Regulator of Amyloid Plaque Buildup in AD By article Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified a critical regulator of a molecule deeply involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The new study, published in an advance online edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, shows for the first time that levels of this regulating protein are decreased in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers and that this decrease could be a significant factor in the advance of the disease.
_ On the Horizon: A New Way to Treat Pain By Jane Farrell article Researchers have identified two molecules that perpetuate chronic pain, and that may pave the way for more effective, less addictive medicines. A study from the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland said that the molecules may play a role in the phenomenon that causes uninjured areas of the body to be more sensitive to pain if they are near an area that has been injured. The findings were published in the journal Neuron. "With the identification
A Protein Plays a Role in AD Memory Loss By article Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown that a protein called Neuroligin-1 plays a critical role in the memory loss seen in Alzheimer's patients. The study was posted online in the January 19th 2014 issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience. A release from the clinic notes that amyloid beta proteins accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and induce inflammation. This inflammation leads to gene modifications that interrupt the functioning of synapses in the brain. This leads to memory loss.
_ Mental & Emotional Health Laugh it Up! The Best De-Stressing Technique By article Whether you're guiltily guffawing at an episode of "South Park" or quietly giggling at the latest New Yorker cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke. Here, from the experts at the Mayo Clinic, is proof that laughter really can be the best medicine. Stress relief from laughter A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the positive things laughter can do. Short-term benefits
Statins May Reduce Delirium in Hospital Patients By Jane Farrell article The use of statins for critically ill patients may help prevent delirium, a new study shows. The findings, by British researchers, were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Of the 470 patients included in the study, 151 received statins the evening before being admitted to the hospital. They were given only to patients who had been given statins, blood-thinning medicines, in the past.
_ The 7 Hidden Causes of Fatigue By Jane Farrell article From the Cleveland Clinic Fatigue can signal anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism or hepatitis C. But once your doctor rules out major medical causes of fatigue, it’s time to consider hidden ones. "We look for the less obvious roots of fatigue — that’s our job,” says Tanya Edwards, MD, Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Hidden causes include: 1. A junk food diet
_ Coffee Improves Your Memory By Jane Farrell article Drinking coffee doesn’t just provide an energy boost, it may also improve your memory.
Living in Place May Just Get Easier By Jane Farrell blog The business of aging is growing up. What is today a $2 billion aging in place technology and longevity industry is projected to reach $20 billion by 2020. Entrepreneurs, many just in their 20s and 30s, are scrambling to develop products and services that allow older adults to be independent and safe — and give their adult children peace of mind.
_ Drugs Protect Against Post-Stroke Damage By article Anticoagulant medications such as Warfarin have long been known to help prevent strokes, but now a large Danish study has shown that the blood thinners can also reduce the risk of death and brain damage when a stroke happens anyway. The research was published in Stroke - Journal of the American Heart Association.
_ Chinese Herb Improves Memory By article Mannotriose, the main component of the Chinese herb Rehmannia, can improve learning and memory. This effect happens because mannotriose protects neurons in the hippocampal region of the brain from injury caused by high- concentrations of corticosterone, or cortisol, the “stress hormone” that impacts emotional memories and long-term memory. That’s the finding of Dr. Lina Zhang and colleagues from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Antioxidant Drug Knocks Down MS By article Researchers led by P. Hemachandra Reddy, Ph.D. at Oregon Health & Science University have discovered that an antioxidant designed by scientists more than a dozen years ago to fight damage within human cells significantly helps symptoms in mice that have a multiple sclerosis-like disease. The study was published in the December 2013 edition of the journal Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Molecular Basis of Disease.
6 Ways to Prevent Irritable Male Syndrome from Ruining Your Holidays By blog The time between Thanksgiving and New Years can be wonderfully joyful and it can also be stressful and irritating. Everyone can feel a bit overwhelmed with things to do, celebrations to attend, and family to please. Getting irritable occasionally is part of being human, but getting locked into a pattern of negativity and anger can cause problems for men and the families that love them. What Is Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS)?
Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget By Jane Farrell blog “Men and women think differently, approach problems differently, emphasize the importance of things differently, and experience the world around us through entirely different lenses,” says Marianne J. Legato, M.D., Founder of the Foundation for Gender Specific Medicine and author of numerous books on men and women including, Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget.
7 Surprising Health Conditions That Affect Men More Than Women By blog Sex and gender differences are central to our lives. We all think about them, struggle with them, and seek to better understand them. From Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady who lamented “Why can’t a woman be more like a man”; to Sigmund Freud who wondered “What do women really want?”; to our nursery rhymes which taught us to believe that “Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice,” while “Little boys are made of snakes and snails and puppy-dogs tails”; to Charles Boyer who
7 Surprising Ways Sex Can Save You By blog Like most living things, I’m interested in sex. By sex I mean both the pleasurable act of sensual engagement as well as the reality that men are one sex and women are the other. Vive La Différence! As important as sex is in our lives, new findings from the emerging field of Gender-Specific Medicine (GSM) are changing our view of sex and health. What Is Gender-Specific Medicine?
Keeping Passion Alive, Part V: Love 2.0, Seven Secrets for Life-Long Sex and Intimacy By blog Editor's note: This post is the fifth in Jed's series about keeping passion alive in your relationship. Click here to read the previous posts.