Health News: Diet To Lower Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Ranked Easiest ♦ Sheffield shop’s booze licence revoked after illegal alcohol seized ♦ New potential treatment for colorectal cancer discovered

Diet To Lower Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Ranked Easiest US News and World Report has just released its compiled survey on the Best Diets of 2016. Guess what? DASH diet continues to stay on top as the easiest to follow diet out of 38 popular healthy diets evaluated by health experts. The magazine surveyed a number of well-renowned experts who ranked the diets based on health benefits, nutritional

Sheffield shop’s booze licence revoked after illegal alcohol seized A Sheffield off-licence owner has been caught selling illegal booze in his shop – just six weeks after he was convicted for similar offences. Jigar Patel has had his licence revoked in relation to two off-licences he owned after Trading Standards inspectors found illegal alcohol. The illicit booze was discovered on sale just six weeks after Patel was convicted of similar offences …

New potential treatment for colorectal cancer discovered A small molecule drug combined with chemotherapy may deliver a synergistic benefit for colorectal cancer patients, new research suggests. has demonstrated the efficiency of a small molecule drug, PRIMA-1met, in inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells. Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the large intestine

One hookah tobacco smoking session delivers 25 times the tar of a single cigarette As cigarette smoking rates fall, more people are smoking tobacco from hookahs: communal pipes that enable users to draw tobacco smoke through water. A new meta-analysis shows that hookah smokers are inhaling a large load of toxicants

Health Research: No-drill' dentistry stops tooth decay ♦ Explore memory decline in people with epilepsy ♦ People with dementia exposed to low quality of life through lack of activity

People with dementia exposed to low quality of life through lack of activity People with dementia living in long-term care often show low levels of activity participation, which negatively impacts their quality of life.

No-drill' dentistry stops tooth decay A new study has revealed that tooth decay can be stopped, reversed, and prevented without the need for the traditional 'fill and drill' approach that has dominated dental care for decades. The seven year study found that the need for fillings was reduced by 30 to 50 per cent through preventative oral care.

Emerging technologies help advance the understanding, detection and control of epilepsy

A smartphone-induced EEG waveform and an intelligent algorithm for seizure detection are among the emerging new technologies. Four innovative studies promise to reshape current paradigms for seizure detection and epilepsy management

Four studies explore memory decline in people with epilepsy Four studies presented at the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) 69th Annual Meeting uncover the biological factors that mediate memory decline in people with epilepsy, particularly those with seizures that affect the temporal lobe. Loss of neurons from the hippocampus, a brain region that processes and stores memories, is a common cause of temporal lobe epilepsy. People with temporal epilepsy caused by hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) have impaired memory and find it particularly challenging to recall details of specific events in everyday life.

Health Research: Stretchable, wearable sensor made with chewing gum ♦ Understanding why group singing helps in dementia ♦Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body

Experts urge early evaluation of fracture risk in diabetics Despite an up to six-fold increased risk of fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, there is a general lack of knowledge about the complex relationship between bone and diabetes. In order to promote understanding of the latest advances and to encourage early evaluation of fracture risk, a group of experts has now published a scientific review which highlights new information regarding fracture risk in T1DM patients

Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body A new method of guiding microscopic swimming devices has the potential to deliver drugs to a targeted location inside the body, according to new research. These devices, which are a similar size to cells and bacteria -- around a hundredth of the average diameter of a strand of human hair -- could be used to deliver drugs to a specific location inside the body or outside of the body to diagnose diseases in blood samples.

Understanding why group singing helps in dementia Couples where one partner is suffering from dementia can benefit from taking part in group singing.

Stretchable, wearable sensor made with chewing gum Body Sensors now allow any wearer to easily track heart rate, steps and sleep cycles around the clock. Soon, they could become even more versatile -- with the help of chewing gum. Scientists report a unique sensing device made of gum and carbon nanotubes that can move with your most bendable parts and track your breathing.

Brain Research: College studies may reduce risk of dementia for older adult ♦ Detailing global brain disorders research agenda ♦ College studies may reduce risk of dementia for older adults,

Hallucinations linked to differences in brain structure People diagnosed with schizophrenia who are prone to hallucinations are likely to have structural differences in a key region of the brain compared to both healthy individuals and people diagnosed with schizophrenia who do not hallucinate;

Modulating brain's stress circuitry might prevent alzheimer's disease In a novel animal study design that mimicked human clinical trials, researchers report that long-term treatment using a small molecule drug that reduces activity of the brain's stress circuitry significantly reduces Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and prevents onset of cognitive impairment in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition.

Detailing global brain disorders research agenda The breadth and complexity of brain and nervous system disorders make them some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat, especially in the developing world, where there are few resources. An NIH-led collaboration of more than 40 scientists has studied these complex issues that occur across the lifespan and today published a supplement to the journal Nature that lays out a research strategy to address them.

College studies may reduce risk of dementia for older adults, Older adults who take college courses may increase their cognitive capacity and possibly reduce their risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia

Health care costs for dementia found greater than for any other disease

In the last five years of life, total health care spending for people with dementia was more than a quarter-million dollars per person, some 57 percent greater than costs associated with death from other diseases, including cancer and heart disease. The new analysis, appearing in the Oct. 27, 2015, online issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, estimates that total health care spending was $287,000 for those with probable dementia and $183,000 for other Medicare beneficiaries in the study.

The analysis was funded primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health. Additional support was provided by the American Federation for Aging Research.

Amy S. Kelley, M.D., of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and colleagues analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study supported by the NIA and the Social Security Administration, as well as linked Medicare and Medicaid records and other data. They calculated the “social” costs of all types of care for 1,702 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries age 70 and older who died between 2005–2007. Patients were divided into four groups: those with a high probability of dementia; those with either cancer or heart disease; or those with another cause of death.

The researchers calculated costs from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, out-of-pocket, and informal care over the last five years of life. Specific categories of spending included insurance, hospital, physician, medication, nursing home, hired helpers, in-home medical care and other expenses. The investigators also measured out-of-pocket spending as a proportion of household wealth.

“This complex analysis lays out the significant health care costs to society and individuals in the last five years of life,” said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. “It provides an important picture of the risks that families face, particularly those with dementia and those who may be least able to bear major financial risk. Such insights are critically important as we examine how best to support the aging of the U.S. population.”

While average Medicare expenditures across all four disease categories were similar, almost all other costs were consistently higher for people with dementia. Medicaid — the federal/state program that supports medical and long-term care for people with limited funds — expenditures for people who died with dementia averaged $35,346 vs. $4,552 for those without dementia. The dementia group had significantly higher enrollment in Medicaid at the start of the five-year study period (21 percent) than those who died from cancer (8 percent), heart disease (8 percent), or other causes (13 percent). Enrollment in Medicaid during the last five years of life also increased for those with dementia (27 percent) compared to those with cancer, heart disease and other causes (12 percent, 15 percent and 15 percent, respectively).

For families, out-of-pocket spending for those with dementia was $61,522 compared to $34,068 for those without dementia. Informal care costs were estimated to be $83,022 for people with dementia vs. $38,272 for those without dementia. In addition, out-of-pocket spending as a proportion of total household wealth five years before death was significantly higher — median of 32 percent for dementia and 11 percent for other diseases. For African-American households the median out-of-pocket expenditure was 84 percent of household wealth for those with probable dementia.

The gap in the financial burden between those with and without dementia was larger among those who were unmarried, African American, and had less than a high school education. Single women with dementia also incurred more out-of-pocket costs than married women with dementia.

Health Research: Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth ♦ Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand ♦ Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival

Low vitamin D among elderly associated with decline in cognition, dementia Vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly is highly correlated with accelerated cognitive decline and impaired performance, particularly in domains such as memory loss that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, researchers have found.

Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth, Regular smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss, a new study has confirmed. Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were found to be 2.5 times more likely.

Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand People who sleep fewer than 6 hours or more than 10 hours per night suffer from low-grade inflammation more often than people who sleep 7-8 hours per night. Earlier studies have found a relation between reduced sleep and low-grade inflammation, according to one of the study researchers. Furthermore, low-grade inflammation occurs in overweight, depression and diabetes. This new study is the first to analyze the association between sleep duration and serum micronutrient concentrations in a large sample, and it found a link between high serum copper concentration and long sleep duration.

Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival A new study reveals that insurance status, marital status, and county-level income may affect the chances of survival in young patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

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Brain Research:Smallest 3-D camera offers brain surgery innovation ♦ Alzheimer’s disease accelerated by an abnormal build-up of fat ♦ Memory loss two-three years before dementia onset

Alzheimer’s disease thought to be accelerated by an abnormal build-up of fat in the brain People with Alzheimer’s disease have fat deposits in the brain. For the first time since the disease was described 109 years ago, researchers have discovered accumulations of fat droplets in the brain of patients who died from the disease and have identified the nature of the fat.

Awareness of memory loss may decline two-three years before dementia onset People who will develop dementia may begin to lose awareness of their memory problems two to three years before the actual onset of the disease, according to a new study. The study also found that several dementia-related brain changes, or pathologies, are associated with the decline in memory awareness.

Reward, aversion behaviors activated through same brain pathways New research may help explain why drug treatments for addiction and depression don't work for some patients. The conditions are linked to reward and aversion responses in the brain. And the research suggests that some treatments simultaneously stimulate reward and aversion responses, resulting in a net zero effect.

Smallest 3-D camera offers brain surgery innovation To operate on the brain, doctors need to see fine details on a small scale. A tiny camera that could produce 3-D images from inside the brain would help surgeons see more intricacies of the tissue they are handling and lead to faster, safer procedures.

Health Research: Proving nanoparticles in sunscreen products ♦ Scientists want to help you avoid addiction ♦ Medications for dementia could cause harmful weight loss

Are animal models still essential to biological research? A new article covers the use of animal models in scientific research. The use of animals in scientific research prompts regular debate and it can be difficult to garner a clear picture of the actual need for animals

Potential new therapy approaches to reverse kidney damage identified Cell plasticity program resulting from kidney damage can be targeted to reverse kidney disease and fibrosis, new research suggests. The study demonstrated the importance of an embryonic cellular process called EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) as a potential therapeutic target for reversing kidney disease. Embryos cannot develop without EMT.

Proving nanoparticles in sunscreen products Loads of cosmetics like sunscreen lotions contain titanium dioxide. These nanoparticles are contentious. Experts suspect they may have harmful effects on people and the environment. But it is difficult to prove that the particles are in the lotions. Using a new method, these particles can now be calculated.

If you're using drugs, scientists want to help you avoid addiction Abstinence is the best way to avoid drug addiction. But in many societies, drug use is the norm, not the exception, especially by youth. What keeps the majority of users from becoming addicted? How drugs are taken has something to do with it.

Common medications for dementia could cause harmful weight loss Medications commonly used to treat dementia could result in harmful weight loss, according to researchers, and clinicians need to account for this risk when prescribing these drugs to older adults.

Health Research:New tool for investigating RNA gone awry ♦ Job strain linked to increased sick leave due to mental disorders ♦ Health researchers far behind industry using automation

Health researchers far behind industry using automation, leaves critical research unfunded The National Institutes of Health has experienced funding cuts even as the number of scientists has grown significantly. University laboratories are closing, faculty positions are being cut, less life-saving research is being conducted.

Job strain linked to increased sick leave due to mental disorders Workers with high job demands and job strain are at increased risk of sick leave due to mental disorders, reports a study. Risk was also increased for workers with job strain, defined as high job demands with low control; and "iso-strain," defined as high demands and low control plus low levels of social support at work.

Dignity in dementia: New research reveals the challenges of providing good nutrition in care homes Unexplained weight loss is often seen in people with dementia, which can lead to further complications, including mental and physical deterioration. New research has revealed the challenges of providing good nutrition and hydration in people with dementia who live in care homes.

Football helmet tests may not account for concussion-prone actions, study suggests Concussions in football are caused by the sudden rotation of the skull, mounting evidence suggests. Researchers now have evidence that suggests current football helmet tests don't account for these movements.

New tool for investigating RNA gone awry RNA is a fundamental ingredient in all known forms of life -- so when RNA goes awry, a lot can go wrong. A new technology offers the first real-time method to track and observe the dynamics of RNA distribution as it is transported inside living cells. 'Sticky-flares' have the potential to help scientists understand the complexities of RNA better than any analytical technique to date and observe and study the biological and medical significance of RNA misregulation.

Cardiovascular Research: Nanomedicine in the fight against thrombotic diseases ♦ Uric acid may lessen women's disability after stroke ♦ Secondhand smoke increases stroke risk

Nanomedicine in the fight against thrombotic diseases Ischemic heart disease and stroke caused by thrombus formation are responsible for more than 17 million deaths per year worldwide. Now researchers announce new research that has been covering the use of nanocarriers and microbubbles in drug delivery for thrombotic disease.

Uric acid may lessen women's disability after stroke Forty-two percent of women treated with uric acid had less disability three months after a stroke compared with women given a placebo, report researchers who say that women benefit from uric acid therapy because they generally have less uric acid circulating in their bodies.

Diabetes complications linked to rising risk of dementia People who have diabetes and experience high rates of complications are more likely to develop dementia as they age than people who have fewer diabetic complications, according to a new study.

Secondhand smoke increases stroke risk by 30 percent for nonsmokers Nearly 800,000 people in the US suffer a stroke each year. Stroke is responsible for one out of every 19 deaths in the US and it is a leading cause of disability. A new study has found that secondhand smoke increases the risk of stroke by about 30 percent for nonsmokers.

Health News: Fake rice in Philippines ♦ Dementia sufferers benefit from GPS ♦ Researchers test fecal transplantation to treat ulcerative colitis ♦ Stopping Candida in its tracks

Fake rice triggers call for safety nets As government agencies are  finding it  difficult to  pinpoint  the source of fake rice, Malacanang  has warned  the public   to be careful in  buying  the staple  and to purchase only from accredited and reliable stores.  Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero also called for the convening of the food safety regulation coordinating board whose members will have to  map out plans

Documenting how dementia sufferers benefit from GPS A brand new study of 200 dementia sufferers in Norway reveals that almost all experience greater peace of mind and increased levels of physical activity using GPS devices.

Stretchy mesh heater for sore muscles If you suffer from chronic muscle pain a doctor will likely recommend for you to apply heat to the injury.  But how do you effectively wrap that heat around a joint? Now scientists have come up with an ingenious way of creating therapeutic heat in a light, flexible design.

Stopping Candida in its tracks Scientists are one step closer to understanding how a normally harmless fungus changes to become a deadly infectious agent.

Researchers test fecal transplantation to treat ulcerative colitis A research team recruited 75 patients with a flare up of their ulcerative colitis and randomized them to fecal transplant therapy given as an enema derived from stool donated by an anonymous healthy donor, and placebo.

Senior Health:Elder abuse is common around the world ♦ Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging ♦ Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD

Elder abuse is common around the world A new global review reveals that elder abuse -- which includes psychological, physical, and sexual abuse; neglect; and financial exploitation -- is common among community-dwelling older adults and is especially prevalent among minority older adults. Older adults with cognitive and physical impairments or psychosocial distress are also at increased risk of elder abuse.

Neuroscientist leads efforts to detect, treat Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia Every 67 seconds someone is the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease or some form of dementia. Now, a prominent American neuroscientist is at the helm of cutting-edge research, screening methods and clinical care for all forms of dementia and cognitive impairments as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD At present, there is a lack of effective treatments that target the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Scientists are therefore investigating the molecular causes of COPD in order to intervene specifically. A recently published study is a contribution to understanding the underlying causes of COPD, especially in the elderly population.

Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging Study shows broad health benefits from periodic use of diet that mimics fasting in mice and yeast -- which appear to translate to humans, also

Health Research: New drug triggers tissue regeneration ♦ Plasma makes wounds heal quicker ♦ Pedophiles more likely to have physical irregularities

Pedophiles more likely to have physical irregularities New research suggests pedophiles are more likely to have superficial facial flaws, known as Minor Physical Anomalies (MPAs). They are also more likely to be left-handed. She led an investigation into the prevalence and distribution of physical anomalies among men who are sent for sexological assessment. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests pedophilia develops prenatally, around the same time that such physical flaws develop.

Plasma makes wounds heal quicker Many people suffer from skin disorders. Open wounds are a particularly acute problem, especially among the elderly. PlasmaDerm, a new medical technology solution, uses plasma to facilitate faster healing of wounds.

Clear, strong stimulation may help prevent apathy for persons with dementia Nursing home residents with dementia are less likely to be apathetic if they live in an appropriately stimulating environment, according to nursing researchers. Apathy is one of the most common neurobehavioral symptoms in dementia, with about 90 percent of older adults with dementia experiencing it

New drug triggers tissue regeneration: Faster regrowth and healing of damaged tissues The concept sounds like the stuff of science fiction: take a pill, and new tissues grow to replace damaged ones. Researchers have now announced steps toward turning this idea into reality. They have detailed how a new drug repaired damage to the colon, liver and bone marrow in animal models -- even saving mice who would have died in a bone marrow transplantation model.

Your phone knows how many steps you take per day, shouldn't your doctor? The rise of health apps has made it possible to chart your steps, heartbeat, and sleep patterns, but the availability of this constant stream of information has yet to reach patient electronic health records. In a commentary, researchers argue that these mobile devices could rapidly reshape the practice of medicine. The first steps though will be creating standards that can enforce cross-platform communications

Senior's Health: Can diet and exercise prevent muscle loss in old age? ♦ Living to 100: Lifestyle advice for would-be centenarians ♦ screened by telephone for dementia

Living to 100: Lifestyle advice for would-be centenarians For the past 50 years, researchers have followed the health of 855 men born in 1913. Now that the study is being wrapped up, it turns out that ten of the subjects lived to 100 and conclusions can be drawn about the secrets of their longevity.

Majority of older adults willing to be screened by telephone for dementia Nearly two-thirds of older adults were willing to undergo telephone screening for dementia, according to a new study. Willingness to be screened by phone did not differ by sex, age or race.

Alzheimer protein's structure may explain its toxicity

The molecular structure of one of the proteins in the fine fibers of the brain plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found. This molecule, called amyloid beta-42, is toxic to nerve cells and is believed to provoke the disease cascade

Can diet and exercise prevent muscle loss in old age? Between the ages of 40 and 80, an estimated 30 to 50 per cent of muscle mass is lost, resulting in lower strength and less ability to carry out everyday tasks. This process -- known as sarcopenia -- is common and clearly linked to frailty and poorer health in older people. Although some studies find diet can enhance the effects of exercise to prevent muscle loss in later life, current evidence about what works is inconsistent, new research shows.

Older patients receive less evidence-based cardiac care than younger patients People in their 80s and 90s are more likely to develop acute coronary syndrome than their younger counterparts. Despite this, they receive less therapy and diagnostic procedures

Health News: Mission to Mars cosmic ray exposure leads to dementia ♦ Boosting the body's ability to fight urinary tract infections ♦ Benefits seen for lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema

Mission to Mars cosmic ray exposure leads to dementia What happens to an astronaut's brain during a mission to Mars? Nothing good. It's besieged by destructive particles that can forever impair cognition. Exposure to highly energetic charged particles -- much like those found in the galactic cosmic rays that bombard astronauts during extended spaceflights -- cause significant damage to the central nervous system, resulting in cognitive impairments.

US clinics avoiding government oversight of 'stem cell' treatments Clinics across the United States are advertising stem cell treatments that attempt to take advantage of what they perceive as exceptions in FDA regulations, according to bioethicist

Gene variants show potential in predicting rheumatoid arthritis disease outcomes Scientists have identified a new way in which genotyping can be used to predict disease outcomes among sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis

Boosting the body's natural ability to fight urinary tract infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and widespread antibiotic resistance has led to urgent calls for new ways to combat them. Researchers report that an experimental drug that stabilizes a protein called HIF-1alpha protects human bladder cells and mice against a major UTI pathogen. The drug might eventually provide a therapeutic alternative or complement to standard antibiotic treatment.

Durable benefits seen for lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) plus medical management with rehabilitation to medical management plus rehabilitation in patients with severe emphysema. In 2003, the results of NETT demonstrated that LVRS could improve lung function in patients with emphysema, and that the procedure led to improved survival. Yet, adoption of LVRS has been very slow. Now researchers present the results of ten years of’ experience with LVRS for emphysema.

Brain Research: Treatment to reduce dementia ♦ New light shed on brain's source of power ♦ New insight into how brain makes memories ♦ How to stop a stroke in its tracks

Researchers see promise in treatment to reduce dementia after TBI Researchers have been attempting to understand the cascade of events following mild head injury that may lead to an increased risk for developing a progressive degenerative brain disease, and their new study shows initial promise for a treatment that might interrupt the process that links the two conditions.

New light shed on brain's source of power New research represents a potentially fundamental shift in our understanding of how nerve cells in the brain generate the energy needed to function. The study shows neurons are more independent than previously believed and this research has implications for a range of neurological disorders.

New insight into how brain makes memories Researchers have identified the role that a key protein associated with autism and the co-occurrence of alcohol dependency and depression plays in forming the spines that create new connections in the brain

How to stop a stroke in its tracks New minimally invasive surgical devices called stentrievers are enabling brain surgeons to stop strokes in their tracks.

Senior Health News:New treatment for dementia ♦ New hope for Alzheimer's: ♦ Strength training advisable in older age

Strength training still advisable in older age Many over-65-year-olds are frail, or in a preliminary stage of frailty. A new study aims to raise fitness levels and quality of life for older people whose nutritional condition is inadequate. The first results show that regular strength training is particularly beneficial for increasing hand strength, and thus enabling people to live independently,.

New treatment for dementia discovered: Deep brain stimulation New brain cells can be formed through deep brain stimulation, improving memory retention, researchers report. For decades, scientists have been finding ways to generate brain cells to boost memory and learning, but more importantly, to also treat brain trauma and injury, and age-related diseases such as dementia. By stimulating the front part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex, they have no discovered that new brain cells are formed in the hippocampus although it had not been directly stimulated.

New hope for Alzheimer's: Meds already in use for stroke in some Asian countries A drug discovery could hold promise in the fight against the devastating effects of Alzheimer's Disease. Scientists, using a animal model, have completed research to suggest that the drug Edaravone could alleviate the progressive cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's Disease, a major social and economic burden worldwide.

Older people can learn to spend less time sitting down Older adults spend 8.5 waking hours a day sitting or lying down -- time linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death -- even if they're physically active at other times. A new study showed it was feasible to coach older people to spend less time sitting: an average of a half hour less per day. They reported feeling more able to accomplish everyday tasks -- and they walked faster and had fewer depression symptoms.

Seniors Health: Hip fracture patients in long-term care ♦ Music to the ears of dementia suffers:♦ Clues to aging from long-lived lemurs + more

Music to the ears of dementia suffers: learning to play saxophone after diagnosis  Researchers have revealed details of an usual case that offers new insights into frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The story revolves around a patient who, with no prior musical training, learned to play the saxophone after being diagnosed with a behavioural variant of FTD.

Hip fracture patients in long-term care are less likely to receive osteoporosis therapy Canadian researchers calculated the proportion of high-risk residents of long-term care homes receiving osteoporosis medications and vitamin D supplementation according to specific high-risk categories. Marked undertreatment was found, especially in hip-fracture patients.

Clues to aging from long-lived lemurs Researchers combed through more than 50 years of medical records on hundreds of lemurs for clues to their longevity. They found that how long these primates live and how fast they age correlates with the amount of time they spend in a state of suspended animation known as torpor. The research may eventually help scientists identify 'anti-aging' genes in humans.

Eating green leafy vegetables keeps mental abilities sharp Something as easy as adding more spinach, kale, collards and mustard greens to your diet could help slow cognitive decline, according to new research. The study also examined the nutrients responsible for the effect, linking vitamin K consumption to slower cognitive decline for the first time.

Alzheimer's: The killer protein, properly explained Researchers hope to be able, one day, to fight the pathogenic action of the amyloid-beta protein, whose buildup is associated with Alzheimer's disease. In the meantime, scientists have synthesized the knowledge acquired about this protein over the last few decades in a review paper that is destined to become a milestone for future research.

Brain Research:Repairing the cerebral cortex ♦ Brain waves predict our risk for insomnia ♦ Are antipsychotic drugs more dangerous + more

Repairing the cerebral cortex: It can be done  An important step in the area of cell therapy has been taken by scientists: repairing the cerebral cortex of the adult mouse using a graft of cortical neurons derived from embryonic stem cells. These results also suggest that damaged circuits can be restored only by using neurons of the same type as the damaged area. Continue Reading

Brain waves predict our risk for insomnia  There may not yet be a cure for insomnia, but researchers are a step closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer from it. Researchers note that we should all keep abiding by the habits already acknowledged to promote a good night's sleep Continue Reading  

Scientists make surprising finding in stroke research  Scientists have made an important new discovery about the brain’s immune system that could lead to potential new treatments for stroke and other related conditions Continue Reading

New images of the brain show the forgetful side effect of frequent recall A new study has shown how intentional recall is beyond a simple reawakening of a memory; and actually leads us to forget other competing experiences that interfere with retrieval. Quite simply, the very act of remembering may be one of the major reasons why we forget Continue Reading

Are antipsychotic drugs more dangerous to dementia patients ?  Drugs aimed at quelling the behavior problems of dementia patients may also hasten their deaths more than previously realized, a new study finds. The research adds more troubling evidence to the case against antipsychotic drugs as a treatment for the delusions, hallucinations, agitation and aggression that many people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias experience. Continue Reading