13 April 2020
MONDAY, April 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Even before symptoms develop, the brains of people with early Alzheimer's disease have high levels of amyloid protein plaques, a new study reveals.
Those levels in older adults with no dementia symptoms are associated with a family history of disease, lower scores on thinking/memory tests, and declines in daily mental function.
The first findings from the so-called A4 study funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) were published recently in the journal JAMA Neurology. A4 stands for Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease.
The study -- due for completion in late 2022 -- is an ongoing trial that was launched in 2014. It's investigating whether the drug solanezumab can slow mental decline associated with elevated...
12 April 2020
SUNDAY, April 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- As you shelter at home during the coronavirus pandemic, eliminate hazards inside that could lead to falls, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) suggests.
Preventing injuries will help avoid putting added strain on a health care system struggling to treat COVID-19 patients, academy spokesman Dr. Todd Swenning said.
One out of five falls causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or even head trauma, he added.
"While common perception is that falls only happen to older populations, the truth is that anyone is susceptible, especially with increased family members in the home or changes to your daily routine," Swenning said in an academy news release. "The good news is that most falls can be prevented with a few simple...
10 April 2020
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A type of talk therapy by phone may help treat depression in people with Parkinson's disease, researchers say.
Depression is common in Parkinson's disease patients. It's associated with faster physical and mental decline, but is often overlooked and undertreated.
While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown promise in easing depression in people with Parkinson's, many don't have access to therapists who understand Parkinson's.
This study, published online April 1 in the journal Neurology, assessed the effectiveness of CBT by telephone.
"These results are exciting," said study author Roseanne Dobkin, an associate professor of psychiatry at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J.
"They show that specialized...
9 April 2020
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. nursing homes, assisted living centers and other long-term care facilities have closed their doors to outsiders due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it difficult for residents and their families to stay connected.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has some advice for making this difficult situation better.
"Right now, families across the country cannot visit their relatives in long-term care settings, and while they can't be there with them in person, they can, and should, still be there for them," said Charles Fuschillo, president and chief executive officer of the AFA.
"There are other ways that individuals can remain connected with a loved one with Alzheimer's from anywhere," he noted in a foundation news...