Category Archives: Research News (General)

Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 published in The Lancet

Deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have jumped more than threefold worldwide since 1990, according to theGlobal Burden of Disease Study 2010.

Published in December 2012 in the Lancet, the study is the first in more than two decades to examine the incidence of major diseases, injuries, and health risk factors around the globe. It finds that while fewer children perish every year than 20 years ago, adults are now suffering more from non-infectious diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

In addition, dementia is becoming more common as more people reach old age.

A link to the full report is available below:

Brain research in Europe needs a decisive and concerted effort with more investment and clearer and more innovative research and healthcare strategies.

The European Commission decided in 2012 to make May 2013 the European Month of the Brain with the overarching theme “A month to make a difference”. The Commission is therefore organising two conferences during May 2013:

• 14 May in Brussels, to showcase European projects in the field and outline future scientific efforts.
• 27-28 May in Dublin, during the Irish EU Presidency, on European policy for brain research and healthcare.

The Commission is calling upon all stakeholders interested in the subject to organise events and activities around brain research during May 2013. These could include workshops, exhibitions, “brain days”, science cafés, lab visits, media events and awareness campaigns.

The Commission may be able to support stakeholders by adding their activities to its own calendar of events.

More information at the link below:

A recent study suggests that the combined risk factors for heart disease and stroke (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity) may also increase the risk of cognitive decline.

For their analysis, the researchers used data from an ongoing longitudinal study following a representative sample of English adults aged 50 and over (the English Longitudinal Study of Aging – ELSA).

In particular, the study suggests that smoking raises the risk of cognitive decline.

The study was carried out by researchers from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London and was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Reference
Dregan, A. Stewart, R. Guildford, MC. (2012). Cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive decline in adults aged 50 and over: a population-based cohort study. Age and Ageing, November 25th 2012, [Epub. Ahead of print].

Clickhere to view the PubMed abstract.

Clickhere to view the full published study

Data extracted from existing publicly- and privately-conducted clinical trials to address amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

The largest collection of data from clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), representing more than 8,500 individuals, is now live.

The Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials (PRO-ACT) database merges data from existing publicly- and privately-conducted ALS clinical trials to generate an invaluable resource for accelerating discovery in the field of ALS.  Understanding the progression of ALS better can help researchers streamline clinical trials, reducing subject numbers and costs.  

The database contains data from the organizers of 18 Phase 2 or 3 trials for ALS. Contributors include Sanofi of Paris, France; Regeneron, headquartered in Tarrytown, New York; Teva Pharmaceuticals in Petah Tikva, Israel; and Novartis, based in Basel, Switzerland.

Most of the longitudinal data, from both placebo and treatment participants, spans about one year, with no identifying information to protect the anonymity of the participants and proprietary interests. The database includes several elements such as medical history and lab results. Over time, the organizers plan to add other features, for example, adverse events and the approximate date of the trial.

More information available on the PRO-ACT website link below:

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) has launched its latest call for proposals, including a topic on neurodegenerative disorders entitled “Developing an aetiology-based taxonomy of human disease.”

The topic aims to develop a new classification for neurodegenerative disorders, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

More information is available on IMI’s website at the links below.

International B.R.A.I.N. Prize awarded to disruptive innovations in brain technology

The Breakthrough Research And Innovation in Neurotechnology (B.R.A.I.N.) Prize is an international award granted in Israel to an individual, group or organization for a recent, practical breakthrough in the field of brain technology.

The one million dollar ($1,000,000) prize will recognize a disruptive innovation that is on a path to commercialization with potential significant impact to humanity. The award will be used to support further development towards commercialization of the winning technology.

Further information is available at the link below:

A systematic review of qualitative studies on patient and carer experiences of dementia diagnosis and treatment

Early diagnosis and intervention for people with dementia is increasingly considered a priority, but practitioners are concerned with the effects of earlier diagnosis and interventions on patients and caregivers. This systematic review evaluates the qualitative evidence about how people accommodate and adapt to the diagnosis of dementia and its immediate consequences, to guide practice.

This study presents a thematic analysis that could be useful to professionals working with people with dementia. The authors suggest that research emphasis should shift towards the development and evaluation of interventions, particularly those providing support after diagnosis.

Pubmed link is available below.

Evidence from a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies

The number of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who have cognitive symptoms is difficult to pinpoint, mainly due to the use of various definitions of cognitive impairment and dementia.  Realistic estimates suggest that at least 50% of people with Parkinson’s have some mild cognitive impairment, with as many as 20-40% with more severe symptoms or dementia. Another problem is that PD often overlaps with other degenerative brain disorders that can cause dementia, such as Alzheimer disease and vascular disease.
 
This study gives further insight into the pathophysiological basis revealed by the brain structure abnormalities in Parkinson’s disease dementia.  The meta-analysis from this review provides strong evidence of Parkinson’s Disease-related brain atrophy in the medial temporal lobe and the basal ganglia areas of the brain, thus implicating these areas in Parkinson’s disease with Dementia.

Pubmed link is below:

A systematic review has assessed the efficacy of Vitamin E in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and for the prevention of progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia.

The authors found no evidence for Vitamin E being of benefit in the treatment of Alheimer’s Disease or MCI. They recommend that future trials assessing Vitamin E treatments for Azheimer’s Disease should not be restricted to alpha-tocopherol.

A full copy of the cochrane review is available at the link below.

The first European report has been published of the state of deinstitutionalization and community-based care in the mental health field.

A joint initiative of the Open Society Foundations and Mental Health Europe, this report promotes a shift in the balance of care from psychiatric hospitals to a varied provision of services in the community for people with severe mental health problems.

More information at the link below (EPHA)