After years of claims that cell phone exposure causes brain tumors and cancer, the study brings surprisingly good news. The team of scientists running the study exposed mice with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s and its related memory problems, to cell phone radiation. They hypothesized that the radiation would increase the progression of the disease, based on previous studies of radical damage due to radiation. The scientists used an antenna to expose the mice to electromagnetic waves which approximated two hours of daily cell phone use. The mice exposed to this radiation did not suffer from memory impairments whatsoever as they aged, unlike their radiation-free counterparts. They were also able to keep their youthful ability to steer through a familiar maze after spending time in other, different mazes.

According to the researchers, the radiation prevented the buildup of the sticky proteins found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. They believe that this study could lead to other and better treatments that may eventually lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease becomes worse over time; however, the speed at which it does so varies for different people. For example, some people become unable to carry on daily activities at early onset of the disease, while others are able to manage fairly well until much later into the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by changes in the brain. The direct cause is still unknown; however scientists have discovered that the disorder is due to a buildup of proteins in the brain that lead to a loss of neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of the brain).
The disorder is most common in people over the age of 60. People who have a family history of Alzheimer’s have a high risk of developing the disease. Other risks include head injury, a hard fall and history of heart disease.

Although it is common to experience mild memory loss with age, it is important to see a doctor when experiencing new, frequent forms of memory loss. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include having trouble making decisions, confusion about the time and date, getting lost in well-known places, trouble learning and remembering new information, trouble finding the right words to say and more trouble doing daily tasks such as cooking or paying bills. As Alzheimer’s gets worse, people may develop sundowning, or getting restless and wandering in late afternoon and at night. They may also start to act very differently, withdrawing from family and friends, hallucinating, falsely believing others are lying, cheating, using or trying to harm them, and frequently lashing out at others.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, doctors will prescribe certain medicines to help with memory, thinking, and confusion.

For more information, as well as treatment options, visit NorthShore University HealthSystem.

NorthShore University HealthSystem covered a recent study conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago:

Researchers  followed 970 older adults (average age 80) who didn’t have dementia at the start of the study. The participants underwent a number of evaluations, including tests of cognitive function and muscle strength.

During an average 3.6 years of follow-up, 138 (14.2 percent) of the participants developed Alzheimer’s disease. Those with the highest levels of muscle strength at the start of the study were 61 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with the weakest muscles, the researchers found.

The link between muscle strength and Alzheimer’s remained even after the researchers accounted for other factors, such as body mass index and physical activity levels.

The researchers also found that weak muscles were associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment, the earliest sign of cognitive decline.

For the full study visit the news section of NorthShore University HealthSystem

On September 6, two international teams of researchers stated that in comparing subtle genetic spelling variations in nearly 12,000 Alzheimer’s patients with almost 19,000 other people revealed three genes, which they believe to be associated with the disease.

These genes are the first to be implicated in the risk of getting the common form of Alzheimer’s since the variant of the apolipoprotein E gene APOE4 was identified in 1993. That gene’s influence may explain about 20 percent of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, says Philippe Amouyel of the French health research agency INSERM in Lille and coauthor of one of the new studies. But researchers knew other genes must be involved since 60 to 80 percent of the risk of developing the disease is genetic.

This is a promising step in the field of medical research. To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease research visit the neuroscience department at NorthShore University HealthSystem.

The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is increased age. That is not a misconception. The percentage of the population diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease rapidly increases with age. 10% of the population of over 65 years old has Alzheimer’s disease while that percentage jumps to 50% with the population over 85 years old.

Many myths arise in regards to the relation of genetics to Alzheimer’s disease. Many feel that genetics have no effect on Alzheimer’s disease; in fact many feel that age is the only risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This notion is false. As previously discussed, old age is the greatest risk factor but there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into account. Genetic mutations account for half of the causes of early on set (between the age of 40 and 50) Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, the children of early on set Alzheimer’s disease patients are 50% more likely to develop it.

There are also multiple other risk factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and elevated levels of cholesterol. To find out more about the possible risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease visit NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Neuroscience department.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a condition in which nerve cells in the brain die, making it difficult for the brain’s signals to be transmitted properly. Alzheimer’s symptoms may be hard to distinguish early on. A person with Alzheimer’s disease has problems with memory, judgment, and thinking, which makes it hard for the person to work or take part in day-to-day life. The death of the nerve cells occurs gradually over a period of years”.

Here are a few symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

Impaired memory and thinking.
Disorientation and confusion
Misplacing things.
Abstract thinking
Trouble performing familiar tasks.
Changes in personality and behavior.
Poor or decreased judgment
Inability to follow directions.
Problems with language and communication.
Impaired visual and spatial skills.
Loss of motivation or initiative.
Loss of normal sleep patterns.