Every 69 Seconds: Alzheimer's Disease

Online, September 9, 2012 (Newswire.com) - One recent line of research suggests that frequent stress may even boost the risk for Alzheimer's disease. A new study headed by scientists at the University of California at San Diego showed that repeated stress triggered brain changes in mice that were similar to the abnormal clumps of protein seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The changes were most pronounced in the hippocampus. In humans, this part of the brain plays a key role in memory and is hard hit by Alzheimer's disease.

New research shows that professional football players may be at a higher risk of death from diseases that damage the cells in the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease and ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), compared to the general U.S. population. The study is published in the 2012, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology. Alzheimer's gets worse over time and ultimately is fatal. Although symptoms can vary widely, the first problem many people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect their ability to function at home or at work or to enjoy lifelong hobbies.

Other symptoms include confusion, getting lost in familiar places, misplacing things, and problems with speaking and writing.Cognitive decline is a pressing global health care issue. Worldwide, one case of dementia is detected every seven seconds. Mild cognitive impairment is a well recognized risk factor for dementia, and represents a critical window of opportunity for intervening and altering the trajectory of cognitive decline in seniors.

Women are more likely than men are to develop the disease, in part because they live longer. Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first described in 1906 by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer.