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October 30, 2005
Exercise in middle age can reduce threat of Alzheimer's disease
"Former high school athletes, distance runners, walkers, bikers, and millions of health-conscious middle-age Americans that engage in leisure time physical activity twice a week or more are excited today about the findings of a recent Alzheimer's study. The study found that aerobic exercise in middle age not only reduces excess weight and helps keep the heart healthy, but it can also cut the risk of being afflicted with Alzheimer's disease in the twilight years of life. "This is the first study to show this long-term relationship between physical activity and dementia in later life," said Dr. Mila Kivipelto, of the Aging Research Center in London.
Scientists at the Karonlinski Institute in Sweden found that people in mid-life who exercised at least twice a week had about a 60 percent lower risk of suffering from dementia compared to their sedentary counterparts. To get the full health benefits from exercise, it is important to be involved in an exercise routine that significantly increases your heart rate and improves conditioning levels. It is open to debate as to whether a slow casual walk along the sidewalks of Willcox will result in reducing the possibility of being afflicted with Alzheimer's in later life. Interestingly, the biggest impact was for people who had a genetic susceptibility to dementia, according to the study published in The Lancet Neurology Journal. This could explain the tendency of Alzheimer's to run in families.
Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. It affects an estimated 12 million people throughout the world. At the present time, there is no cure for the progressive illness that robs people of their memory and cognitive ability. Fortunately, drug treatments can slow down the early progression of the debilitating disease. Kivipelto and her research team studied the mental health of nearly 1,500 elderly people between the ages of 65-79 whose leisure activities were monitored and recorded from 1972 to 1987.
After re-examining the data in 1998, they discovered that the physically active group with increased breathing and sweat were significantly less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's in old age. "We found that people who were active during the baby boomer years and worked out at least two times per week had a lower risk of suffering from dementia." Kivipelto said. As expected, walking and cycling were the most common forms of exercise in the study. The researchers found no link between the amount of exercise and the degree of reduced risk. Evidently, the research team didn't include the duration or intensity of the exercise. The medical community has yet to ascertain why exercise seems to decrease the risk of cognitive decline. They suspect it could be due to a direct effect on the brain and its messaging system and also by improving blood flow to the brain. If you are middle-aged and concerned about heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cognitive decline in the twilight years of life, lace up your walking shoes, see your doctor regularly, and eat healthy. You will live longer, be sharper mentally, and live life to its fullest with a little luck.
Source: Terry Maxwell. Exercise in middle age can reduce threat of Alzheimer's disease. Arizona Range News (26 October 2005) [FullText]
Scientists at the Karonlinski Institute in Sweden found that people in mid-life who exercised at least twice a week had about a 60 percent lower risk of suffering from dementia compared to their sedentary counterparts. To get the full health benefits from exercise, it is important to be involved in an exercise routine that significantly increases your heart rate and improves conditioning levels. It is open to debate as to whether a slow casual walk along the sidewalks of Willcox will result in reducing the possibility of being afflicted with Alzheimer's in later life. Interestingly, the biggest impact was for people who had a genetic susceptibility to dementia, according to the study published in The Lancet Neurology Journal. This could explain the tendency of Alzheimer's to run in families.
Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. It affects an estimated 12 million people throughout the world. At the present time, there is no cure for the progressive illness that robs people of their memory and cognitive ability. Fortunately, drug treatments can slow down the early progression of the debilitating disease. Kivipelto and her research team studied the mental health of nearly 1,500 elderly people between the ages of 65-79 whose leisure activities were monitored and recorded from 1972 to 1987.
After re-examining the data in 1998, they discovered that the physically active group with increased breathing and sweat were significantly less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's in old age. "We found that people who were active during the baby boomer years and worked out at least two times per week had a lower risk of suffering from dementia." Kivipelto said. As expected, walking and cycling were the most common forms of exercise in the study. The researchers found no link between the amount of exercise and the degree of reduced risk. Evidently, the research team didn't include the duration or intensity of the exercise. The medical community has yet to ascertain why exercise seems to decrease the risk of cognitive decline. They suspect it could be due to a direct effect on the brain and its messaging system and also by improving blood flow to the brain. If you are middle-aged and concerned about heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cognitive decline in the twilight years of life, lace up your walking shoes, see your doctor regularly, and eat healthy. You will live longer, be sharper mentally, and live life to its fullest with a little luck.
Source: Terry Maxwell. Exercise in middle age can reduce threat of Alzheimer's disease. Arizona Range News (26 October 2005) [FullText]
posted by Dr. Koudinov @ 30.10.05
0 comments
October 28, 2005
Eisai and Pfizer To Educate Families Facing Alzheimer's
NEW YORK (27 October 2005) -- A new education program will help caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease preserve treasured family memories through the art of scrapbooking. The program, called Memories to Treasure, was introduced today by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving and Creating Keepsakes scrapbook magazine. The campaign is designed to help caregivers connect with their loved ones and to educate them about caregiving.
A majority of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide most of the daily care. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, characterized by a decline in memory and cognition, function and behavior. As the disease advances symptoms worsen, increasing the amount of time and emotional energy caregivers and families spend taking care of their loved one.
"Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be emotionally and physically challenging," said Gail Hunt, president and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving. "In addition to needing knowledge about how to address the medical aspects of the disease, caregivers need activities that help foster positive interactions with their loved one."
The Memories to Treasure program offers scrapbooking to engage families in a positive environment. The program includes a Web site, http://www.memoriestotreasure.com, educational materials for Alzheimer's
caregivers and a free scrapbooking starter kit.
The activities involved in scrapbooking, such as collecting old photographs and keepsakes, can benefit people with Alzheimer's disease. While people with Alzheimer's disease often have problems with short-term memory, they may be able to recall past experiences. Scrapbooking can lead to a conversation about people and events. Reminiscing about the past can be enjoyable for people with Alzheimer's disease and can help facilitate interaction between Alzheimer's sufferers and their caregivers.
"Making time for enjoyable activities like scrapbooking is one way for caregivers to stay positive and connect with their loved one," said Daniel Kuhn, MSW, author of Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers. While scrapbooking can benefit families facing Alzheimer's, finding a treatment to help slow the progression of the symptoms of the disease is another important aspect of caregiving.
"It's important for families to understand that while there is no cure for Alzheimer's, we do have effective prescription treatments available," said Benjamin Seltzer, M.D., director of the Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorders Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. "For example, Aricept has been shown to improve cognitive function and behavior in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease." Caregivers and family members who want to learn more about Memories to Treasure can visit http://www.memoriestotreasure.com. They will find tips on caregiving, information about Alzheimer's disease and a prescription treatment, a Memory Checklist to help guide discussion with a physician, and instruction on how to create a scrapbook to preserve treasured family memories. The free Memories to Treasure scrapbooking kit and educational materials can be ordered online.
Information About ARICEPT(R) (donepezil HCl tablets) Treatment in Alzheimer's disease
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, medical treatments are available to manage symptoms of the disease. Once-a-day prescription ARICEPT is indicated for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. ARICEPT is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and is believed to work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, thereby increasing available levels of this chemical in the brain. There is an established association between the loss of acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and thinking, and Alzheimer's disease.
In a progressively degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, improvement, stabilization, or a less-than-expected decline over time is considered a positive response to treatment. These types of responses have been observed in patients treated with ARICEPT in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Individual responses to treatment vary, and some patients may not respond. RICEPT is the number one prescribed Alzheimer's disease therapy worldwide, with more than 2.5 billion patient days of ARICEPT therapy. Nearly 2.3 million people in the United States alone have taken ARICEPT. ARICEPT is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. Some people may have nausea, diarrhea, not sleep well or vomit. Some people may have musclecramps, feel very tired, or may not want to eat. In studies, these side
effects were usually mild and went away over time. People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain other medicines should tell their doctors because serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, may get worse. Some people who take ARICEPT may experience fainting.
ARICEPT is co-promoted in the United States by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc, which are dedicated to advances in Alzheimer's therapy. For more information about managing Alzheimer's disease and about ARICEPT, and for prescribing information on ARICEPT, please see accompanying full prescribing information or visit http://www.aricept.com.
About National Alliance for Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created in 1996 to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. Recognizing that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well being of older Americans, NAC was created to conduct research, develop national projects, and increase public awareness of the issues of family caregiving. For more information, visit http://www.caregiving.org.
About Creating Keepsakes
Creating Keepsakes magazine is America's leading scrapbook magazine, providing a wide variety of scrapbook page ideas and styles for intermediate to advanced scrapbookers who are passionate about their hobby. The magazine is published 13 times a year, has a readership of approximately half a million and is available at scrapbook specialty stores, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Michael's and Hobby Lobby stores, as well as craft retailers nationwide. For more information about Creating Keepsakes, visit http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com or call 888-247-5282.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders and oncology/critical care. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of $2 billion in fiscal year 2004 (year ended March 31, 2005).
Eisai Inc. employs approximately 1,200 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, NJ, at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, and in the field. Between 1998 and 2004, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings (based on revenues) of U.S. pharmaceutical companies from No. 44 to No. 19.
About Pfizer Inc
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world's best-known consumer brands.
Source: Eisai Inc.; Pfizer Inc, web Site: http://www.memoriestotreasure.com , http://www.aricept.com http://www.caregiving.org , http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com
Source: Eisai and Pfizer Join National Alliance for Caregiving and Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Magazine to Connect and Educate Families Facing Alzheimer's Disease. PRNewswire (27 October 2005) [FullText]
A majority of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide most of the daily care. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, characterized by a decline in memory and cognition, function and behavior. As the disease advances symptoms worsen, increasing the amount of time and emotional energy caregivers and families spend taking care of their loved one.
"Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be emotionally and physically challenging," said Gail Hunt, president and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving. "In addition to needing knowledge about how to address the medical aspects of the disease, caregivers need activities that help foster positive interactions with their loved one."
The Memories to Treasure program offers scrapbooking to engage families in a positive environment. The program includes a Web site, http://www.memoriestotreasure.com, educational materials for Alzheimer's
caregivers and a free scrapbooking starter kit.
The activities involved in scrapbooking, such as collecting old photographs and keepsakes, can benefit people with Alzheimer's disease. While people with Alzheimer's disease often have problems with short-term memory, they may be able to recall past experiences. Scrapbooking can lead to a conversation about people and events. Reminiscing about the past can be enjoyable for people with Alzheimer's disease and can help facilitate interaction between Alzheimer's sufferers and their caregivers.
"Making time for enjoyable activities like scrapbooking is one way for caregivers to stay positive and connect with their loved one," said Daniel Kuhn, MSW, author of Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers. While scrapbooking can benefit families facing Alzheimer's, finding a treatment to help slow the progression of the symptoms of the disease is another important aspect of caregiving.
"It's important for families to understand that while there is no cure for Alzheimer's, we do have effective prescription treatments available," said Benjamin Seltzer, M.D., director of the Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorders Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. "For example, Aricept has been shown to improve cognitive function and behavior in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease." Caregivers and family members who want to learn more about Memories to Treasure can visit http://www.memoriestotreasure.com. They will find tips on caregiving, information about Alzheimer's disease and a prescription treatment, a Memory Checklist to help guide discussion with a physician, and instruction on how to create a scrapbook to preserve treasured family memories. The free Memories to Treasure scrapbooking kit and educational materials can be ordered online.
Information About ARICEPT(R) (donepezil HCl tablets) Treatment in Alzheimer's disease
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, medical treatments are available to manage symptoms of the disease. Once-a-day prescription ARICEPT is indicated for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. ARICEPT is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and is believed to work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, thereby increasing available levels of this chemical in the brain. There is an established association between the loss of acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and thinking, and Alzheimer's disease.
In a progressively degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, improvement, stabilization, or a less-than-expected decline over time is considered a positive response to treatment. These types of responses have been observed in patients treated with ARICEPT in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Individual responses to treatment vary, and some patients may not respond. RICEPT is the number one prescribed Alzheimer's disease therapy worldwide, with more than 2.5 billion patient days of ARICEPT therapy. Nearly 2.3 million people in the United States alone have taken ARICEPT. ARICEPT is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. Some people may have nausea, diarrhea, not sleep well or vomit. Some people may have musclecramps, feel very tired, or may not want to eat. In studies, these side
effects were usually mild and went away over time. People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain other medicines should tell their doctors because serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, may get worse. Some people who take ARICEPT may experience fainting.
ARICEPT is co-promoted in the United States by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc, which are dedicated to advances in Alzheimer's therapy. For more information about managing Alzheimer's disease and about ARICEPT, and for prescribing information on ARICEPT, please see accompanying full prescribing information or visit http://www.aricept.com.
About National Alliance for Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created in 1996 to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. Recognizing that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well being of older Americans, NAC was created to conduct research, develop national projects, and increase public awareness of the issues of family caregiving. For more information, visit http://www.caregiving.org.
About Creating Keepsakes
Creating Keepsakes magazine is America's leading scrapbook magazine, providing a wide variety of scrapbook page ideas and styles for intermediate to advanced scrapbookers who are passionate about their hobby. The magazine is published 13 times a year, has a readership of approximately half a million and is available at scrapbook specialty stores, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Michael's and Hobby Lobby stores, as well as craft retailers nationwide. For more information about Creating Keepsakes, visit http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com or call 888-247-5282.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders and oncology/critical care. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of $2 billion in fiscal year 2004 (year ended March 31, 2005).
Eisai Inc. employs approximately 1,200 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, NJ, at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, and in the field. Between 1998 and 2004, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings (based on revenues) of U.S. pharmaceutical companies from No. 44 to No. 19.
About Pfizer Inc
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world's best-known consumer brands.
Source: Eisai Inc.; Pfizer Inc, web Site: http://www.memoriestotreasure.com , http://www.aricept.com http://www.caregiving.org , http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com
Source: Eisai and Pfizer Join National Alliance for Caregiving and Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Magazine to Connect and Educate Families Facing Alzheimer's Disease. PRNewswire (27 October 2005) [FullText]
posted by Dr. Koudinov @ 28.10.05
0 comments
October 26, 2005
Studies Find Memantine Treatment Improves Specific Symptoms of Alzherimer's
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (26 October 2005) -- Treated with memantine appears to reduce the decline in individual function in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, according to an analysis of two placebo controlled trials. In one trial 252 patients were randomised to memantine or placebo as monotherapy, and in another a total of 403 patients were randomized to memantine or placebo in addition to stable donezepil therapy at a mean dose of 9 mg per day. Previously, studies demonstrated that memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is positive effects on global, functional and behavioral measures in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Howard Feldman, MD, Head, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, presented data here at the 18th congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), to show that treatment significantly reduced the decline in patients' ability to dispose of litter, clear a table, hold a conversation, find their belongings, watch television and groom themselves compared to placebo. Dr. said that memantine also provided benefits compared to placebo on autonomy, simple motor skills and praxis, higher level functions and basic activities of daily living.
Autonomy assessed ability to use a telephone, watching television, travelling and being left alone; simple motor skills included clearing litter, turning a tap on and off, and turning a light on. Higher-level functions included holding a conversation, finding belongings, getting a drink and turning a light off. The basic activities of daily living were listed as eating, walking, going to the toilet, bathing, grooming, dressing and clearing a table.
The post hoc analysis looked at the total scores, individual items and subscales on the intention to treat populations. There were no differences between the placebo and memantine treated groups at baseline in the analysed studies. The patients had a mean age of 76, and 63-72 per cent were women. About 90 per cent were white and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were 8.1 for the placebo group and 7.7 in the memantine monotherapy trial and 10,2 for placebo and 9.9 for the memantine treated group in the combination with donezepil group.
The studies had previously reported improvement in the total score of the 19-item Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL-19- ) suggesting that memantine treatment improved functional decline relative to placebo. Dr Feldman said a health economics analysis of the trial that added memantine to stable donezepil therapy was needed to assess the impact of the functional improvements noted. A previous Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD) study of the monotherapy trial, he commented, indicated that memantine treatment inpatients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease reduces total healthcare and societal costs.
'Treatments that reduce functional deterioration may reduce caregiver and health care provider burden, as well as maximizing the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease' Dr Feldman said.
The research was funded by Forest Laboratories Inc.
Citation: Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 15 (2005), Supplement 3, Page S570.
[Presentation title: Memantine and Individual Activities of Daily Living in Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease. Abstract P.5.031]
Source: Mark Pownall. Studies Find Memantine Treatment Improves Specific Symptoms of Alzherimer's Disease: Presented at ECNP (26 October 2005) [FullText]
Howard Feldman, MD, Head, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, presented data here at the 18th congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), to show that treatment significantly reduced the decline in patients' ability to dispose of litter, clear a table, hold a conversation, find their belongings, watch television and groom themselves compared to placebo. Dr. said that memantine also provided benefits compared to placebo on autonomy, simple motor skills and praxis, higher level functions and basic activities of daily living.
Autonomy assessed ability to use a telephone, watching television, travelling and being left alone; simple motor skills included clearing litter, turning a tap on and off, and turning a light on. Higher-level functions included holding a conversation, finding belongings, getting a drink and turning a light off. The basic activities of daily living were listed as eating, walking, going to the toilet, bathing, grooming, dressing and clearing a table.
The post hoc analysis looked at the total scores, individual items and subscales on the intention to treat populations. There were no differences between the placebo and memantine treated groups at baseline in the analysed studies. The patients had a mean age of 76, and 63-72 per cent were women. About 90 per cent were white and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were 8.1 for the placebo group and 7.7 in the memantine monotherapy trial and 10,2 for placebo and 9.9 for the memantine treated group in the combination with donezepil group.
The studies had previously reported improvement in the total score of the 19-item Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL-19- ) suggesting that memantine treatment improved functional decline relative to placebo. Dr Feldman said a health economics analysis of the trial that added memantine to stable donezepil therapy was needed to assess the impact of the functional improvements noted. A previous Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD) study of the monotherapy trial, he commented, indicated that memantine treatment inpatients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease reduces total healthcare and societal costs.
'Treatments that reduce functional deterioration may reduce caregiver and health care provider burden, as well as maximizing the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease' Dr Feldman said.
The research was funded by Forest Laboratories Inc.
Citation: Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 15 (2005), Supplement 3, Page S570.
[Presentation title: Memantine and Individual Activities of Daily Living in Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease. Abstract P.5.031]
Source: Mark Pownall. Studies Find Memantine Treatment Improves Specific Symptoms of Alzherimer's Disease: Presented at ECNP (26 October 2005) [FullText]
posted by Dr. Koudinov @ 26.10.05
0 comments
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