ScienceDaily: Healthy Aging News

Molecular trigger for Alzheimer's disease identified

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have pinpointed a catalytic trigger for the onset of Alzheimer's disease -- when the fundamental structure of a protein molecule changes to cause a chain reaction that leads to the death of neurons in the brain.

Far-reaching, microvascular damage found in uninjured side of brain after stroke

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

An animal-model study finds far-reaching microvascular damage in the uninjured side of the brain after a stroke. The findings suggest repair of the protective blood-brain barrier may help prevent this breach in the days following the acute injury.

Individuals who drink heavily and smoke may show 'early aging' of the brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Alcohol treatment interventions work best when patients understand and are actively involved in the process. A first-of-its-kind study looks at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neurocognition in one-month-abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) individuals in treatment. Results show that AD individuals who currently smoke have more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who do not smoke, effects which seem to become greater with increasing age.

Accelerated aging in children: Promising treatment for progeria within reach

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:25 EDT

Pharmaceuticals that inhibit a specific enzyme may be useful in treating progeria, or accelerated aging in children. A new study indicates that the development of progeria in mice was inhibited upon reducing the production of this enzyme.

Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:53 EDT

The relationship between the heritable risk for schizophrenia and low intelligence (IQ) has not been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with cognitive impairments that may cause functional disability. Researchers have now found that individuals with a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia had a lower IQ at age 70 but not at age 11.

Skin cancer may be linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

People who have skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. The link does not apply to melanoma, a less common but more aggressive type of skin cancer.

Women's immune systems remain younger for longer

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Women’s immune systems age more slowly than men's, new research suggests. The slower decline in a woman’s immune system may contribute to women living longer than men.

Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:53:53 EDT

Forget apples -- lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study.

Alzheimer's markers predict start of mental decline

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:26:26 EDT

Using long-term patient data, scientists have found that many of the biomarkers for Alzheimer’s identified in recent years can help accurately predict the start of full-blown disease years in advance.

New drug reverses memory deficits and slows Alzheimer's in mice

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24:24 EDT

A drug known as J147 reverses memory deficits and slows Alzheimer's disease in aged mice following short-term treatment. The findings may pave the way to a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Brain diseases affecting more people and starting earlier than ever before

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:55:55 EDT

Scientists have found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer. The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions -- and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting people under 55 years.

Turning old hearts

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Researchers have identified a protein in the blood of mice and humans that may prove to be the first effective treatment for the form of age-related heart failure that affects millions of Americans.

Rejuvenating hormone found to reverse symptoms of heart failure

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Heart failure is one of the most debilitating conditions linked to old age. A new study reveals that a blood hormone known as growth differentiation factor 11 declines with age, and old mice injected with this hormone experience a reversal in signs of cardiac aging. The findings shed light on the underlying causes of age-related heart failure and may offer a much-needed strategy for treating this condition in humans.

Scientists identify early predictors of disease progression which could speed Huntington's disease drug trials

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Scientists have identified a set of tests that could help identify whether and how Huntington’s disease (HD) is progressing in groups of people who are not yet showing symptoms.

Brain, not eye mechanisms keep color vision constant across lifespan

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

Cone receptors in the human eye lose their color sensitivity with age, but our subjective experience of color remains largely unchanged over the years. This ability to compensate for age-related changes in color perception rests in higher levels of the visual system, according to new research.

Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:54:54 EDT

Scientists have discovered that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:46:46 EDT

Some memory problems common to older adults may stem from an inability to segment daily life into discrete experiences, according to a new study.

Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Research on medications commonly taken by older adults has found that drugs with strong anticholinergic effects cause cognitive impairment when taken continuously for as few as 60 days. A similar impact can be seen with 90 days of continuous use when taking multiple drugs with weak anticholinergic effect.

New perspective needed for role of major Alzheimer's gene

Tue, 07 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Scientists' picture of how a gene strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease harms the brain may have to be revised, researchers have found.

Boosting 'cellular garbage disposal' can delay the aging process

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:16:16 EDT

Biologists have identified a gene, previously implicated in Parkinson's disease, that can delay the onset of aging and extend the healthy life span of fruit flies. This research has important potential implications for aging and disease in humans. The gene, Parkin, serves at least two vital functions. By increasing Parkin activity, the scientists extended the lifespan of the flies by more than 25 percent.

Cognitive impairment in families with exceptional longevity studied

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:13:13 EDT

Researchers examines the relationship between families with exceptional longevity and cognitive impairment consistent with Alzheimer disease.

Weight gain linked with personality trait changes

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:40:40 EDT

People who gain weight are more likely to give in to temptations but also are more thoughtful about their actions, according to a new study.

Gray hair and vitiligo reversed at the root

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:29:29 EDT

It's true -- the cure for gray hair is coming. New research shows that people going gray develop oxidative stress via accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, causing our hair to bleach itself from the inside out. Now, this can be remedied with a proprietary treatment described as a topical, UVB-activated compound called PC-KUS (a modified pseudocatalase). What's more, the same treatment works for the skin condition, vitiligo.

Five 'sudden symptoms' of stroke: Recognizing these could save a life – even a young life

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Quickly recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical care from stroke specialists can minimize the effects of the disease or even save a life. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Nearly 20 percent of strokes occur in people younger than age 55.

Diet, 'anti-aging' supplements may help reverse blood vessel abnormality

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

A diet low in grains, beans and certain vegetables -- combined with "anti-aging" supplements -- improved blood vessel function, in a new study.

Soil may harbor answer to reducing arsenic in rice

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

Agricultural researchers are studying whether a naturally occurring soil bacterium, referred to as UD1023, can create an iron barrier in rice roots that reduces arsenic uptake.

Hypothalamus: Brain region may hold key to aging

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

While the search continues for the Fountain of Youth, researchers may have found the body's "fountain of aging": the brain region known as the hypothalamus. For the first time, scientists report that the hypothalamus of mice controls aging throughout the body. Their discovery of a specific age-related signaling pathway opens up new strategies for combating diseases of old age and extending lifespan.

One step closer to a blood test for Alzheimer's

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:13:13 EDT

Scientists are much closer to developing a screening test for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

No link between anesthesia, dementia in elderly

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Elderly patients who receive anesthesia are no more likely to develop long-term dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than other seniors, according to new research. The study analyzed thousands of patients using the Rochester Epidemiology Project -- which allows researchers access to medical records of nearly all residents of Olmsted County, Minn. -- and found that receiving general anesthesia for procedures after age 45 is not a risk factor for developing dementia.

Discovery helps explain how children develop rare, fatal disease

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:19:19 EDT

Biochemistry researchers have published conclusive scientific evidence that the gene ATP7A is essential for the dietary absorption of the nutrient copper. Their work with laboratory mice also provides a greater understanding of how this gene impacts Menkes disease as scientists search for a treatment.

Mediterranean diet linked to preserving memory

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, chicken and salad dressing, and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods, may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities.

Novel mechanism by which UVA contributes to photoaging of skin

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

A study provides new evidence that longwave ultraviolet light induces a protein that could result in premature skin aging. The findings demonstrate that aspects of photoaging, the process of skin aging by chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, could be linked to genetic factors that accelerate the aging process when induced by the environment.

Suppressing protein may stem Alzheimer's disease process

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Scientists have discovered a potential strategy for developing treatments to stem the disease process in Alzheimer's disease. It's based on unclogging removal of toxic debris that accumulates in patients' brains, by blocking activity of a little-known regulator protein called CD33. Too much CD33 activity may promote late-onset Alzheimer's by preventing support cells from clearing out toxic plaques. Future medications that impede CD33 activity might help prevent or treat the disorder.

Gene networks in brains of deceased patients reveal potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Most information about the cause of Alzheimer's is based on studies from animal models. Now, a study examines the brain tissue of deceased human patients and sheds light on dysfunctions in molecular networks in the brain that are at the root of Alzheimer's. By showing that the TYROBP gene plays a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the study reveals a potential therapeutic target for preventing brain damage.

Teen years may be critical in later stroke risk

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

The teenage years may be a key period of vulnerability related to living in the "stroke belt" when it comes to future stroke risk, according to a new study.

Costs to treat heart failure expected to more than double by 2030

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:22:22 EDT

By 2030, you — and every U.S. taxpayer — could be paying $244 a year to care for heart failure patients, according to a new policy statement.

Alzheimer's researchers creating 'designer tracker' to quantify elusive brain protein, provide earlier diagnosis

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:21:21 EDT

Alzheimer's researchers know the disease is caused by toxic beta amyloid and tau lesions, yet, the recent failure of emerging therapies targeting these lesions suggest that successful treatments will require diagnosis of disease at its earliest stages. Now, by using computer-aided drug discovery, researchers are in the process of developing an imaging chemical that attaches predominantly to tau-bearing lesions in living brain, opening the door for earlier diagnosis – and better treatments for tau-involved conditions like Alzheimer’s, frontal temporal dementia and traumatic brain injuries.

Uncleaned cells mean weak muscles

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:10:10 EDT

The protein complex mTORC1 promotes muscle growth. However, should this complex remain constantly active, it impairs the ability of the cells to self-clean, causing myopathy. Scientists have now described the exact mechanism involved.

New light shed on early stage Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:48:48 EDT

The disrupted metabolism of sugar, fat and calcium is part of the process that causes the death of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have now shown, for the first time, how important parts of the nerve cell that are involved in the cell’s energy metabolism operate in the early stages of the disease. These somewhat surprising results shed new light on how neuronal metabolism relates to the development of the disease.

More evidence berries have health-promoting properties

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Adding more color to your diet in the form of berries is encouraged by many nutrition experts. The protective effect of berries against inflammation has been documented in many studies. Diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries have also been shown to improve behavior and cognitive functions in stressed young rats.

Risk of dementia declined over past 20 years

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:59:59 EDT

The risk of developing dementia may have declined over the past 20 years, in direct contrast to what many previously assumed. The decrease in dementia risk coincides with the general reduction in cardiovascular disease over recent decades, researchers said.

Stem cell senescence drives aging, study suggests

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Declining levels of the protein BubR1 occur when both people and animals age, and contribute to cell senescence or deterioration, weight loss, muscle wasting and cataracts.

Family history of Alzheimer's associated with abnormal brain pathology

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:59:59 EDT

Close family members of people with Alzheimer's disease are more than twice as likely as those without a family history to develop silent buildup of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

The doctor won't see you now? Study: US facing a neurologist shortage

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:44:44 EDT

Americans with brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS) who need to see a neurologist may face longer wait times or have more difficulty finding a neurologist, according to a new study.

Cholesterol increases risk of Alzheimer's and heart disease

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:25:25 EDT

Using insights gained from studying two much rarer disorders, Down Syndrome and Niemann Pick-C disease, researchers found that cholesterol wreaks havoc on the orderly process of cell division, leading to defective daughter cells throughout the body.

No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

A review has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

Nonsurgical treatment turns back the clock, shrinks enlarged prostate

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Men with a common condition that causes frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom can get relief with a minimally invasive treatment that shrinks the prostate, suggests a new study. The early findings hail from the first prospective US trial of prostatic artery embolization, which reduces blood flow to the prostate, thus shrinking it.

Following a Western style diet may lead to greater risk of premature death

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Data from a new study of British adults suggest that adherence to a "Western-style" diet (fried and sweet food, processed and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) reduces a person's likelihood of achieving older ages in good health and with higher functionality.

Gene may help identify risk of Alzheimer's in African Americans

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers found minor differences between genes that contribute to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in African-Americans and in Caucasians.

Older people may be at greater risk for alcohol impairment than teens

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:29:29 EDT

An acute dose of alcohol may cause greater impairment in coordination, learning and memory in the elderly than in young people, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings have profound significance for older people -- a population that is aging worldwide at an unprecedented rate and that includes Baby Boomers as they become seniors.

New findings on the brain's immune cells during Alzheimer's disease progression

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:40:40 EDT

The plaque deposits in the brain of Alzheimer's patients are surrounded by the brain's own immune cells, the microglia. But it still remains unclear what role microglia play in Alzheimer's disease. Do they help break down the plaque deposit?

How Alzheimer's could occur: Wrong signal for cell division?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:36:36 EDT

A new hypothesis has been developed on how Alzheimer's disease could occur. Protein spheres in the nucleus give the wrong signal for cell division. This may explain the degeneration and death of nerve cells in Alzheimer's patients.

Eating solid food early sets marmosets on path to obesity

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at one year of age, scientists have found.

Team unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Scientists have shed light on one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer’s process and how to prevent it.

Researchers create next-generation Alzheimer's disease model

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:34:34 EDT

A new genetically engineered lab rat that has the full array of brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease supports the idea that increases in a molecule called beta-amyloid in the brain causes the disease.

Gene linked to nearly twice Alzheimer's risk in African-Americans

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:32:32 EDT

African-Americans with a variant of the ABCA7 gene have almost double the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease compared with African-Americans who lack the variant.

Study reveals function of thousands of autoantibodies in blood

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:43:43 EDT

Research suggests a new immunology frontier with evidence that blood contains thousands of autoantibodies that bind specifically to antigens from all over the body, clear cellular debris from injury and disease and vary by age, gender and disease state.

Producing new neurons under all circumstances: A challenge that is just a mouse away

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Improving neuron production in elderly persons presenting with a decline in cognition is a major challenge facing an aging society and the emergence of neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Researchers in France recently showed that the pharmacological blocking of the TGF-beta molecule improves the production of new neurons in the mouse model.

New prostate cancer screening guidance statement

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:44:44 EDT

Men between the ages of 50 and 69 should discuss the limited benefits and substantial harms of the prostate-specific antigen test with their doctor before undergoing screening for prostate cancer, according to new recommendations issued today by the American College of Physicians.

Increased rates of hospitalization linked to elder abuse

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

Older adults who are subject to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation face a greater risk of being hospitalized than other seniors, according to the results of a study published in the April 8 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.