ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Today was an eventful day as we had to pick up a 51 yr old man who was having trouble breathing for the last couple of days. He smoked and drank as a usual habit most of his life. He looked like he was 60 yrs old with a feeding tube in his stomach and wears adult diapers. He had chronic pneumonia and just wasn't feeling good.
Smoking and drinking excessively does bad things for your body as you get old. The brain is also not immune to the effects of long term consequences of smoking. There are studies going on that say what is good for the heart is good for the brain and even at midlife, watching what you eat, drink or smoke is not to soon to prevent dementia.
Check this out from Alzheimer's Weekly:
http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/157-dementia-risk-heavy-smokers
Help your self and try to prevent dementia early.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Washington, DC -- Researchers in the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center are now recruiting volunteers for a national gene therapy trial – the first study of its kind for the treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
The phase II study examines the safety and possible benefits of CERE-110. CERE-110 contains a gene and is injected during surgery into a part of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The gene will instruct brain cells to produce more of a protein, called Nerve Growth Factor or NGF, which helps nerve cells survive and function properly. The transfer of this gene into the brain is a medical technique called gene therapy.
“Our goal is to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” explains R. Scott Turner, MD, PhD, director of Georgetown’s Memory Disorders Program. “This is our first study of a gene therapy injected into brain, and thus the trial requires close collaboration with our neurosurgery colleagues at GUMC, in particular Dr. Chris Kalhorn.”
Turner says Kalhorn, an associate professor of the department of neurosurgery at Georgetown University Hospital, routinely performs neurosurgical procedures similar to the one being utilized in this study.
About 50 people with Alzheimer’s disease will participate in this study at fewer than 10 hospitals nationwide. Only persons with a mild form of Alzheimer’s Disease, who are evaluated and deemed competent to consent for themselves, will be permitted to participate in the study. The study requires each patient select a study partner for the length of the study. All patients in the study will undergo surgery to drill two small holes in the skull. Only those patients randomly assigned to receive CERE-110 will have the gene therapy injected into the brain. Those subjects randomized to the placebo group will not have the gene therapy injected.
This study is a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Phase II means the investigational agent has been studied in a small number of patients and this study is being conducted to determine its safety and possible benefits.
Double-blind means that the patients, clinical coordinators and treating physicians will not know if the patient received the investigational agent until the end of the study. Only the neurosurgeon and operating team delivering the gene therapy will know if the patient received the active agent.
Placebo–controlled means that patients will be selected randomly to either receive the active agent or not, but all patients will undergo surgery. This study has been approved by the FDA and the Institutional Review Board at GUMC.
The Memory Disorders Program is conducting several clinical studies for patients in the early stages of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Depending on the person’s medical status, he or she may qualify and wish to participate in other studies. To learn more about this or other studies, contact Georgetown’s Memory Disorders Program. Visit the website at http://memory.georgetown.edu/ .
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/inside-cere-110-clinical-trial
This video follows patient Richard Smith and his wife Sherry as they travel the difficult journey of the world's first gene-therapy trial for Alzheimer's.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pup., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington, DC -- Researchers in the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center are now recruiting volunteers for a national gene therapy trial – the first study of its kind for the treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
The phase II study examines the safety and possible benefits of CERE-110. CERE-110 contains a gene and is injected during surgery into a part of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The gene will instruct brain cells to produce more of a protein, called Nerve Growth Factor or NGF, which helps nerve cells survive and function properly. The transfer of this gene into the brain is a medical technique called gene therapy.
“Our goal is to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” explains R. Scott Turner, MD, PhD, director of Georgetown’s Memory Disorders Program. “This is our first study of a gene therapy injected into brain, and thus the trial requires close collaboration with our neurosurgery colleagues at GUMC, in particular Dr. Chris Kalhorn.”
Turner says Kalhorn, an associate professor of the department of neurosurgery at Georgetown University Hospital, routinely performs neurosurgical procedures similar to the one being utilized in this study.
About 50 people with Alzheimer’s disease will participate in this study at fewer than 10 hospitals nationwide. Only persons with a mild form of Alzheimer’s Disease, who are evaluated and deemed competent to consent for themselves, will be permitted to participate in the study. The study requires each patient select a study partner for the length of the study. All patients in the study will undergo surgery to drill two small holes in the skull. Only those patients randomly assigned to receive CERE-110 will have the gene therapy injected into the brain. Those subjects randomized to the placebo group will not have the gene therapy injected.
This study is a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Phase II means the investigational agent has been studied in a small number of patients and this study is being conducted to determine its safety and possible benefits.
Double-blind means that the patients, clinical coordinators and treating physicians will not know if the patient received the investigational agent until the end of the study. Only the neurosurgeon and operating team delivering the gene therapy will know if the patient received the active agent.
Placebo–controlled means that patients will be selected randomly to either receive the active agent or not, but all patients will undergo surgery. This study has been approved by the FDA and the Institutional Review Board at GUMC.
The Memory Disorders Program is conducting several clinical studies for patients in the early stages of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Depending on the person’s medical status, he or she may qualify and wish to participate in other studies. To learn more about this or other studies, contact Georgetown’s Memory Disorders Program. Visit the website at http://memory.georgetown.edu/ .
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/inside-cere-110-clinical-trial
This video follows patient Richard Smith and his wife Sherry as they travel the difficult journey of the world's first gene-therapy trial for Alzheimer's.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pup., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, October 25, 2010
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
disease /dis·ease/ (dĭ-zēz´) any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.
Alzheimer's disease progressive degenerative disease of the brain, of unknown cause; characterized by diffuse atrophy throughout the cerebral cortex with distinctive histopathological changes.
dis·ease (d-zz)
n.
1. A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.
2. A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.
3. Obsolete Lack of ease; trouble.
disease [dɪˈziːz]
n
1. (Medicine / Pathology) any impairment of normal physiological function affecting all or part of an organism, esp a specific pathological change caused by infection, stress, etc., producing characteristic symptoms; illness or sickness in general
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plant Pathology) a corresponding condition in plants
3. any situation or condition likened to this the disease of materialism
Disease is a term for any condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism or body. Although plants and animals also contract diseases, by far the most significant disease-related areas of interest are those conditions that afflict human beings. They can be divided into three categories: intrinsic, or coming from within the body; extrinsic, or emerging from outside it; and of unknown origin. Until the twentieth century brought changes in the living standards and health care of industrialized societies, extrinsic diseases were the greater threat; today, however, diseases of intrinsic origin are much more familiar. Among them are stress-related diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancers, hereditary diseases, glandular conditions, and conditions resulting from malnutrition. There are also illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, whose causes remain essentially unknown.
I got a comment yesterday that Alzheimer's is not a disease. They said they want to challenge that it is not a disease. Any comments??
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
disease /dis·ease/ (dĭ-zēz´) any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.
Alzheimer's disease progressive degenerative disease of the brain, of unknown cause; characterized by diffuse atrophy throughout the cerebral cortex with distinctive histopathological changes.
dis·ease (d-zz)
n.
1. A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.
2. A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.
3. Obsolete Lack of ease; trouble.
disease [dɪˈziːz]
n
1. (Medicine / Pathology) any impairment of normal physiological function affecting all or part of an organism, esp a specific pathological change caused by infection, stress, etc., producing characteristic symptoms; illness or sickness in general
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plant Pathology) a corresponding condition in plants
3. any situation or condition likened to this the disease of materialism
Disease is a term for any condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism or body. Although plants and animals also contract diseases, by far the most significant disease-related areas of interest are those conditions that afflict human beings. They can be divided into three categories: intrinsic, or coming from within the body; extrinsic, or emerging from outside it; and of unknown origin. Until the twentieth century brought changes in the living standards and health care of industrialized societies, extrinsic diseases were the greater threat; today, however, diseases of intrinsic origin are much more familiar. Among them are stress-related diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancers, hereditary diseases, glandular conditions, and conditions resulting from malnutrition. There are also illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, whose causes remain essentially unknown.
I got a comment yesterday that Alzheimer's is not a disease. They said they want to challenge that it is not a disease. Any comments??
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Alzheimer's Blogging:
As we took care of my father in law Joe with his Alzheimer's we went through periods of depression. It was hard to see this man who taught us so much about life, lose his mind. When he went through the mean stage of Alzheimer's and to see this kind man get mad, hit, bite and swear at us was depressing. The first time we noticed he could not make coffee,his favorite drink to start the day, and something he had done for almost all of his life, was depressing. When family members did not want to come over to see us because they didn't want to see Joe with his Alzheimer's which made us lonely was depressing. There are a lot more reasons for depression. But I found some links to help you with depression on Alzheimer's Weekly.
Depression Symptoms
Symptoms, causes, treatments of Depression Symptoms.
www.myOptumHealth.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You!
www.Depression-Chat-Rooms.org
Positive Thinking Power
Learn how to get a handle on your feelings through Positive Thinking!
www.Primeria-Health.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You
www.MentalHealthNeeds.com
Stop Depression Symptoms
Find The 10 Best Solutions and Treatments for Depression Today
www.EaseDepressionInfo.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You!
www.BipolarDepressionOnline.com
Stress Management
Learn more about Stress Management. Find Facts, Causes, & Treatments www.WebMD.com/Stress_Management
Anxiety Treatment Clinics
Special Programs Heal by the Sea Free Consultation 888-379-3372 www.aPlaceOfHopeAnxietyTreatment.com
Depression Symptoms
Depression Signs & Symptoms - Top Options To Kick Depression!
www.Livesfit.net/--Depression-Symptoms
Symptoms of Depression
Learn the Most Common Symptoms of Depression & Know How to Get Help.
www.knowdepressivesigns.com
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
As we took care of my father in law Joe with his Alzheimer's we went through periods of depression. It was hard to see this man who taught us so much about life, lose his mind. When he went through the mean stage of Alzheimer's and to see this kind man get mad, hit, bite and swear at us was depressing. The first time we noticed he could not make coffee,his favorite drink to start the day, and something he had done for almost all of his life, was depressing. When family members did not want to come over to see us because they didn't want to see Joe with his Alzheimer's which made us lonely was depressing. There are a lot more reasons for depression. But I found some links to help you with depression on Alzheimer's Weekly.
Depression Symptoms
Symptoms, causes, treatments of Depression Symptoms.
www.myOptumHealth.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You!
www.Depression-Chat-Rooms.org
Positive Thinking Power
Learn how to get a handle on your feelings through Positive Thinking!
www.Primeria-Health.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You
www.MentalHealthNeeds.com
Stop Depression Symptoms
Find The 10 Best Solutions and Treatments for Depression Today
www.EaseDepressionInfo.com
Top 5 Depression Signs
Are You Depressed? What The Doctor Is Not Telling You!
www.BipolarDepressionOnline.com
Stress Management
Learn more about Stress Management. Find Facts, Causes, & Treatments www.WebMD.com/Stress_Management
Anxiety Treatment Clinics
Special Programs Heal by the Sea Free Consultation 888-379-3372 www.aPlaceOfHopeAnxietyTreatment.com
Depression Symptoms
Depression Signs & Symptoms - Top Options To Kick Depression!
www.Livesfit.net/--Depression-Symptoms
Symptoms of Depression
Learn the Most Common Symptoms of Depression & Know How to Get Help.
www.knowdepressivesigns.com
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Alzheimer's Blogging:
Here are some interesting links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA&feature=player_embedded Video of Dad
http://MemoryWalk2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=336218&u=336218-268736349&e=3655472672 Alzheimer's Memory Walk
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html Good Morning Arizona
Enjoy!!
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Here are some interesting links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA&feature=player_embedded Video of Dad
http://MemoryWalk2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=336218&u=336218-268736349&e=3655472672 Alzheimer's Memory Walk
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html Good Morning Arizona
Enjoy!!
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Alzheimer's Blogging:
Alzheimer’s Medications
Health professionals often divide the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease into “Cognitive” and “Behavioral and Psychiatric” categories.
Cognitive systems affect memory, language, judgment, planning, ability to pay attention
and other thought processes. Behavioral and psychiatric systems affect the way we feel and
act.
DONEPEZIL (ARICEPT)- approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects:
nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
RIVASTIGMINE (EXELON)- approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Side
effects: nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
GALANTAMINE (RAZADYNE)- approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Side effects: nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
These drugs support communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels
high. On average delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months for about half the people who take them.
MEMANTINE- approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects;
headaches, constipation, confusion, and dizziness. This drug works by regulating the
activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory. It
temporarily delays worsening of symptoms for some people.
TACTINE (COGNEX)- was approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, but
now one of the least popular medications. Side effects; possible liver damage, nausea,
vomit, and diarrhea.
Remember life is an adventure and we need to take it, enjoy it, learn from it, and to take care of each other. That is what life is all about. Not what we can do for ourselves but what we can do
for others.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
Alzheimer’s Medications
Health professionals often divide the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease into “Cognitive” and “Behavioral and Psychiatric” categories.
Cognitive systems affect memory, language, judgment, planning, ability to pay attention
and other thought processes. Behavioral and psychiatric systems affect the way we feel and
act.
DONEPEZIL (ARICEPT)- approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects:
nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
RIVASTIGMINE (EXELON)- approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Side
effects: nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
GALANTAMINE (RAZADYNE)- approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Side effects: nausea, vomit, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.
These drugs support communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels
high. On average delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months for about half the people who take them.
MEMANTINE- approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects;
headaches, constipation, confusion, and dizziness. This drug works by regulating the
activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory. It
temporarily delays worsening of symptoms for some people.
TACTINE (COGNEX)- was approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, but
now one of the least popular medications. Side effects; possible liver damage, nausea,
vomit, and diarrhea.
Remember life is an adventure and we need to take it, enjoy it, learn from it, and to take care of each other. That is what life is all about. Not what we can do for ourselves but what we can do
for others.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 21, 2010
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
