Abnormal proteins that form globs and restrict cognitive thinking, learning and memory problems in Alzheimer's patients are mostly made up of beta-amyloid peptide. By understanding how they form, and how they affect brain function, researchers can move forward to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia patients. A research team at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, [...]
Two serious healthcare trends – the soaring rates of 1) Type 2 diabetes and 2) dementia – have biological factors in common, which scientists are beginning to believe is more than coincidental. An estimated 10% of dementia cases may be attributable to diabetes and, according to researchers knowledgeable on the relationship between the diseases, treating [...]
There is such a thing as aging with dignity, and the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) in Mankato, Minnesota are living examples. The average age of the nuns is 85, and there are quite a few older than that and going strong. What’s even more exceptional than their age is the fact that there [...]
As the average age continues to grow so does the possibility that more of us will be taking care of a loved one as they age or get ill. Caregiving is an act of love and kindness. It does, however, come with a heavy price tag, and without adequate support can turn from an act [...]
People who get amnesia are unable to retrieve memory stored in their brains. Their brain has somehow become compromised, usually through injury or a traumatic experience. Ordinarily amnesiacs can function as normally as they did before, in all areas such as language and speech, processing information and even doing complex math. The exception is that [...]
An animal study published in the September 21st (2011) edition of the Journal of Neuroscience, has some positive results that could help in understanding how the brain processes memory, and could lead to development of treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have found that stimulating a specific [...]
Modern scientists are often skeptical of what they call “homeopathic†or old-fashioned medicine that has been practices by natives and older cultures for thousands of years. In recent years, however, they are beginning to see the value brought by some of these medicines and are actually beginning to take them seriously enough to do some [...]
Studies have found that elderly people tend to have trouble switching between different tasks – or multi-tasking. Researchers knew it was happening, but have been unable to explain it, or even prove it. A new study, led by University of California at San Francisco neuroscientist Adam Gazzeley, has taken advantage of newer technology in brain [...]
Speaking with most doctors you will find that one of the most asked questions from patients over thirty involves memory loss. Our brains peak in our late twenties, and after that people with an occasional “It’s right on the tip of my tongue,†or “Have you seen my keys?†begins to make people think there [...]
Once of the biggest dilemmas in neuroscience may just have been solved with an amazing breakthrough by a group of researchers at Cornell University – finding the way to get past the blood-brain barrier. For over 100 years scientists have been trying to get past the guards that block entry to the brain cells so [...]
