A New Way to Look at Alzheimer's

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/11/a-new-way-to-look-at-alzheimers/248650/

In recent years, researchers have made a number of major advances in understanding the origins of Alzheimer's. But a new study shows that however much we know, new research can change the game.

The prevailing theory of Alzheimer's suggests that the destructive buildup of plaques outside brain cells occurs because brain cells secrete too much beta-amyloid peptide, the precursor to plaques. Recent studies have suggested that the problem in Alzheimer's lies not in the brain's production of the plaques, but in its clearance of them.

However, there may be even more to the story than what we knew up until now. New research shows that brain cells may actually have trouble secreting beta-amyloid peptide that has built up inside the cells, rather than secreting too much. The team showed that beta-amyloid builds up within the neuron first, presumably because the neuron has trouble pushing it out. And it's this early step -- the internal buildup of the beta-amyloid -- that may be the cornerstone of the disease.

When brain cells get clogged with beta-amyloid, their function may be impaired. There is some level at which the cell can no longer hold the beta-amyloid that accumulates within it, so the membrane may burst, expelling beta-amyloid peptide into the extracellular space. It is at this point that beta-amyloid can turn into full-blown plaques outside the cells.

[Alameda]

1. Very interesting, thanks for the information.

[dkf]

2. So if the article is right and we've been trying to keep the secretions from leaking

Which is the opposite of what we need to do, are we currently using medicines that do this and is it hurting instead of helping? Or were they only looking in the wrong direction with nothing done yet?

[Ghost Dog]

4. Almost the opposite, it would seem.

The theory would suggest that a gradual would be preferable to a sudden release. Especially if the amount of released secretion could then also be controlled.

[socialindependocrat]

3. I have asked my optometrist..

I have asked my optometrist about the test that can be done to detect
b-amyloid in the eye and he said they didn't have the equipment for it yet.

I had my MIL ask when she went to a laser clinic about the same thing
and they said it was still experimental and the didn't have the equipment.

My concern is that we joke about forgetting things and having senior moments
starting in or 40s and the physicians don't worry about anything until we're
in our 60s or start showing distinct signs of the disease.

We were thinking that my mother was reaching the point where she would not be
able to live by herself for safety reasons and when she was tested the physician
said she was showing signs of mild Alzheimer's. MILD! MILD!!

What in the crap are these people thinking!!???

I wrote a letter to the Alzheimer's Assn. and asked what they were doing
regarding treatment of people in their 40s and 50s as preventative measures
and they just gave me the answer that the b-amyloid research was still in
the early stages. Now I need to go back and push harder for early testing.

If you have any concerns at all, please write to these people and to your
physicians to get them to start thinking about early/preventative treatment.
This disease is very scary and the amount of money and dedication it takes
to be a caretaker and bring your parents into your home and take over their
bills and take over with power of attorney is massive.

I need to find out what the costs are that are related to costs for home care,
medication and nursing home care. This is one major drain on money and time
not to mention the terror that te patient goes thru popping in and out of reality
until they finally just sit and stare into space.

Thanks for your ear! Please think about what I've said...

Sincerely

[Ghost Dog]

5. Thanks. A link:

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

... Researchers from Australia have presented preliminary data in Paris, France at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference that shows a cheap and simple eye test could help in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia...

... The retinal scans were used to measure both arterial and venous diameters and then calculate the arterio-venous ratio (AVR). The preliminary results have shown that the AVR correlated with beta amyloid plaque burden in the brain as determined by PET imaging studies of the participants. The differences in the AVRs are primarily due to retinal venous thickness which becomes thinner in Alzheimer’s dementia with an indirect correlation with the beta amyloid plaque burden in the brain. Of particular importance was the fact that even in cognitively normal participants, the AVR correlated with beta amyloid plaque burden in the brain. This implies that this simple and cheap eye test can identify individuals who have beta amyloid plaque in the brain before the onset of cognitive deficits. This inexpensive and noninvasive test would not be a definitive, stand alone diagnostic procedure but could be used for screening patients before employing more expensive and complex diagnostic modalities.

Read more: http://drsamgirgis.com/tag/eye-test/#ixzz1eGlCVThD

Also:

... Earlier work by Dr. Lee Goldstein of Boston University showed that amyloid, the protein that makes up Alzheimer's brain plaque, can be measured in the lens of the eyes of some people with the disease, particularly Down syndrome patients who often are prone to Alzheimer's.

A company he holds stock in, Neuroptix, is testing a laser eye scanner to measure amyloid in the eyes. Goldstein praised the work by the Australian scientists. "It's a small study" but "suggestive and encouraging," he said. "My hat's off to them for looking outside the brain for other areas where we might see other evidence of this disease."

Eye doctors often are the first to see patients with signs of Alzheimer's, which can start with vision changes, not just the memory problems the disease is most known for, said Dr. Ronald Petersen, a Mayo Clinic dementia expert with no role in the new studies...

/... http://www.mail.com/int/scitech/health/566300-falls-eye-test-clues-to-alzheimers.html

[socialindependocrat]

7. Thank you, very, very, much for the links!!!!

[xchrom]

6. my dad died of dementia -- whether it was alzheimers was never determined.

it's hard to test for alzheimers and distinguish it from other forms of dementia.

i kept him home was his care person.

those were very, very difficult years.

not the way a child wants to see his parent go.

[enough]

8. xchrom, I did the same with my father.

Difficult years indeed. I always feel the people who have lived through doing this are a sort of hidden band of sisters/brothers. There has certainly never been anything more difficult in my life.

I don't want my kids to have to do it for me.

[xchrom]

9. Indeed.

Watching & participating in the slow degradation of your parent is hard stuff indeed.

And no - not so many can relate.

[BuddhaGirl]

10. Curcumin and Alzheimer's

This is very interesting:

excerpt:

"Curcumin and Alzheimer’s Disease. Our group has tested curcumin in several models for Alzheimer’s and found that it not only reduces oxidative damage and inflammation (as expected), but also reduces amyloid accumulation and synaptic marker loss and promotes amyloid phagocytosis and clearance. Curcumin worked to prevent synaptic marker and cognitive deficits caused by amyloid peptide infusion and abeta oligomer toxicity in vitro. Our work on curcumin and AD is discussed in detail in our publications. and for information on enrolling in a curcumin trial see trials link . For news releases see News link. "

http://alzheimer.neurology.ucla.edu/Curcumin.html