you don’t feel it at the moment, you’ll feel it in time, he says — and it could take you back out of the game again.

Fitness Myth No. 8: Machines are a safer way to exercise because you’re doing it right every time.

Although it may seem as if an exercise machine automatically puts your body in the right position and helps you do all the movements correctly, that’s only true if the machine is properly adjusted for your weight and height, experts say.

“Unless you have a coach or a trainer or someone figure out what is the right setting for you, you can make just as many mistakes in form and function, and have just as high a risk of injury, on a machine as if you work out with free weights or do any other type of nonmachine workout,” says Schlifstein.

Fitness Myth No. 9: When it comes to working out, you’ve got to feel some pain if you’re going to gain any benefits.

Of all the fitness rumors ever to have surfaced, experts agree that the “no pain-no gain” holds the most potential for harm.

While you should expect to have some degree of soreness a day or two after working out, Schlifstein says, that’s very different from feeling pain while you are working out.

“A fitness activity should not hurt while you are doing it, and if it does, then either you are doing it wrong, or you already have an injury,” he says.

As for “working through the pain,” experts don’t advise it. They say that if it hurts, stop, rest, and see if the pain goes away. If it doesn’t go away, or if it begins again or increases after you start to work out, Schlifstein says, see a doctor.

Source: WebMD

Coexistence through medicine

CNP Webmaster — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:33:35 +0000

Arab Boy from Jenin Saved in Afula Hospital

Sivan 25, 5770, 07 June 10 12:33

by Hillel Fendel, Arutz Sheva

(Israelnationalnews.com) The antipathy of a Jenin Arab was replaced by appreciation after his son’s life was saved in HaEmek (Valley) Hospital in Afula.

“My son and I are not the same as we were before this happened,” the boy’s father said afterwards, “and I will share this with my family and friends.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the story.

The incident began this past Thursday, when 15-year-old Mohammed Kalalwe of Jenin, a Palestinian Authority-controlled city in Samaria, was working in the field. At one point, the boy noticed a deadly viper snake and tried killing it with a rock, but he was unable to avoid being bitten in his right palm. Screams and panic ensued, and within minutes, the boy’s father, Hafed, grabbed his stricken son and rushed him to the Jenin Hospital.

The Arab-run hospital was ill-prepared to treat the boy, and despite the common presence of snakes in the area, had no anti-serum. The hospital staff decided to send the boy by ambulance to the HaEmek Medical Center in Afula. Hafed later related that he was genuinely afraid to be taken to the Jewish hospital, because he was sure that he and his son would be ignored. His son’s palm and arm were critically swollen and the pain was unbearable.

The reality of HaEmek contrasted sharply with Hafed’s negative expectations. They were immediately greeted in Arabic and rushed into the emergency room, where the multi-ethnic staff administered life-saving anti-serum and brought the boy back from the brink of death. Mohammed remained in the pediatric intensive care unit for the next two days, and is now resting comfortably in HaEmek’s pediatric surgical department. It is expected that he will be released in the next two days.

Asked by a hospital staffer how he felt now about HaEmek Hospital and the Israelis he had come into contact with, the father stared his Israeli questioner straight in the eyes and said, “Our people do not know the truth about you, and our medicine has a long way to go. My son and I are not the same as we were before this happened and I will share this with my family and friends. May Allah bless all of you.”

“Good Thing There are Snakes”
Walking back to his office, the hospital staffer passed HaEmek’s Head of Emergency Services, Dr. Azziz Daroushe, a Muslim from the nearby Israeli village of Iksal. Asked him what he thought about this latest case where another life from Jenin had been saved in HaEmek, Daroushe answered with a twinkle in his eye and a knowing grin, “It’s a good thing there are snakes.”

Established in 1924, HaEmek Medical Center is a community hospital serving a population of Jews and Arabs, equally divided. With a mixed medical staff of Jews and Arabs, its guiding philosophy is “Coexistence Through Medicine.”

www.IsraelNationalNews.com

WHO flu experts linked to drug makers

CNP Webmaster — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:24:27 +0000

Report condemns swine flu experts’ ties to big pharma

Trio of scientists who urged stockpiling had previously been paid, says report

Randeep Ramesh, social affairs editor
The Guardian, Friday 4 June 2010

Scientists who drew up the key World Health Organisation guidelines advising governments to stockpile drugs in the event of a flu pandemic had previously been paid by drug companies which stood to profit, according to a report out today.

An investigation by the British Medical Journal and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the not-for-profit reporting unit, shows that WHO guidance issued in 2004 was authored by three scientists who had previously received payment for other work from Roche, which makes Tamiflu, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), manufacturer of Relenza.

City analysts say that pharmaceutical companies banked more than $7bn (£4.8bn) as governments stockpiled drugs. The issue of transparency has risen to the forefront of public health debate after dramatic predictions last year about a swine flu pandemic did not come true.

Some countries, notably Poland, declined to join the panic-buying of vaccines and antivirals triggered when the WHO declared the swine flu outbreak a pandemic a year ago this week. The UK, which warned that 65,000 could die as a result of the virus, spent an estimated £1bn stockpiling drugs and vaccines; officials are now attempting to unpick expensive drug contracts.

The cabinet office has launched an inquiry into the cost to the taxpayer of the panic-buying of drugs.

Today, the Council of Europe, produces a damning report into how a lack of openness around “decision making” has bedevilled planning for pandemics.

“The tentacles of drug company influence are in all levels in the decision-making process,” said Paul Flynn, the Labour MP who sits on the council’s health committee. “It must be right that the WHO is transparent because there has been distortion of priorities of public health services all over Europe, waste of huge sums of public money and provocation of unjustified fear.”

Although the experts consulted made no secret of industry ties in other settings, declaring them in research papers and at universities, the WHO itself did not publicly disclose any of these in its seminal 2004 guidance. In its note, the WHO advised: “Countries that are considering the use of antivirals as part of their pandemic response will need to stockpile in advance.”

Many nations would adopt this guidance, including Britain. In 2005, the government said it had begun bulk-buying the drug Tamiflu, initially ordering 14.6m doses after bird flu killed 40 in Asia.

The specific guidance on antivirals was written by Professor Fred Hayden. He has confirmed in an email that he was being paid by Roche for lectures and consultancy work at the time the guidance was produced and published. He received payments from GSK for consultancy and lecturing until 2002. He said “[declaration of interest] forms were filled out for the 2002 consultation”.

The previous year Hayden was also one of the main authors of a Roche-sponsored study that asserted what was to become a main Tamiflu selling point – its claim of a 60% reduction in flu hospitalisations.

Dr Arnold Monto was the author of the WHO annex dealing with vaccine usage in pandemics. Between 2000 and 2004, and at the time of writing the annex, Monto had openly declared consultancy fees and research support from Roche and GSK. No conflict of interest statement was included in the annex published by the WHO.

When asked if he had signed a declaration of interest form for WHO, Dr Monto said “conflict of interest forms are requested before participation in any WHO meeting”.

The third scientist, Professor Karl Nicholson, is credited with the WHO’s influential work Pandemic Influenza. According to declarations he made in the BMJ and Lancet in 2003, he had received sponsorship from GSK and Roche.

Even though the previous year these declarations had been openly made, no conflict of interest statement was included in the annex. Nicholson said he last had “financial relations” with Roche in 2001.

When asked if he had signed a declaration of interest form for WHO, he replied: “The WHO does require attendees of meetings, such as those held in 2002 and 2004, to complete declarations of interest.”

A WHO official told the BMJ it had to balance an individual’s privacy with the robustness of guidelines, which were subject to a wide external review process.

Preventing Alzheimer’s

CNP Webmaster — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:51:58 +0000

Alzheimer’s Risk Factors & Prevention

Provided as a public service of the American Health Assistance Foundation

On this page, you will find the following:

Risk Factors

Scientists have identified factors that appear to play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, but no definitive causes have been found for this complex disorder.

Known Risk Factors

Age: The single greatest risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is age. Approximately 5 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74, and almost half of those 85 years and older are estimated to have Alzheimer’s.
Genetics: The majority of Alzheimer’s cases are late-onset, usually developing after age 65, and this form of the disease shows no obvious inheritance pattern. However, in some families, clusters of cases are seen. A gene called Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) appears to be a risk factor for the late-onset form of Alzheimer’s. There are three forms of this gene: ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4. Roughly one in four Americans has ApoE4 and one in twenty has ApoE2. While inheritance of ApoE4 increases the risk of developing the disease, ApoE2 substantially protects against it. Some current research is focused on the association between these two forms of ApoE and Alzheimer’s disease. Several other genes also appear to influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and more detailed information is available in the Heredity section.
Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) or early-onset Alzheimer’s is an inherited, rare form of the disease, affecting less than 10 percent of patients. Familial Alzheimer’s Disease develops before age 65, in people as young as 35. It is caused by one of three gene mutations on chromosomes 1, 14 and 21.

Potential Contributing Factors

Cardiovascular disease: Risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may also increase one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. High blood pressure may damage blood vessels in the brain, disrupting regions that are important in decision-making, memory and verbal skills. This could contribute to the progression of the disease. High cholesterol may inhibit the ability of the blood to clear protein from the brain.

Type 2 Diabetes: There is growing evidence of a link between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes insulin does not work effectively to convert blood sugar into energy. This inefficiency results in production of higher levels of insulin and blood sugar which may harm the brain and contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Oxidative Damage: Free radicals are unstable molecules that sometimes result from chemical reactions within cells. These molecules seek stability by attacking other molecules, which can harm cells and tissue and may contribute to the neuronal brain cell damage caused by Alzheimer’s.

Inflammation: Inflammation is a natural, but sometimes harmful, healing bodily function in which immune cells rid themselves of dead cells and other waste products. As protein plaques develop, inflammation results, but it is not known whether this process is damaging and a cause of Alzheimer’s, or part of an immune response attempting to contain the disease.

Other Possible Risk Factors: Some studies have implicated prior traumatic head injury, lower education level and female gender as possible risk factors. Alzheimer’s disease may also be associated with an immune system reaction or a virus.

Heredity

Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) or early-onset Alzheimer’s is an inherited and rare. It affects less than 10 percent of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Familial Alzheimer’s disease develops before age 65, in people as young as 35. It is caused by gene mutations on chromosomes 1, 14 and 21. If even one of these mutated genes is inherited from a parent, the person will almost always develop Familial Alzheimer’s disease. All offspring in the same generation have a 50/50 chance of developing this type of Alzheimer’s if one parent has it.

The majority of Alzheimer’s disease cases are late-onset, usually developing after age 65. Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease has no known cause and shows no obvious inheritance pattern. However, in some families, clusters of cases are seen. Although a specific gene has not been identified as the cause of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, genetic factors do appear to play a role in the development of this form of the disease. A gene called Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) appears to be a risk factor for the late-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease. There are three forms of this gene: ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4. Roughly one in four Americans has ApoE4 and one in twenty has ApoE2. While inheritance of ApoE4 increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, ApoE2 substantially protects against it.
Scientists believe that several other genes may influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Two of these genes, UBQLN1 and SORL1, are located on chromosomes 9 and 11. Researchers have also identified three genes on chromosome 10, one of which produces an insulin degrading enzyme that may contribute to the disease. A gene, called TOMM40, appears to significantly increase one’s susceptibility to developing Alzheimer’s when other risk factors are present, such as having the ApoE-4 gene. Several recently discovered genes that influence Alzheimer’s disease risk are CLU (also called APOJ) on chromosome 8, which produces a protein called clusterin, PICALM on chromosome 11 and CR1 on chromosome 1.

Genetic risk factors alone are not enough to cause the late-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease, so researchers are actively exploring education, diet and environment to learn what role they might play in the development of this disease.

Prevention

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex disorder, for which there is currently no known prevention or cure. Some research has generated hope that one day it might be possible to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, delay its symptoms or even prevent it from occurring at all. Although there is preliminary data to support the benefit of some interventions, such as physical activity and cardiovascular risk reduction, nothing at this time has definitively been shown to prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. The scientific advisors of the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) do not currently recommend or endorse any commercial nutritional supplement, exercise program, or cognitive training exercises for the purposes of preventing Alzheimer’s disease. In spite of this, AHAF encourages people to evaluate the role of these interventions on the overall health and spirits of both the patient and caregivers

Diet

A number of preliminary studies suggest that how we eat may raise or lower our risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Eating a diet that is high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and that is low in sugar and fat can reduce the incidence of many chronic diseases, and researchers are continuing to study whether these dietary modifications are also applicable to Alzheimer’s disease. However, the strongest research supporting these modifications has been performed in animal studies, and remains to be rigorously established in randomized and controlled clinical trials.

There are, however, some exciting reports, that though currently preliminary, may one day be shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Many of these modifications have also been shown to be part of overall healthy lifestyles that are likely to protect against other diseases as well. For example, researchers found that clinical trial participants who adhered to a Mediterranean diet have a slower decline on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) cognitive decline. The Mediterranean diet may be protective against other diseases as well, including age-related macular degeneration. Also, vitamin D3 has been shown to have neuroprotective effects that may preserve cognitive function. This vitamin is produced naturally by the body from exposure to the sun, and is also being studied by AHAF supported scientists for its potential protective effects against glaucoma.

Some studies conducted in animals have shown that including blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries in the diet can lead to improved cognitive function, both in animals that age normally and in those that have been bred to develop “Alzheimer’s disease.” Scientists are beginning to study what chemicals within these berries might be responsible for their beneficial effects.

Curcumin is a spice typically found in turmeric which is used to enhance the flavor of curries and meats in Indian cuisine. Currently researchers are studying the effects of curcumin on the human brain. Recent research implies that curcumin might actually reduce the amount of beta-amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The problem with curcumin is that, in its natural state it is very difficult for a human body to absorb curcumin consumed as food. Once in the blood stream, it is also quite difficult for curcumin pass from the blood to the brain. AHAF funded scientists are studying whether special preparations of curcumin might overcome these limitations. Similarly, a study conducted on green tea and Alzheimer’s disease indicates that an antioxidant found in green tea, called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has powerful anti-plaque ability and may actually prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.

Switching from animal based oils and vegetable oil to extra virgin olive oil may also be a good habit to adopt. According to recent research, not only is extra virgin olive oil a generally healthy food, but it may prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well. Studies suggest that oleocanthal, a naturally-occurring compound found in extra-virgin olive oil, changes the structure of Amyloid beta-Derived Diffusible Ligands (ADDLs). ADDLs are proteins that are toxic to nerve cells and may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. By structurally changing ADDLs, oleocanthal may be stopping the proteins’ ability to damage nerve cells within the brain.

Exercise

Exercise is an important activity to add to a healthy lifestyle. AHAF encourages people to discuss exercise plans with their health care provider, so that an appropriate exercise program can be tailored for your specific needs. Studies conducted on those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) indicate that aerobic exercise may improve cognitive agility. In one study, investigators looked at the relationship between physical activity and ones’ risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. 1,700 adults aged 65 years and older were observed over a 6-year period in this study. Results showed that the risk of Alzheimer’s disease was 35 to 40 percent lower in those who exercised for at least 15 minutes 3 or more times a week than in those who exercised fewer than 3 times a week.

While it is not proven that exercise could prevent Alzheimer’s disease or slow its’ progression, animal studies and preliminary human studies have produced significant interest amongst scientists. Larger, and more rigorous, randomized controlled trials will be necessary before a definitive statement on the role of exercise in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease can be made. In spite of this, developing an exercise program as part of an Alzheimer’s disease patient’s routine may also be helpful with maintaining muscle strength, decreasing frailty, and elevating mood.

Building Brain Reserves & Social Engagement

Many people born between 1945 and 1964 or “baby boomers” are beginning to worry about Alzheimer’s disease. Millions are already caring for their parents and watching them fade away, and they realize they may be next in line. Although there is currently no cure, scientists believe there are ways to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by continually “exercising” our brains. Some research suggests that shoring up mental reserves as we age may protect against the onslaught of Alzheimer’s. This approach may also delay onset of the disease or possibly help retain cognitive function longer if it does strike.

Building cognitive reserves is a lifelong process that begins in childhood as we expand reading skills. According to classic neurological theory, during the early developmental stages of life, the human brain forms an enormous number of neurons, or nerve cells, but many of these cells also die. The neurons that survive do so by connecting with other neurons during the rapid-growth stage of the nervous system that occurs in childhood and adolescence. Reading progressively more challenging books, learning a musical instrument, creating art, playing chess and engaging in any mental activity all help form these vital neural connections that can last a lifetime, and appear to buffer people from cognitive decline later on.

Fortunately, according to the theory of "neuroplasticity," brain reserves can be expanded throughout life, even into advanced old age. A team of researchers led by Dr. David Bennett, M.D., director of the Rush Alzheimer’s Research Center, has studied neuroplasticity in adults. These scientists found that those who continue to learn, to embrace new activities, learn new skills – in essence, to exercise their brains — continue to build up connections that in turn lower their risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps they have begun to develop the disease, but they show no symptoms because they have brain cells to spare.

Another study led by Dr. Robert Friedland, of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, compared mental, physical and social activity levels in adults with rates of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers discovered that the more active adults, those who played a musical instrument, gardened, and played mentally engaging board games, for example, were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The benefit extended to those who were active between the ages of 40 and 60, so it’s never too late to start building intellectual muscle, and stimulating hobbies have a pay-off regardless of the age they are started.

Each of these studies, though hopeful and promising, require replication before their impact on risk of Alzheimer’s disease can be confirmed. But what does it hurt? While AHAF does not recommend any commercial products that advertise Alzheimer’s disease prevention, learning new skills or enriching your life in study of a favorite topic is an act of empowerment that AHAF recommends for all people at any age.

It is never too late to start new and creative activities. Continue to enjoy favorite pastimes, but challenge yourself by learning something new. Try a foreign language, read books and newspapers, solve puzzles and brain teasers, sing, dance, play board and video games, correspond by mail and email and engage in conversation. The combination of social, mental and physical stimulation is really the best medicine we have for a healthy life.

NSAIDS

Over the past couple of years, reports have been surfacing that NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, Naproxen and COX-2 inhibitors might actually prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have been rigorously studying the relationship between NSAID use and Alzheimer’s disease and no benefit has been demonstrated. Despite these results, scientists continue to look for ways to test how other anti-inflammatory drugs might affect the development or progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Estrogen

Over the past several years, estrogen has been recognized as having a protective role in the brain. However, its’ potential role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease has yet to be determined. In fact, clinical trials have shown that estrogen does not slow the progression of already-diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and is not effective in treating or preventing AD if treatment is begun in later life.

One large trial found that women older than 65 who began taking estrogen in the form of Premarin® or PremPro® were actually at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Although results from such studies were disappointing, many questions remain. For instance, would starting estrogen therapy closer to menopause be more effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease? These questions and other concerns related to estrogen’s relationship with Alzheimer’s disease are currently being studied in clinical trials.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is a public service of the American Health Assistance Foundation, and should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Although we take efforts to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information on our website reflects the most up-to-date research. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice; all medications and supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. The American Health Assistance Foundation does not endorse any medical product or therapy.

Last Reviewed On: 04/22/10