Shocking, but potentially promising way to treat Alzheimer's

[JWR]

For the last several years, the main drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease has been Aricept, but its benefit isn't long-lasting, spanning maybe 18 months to 2 years. Yet surprisingly, a randomized study out just this week has added another clue to the mystery of this tragic disease - a drug called leuprolide (brand name Lupron) commonly used to treat prostate cancer, breast cancer, and endometriosis was found, after 12-48 weeks, to significantly slow the progression of Alzheimer's. This trial took shape after an elderly woman accidentally discovered that her husband's Alzheimer's was (seemingly) completely arrested during his years-long prostate cancer treatment with Lupron.

Lupron's mechanism of action is that it blocks LH (luteinizing hormone), which prompts the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins, hormones that stimulate the ovaries and testes to produce the high levels of estrogen and testosterone necessary for reproduction. This drug is given as a shot and helps to treat recurrent fibroids or endometriosis and is used as a way to induce temporary menopause in early and late stage breast cancer patients; it also shuts down testosterone production in men with prostate cancer. The baffling thing about this new, yet inconclusive, Alzheimer's study to some scientists is how this observed benefit could possibly be real, since this is a drug that blocks the "brain protective" hormones estrogen and testosterone, as quoted in several news articles. However, if researchers are truly following all of the current, available evidence surrounding hormones' effects on cognition, this study should NOT be a surprise! In fact, a lot of valid scientific evidence points to the contrary, that excessively high levels of reproductive hormones throughout life may be bad for the brain.

The most conclusive data to date, at least in women, comes from (yet again) the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) which surprised everyone when the trials found stroke and memory risks (including dementia) for women on estrogen or estrogen/progestin. While this study may have been a shock, there were other observational data out years before this study that spelled trouble. The Rotterdam study, for example, evaluated the natural estradiol levels of older women to see if there was any association with cognition. Surprisingly, the women with the highest levels had a doubled incidence of vascular dementia and a slightly greater risk of Alzheimer's. In April 2000, another study conducted by Terry Manolio of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, looked at the MRIs of the brains of 2000 women, half of whom were taking estrogen. Again, the estrogen users' brain scans showed slightly more decay than the non-users. Dr. Manolio herself didn't know what to make of this and worried that this would scare women off of their hormone replacement since it was basically a given that the therapy was beneficial! Also, a laboratory study out of Emory that went virtually unnoticed involved sophisticated cognitive tests of older female cynamalgous monkeys who either retained their ovaries or had them removed at a young age. This study, according to the scientists, actually found a PROTECTIVE effect of ovary removal on spatial-visual memory in the older monkeys. And lastly, a small study out from Urbana-Illinois, reported this Janurary, showed that high levels of fitness counteracted the cognitive decline associated with longterm HRT use. Again using brain MRIs of 54 women, this study found that those who used HRT for 10+ years had decreases in the 4 different areas of gray matter in the brain, but that exercise lessened these decreases. While only the WHI is truly definitive out of all these studies, it seems clear that hormones do not have any preservative effects on thinking and cognitive abilities.

Based on this data, hormonal decline with age should no longer be viewed as a bad thing, but rather a natural protective mechanism. Secondly, attempting to replace hormones is fraught with multiple hazards, at least for women. (TRT for men has a virtually non-existent saftey profile established.) Third, the healthiest lifestyles are those which actually seem to take the punch out of reproductive hormones' effects on the body's organ systems over time. Obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease, colon and reproductive cancers, and probably dementia, is a condition involving excessive estrogens and androgens. Exercise and a diet than keeps weight down have long been known to be beneficial, although the precise mechanisms haven't been clearly pinpointed. Hypothetically, it may very well be a hormone lowering effect. Taking all of this into account, it seems that scientists should have enough basis to be pooling their efforts into exploring the effects of hormonal manipulation as a way to prevent/treat Alzheimer's, stroke, and other serious brain degenerating diseases.

A word of caution in all this - to espouse the widespread, longterm use of drugs that BLOCK hormones (be it Lupron or whatever else comes along) is just as bad an idea as HRT was!! Both are clearly disrespectful toward the natural intricacies of human biology. Instead, a more accurate interpretation (at least in terms of this latest Alzheimer's research) is that both menopause in women and the natural age related androgen decline in men do not trigger the aging process but are instead inherent natural processes that PROTECT us from diseases. And Alzheimer's, perhaps the scariest of all, might just be one of them. We now know that hormones don't need replacing. And we also have good reason, at least from a hormonal standpoint, to be espousing widespread modalities aimed at lessening the overweight epidemic in this country, considering all of the various other diseases associated with it. Conclusive answers are not yet in, but the puzzle is certainly coming together.

[Weebs]

I was on Lupron for my endometriosis.

If I knew now, what I should have known then, I would not have taken it. It screwed up my hormones and has now affected my thyriod. It caused me, at age 29, to go through a full blown menopausal state. My body did not recover from that too well and now my thyriod is pissed.

I hope it works for Alzheimer's though, as most people who have it are older and this drug would not affect them in the same manner as it would a younger person.
_________________

Sign Emoticons

[JWR]

Indeed, I have read that the side effects can be pretty dreadful and would no doubt be worse in a younger person since it's a complete endochrine disruptor. And quite a painful shot too might I add. I'm sure if it ever does live up to its promise, than other modes of delivery or drugs with fewer side effects will be explored. Again, this data is quite preliminary and may or may not hold up. So sorry about your predicament though! All the best.

[bestsynd]

(Best Syndication) The Alzheimer’s Association reported Tuesday that the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s has risen sharply and one person “develops Alzheimer’s every 72 seconds.” There are more than 5 million people in the United States living with the disease.

The vast majority of the cases involve people over the age of 65. Approximately 4.9 million people over the age of 65 have the disease, and between 200,000 and 500,000 people under 65 have early onset of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The Association says that the risk for Alzheimer’s increases with age. Alzheimer’s has become the seventh leading cause of death in the country and the fifth leading cause of death for those over age 65. They estimate the cost of caring for of Alzheimer’s and other dementias to be about $148 billion annually. This is more than the annual sales of any retailer in the world excluding Wal-Mart.

Complete Best Syndication Article

[BubbleBrain]

So I only have 8 1/2 years of clarity left...

hmmm... Who are you and why are you talking to me?
_________________
NEED MORE FORUM? Come Visit ME At MINE:

WWWatchdog, Wrightwood, SoCal. High Desert, WORLD

400 GAMES, ON-LINE MUSIC, LOCAL NEWS & PIX

Come Visit Me At: http://WRONGWOOD.com/forum

Once WWRat * Now LasPulgas, Bubblebrain and WWWatchdog

Interested in Most All and Always a Rabble-Rouser: Get Thee to WRONGWOOD!

[theLIBERTARIAN]

Isn't 65 the best retirement age? Get benefits without taxes... LOL Just in time to lose your mind...
_________________
Bing News - The Best Place To Get Your News

Bing Search

[Ms. Dancealot]

I think I've already lost my mind!!!
_________________
... Other dancers may pee on the floor, but my eyes will see only you ...

[bestsynd]

Gail Laughlin, Ph.D

(Best Syndication) Researchers in San Diego say that low levels of testosterone might shorten the lifespan of older men. The lower levels of testosterone could increase the risk of death in older men from “all” causes. The research was presented to The Endocrine Society on Tuesday June 5th, 2007.

The study author, Gail Laughlin, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine said “The new study is only the second report linking deficiency of this sex hormone with increased death from all causes, over time, and the first to do so in relatively healthy men who are living in the community.”

Complete Best Syndication Article

[bestsynd]

Alzheimer’s disease Symptoms of Depression and Agitation improved with Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements

Researchers from the Swedish medical university of Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University conducted a clinical study of the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on Alzheimer’s patients. The study results suggest that omega-3 supplements have helped on some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s including depression and agitation.

Researchers studied 200 patients with mild Alzheimer’s for a one year period. They assigned half to take an omega-3 supplement and the other half to take a placebo.

While there was no measurable therapeutic benefit of the omega-3 group compared to the placebo group, they did notice that some patients that have a APOE?4 gene susceptibly did benefit. The carriers of this gene showed an improvement in agitation symptoms compared to the placebo group. Those that were not carriers of the APOE?4 gene showed improvement in depression when taking the omega-3 supplement.

Best Syndication Complete Article

[bestsynd]

Estrogen hormone deficiency after Menopause cause Obesity which can cause High Blood Pressure



Estrogen deficiency in menopausal women may promote obesity and develop high blood pressure suggests a recent study conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The study was called, Role of Estrogens in Postmenopausal Obesity and Hypertension." The study was presented at the conference Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular-Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology which was held in Austin, Texas earlier this month.

The researchers used an animal model with rats to determine what role estrogen has with high blood pressure and obesity. The researchers studied 24 older female rates that had their ovaries removed in two-thirds of the group. The remaining one-third of the rats did not have their ovaries removed and were used as a control group. Of the two-thirds that had their ovaries removed they divided them into half getting estrogen therapy and the other not receiving any estrogen.

More on this study of Post Menopausal Estrogen Deficiency

[bestsynd]

Flaxseed Alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy – Pre-Menopausal Hot Flashes Controlled With Flax Herbal Supplement



(Best Syndication) Mayo Clinic researchers say that flaxseed can reduce the hot flashes experienced by postmenopausal women who do not take estrogen. This is important because a recent study have found a statistically significant increase in rates of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, strokes and pulmonary emboli in women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., Mayo Clinic specialist and the study’s primary investigator believes the research is important because of the side effects of HRT. Women are looking for alternatives to this therapy. “Hot flashes are a bothersome issue for women experiencing menopause,” says Pruthi. “We hope to find more effective nonhormonal options to assist women, and flaxseed looks promising.”

More Benefits to FlaxSeed Oil

[bestsynd]

Alzheimer’s Disease Related To Physical Activity – Improved Fitness May Reduce Risk For Mild or advanced Condition



(Best Syndication News) Exercise may help prevent advanced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in people with early stages, according to new research from the United States. Mild Alzheimer’s patients with “lower physical fitness” had smaller brains than their “higher physical fitness” counterparts.

Although there was no difference in patients without the disease, there was a noticeable difference in Alzheimer’s patients. Study author Jeffrey M. Burns, MD, of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City said “People with early Alzheimer’s disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage when compared to normal older adults than those who were more physically fit, suggesting less brain shrinkage related to the Alzheimer's disease process in those with higher fitness levels.”

Alzheimer's Disease and Exercise

[bestsynd]

Alzheimer’s disease Cure? Methylene Blue Ingredient in Rember MTC May Stop Decline And Help Patients Remember and Function



(Best Syndication News) There has been some exciting research presented this week at the Alzheimer's Association’s International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2008, but researchers caution against over-exuberance. The most promising drug presented at the conference in Chicago was Rember, which was developed by TauRx Therapeutics, Singapore.

The study involved 321 people with Alzheimer's at 17 centers in the United Kingdom and Singapore. Over a 24 week period patients were given either a placebo or the experimental drug. In phase IIb of research, the objective was to determine the side effects followed by a 60-week (blinded) active treatment extension. Pervious research involving animals showed benefits in cognitive ability and behavior.

Possible Cure for Alzheimer's Disease?

[christina_9]

The new study looked at a drug designed to reduce the number of tangles. The study was a Phase II trial, meaning it looked only at appropriate doses and effectiveness. A larger, Phase III trial -- the last of the three routine phases of research into a drug -- is scheduled to begin next year.
Researchers gave either the drug, known as MTC, or a placebo to 321 Alzheimer's patients in the United Kingdom and in Singapore for 24 weeks.
Wischik's group found that the drug stabilized the progression of Alzheimer's over 50 weeks.
_________________
weight loss