A group led by Dr. Gregory A. Elder of the James J. Peters Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY has demonstrated that presenilin-1 plays a role in the vascular pathology found in Alzheimer disease. Their report can be found in the January 2010 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
Alzheimer disease accounts for half of all dementias diagnosed each year. Mutations in presenilin-1 (PS-1), which cleaves amyloid precursor protein, are one of the most common causes of early onset cases of familial Alzheimer disease (FAD), which accounts for 5-10% of all Alzheimer disease sufferers.
Alzheimer disease is accompanied by vascular pathology, where blood vessels and microvessels are damaged. To determine if mutated PS-1 contributes to the vascular pathology observed in FAD, Gama Sosa et al generated a mouse model that overexpressed either wild-type or mutated human PS-1. They found age-related vascular pathology in these FAD model mice that was especially prominent in the microvasculature. However, the basis for this pathology appears to lie in the neurons, as neurons but not vascular endothelial or glial cells express PS-1 in these mice. Taken together, these results implicate a role for neuronal to vascular signaling in the pathogenesis of vascular pathology in FAD.
In future studies, Dr. Elder and colleagues plan to use their mouse model to "uncover the role of PS-1 FAD mutants in neurovascular signaling and provide insights into how neurovascular signaling may be disrupted in sporadic [Alzheimer disease] as well."
Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Rocher AB, Wang AC-J, Janssen WGM, Flores T, Perez GM, Schmeidler J: Age-Related Vascular Pathology in Transgenic Mice Expressing Presenilin 1-Associated Familial Alzheimer's Disease Mutations. Am J Pathol 2010, 176: 353-368
Source: Dr. Angela Colmone
American Journal of Pathology
четверг, 29 сентября 2011 г.
понедельник, 26 сентября 2011 г.
Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease Benefited from Continuous Treatment with ARICEPT(reg) (donepezil HCl tablets)
A new retrospective analysis reported that Alzheimer's patients in nursing homes who were treated with ARICEPT(reg) for at least six months showed greater benefits in cognitive and functional status than patients who discontinued therapy. The findings, based on data obtained from an assessment tool used nationally by nursing homes, were presented at the American Geriatrics Society Meeting (AGS) today.
Continued treatment was also associated with more patient time spent in leisure activities and lower average daily labor costs, compared with discontinuing treatment.*
"This analysis supports the need to treat nursing home residents who have Alzheimer's disease to help them with their ability to perform daily activities," said Jonathan Musher, M.D., corporate medical director, Beverly Healthcare Corporation, a national long-term care provider for the elderly.
The analysis of nursing home residents was the first to examine the impact of Alzheimer's treatment with ARICEPT(reg) using data from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. This national assessment tool includes measures to evaluate Alzheimer's disease patients, including aspects of cognitive and functional status.
The one-year retrospective analysis collected MDS data to evaluate changes over baseline in patients receiving continued ARICEPT(reg) treatment (n=210) and those who discontinued treatment (n=210). Patients in each cohort were matched demographically and with respect to a variety of factors, including cognitive status, function, behavior, medical status and selected medications used, enabling comparisons across the treatment groups in addition to evaluation within each group. Measures included cognitive and functional status, time spent in leisure activities, behavior and average daily labor costs associated with patient care.
For all patients in the analysis, a baseline MDS assessment was completed within the first 60 days of treatment. In the continuing treatment group, MDS data were collected six to 12 months following initiation of treatment. In the discontinued group, data were collected at least 90 days after treatment was discontinued and within 12 months of initial treatment.
The analysis also showed that, for patients who continued treatment with ARICEPT(reg), the frequency of problematic behaviors declined compared to baseline. Further, the average difference in daily labor cost (in 2001-2002 dollars) was $6.90 less per day, per patient in patients who continued treatment compared to those who discontinued treatment. Average daily labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires.
Information About ARICEPT(reg) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) Treatment
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, medical treatments are available to manage symptoms of the disease. Once-a-day prescription ARICEPT(reg) is indicated for mild to moderate 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(reg) in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Individual responses to treatment vary, and some patients may not respond.
ARICEPT(reg) is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. Some people may experience nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue, or loss of appetite. In studies, these side effects were usually mild and temporary. Some people taking ARICEPT(reg) may experience fainting.
ARICEPT(reg) is the number one prescribed Alzheimer's disease therapy worldwide, with more than 1 billion patient days of ARICEPT(reg) therapy sold. More than 1.7 million people in the United States alone have begun ARICEPT(reg) therapy.
ARICEPT(reg) 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(reg), and for prescribing information on ARICEPT(reg), please call (888) 999-9616, or visit aricept. Full prescribing information is available at that Web site.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops, and markets products in more than 30 countries.
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 more than $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2002 (year ending March 31, 2003).
Eisai Inc. employs a total of more than 850 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, N.J., at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and in the field. Between 1998 and 2003, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings of U.S. pharmaceutical companies (based on revenues) from No. 44 to No.23.
About Pfizer
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines, for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products.
*The labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires. The cost accounting system uses the acuity and the total labor charges to generate an average daily labor cost per resident.
eisai
Continued treatment was also associated with more patient time spent in leisure activities and lower average daily labor costs, compared with discontinuing treatment.*
"This analysis supports the need to treat nursing home residents who have Alzheimer's disease to help them with their ability to perform daily activities," said Jonathan Musher, M.D., corporate medical director, Beverly Healthcare Corporation, a national long-term care provider for the elderly.
The analysis of nursing home residents was the first to examine the impact of Alzheimer's treatment with ARICEPT(reg) using data from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. This national assessment tool includes measures to evaluate Alzheimer's disease patients, including aspects of cognitive and functional status.
The one-year retrospective analysis collected MDS data to evaluate changes over baseline in patients receiving continued ARICEPT(reg) treatment (n=210) and those who discontinued treatment (n=210). Patients in each cohort were matched demographically and with respect to a variety of factors, including cognitive status, function, behavior, medical status and selected medications used, enabling comparisons across the treatment groups in addition to evaluation within each group. Measures included cognitive and functional status, time spent in leisure activities, behavior and average daily labor costs associated with patient care.
For all patients in the analysis, a baseline MDS assessment was completed within the first 60 days of treatment. In the continuing treatment group, MDS data were collected six to 12 months following initiation of treatment. In the discontinued group, data were collected at least 90 days after treatment was discontinued and within 12 months of initial treatment.
The analysis also showed that, for patients who continued treatment with ARICEPT(reg), the frequency of problematic behaviors declined compared to baseline. Further, the average difference in daily labor cost (in 2001-2002 dollars) was $6.90 less per day, per patient in patients who continued treatment compared to those who discontinued treatment. Average daily labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires.
Information About ARICEPT(reg) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) Treatment
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, medical treatments are available to manage symptoms of the disease. Once-a-day prescription ARICEPT(reg) is indicated for mild to moderate 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(reg) in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Individual responses to treatment vary, and some patients may not respond.
ARICEPT(reg) is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. Some people may experience nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue, or loss of appetite. In studies, these side effects were usually mild and temporary. Some people taking ARICEPT(reg) may experience fainting.
ARICEPT(reg) is the number one prescribed Alzheimer's disease therapy worldwide, with more than 1 billion patient days of ARICEPT(reg) therapy sold. More than 1.7 million people in the United States alone have begun ARICEPT(reg) therapy.
ARICEPT(reg) 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(reg), and for prescribing information on ARICEPT(reg), please call (888) 999-9616, or visit aricept. Full prescribing information is available at that Web site.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops, and markets products in more than 30 countries.
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 more than $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2002 (year ending March 31, 2003).
Eisai Inc. employs a total of more than 850 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, N.J., at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and in the field. Between 1998 and 2003, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings of U.S. pharmaceutical companies (based on revenues) from No. 44 to No.23.
About Pfizer
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines, for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products.
*The labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires. The cost accounting system uses the acuity and the total labor charges to generate an average daily labor cost per resident.
eisai
пятница, 23 сентября 2011 г.
Wallace And Gromit Makers Join Fight Against Obesity
Alzheimer's Society welcomes the new advert by Aardman Animations at the centre of a ??75m government marketing campaign to raise awareness of the link between obesity and life-shortening disease.
Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society, comments,
'It is great news that the makers of Wallace and Gromit are joining the fight against Obesity. Obesity doubles risk of dementia and even modest increases in weight can increase risk of dementia by up to 30%.
If we do nothing now, one million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. We hope this advert and the Change4Life campaign will help reduce the rising numbers of people living with this devestating condition in future. With the right investment, dementia can be defeated.'
Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society is the leading care and research charity for people with all forms dementia and their carers. It provides information and education, support for carers, and quality day and home care. It funds medical and scientific research and campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of dementia.
Alzheimer's Society
Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society, comments,
'It is great news that the makers of Wallace and Gromit are joining the fight against Obesity. Obesity doubles risk of dementia and even modest increases in weight can increase risk of dementia by up to 30%.
If we do nothing now, one million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. We hope this advert and the Change4Life campaign will help reduce the rising numbers of people living with this devestating condition in future. With the right investment, dementia can be defeated.'
Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society is the leading care and research charity for people with all forms dementia and their carers. It provides information and education, support for carers, and quality day and home care. It funds medical and scientific research and campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of dementia.
Alzheimer's Society
вторник, 20 сентября 2011 г.
Non-Drug Treatments For Dementia Show Promise, Experts Say
Memory training and other non-drug treatments may one day help older adults ward off declines in mental function, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in an editorial in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"The latest research suggests that mental training and physical activity both have promise for preventing declines in cognition," said Sally A. Shumaker, Ph.D., lead author on the editorial. "It's possible to envision a future treatment approach that combines lifestyle and drug treatments to meet the specific needs of each individual."
Shumaker, a professor of public health sciences and associate dean for research at Wake Forest, said the findings suggest opportunities for studying other non-drug treatments, such as meditation, to prevent or slow declines in cognition, which includes concentration, language, memory and abstract reasoning.
"Cognitive decline is a rapidly growing problem because of our aging population," said Shumaker. "It is probably one of the biggest fears that older adults have - the loss of your mind and your competency and independence. It seriously threatens the ability of the aging population to live independently."
In the editorial, Shumaker and co-authors Claudine Legault, Ph.D., and Laura H. Coker, Ph.D., also from Wake Forest, discuss the results of a recent multicenter study involving cognitive training, as well as other advances in the field.
The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study involved almost 3,000 participants. Half received 10 sessions of cognitive training and half received no special training. Participants who had the training showed immediate improvements in memory, reasoning and speed of processing. When the participants were tested five years later, the improvements had been sustained.
Other recent research showing that sedentary older adults perform less well on measures of memory suggests that physical activity may also be able to improve memory, according to the editorial.
There are an estimated 24 million people in the world with dementia and 4.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Declines in certain mental functions, such as memory, predict future inability to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing and feeding themselves.
"These studies illustrate the promise of non-drug treatments," said Shumaker. "The medications available today produce only low to moderate improvements in mental function. And they can have adverse side effects. Showing that cognitive training can protect mental function means that individuals who cannot tolerate existing drugs would have additional treatment options."
"The ACTIVE study is an important step toward demonstrating the feasibility of enrolling older adults in a long-term study of a cognitive training intervention," according to the editorial.
The authors say that matching cognitive training with an individual's risk factor profile is an intriguing possibility. For example, training that focuses on memory may be best for those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
"Once they are standardized and developed for mass markets, cognitive training programs might be available to seniors through churches, schools and senior centers," said Shumaker.
"Importantly, cognitive training programs may give individuals a greater sense of control over the disturbing prospect of cognitive decline and have a beneficial effect on their quality of life," says the editorial.
As a researcher, Shumaker served as national principal investigator for the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, which showed that estrogen and progestin doubled the risk of dementia in older women.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university's School of Medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranks Wake Forest University School of Medicine 18th in family medicine, 20th in geriatrics, 25th in primary care and 41st in research among the nation's medical schools. It ranks 35th in research funding by the National Institutes of Health. Almost 150 members of the medical school faculty are listed in Best Doctors in America.
Contact: Karen Richardson
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
"The latest research suggests that mental training and physical activity both have promise for preventing declines in cognition," said Sally A. Shumaker, Ph.D., lead author on the editorial. "It's possible to envision a future treatment approach that combines lifestyle and drug treatments to meet the specific needs of each individual."
Shumaker, a professor of public health sciences and associate dean for research at Wake Forest, said the findings suggest opportunities for studying other non-drug treatments, such as meditation, to prevent or slow declines in cognition, which includes concentration, language, memory and abstract reasoning.
"Cognitive decline is a rapidly growing problem because of our aging population," said Shumaker. "It is probably one of the biggest fears that older adults have - the loss of your mind and your competency and independence. It seriously threatens the ability of the aging population to live independently."
In the editorial, Shumaker and co-authors Claudine Legault, Ph.D., and Laura H. Coker, Ph.D., also from Wake Forest, discuss the results of a recent multicenter study involving cognitive training, as well as other advances in the field.
The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study involved almost 3,000 participants. Half received 10 sessions of cognitive training and half received no special training. Participants who had the training showed immediate improvements in memory, reasoning and speed of processing. When the participants were tested five years later, the improvements had been sustained.
Other recent research showing that sedentary older adults perform less well on measures of memory suggests that physical activity may also be able to improve memory, according to the editorial.
There are an estimated 24 million people in the world with dementia and 4.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Declines in certain mental functions, such as memory, predict future inability to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing and feeding themselves.
"These studies illustrate the promise of non-drug treatments," said Shumaker. "The medications available today produce only low to moderate improvements in mental function. And they can have adverse side effects. Showing that cognitive training can protect mental function means that individuals who cannot tolerate existing drugs would have additional treatment options."
"The ACTIVE study is an important step toward demonstrating the feasibility of enrolling older adults in a long-term study of a cognitive training intervention," according to the editorial.
The authors say that matching cognitive training with an individual's risk factor profile is an intriguing possibility. For example, training that focuses on memory may be best for those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
"Once they are standardized and developed for mass markets, cognitive training programs might be available to seniors through churches, schools and senior centers," said Shumaker.
"Importantly, cognitive training programs may give individuals a greater sense of control over the disturbing prospect of cognitive decline and have a beneficial effect on their quality of life," says the editorial.
As a researcher, Shumaker served as national principal investigator for the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, which showed that estrogen and progestin doubled the risk of dementia in older women.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university's School of Medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranks Wake Forest University School of Medicine 18th in family medicine, 20th in geriatrics, 25th in primary care and 41st in research among the nation's medical schools. It ranks 35th in research funding by the National Institutes of Health. Almost 150 members of the medical school faculty are listed in Best Doctors in America.
Contact: Karen Richardson
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
суббота, 17 сентября 2011 г.
Subjects At Risk Of Developing Alzheimer's Disease May Now Be Able To Delay The Onset Of Their First Symptoms By Several Years
The human brain loses 5 to 10% of its weight between the ages of 20 and 90 years old. While some cells are lost, the brain is equipped with two compensatory mechanisms: plasticity and redundancy. Based on the results of her most recent clinical study published today in the online version of Brain: A Journal of Neurology, Dr. Sylvie Belleville, PhD in neuropsychology, the principal author of this study and Director of Research at the Institut universitaire de g?©riatrie de Montr?©al (IUGM), which is affiliated with the Universit?© de Montr?©al, has found that for elderly subjects at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, hope may lie in brain plasticity.
"Brain plasticity refers to the brain's remarkable ability to change and reorganize itself. It was long thought that brain plasticity declined with age, however, our study demonstrates that this is not the case, even in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease", declares Sylvie Belleville.
These findings open countless new avenues of research including the possibility of improving the plasticity of affected areas of the brain, and slowing the decline in plasticity through pharmacological means or lifestyle changes, thereby allowing subjects with Alzheimer's disease to enjoy several more symptom-free years.
The hypothesis behind this research was that certain cells traditionally involved in other brain processes could, through a simple memory training program, temporarily take over since they themselves are not yet affected. According to Dr. Belleville: "Our research has validated our hypothesis. Not only were we able to use functional imaging to observe this diversification, but we also noted a 33% increase in the number of correct answers given during a post-training memory task by subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who, incidentally, are ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease".
The training program that was used was designed to help elderly subjects with MCI develop strategies, such as the use of mnemonics, for example, and promote encoding and retrieval, such as word lists, for example, using alternative areas of the brain. "The hypothesis had already been raised, but our team was the first to provide scientific support, using a functional neuroimaging protocol", added Sylvie Belleville.
Researchers worked with thirty elderly subjects: 15 healthy adults and 15 with MCI. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to analyse brain activity in the two groups 6 weeks prior to memory training, one week prior to training and one week after training. Before the memory training, magnetic resonance imaging in both the healthy elderly subjects and those with MCI showed activation in areas of the brain traditionally associated with memory. As expected, decreased activation was observed in subjects with MCI. After training, brain areas in elderly subjects with MCI showed increased activation in areas typically associated with memory, but also in new areas of the brain usually associated with language processing, spatial and object memory and skill learning.
According to Dr. Belleville: "Analysis of brain activity during encoding as measured before and after the training program, indicates that increased post-training activation in the right inferior parietal gyrus is associated with post-intervention improvement. The healthy area of the brain has taken over for the area that is compromised."
Sources: Universit?© de Montr?©al, AlphaGalileo Foundation.
"Brain plasticity refers to the brain's remarkable ability to change and reorganize itself. It was long thought that brain plasticity declined with age, however, our study demonstrates that this is not the case, even in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease", declares Sylvie Belleville.
These findings open countless new avenues of research including the possibility of improving the plasticity of affected areas of the brain, and slowing the decline in plasticity through pharmacological means or lifestyle changes, thereby allowing subjects with Alzheimer's disease to enjoy several more symptom-free years.
The hypothesis behind this research was that certain cells traditionally involved in other brain processes could, through a simple memory training program, temporarily take over since they themselves are not yet affected. According to Dr. Belleville: "Our research has validated our hypothesis. Not only were we able to use functional imaging to observe this diversification, but we also noted a 33% increase in the number of correct answers given during a post-training memory task by subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who, incidentally, are ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease".
The training program that was used was designed to help elderly subjects with MCI develop strategies, such as the use of mnemonics, for example, and promote encoding and retrieval, such as word lists, for example, using alternative areas of the brain. "The hypothesis had already been raised, but our team was the first to provide scientific support, using a functional neuroimaging protocol", added Sylvie Belleville.
Researchers worked with thirty elderly subjects: 15 healthy adults and 15 with MCI. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to analyse brain activity in the two groups 6 weeks prior to memory training, one week prior to training and one week after training. Before the memory training, magnetic resonance imaging in both the healthy elderly subjects and those with MCI showed activation in areas of the brain traditionally associated with memory. As expected, decreased activation was observed in subjects with MCI. After training, brain areas in elderly subjects with MCI showed increased activation in areas typically associated with memory, but also in new areas of the brain usually associated with language processing, spatial and object memory and skill learning.
According to Dr. Belleville: "Analysis of brain activity during encoding as measured before and after the training program, indicates that increased post-training activation in the right inferior parietal gyrus is associated with post-intervention improvement. The healthy area of the brain has taken over for the area that is compromised."
Sources: Universit?© de Montr?©al, AlphaGalileo Foundation.
среда, 14 сентября 2011 г.
Stimulating The Brain's Immune Response May Provide Treatment For Alzheimer's Disease
A new target for the prevention of adverse immune responses identified as factors in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been discovered by researchers at the University of South Florida's Department of Psychiatry and the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair.
Their findings are published online in the Journal of Neuroscience.
The CD45 molecule is a receptor on the surface of the brain's microglia cells, cells that support the brain's neurons and also participate in brain immune responses.
Previous studies by the USF researchers showed that triggering CD45 was beneficial because it blocked a very early step in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, the researchers demonstrated in Alzheimer's mouse models that a loss of CD45 led to dramatically increased microglial inflammation.
Although the brain's immune response is involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology, "this finding suggests that CD45 on brain immune cells appears critically involved in dampening harmful inflammation," said study senior author Jun Tan, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and Robert A. Silver chair at the Rashid Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, USF Silver Child Development Center and research biologist for Research and Development Service at the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital.
The investigators also found an increase in harmful neurotoxins, such as A beta peptides, as well as neuron loss in the brains of the test mice.
"In short, CD45 deficiency leads to increased accumulation of neurotoxic A beta in the brains of old Alzheimer's mice, demonstrating the involvement of CD45 in clearing those toxins and protecting neurons," Dr. Tan said. "These findings are quite significant, because many in the field have long considered CD45 to be an indicator of harmful inflammation. So, researchers assumed that CD45 was part of the problem, not a potential protective factor."
The next step is to apply these findings to develop new Alzheimer's disease treatments, said Paula Bickford, PhD, a professor in the USF Department of Neurosurgery and senior career research scientist at the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital.
"We are already working with Natura Therapeutics, Inc. to screen for natural compounds that will target CD45 activation in the brain's immune cells," Dr. Bickford said.
Notes:
Other researchers involved in this study were: Dr. Yuyan Zhu, Dr. Huayan Hou, Dr. Kavon Rezai-zadeh, Dr. Brian Giunta, Ms. Amanda Ruscin, Dr. Carmelina Gemma, Dr. JingJi Jin, Dr. Natasa Dragicevic, Dr. Patrick Bradshaw, Dr. Suhail Rasool, Dr. Charles G. Glabe (University of California, Irvine, CA), Dr. Jared Ehrhart, Dr. Takashi Mori (Saitama Medical Center/Saitama Medical University, Japan), Dr. Demian Obregon, Dr. Terrence Town (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA). Drs. Yuyan Zhu and Huayan Hou contributed equally to this work.
Their work was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health.
Source:
Randolph Fillmore
University of South Florida (USF Health)
Their findings are published online in the Journal of Neuroscience.
The CD45 molecule is a receptor on the surface of the brain's microglia cells, cells that support the brain's neurons and also participate in brain immune responses.
Previous studies by the USF researchers showed that triggering CD45 was beneficial because it blocked a very early step in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, the researchers demonstrated in Alzheimer's mouse models that a loss of CD45 led to dramatically increased microglial inflammation.
Although the brain's immune response is involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology, "this finding suggests that CD45 on brain immune cells appears critically involved in dampening harmful inflammation," said study senior author Jun Tan, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and Robert A. Silver chair at the Rashid Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, USF Silver Child Development Center and research biologist for Research and Development Service at the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital.
The investigators also found an increase in harmful neurotoxins, such as A beta peptides, as well as neuron loss in the brains of the test mice.
"In short, CD45 deficiency leads to increased accumulation of neurotoxic A beta in the brains of old Alzheimer's mice, demonstrating the involvement of CD45 in clearing those toxins and protecting neurons," Dr. Tan said. "These findings are quite significant, because many in the field have long considered CD45 to be an indicator of harmful inflammation. So, researchers assumed that CD45 was part of the problem, not a potential protective factor."
The next step is to apply these findings to develop new Alzheimer's disease treatments, said Paula Bickford, PhD, a professor in the USF Department of Neurosurgery and senior career research scientist at the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital.
"We are already working with Natura Therapeutics, Inc. to screen for natural compounds that will target CD45 activation in the brain's immune cells," Dr. Bickford said.
Notes:
Other researchers involved in this study were: Dr. Yuyan Zhu, Dr. Huayan Hou, Dr. Kavon Rezai-zadeh, Dr. Brian Giunta, Ms. Amanda Ruscin, Dr. Carmelina Gemma, Dr. JingJi Jin, Dr. Natasa Dragicevic, Dr. Patrick Bradshaw, Dr. Suhail Rasool, Dr. Charles G. Glabe (University of California, Irvine, CA), Dr. Jared Ehrhart, Dr. Takashi Mori (Saitama Medical Center/Saitama Medical University, Japan), Dr. Demian Obregon, Dr. Terrence Town (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA). Drs. Yuyan Zhu and Huayan Hou contributed equally to this work.
Their work was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health.
Source:
Randolph Fillmore
University of South Florida (USF Health)
воскресенье, 11 сентября 2011 г.
Increases In TST Related To CPAP Treatment Improve Cognition In Alzheimer Patients With OSA
Increases in total sleep time related to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are associated with improvements in cognition in patients with Alzheimer disease, according to a research abstract presented on Tuesday at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).
The study, authored by Jana R. Cooke, MD, Sonia Ancoli-Israel, PhD and colleagues from the University of California San Diego, focused on 52 participants with an average age of 77.8 years who had Alzheimer disease and OSA. The participants were randomized to six weeks of therapeutic CPAP or three weeks placebo CPAP followed by three weeks therapeutic CPAP. The participants underwent cognitive testing at baseline, three weeks and six weeks. Sleep was analyzed and scored for sleep stage, total sleep time, amount of time awake during the night, and the amount of oxygen in the blood.
According to the results, when Alzheimer's disease patients with OSA were treated with CPAP, an increase in the total amount of sleep at night, not improvement in oxygen levels, was associated with improvements in cognition.
"This finding implies that the cognitive dysfunction associated with OSA in patients with dementia may be in part an effect of short sleep time rather than a function of low levels of oxygen during sleep," said Dr. Cooke.
OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes your body to stop breathing during sleep. OSA occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway. This keeps air from getting into the lungs. OSA is more common among older adults and among people who are significantly overweight. OSA can increase a person's risk for high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, and cognitive problems.
Not sleeping well can lead to a number of problems. Older adults who have poor nighttime sleep are more likely to have a depressed mood, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls and use more over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. In addition, recent studies associate lack of sleep with serious health problems such as an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
While most people require seven to eight hours of sleep a night to perform optimally the next day, older adults might find this harder to obtain. Older adults must be more aware of their sleep and maintain good sleep hygiene by following these tips:
Establishing a routine sleep schedule.
Avoiding utilizing bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.
Avoiding substances that disturb your sleep, like alcohol or caffeine.
Not napping during the day. If you must snooze, limit the time to less than one hour and no later than 3 p.m.
Stick to rituals that help you relax each night before bed. This can include such things as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
Don't take your worries to bed. Bedtime is a time to relax, not to hash out the stresses of the day.
If you can't fall asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity. Return to bed only when you are tired.
Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.
First introduced as a treatment option for sleep apnea in 1981, CPAP is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air to patients through a mask that they wear during sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea and restoring normal oxygen levels.
CPAP Central (SleepEducation/CPAPCentral), a Web site created by the AASM, provides the public with comprehensive, accurate and reliable information about CPAP. CPAP Central includes expanded information about OSA and CPAP, including how OSA is diagnosed, the function of CPAP, the benefits of CPAP and an overview of what to expect when beginning CPAP, the position of experts on CPAP, and tools for success. CPAP Central also features an interactive slide set that educates the public about the warning signs of OSA.
Although sleep patterns change as people age, disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not part of normal aging. Those who have trouble sleeping are advised to see a sleep specialist at a facility accredited by the AASM.
More information about "sleep and growing older" is available from the AASM at sleepeducation/Topic.aspx?id=30, and OSA at sleepeducation/Disorder.aspx?id=7.
The annual SLEEP meeting (9-12 June, 2008) brings together an international body of 5,000 leading researchers and clinicians in the field of sleep medicine to present and discuss new findings and medical developments related to sleep and sleep disorders.
More than 1,000 research abstracts will be presented at the SLEEP meeting, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society. The three-and-a-half-day scientific meeting will bring to light new findings that enhance the understanding of the processes of sleep and aid the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
SleepEducation, a patient education Web site created by the AASM, provides information about various sleep disorders, the forms of treatment available, recent news on the topic of sleep, sleep studies that have been conducted and a listing of sleep facilities.
Source: Kathleen McCann
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
The study, authored by Jana R. Cooke, MD, Sonia Ancoli-Israel, PhD and colleagues from the University of California San Diego, focused on 52 participants with an average age of 77.8 years who had Alzheimer disease and OSA. The participants were randomized to six weeks of therapeutic CPAP or three weeks placebo CPAP followed by three weeks therapeutic CPAP. The participants underwent cognitive testing at baseline, three weeks and six weeks. Sleep was analyzed and scored for sleep stage, total sleep time, amount of time awake during the night, and the amount of oxygen in the blood.
According to the results, when Alzheimer's disease patients with OSA were treated with CPAP, an increase in the total amount of sleep at night, not improvement in oxygen levels, was associated with improvements in cognition.
"This finding implies that the cognitive dysfunction associated with OSA in patients with dementia may be in part an effect of short sleep time rather than a function of low levels of oxygen during sleep," said Dr. Cooke.
OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes your body to stop breathing during sleep. OSA occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway. This keeps air from getting into the lungs. OSA is more common among older adults and among people who are significantly overweight. OSA can increase a person's risk for high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, and cognitive problems.
Not sleeping well can lead to a number of problems. Older adults who have poor nighttime sleep are more likely to have a depressed mood, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls and use more over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. In addition, recent studies associate lack of sleep with serious health problems such as an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
While most people require seven to eight hours of sleep a night to perform optimally the next day, older adults might find this harder to obtain. Older adults must be more aware of their sleep and maintain good sleep hygiene by following these tips:
Establishing a routine sleep schedule.
Avoiding utilizing bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.
Avoiding substances that disturb your sleep, like alcohol or caffeine.
Not napping during the day. If you must snooze, limit the time to less than one hour and no later than 3 p.m.
Stick to rituals that help you relax each night before bed. This can include such things as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
Don't take your worries to bed. Bedtime is a time to relax, not to hash out the stresses of the day.
If you can't fall asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity. Return to bed only when you are tired.
Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.
First introduced as a treatment option for sleep apnea in 1981, CPAP is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air to patients through a mask that they wear during sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea and restoring normal oxygen levels.
CPAP Central (SleepEducation/CPAPCentral), a Web site created by the AASM, provides the public with comprehensive, accurate and reliable information about CPAP. CPAP Central includes expanded information about OSA and CPAP, including how OSA is diagnosed, the function of CPAP, the benefits of CPAP and an overview of what to expect when beginning CPAP, the position of experts on CPAP, and tools for success. CPAP Central also features an interactive slide set that educates the public about the warning signs of OSA.
Although sleep patterns change as people age, disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not part of normal aging. Those who have trouble sleeping are advised to see a sleep specialist at a facility accredited by the AASM.
More information about "sleep and growing older" is available from the AASM at sleepeducation/Topic.aspx?id=30, and OSA at sleepeducation/Disorder.aspx?id=7.
The annual SLEEP meeting (9-12 June, 2008) brings together an international body of 5,000 leading researchers and clinicians in the field of sleep medicine to present and discuss new findings and medical developments related to sleep and sleep disorders.
More than 1,000 research abstracts will be presented at the SLEEP meeting, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society. The three-and-a-half-day scientific meeting will bring to light new findings that enhance the understanding of the processes of sleep and aid the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
SleepEducation, a patient education Web site created by the AASM, provides information about various sleep disorders, the forms of treatment available, recent news on the topic of sleep, sleep studies that have been conducted and a listing of sleep facilities.
Source: Kathleen McCann
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
четверг, 8 сентября 2011 г.
Ending Two-Year Waiting Period For Medicare
Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007 (S 2102), offered by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), would provide much needed assistance to those under age 65 diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's who lose their jobs and their employer- based health insurance.
There are as many as 500,000 individuals under age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer's or a related dementia who may qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but must suffer through the 24 months after the date their SSDI begins for Medicare benefits to start. Over a 10-year period, this legislation would phase out the waiting period and would also, in the interim, create a process by which those with life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer's could get an exception to the waiting period.
Providing immediate access to Medicare benefits for people disabled by Alzheimer's disease would reduce the problem of lack of health insurance and high out-of-pocket expenditures for this vulnerable population. It ensures access to critical health care services, including prescription drugs that can help manage the disease. According to national data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), prescription drugs can cost people with Alzheimer's as much as four times that for people with normal cognitive status.
Additionally, HRS data suggests almost one-third (29 percent) of people age 55-64 with disabling cognitive impairments have no health insurance; this landmark legislation could help remedy this troublesome problem.
Alzheimer's disease poses tremendous burdens on individuals and families, burdens made worse by lack of health care coverage. As the leading organization representing people with Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association applauds Senator Bingaman for his leadership and urges swift enactment on this important legislation to provide invaluable health coverage and peace of mind for those with Alzheimer's and other disabling, fatal diseases.
Sen. Bingaman's news release
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's.
alz/
There are as many as 500,000 individuals under age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer's or a related dementia who may qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but must suffer through the 24 months after the date their SSDI begins for Medicare benefits to start. Over a 10-year period, this legislation would phase out the waiting period and would also, in the interim, create a process by which those with life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer's could get an exception to the waiting period.
Providing immediate access to Medicare benefits for people disabled by Alzheimer's disease would reduce the problem of lack of health insurance and high out-of-pocket expenditures for this vulnerable population. It ensures access to critical health care services, including prescription drugs that can help manage the disease. According to national data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), prescription drugs can cost people with Alzheimer's as much as four times that for people with normal cognitive status.
Additionally, HRS data suggests almost one-third (29 percent) of people age 55-64 with disabling cognitive impairments have no health insurance; this landmark legislation could help remedy this troublesome problem.
Alzheimer's disease poses tremendous burdens on individuals and families, burdens made worse by lack of health care coverage. As the leading organization representing people with Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association applauds Senator Bingaman for his leadership and urges swift enactment on this important legislation to provide invaluable health coverage and peace of mind for those with Alzheimer's and other disabling, fatal diseases.
Sen. Bingaman's news release
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's.
alz/
понедельник, 5 сентября 2011 г.
Evotec's EVT 101 Well Tolerated In Four Week Higher Repeat Dose Safety Study
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT; NASDAQ: EVTC) announced top-line results of a double-blind, 4-week Phase Ib study with EVT 101, an orally active NR2B-subtype selective antagonist of NMDA receptors with potential in Alzheimer's disease, neuropathic pain and other indications. The study showed in both young and elderly subjects that the drug was well tolerated up to the highest dose tested.
The study was designed to evaluate safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics during prolonged dosing with EVT 101 as com-pared to placebo, but at higher dose levels and for a longer duration that the previously completed Phase I study. The study was conducted and completed as planned per protocol.
EVT 101 was administered to 48 young and elderly healthy subjects over four weeks. Up to the highest dose level (12 mg/day in elderly, 15 mg/day in young subjects) EVT 101 was well tolerated by both populations. No severe or serious adverse events were reported, and only few transient, mostly mild, adverse events occurred. This safety and tolerability profile is extremely encouraging as the doses evaluated are predicted to be well into the anticipated therapeutic range. As previously reported (see press re-lease, March 28, 2008), this trial contained a sub-study in which drug CSF levels were measured to determine the extent of brain penetration.
Psychometric tests, examining different aspects of cognitive function, revealed a mixed pattern of minor transient changes, as expected from populations of healthy subjects performing optimally in cognitive tasks.
"Together with results from the fMRI brain imaging which we announced in March, these results provide a robust Phase Ib package. We have found doses of this highly specific compound that achieve a high level of brain exposure to achieve a high level of NR2B receptor blockade. These doses produce specific modulation of relevant brain areas and, importantly, are also well tolerated. This provides a good foundation for moving forward with the clinical development of this compound and enables us to investigate EVT 101 in relevant patient groups," commented Dr Tim Tasker, Executive Vice President Clinical Development, Evotec AG.
About Evotec AG
Evotec is a leader in the discovery and development of novel small molecule drugs. Both through its own discovery programs and through research collaborations, it is generating the highest quality research results to its partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In proprietary projects, Evotec specializes in finding new treatments for diseases of the Central Nervous System. Evotec has three programs in clinical development: EVT 201, a partial positive allosteric modulator (pPAM) of the GABAA receptor complex for the treatment of insomnia, EVT 101, a subtype selective NMDA receptor antagonist for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and/or pain, and EVT 302, a MAO-B inhibitor in development for smoking cessation. Evotec's proprietary preclinical research programs focus on the purinergic receptors, P2X3 and P2X7, for the potential treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. In addition, Evotec has worldwide collaboration and license agreements with Pfizer to research, develop and commercialize small molecule vanilloid receptor (VR1) antagonists.
evotec
The study was designed to evaluate safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics during prolonged dosing with EVT 101 as com-pared to placebo, but at higher dose levels and for a longer duration that the previously completed Phase I study. The study was conducted and completed as planned per protocol.
EVT 101 was administered to 48 young and elderly healthy subjects over four weeks. Up to the highest dose level (12 mg/day in elderly, 15 mg/day in young subjects) EVT 101 was well tolerated by both populations. No severe or serious adverse events were reported, and only few transient, mostly mild, adverse events occurred. This safety and tolerability profile is extremely encouraging as the doses evaluated are predicted to be well into the anticipated therapeutic range. As previously reported (see press re-lease, March 28, 2008), this trial contained a sub-study in which drug CSF levels were measured to determine the extent of brain penetration.
Psychometric tests, examining different aspects of cognitive function, revealed a mixed pattern of minor transient changes, as expected from populations of healthy subjects performing optimally in cognitive tasks.
"Together with results from the fMRI brain imaging which we announced in March, these results provide a robust Phase Ib package. We have found doses of this highly specific compound that achieve a high level of brain exposure to achieve a high level of NR2B receptor blockade. These doses produce specific modulation of relevant brain areas and, importantly, are also well tolerated. This provides a good foundation for moving forward with the clinical development of this compound and enables us to investigate EVT 101 in relevant patient groups," commented Dr Tim Tasker, Executive Vice President Clinical Development, Evotec AG.
About Evotec AG
Evotec is a leader in the discovery and development of novel small molecule drugs. Both through its own discovery programs and through research collaborations, it is generating the highest quality research results to its partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In proprietary projects, Evotec specializes in finding new treatments for diseases of the Central Nervous System. Evotec has three programs in clinical development: EVT 201, a partial positive allosteric modulator (pPAM) of the GABAA receptor complex for the treatment of insomnia, EVT 101, a subtype selective NMDA receptor antagonist for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and/or pain, and EVT 302, a MAO-B inhibitor in development for smoking cessation. Evotec's proprietary preclinical research programs focus on the purinergic receptors, P2X3 and P2X7, for the potential treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. In addition, Evotec has worldwide collaboration and license agreements with Pfizer to research, develop and commercialize small molecule vanilloid receptor (VR1) antagonists.
evotec
пятница, 2 сентября 2011 г.
Alzheimer's Foundation Of America Showcases New Jewelry Line To Honor Caregivers
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America
(AFA) has introduced a jewelry line that, in addition to being highly
fashionable, makes more than merely a fashion statement: it is designed to
recognize the heroic act of caregiving and to raise awareness of
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
The line consists of a necklace, bracelet and lapel pin -- each with a
sterling silver pendant modeled after AFA's logo of arms embracing a heart.
The logo reflects the organization's mission of providing optimal care to
individuals with dementia and their families.
"Caregivers give from the deepest recesses of their hearts. Our goal is
to recognize the selflessness and strength of these exceptional human
beings in light of the enormity of their role," said Eric J. Hall, AFA's
chief executive officer.
AFA expects the jewelry to especially touch caregivers of individuals
with Alzheimer's disease or other illnesses, and their families, as well as
to have universal appeal due to its artistic look.
An estimated five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, which
results in loss of memory and other cognitive functions; the incidence is
expected to triple by mid-century. There is an estimated one to four
caregivers for each person with the disease.
A recent AFA survey of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's
disease, conducted by Harris Interactive, highlighted caregivers' massive
responsibilities: More than 70 percent attend appointments with their loved
ones, help plan and organize their lives, and aid in day-to-day activities.
The survey also found that 76 percent of caregivers have learned that they
are stronger than they thought.
Proceeds from the jewelry will support AFA's programs, including grants
to member organizations to enhance local services. The Alzheimer's
Foundation of America, a nonprofit organization based in New York City,
unites hundreds of member agencies nationwide that provide hands-on
services to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and
their families.
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
alzfdn
(AFA) has introduced a jewelry line that, in addition to being highly
fashionable, makes more than merely a fashion statement: it is designed to
recognize the heroic act of caregiving and to raise awareness of
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
The line consists of a necklace, bracelet and lapel pin -- each with a
sterling silver pendant modeled after AFA's logo of arms embracing a heart.
The logo reflects the organization's mission of providing optimal care to
individuals with dementia and their families.
"Caregivers give from the deepest recesses of their hearts. Our goal is
to recognize the selflessness and strength of these exceptional human
beings in light of the enormity of their role," said Eric J. Hall, AFA's
chief executive officer.
AFA expects the jewelry to especially touch caregivers of individuals
with Alzheimer's disease or other illnesses, and their families, as well as
to have universal appeal due to its artistic look.
An estimated five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, which
results in loss of memory and other cognitive functions; the incidence is
expected to triple by mid-century. There is an estimated one to four
caregivers for each person with the disease.
A recent AFA survey of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's
disease, conducted by Harris Interactive, highlighted caregivers' massive
responsibilities: More than 70 percent attend appointments with their loved
ones, help plan and organize their lives, and aid in day-to-day activities.
The survey also found that 76 percent of caregivers have learned that they
are stronger than they thought.
Proceeds from the jewelry will support AFA's programs, including grants
to member organizations to enhance local services. The Alzheimer's
Foundation of America, a nonprofit organization based in New York City,
unites hundreds of member agencies nationwide that provide hands-on
services to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and
their families.
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
alzfdn
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