`National Alzheimer's Project Act'

[JBeukema]

Bill Summary & Status - 111th Congress (2009 - 2010) - S.3036 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

 

[waltky]

Some info on Sundowner's Syndrome...

Sundowner’s Syndrome

Sundowner’s Syndrome is the name given to an ailment that causes symptoms of confusion after “sundown.” These symptoms appear in people who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. Not all patients who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s exhibit Sundowner’s symptoms, however. Conversely, some people exhibit symptoms of dementia all day which grow worse in the late afternoon and evening, while others may exhibit no symptoms at all until the sun goes down. Sundowner’s Syndrome largely remains a mystery to medical science, although there are several theories about why these symptoms begin at night. More and more studies are being conducted to try to determine the exact cause.

In the meantime, some doctors believe it’s an accumulation of all of the sensory stimulation from the day which begins to overwhelm and cause stress. Some speculate that Sundowner’s Syndrome is caused by hormonal imbalances that occur at night. Still others believe that the onset of symptoms at night is due to simple fatigue, while some believe it has to do with the anxiety caused by the inability to see as well in the dark. The theory that the symptoms have something to do with darkness has been supported by studies where the symptoms subside within an hour of the return of daylight. There is some evidence that nursing home patients show an increase in Sundowner’s symptoms during winter, which may suggest a correlation with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is believed to cause depression in the winter due to the shorter periods of sunlight, and it affects people of all ages.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

There are actually at least 70 different conditions that cause similar symptoms of confusion and loss of mental capacity, usually in the elderly. Alzheimer’s Disease is only one form of dementia. All types of dementia generally begin as a subtle loss of memory, which may barely be noticeable since everyone struggles somewhat with memory. However, when the symptoms worsen gradually over time, dementia is usually the culprit. While it’s normal to forget where you put your house keys, for example, it isn’t normal to forget your street address, at least not for more than a few seconds. Dementia can affect a person’s ability to logically judge circumstances, which means they’re no longer able to safely care for themselves. Studies have shown that people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease generally live from one to 20 years after diagnosis, with the average person living just eight years with the disease. It is one of the leading causes of death among the elderly. It’s estimated that as many as four million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease, and this doesn’t include the other forms of dementia.

Just as the causes of Sundowner’s Syndrome are largely a mystery, the same is true for Alzheimer’s and dementia. The symptoms are believed to be a result of neurons in the brain that stop working, and autopsies on people with Alzheimer’s show abnormal brain cells. Some forms of dementia are believed to be genetic, while others appear to have no genetic link whatsoever. Strokes, Parkinson’s Disease, and Huntington’s Disease put a person more at risk for dementia. In advanced forms of Parkinson’s Disease, dementia is almost inevitable and is called “Parkinson’s-related dementia.”

http://sundownerfacts.com/sundowners-syndrome

 

[waltky]

Uncle Ferd gonna get Granny tested...

MRI Sees Brain Atrophy Years Before Alzheimer's Symptoms
April 15, 2011 - Discovery might lead to early treatment

Memory loss and mental confusion are the first overt signs of Alzheimer's Disease, an incurable and fatal brain ailment. But scientists are starting to find evidence of the disease long before symptoms appear. In the latest research, MRI scans show telltale signs in the brain a decade before memory and thinking are affected. The pace of research aimed at understanding and preventing or treating Alzheimer's has been frustratingly slow.

A number of medicines have reached the market in recent years, but at best they only slow the progression of the disease. Some researchers think that drugs may be more effective if they're given sooner, before symptoms become apparent. A researcher at Harvard Medical School, Bradford Dickerson, is exploring an imaging technique that can identify characteristics of the brain that might signal the mental decline to come years later.

"So we wanted to test MRI, which is something that we think would potentially be more accessible to people if we end up needing to screen large groups of older subjects for these kinds of changes," Dickerson says. In a new study, Dickerson and his colleagues studied a group of men and women starting when they were in their 70s. At the outset, they were given standard tests, and all of them showed normal memory and mental function. They also got an MRI scan of the brain.

MORE

 

[Luissa]

Some info on Sundowner's Syndrome...

Sundowner’s Syndrome

Sundowner’s Syndrome is the name given to an ailment that causes symptoms of confusion after “sundown.” These symptoms appear in people who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. Not all patients who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s exhibit Sundowner’s symptoms, however. Conversely, some people exhibit symptoms of dementia all day which grow worse in the late afternoon and evening, while others may exhibit no symptoms at all until the sun goes down. Sundowner’s Syndrome largely remains a mystery to medical science, although there are several theories about why these symptoms begin at night. More and more studies are being conducted to try to determine the exact cause.

In the meantime, some doctors believe it’s an accumulation of all of the sensory stimulation from the day which begins to overwhelm and cause stress. Some speculate that Sundowner’s Syndrome is caused by hormonal imbalances that occur at night. Still others believe that the onset of symptoms at night is due to simple fatigue, while some believe it has to do with the anxiety caused by the inability to see as well in the dark. The theory that the symptoms have something to do with darkness has been supported by studies where the symptoms subside within an hour of the return of daylight. There is some evidence that nursing home patients show an increase in Sundowner’s symptoms during winter, which may suggest a correlation with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is believed to cause depression in the winter due to the shorter periods of sunlight, and it affects people of all ages.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

There are actually at least 70 different conditions that cause similar symptoms of confusion and loss of mental capacity, usually in the elderly. Alzheimer’s Disease is only one form of dementia. All types of dementia generally begin as a subtle loss of memory, which may barely be noticeable since everyone struggles somewhat with memory. However, when the symptoms worsen gradually over time, dementia is usually the culprit. While it’s normal to forget where you put your house keys, for example, it isn’t normal to forget your street address, at least not for more than a few seconds. Dementia can affect a person’s ability to logically judge circumstances, which means they’re no longer able to safely care for themselves. Studies have shown that people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease generally live from one to 20 years after diagnosis, with the average person living just eight years with the disease. It is one of the leading causes of death among the elderly. It’s estimated that as many as four million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease, and this doesn’t include the other forms of dementia.

Just as the causes of Sundowner’s Syndrome are largely a mystery, the same is true for Alzheimer’s and dementia. The symptoms are believed to be a result of neurons in the brain that stop working, and autopsies on people with Alzheimer’s show abnormal brain cells. Some forms of dementia are believed to be genetic, while others appear to have no genetic link whatsoever. Strokes, Parkinson’s Disease, and Huntington’s Disease put a person more at risk for dementia. In advanced forms of Parkinson’s Disease, dementia is almost inevitable and is called “Parkinson’s-related dementia.”

Sundowners Syndrome - Symptoms of confusion after sundown | SundownerFacts.com

Sundowners are fun...
During the winter at the memory care place I worked at, people would go crazy almost every night. We had one guy take a chair to the windows trying to get out.

Full moons, and sundown is always a great time.

 

[waltky]

Granny says sounds like Uncle Ferd's g/f's - fat an dumb...

Being overweight 'linked to dementia'
3 May 2011 - The study says 1.6 billion adults are overweight worldwide

Middle aged people who are overweight but not obese, are 71% more likely to develop dementia than those with a normal weight, according to research. Previous studies have indicated a link between obesity and dementia. But a study 8,534 of Swedish twins, in the journal Neurology, suggests just being overweight is also a risk factor. About one out of every 20 people above the age of the 65 has dementia. The Alzheimer's Society said a healthy lifestyle could reduce the risk.

Those with a body mass index (BMI) - which measures weight relative to height - greater than 30, who are classified as obese, were 288% more likely to develop dementia than those with a BMI between 20 and 25, according to the study. The clinically overweight, who have a BMI between 25 and 30, were 71% more likely. Dr Weili Xu, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, told the BBC: "We found in this study that being overweight is also a risk for dementia later in life."

"The risk is not as substantial as for [the] obese, but it has public health importance because of this large number of people worldwide who are overweight," Dr Xu added. The study says 1.6 billion adults are overweight worldwide. Alzheimer's Society head of research, Dr Susanne Sorensen, said: "This robust study adds to the large body of evidence which suggests that if you pile on the pounds in middle age, your chances of developing dementia later in life are also increased.

"By eating healthily and exercising regularly, you can lessen your risk of developing dementia." Alzheimer's Research UK head of research, Dr Simon Ridley, said: "This study adds to existing evidence that excess weight in middle age could increase our risk of developing dementia. "It's likely that dementia is caused by a complex mix of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. However, we still need to know much more about the causes of dementia if we are to find an effective treatment that is so desperately needed."

BBC News - Being overweight 'linked to dementia'

See also:

Waist fat 'increases heart risk'
2 May 2011 - The researchers looked at the distance around the hips and waist to measure the fat around the belly

People with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of death if they have fat around the waist, according to researchers in the US. The Mayo Clinic team, which analysed data from five studies involving 15,923 patients, found this even affected people with a normal Body Mass Index. In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, they said people with waist fat should try to lose weight. The British Heart Foundation said those with heart disease should be vigilant.

The researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at the distance around the hips and waist to measure the fat around the belly, and BMI which is a measure comparing height and weight. There was a 75% increased risk of death for patients with high levels of fat around the waist compared with those with thin waists. Even patients with a normal weight, a BMI between 20 and 25, had this increased risk of death if they were carrying fat around the waist.

'Major risk'

Dr Thais Coutinho, from the Mayo Clinic, said: "BMI is just a measure of weight in proportion to height. What seems to be more important is how the fat is distributed on the body." The researchers argue that doctors should take waist and hip measurements for all patients with coronary artery disease in order to give patients advice on how to reduce their risk. Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This study shows that abdominal obesity is the major risk factor for patients with coronary heart disease even if they have a normal BMI and are a healthy weight.

"The study only looked at patients with coronary heart disease, but it confirms the idea that abdominal fat is 'toxic' and is associated with a number of other risk factors for the disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. "It can be confusing to hear that raised BMI is bad for you and then to hear that waist circumference is the important measure, rather than BMI. I would advise that your BMI should generally be between 20 and 25 and if you have heart disease you need to be extra vigilant if you are carrying excess weight on your waist."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13222192

 

[uscitizen]

Hmm none of the demensia patients in he care center with my mother were overweight.
Not saying it cannot be linked but in my observations it is not a major factor.

 

[waltky]

Uncle Ferd gonna get Granny one o' dem scans so's he can prove to her she done gone plumb goofy...

Brain scans to spot Alzheimer's may be available this year
10 June`11 - Brain scans that detect early warning signs of Alzheimer's may be available in the United States as soon as this year, researchers reported this week, though it may be too early for the scans to be of much help for those with the disease.

"You'll get a more accurate and earlier diagnosis, which can be important to people who want to know what's going on when their memory is starting to decline," said Dr. Christopher Rowe, lead author of one study on the scans. "Unfortunately, until there's an effective therapy, there's nothing that can be done to stop the progression of the disease. The real value is going to come when we have an effective therapy." According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the number of deaths has risen in recent years.

Rowe and other researchers just released studies that reveal the effectiveness of PET scans that search for signs of a protein in the brain called beta-amyloid. It essentially gunks up the brain and causes senility. In one of three new studies, researchers from University of Texas found that levels of the protein, as detected through a PET scanner, were higher in those whose brains took longer to process things. In older people, they linked higher levels to memory problems. Physicians who find signs of senility in people who undergo brain scans have limited options to help them. There's no cure for the illness, and drug treatments have not proven to be very effective.

Rowe, who's director of nuclear medicine at the Center for PET at Austin Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, said that one company, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, hopes to get federal approval for amyloid scanning technology by the end of the year. Rowe has consulted for the company. The scans won't be cheap, according to Rowe, potentially costing thousands of dollars each in the United States. But they accurately diagnose Alzheimer's about 90% of the time, he said, compared with an 80% rate that physicians reach on their own. And, he said, the scans can detect Alzheimer's at an early stage.

Dr. James R. Burke, director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at Duke University Medical Center, wondered about the value of diagnosis via scanner. "Would you scan all people over a certain age?" he asked. "What do you say to a cognitively normal individual with increased amyloid in his/her brain that you would not advise for the same person without amyloid? If we had a therapy that reduced amyloid and prevented cognitive decline, then an argument could be made for widespread use of these scans."

However, Burke said, the study of brain scans does have value now as a research tool. The studies were scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, June 4 to 8 in San Antonio, Texas. Experts note that research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary because it has not been subjected to the rigorous scrutiny given to research published in medical journals.

Source

 

[waltky]

Falling may be an early sign of Alzheimer's...

Falls linked to early Alzheimer's disease
17 July`11 - Falling may be an early sign of Alzheimer's, according to new research.

Older people whose brain scans showed signs of amyloid — an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease — but who were otherwise healthy, had twice the risk of falls as people without brain amyloid, found a study being presented Sunday at the Alzheimer's Association's annual International Conference in Paris. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify a risk of increased falls related to a diagnosis of pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease," says Susan Stark, an assistant professor of occupational therapy and neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. She says the results are consistent with other studies that show mobility problems in people who have very early Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment. "It suggests that higher rates of falls can occur very early in the disease process," says Stark.

For the 8-month-long study, Stark and colleagues measured the rate of falls among 125 older adults, some of whom were cognitively healthy and who showed no memory problems day to day, but whose brain scans revealed the presence of amyloid. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning — which uses a tracer that lights up areas with amyloid — was used to detect the presence of amyloid. The participants also contributed samples of cerebrospinal fluid and were asked to keep a journal that tracked how many times they fell. Forty-eight people experienced at least one fall. Those with a positive PET scan image had more than double the risk for a falls.

The findings add another piece to the puzzle of understanding Alzheimer's in its earliest stages, says Jeffrey Burns, director of the Alzheimer and Memory Program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. "It's a small study, but certainly an interesting finding and likely to be of clinical importance down the road if these scans become available," says Burns. Someone at an increased risk for falls may benefit from bone medication, physical therapy to help with balance, and be a candidate for early Alzheimer's drug studies, he adds.

"The fall is due to some change that's disease-related," says William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Alzheimer's Association. "We talk about memory, but that's not the presenting problem for everybody. For a pretty big size group it's spatial orientation." Thies says the take-home message is that if an elderly loved one starts showing up with bruising and has unexplained falls, it's worth a trip to a healthcare provider.

Stark says falls remain the leading cause of long-term disability, premature institutionalization, and injury-related deaths in the older population. The study raises bigger questions about the earliest signs of Alzheimer's, says Burns. "These results apply to cognitively normal individuals who have amyloid in their brains. It's something we're just beginning to learn about. What does it mean, what's the significance when someone has no obvious cognitive problems?"

Source

 

[strollingbones]

lets see my mother is not overweight....never has been....never has smoke....walked 6 miles a day....ate well....and guess what....she still got alzheimer's....good luck figuring it out...i guess her sin was simply living long enough to get sick..

i hate sundowning......she will fuss that it is night.....i just go stand by a window and open the shade....doesnt impress her in the least

 

[waltky]

You don't say how old she is...

... hardening of the arteries also causes dementia...

... also, did she drink?...

... alcohol is a mild toxin and kills brain cells...

... over the years, even social drinking slowly degrades the brain.

 

[waltky]

Uncle Ferd thinks dem X-rays dey take of yer brain'll make ya goofy...

MRI-like Scan May Help Identify Alzheimer's
August 26, 2011 - But researchers caution it's not for diagnosis

Alzheimer's disease normally gets a definitive diagnosis only after the patient dies, and an autopsy finds certain distinctive structures in the brain. Recently, though, scientists have been seeking some sort of biomarker - a characteristic that can be identified while the patient is still alive. Emerging research on Alzheimer's suggests that the underlying physical disease begins years - maybe decades - before any symptoms appear. Kejal Kantarci studies Alzheimer's at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "We wanted to investigate whether people who have normal cognitive function, but in their 70s and 80s, have any signs of Alzheimer's or other dementia-related pathology through imaging," she says.

In a new study, Kantarci and her colleagues put more than 300 older adults through some advanced imaging procedures. The participants had positron emission tomography, or PET scans to identify the level of amyloid-beta in the brain that may signal Alzheimer's. About one-third of them had significant amyloid-beta deposits. They also got a special kind of MRI scan to look for a biomarker that may indicate Alzheimer's. And those with significant amyloid-beta deposits tended to have high levels of the choline/creatine biomarker. They also scored lower on cognitive tests. "We found that there is a relationship between the biochemical changes in the brain that we measured and the cognitive performance in the individuals," Kantarci says.

The MR spectroscopy, which is the MRI-type scan, identified people who scored lower on various tests of cognitive function, and who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's. The researchers caution that MR spectroscopy can not be used to diagnose Alzheimer's. But this work and other research suggests that it may soon be possible to identify people at higher risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia before they show any symptoms.

Kantarci admits that's not going to help patients now, because there are no effective treatments. "But when they come about," she says, "there will be a chance for us to identify those normally functioning individuals who will benefit most from preventive treatment." In addition, researchers trying to develop treatments may be able to use this biomarker in tests to assess how effective a new drug is.

Source

 

[percysunshine]

Sundowner’s Syndrome is the name given to an ailment that causes symptoms of confusion after “sundown.”

It is also an Australian drinking past time.

I am not sure if this is a coincidence.