Three cups of coffee a day 'could stave off Alzheimer's disease

DRINKING three cups of coffee daily could help keep Alzheimer's disease at bay, according to the results of a new study.

Research showed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or memory loss, who had high levels of caffeine in their blood did not go on to development dementia.

The findings indicate caffeine, the source of which was mainly coffee, offers some protection against the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists at the University of South Florida and the University of Miami monitored 124 people aged between 65 and 88, testing their blood caffeine levels and their cognitive ability for two to four years.

Caffeine levels among those who developed dementia were 51 per cent lower than those who did not.

"Coffee would appear to be the major or perhaps only source of caffeine for such stable MCI (mild cognitive impairment) patients," the authors of the study wrote.

"This case-control study provides the first direct evidence that caffeine/coffee intake is associated with a reduced risk of dementia or delayed onset, particularly for those who already have MCI."

The researchers involved previously established a link between caffeine and the delayed development of Alzheimer's disease through studies of mice.

The most recent evidence showed no one with MCI who developed Alzheimer's disease had blood caffeine levels of 1200 ng/ml – the equivalent of several cups of a coffee.

"This study provides an intriguing association between plasma caffeine levels in MCI patients and their ensuing progression (or not) to dementia," the study added.

"High plasma caffeine levels in MCI patients at the beginning of a 2–4 year cognitive assessment period were associated with complete avoidance of progression to dementia over that period."

According to the Alzheimer's Society, between 10 to 15 per cent of people with MCI go on to develop dementia.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a positive bit of research.

"But we shouldn't be rushing out and assuming drinking a couple of cups of coffee will stop us getting Alzheimer's. The key issue is to have more studies like this to check out the findings."

Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research, added: "I think we're still at the point, to use the jigsaw metaphor, where we've got a lot of pieces but we still don't know how they fit together.

"Many people say we are where cancer was 30 years ago with the level of knowledge and investment.

"What is needed is a sustained and significant investment into research over a long period of time."

- Donna Bowater

Source:http://www.independent.ie/health/health-news/three-cups-of-coffee-a-day-could-stave-off-alzheimers-disease-3130950.html

Study suggests link between early Alzheimer's disease and low body mass index (BMI)

Published 22 November 2011

People in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease may be more likely to have a lower body mass index according to a study published in Neurology (Monday 21 November 2011).

Scientists at the Department of Neurology and School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Centre, used advanced brain imaging techniques and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid to look for biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in 506 people.

The study found that people with a low BMI were more likely to have biomarkers forAlzheimer's disease, whether they had mild cognitive impairment or not.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'As yet it is unclear whether a low BMI is actually part of Alzheimer's, or a side effect caused by the disease. Although this study shows a link between it and changes in the brain common to Alzheimer's, there was no association between BMI and symptoms of the disease such as memory loss. More work is needed before we can say if these findings could be used to develop better ways ofdiagnosing the early stages of the condition.

What we do know is that living well will reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Society recommends people eat healthily and exercise regularly.'

Dr Anne Corbett
Research Manager
Alzheimer's Society

Research Reference:

Alzheimer disease biomarkers are associated with body mass index by J.M Burns et al in NEUROLOGY® the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Source:http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=1104

Another Blood Test for Alzheimer's Shows Promise

A blood test that screens for certain markers in the blood called "autoantibodies" is showing promise in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.

The blood test correctly detected Alzheimer's disease in people already diagnosed with the devastating brain disorder with 96% accuracy, according to the researchers. The test could also distinguish who didn't have the disease from a control group of non-affected adults with 92.5% accuracy....Read in full on:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=147789

Study: Blood Test Detects Early Alzheimer's

July 21, 2011 (Paris) -- Australian researchers report they're a step closer to developing a simple blood test for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

In early testing, the experimental screening tool proved about 85% accurate at determining the amount of Alzheimer's-associated plaque in people's brains.

If the findings can be replicated in large numbers of people, "they may lead to an economical screen that indicates whether a person is in the early stages of, or at risk of developing, Alzheimer's," says researcher Samantha Burnham, PhD, of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Perth, Australia.

Source:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=147294

Stumbling, an early sign of Alzheimer's

A new study has found that falling down or losing balance frequently may be early indicators of Alzheimer's disease. 

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that study participants with brain changes suggestive of early Alzheimer's disease were more likely to fall than those whose brains did not show the same changes.

Until now, falls had only been associated with Alzheimer's in the late stages of dementia. 
Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Stumbling-an-early-sign-of-Alzheimers/articleshow/9296903.cms

Minor Health Problems Raise Alzheimer's Risk

A runny nose, fallen arches and dentures aren’t risk factors typically associated with brain health. But new research suggests that small health problems can add up, and the combined effect can increase a person’s risk for dementia.
The findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Neurology, are based on an analysis of 7,239 people age 65 and older who took part in the Canadian Study of Health and Aging between 1992 and 2002. Investigators intentionally ignored traditional dementia risk factors like heart disease and diabetes and focused on seemingly inconsequential health issues often associated with aging, like sinus complaints, foot and ankle conditions, skin problems and trouble with vision, hearing or dental health.
Link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/small-health-woes-increase-dementia-risk/?ref=health

Coffee Wards Off Alzheimer's

An unknown ingredient in coffee teams up with caffeine to stimulate blood levels of a critical protein called GCSF, short for granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, that appears to put off the development of Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/230134.php