Boonzee

University of Leeds reports this week on a study that shows a link between stroke and increased risk for Alzheimer's.

Professor Chris Peers who led the study explained: “Our research is looking into what happens when oxygen levels in the brain are reduced by a number of factors, from long-term conditions like emphysema and angina, to sudden incidents such as a heart attack, stroke or even head trauma. Even though the patient may outwardly recover, the hidden cell damage may be irreversible.

“It could even be an issue for people who snore heavily, whose sleep patterns are such that there will be times in the night when their brain is hypoxic – deprived of sufficient oxygen. It can be anything that stops the heart and lungs working together to their optimal capabilities.”

The research centered on the damage done by these low-oxygen incidents (stroke) to a group of brain cells called astrocytes that play a critical role possibly in mopping up leftover neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain. For the full article, see the University of Leeds site.

Boonzee Note: keep an eye on this and related research with reserved excitement. Previously, amyloid build-up was also thought to be a cause of Alzheimer's yet new research indicates it might be a protective mechanism. The important consideration is that more information builds better understanding, and this study is exiting because it looked at the processes rather than focusing on the neurons.

Rush University Medical Center published a study of 432 people with Alzheimer's in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry that indicated they experience an excellerated rate of decline after being place in a nursing home. Interestingly, those participants who had prior experience in an adult day care (3 to 4 days per week) fared much better and did not experience the same rate of decline. 

"The authors considered the possibility that nursing home placement is simply a sign of increased severity of Alzheimer's disease. Yet, the nursing-home-related increase in cognitive decline was observed even after simultaneous control for cognitive and noncognitive indicators of dementia severity at the time of nursing home entry." Full article on the Rush University website; the study was funded by the National Institute on Aging. 

Note from Boonzee: Not only does hiring assistance for your ill or disabled family member help you, but it may, in fact, help your loved one better adapt to the natural progressions of the disease.

Preliminary findings indicate that Ritalin, in addition to improving attention, may have a positive effect on specific cognitive tasks including working memory, "which maintains and manipulates information and is crucial for every-day functioning". It is a very small study and the fMRI indicates additional activity without specifics about exact functionality, but it may lead to more studies to help understand additional brain functioning and medication effects.

From The Arc of the United States :

By now, many of you will have heard of the US 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that “mental retardation” is not a disability under the ADA . The case was Littleton v. Wal-Mart, appealed from Alabama. This decision has been called “the worst ADA decision of the year (by far).”   

The Disability Law blog is watching the case here.   You may wish to post a response.

The court’s reasoning includes the following: