Four different biomarkers uncovered that characterize the non-genetic form of the disease
Although several genetic ALS mutations have been identified, they only apply to a small number of cases. The ongoing challenge is to identify the mechanisms behind the non-genetic form of the disease and draw useful comparisons with the genetic forms.
Now, using samples of stem cells derived from the bone marrow of non-genetic ALS patients, Prof. Miguel Weil of Tel Aviv University’s Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Personalized Medicine in the Department of Cell Research and Immunology and his team of researchers have uncovered four different biomarkers that characterize the non-genetic form of the disease.
Each sample shows similar biological abnormalities to four specific genes, and further research could reveal additional commonalities. "Because these genes and their functions are already known, they give us a specific direction for research into non-genetic ALS diagnostics and therapeutics," Prof. Weil says. His initial findings were reported in the journal Disease Markers.
Across a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular disease affecting circulation of blood in the brain was significantly associated with dementia.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania contend that people already exhibiting clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments may benefit from effective therapies currently available to reduce vascular problems.
Thus, early management of vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, and adopting a ‘heart healthy’ diet as well as exercise and other lifestyles in midlife may delay or prevent the onset of dementia due to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
More information available at the link below:
The Alzheimer’s Society UK led a Dementia Priority Setting Partnership with the James Lind Alliance to identify some of the priorities for dementia research.
Through extensive engagement with people with dementia and their carers, health and social care practitioners, and organisations that represent these groups, over 4,000 questions on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of dementia have been whittled down to a top 10 list:
What are the most effective components of care that keep a person with dementia as independent as they can be at all stages of the disease in all care settings?
How can the best ways to care for people with dementia, including results from research findings, be effectively disseminated and implemented into care practice?
What is the impact of an early diagnosis of dementia and how can primary care support a more effective route to diagnosis?
What non-pharmacological and/or pharmacological (drug) interventions are most effective for managing challenging behaviour in people with dementia?
What is the best way to care for people with dementia in a hospital setting when they have acute health care needs?
What are the most effective ways to encourage people with dementia to eat, drink and maintain nutritional intake?
What are the most effective ways of supporting carers of people with dementia living at home?
What is the best way to care for people with advanced dementia (with or without other illnesses) at the end of life?
When is the optimal time to move a person with dementia into a care home setting and how can the standard of care be improved?
What are the most effective design features for producing dementia friendly environments at both the housing and neighbourhood levels?
More information available at the link below:
Consultation held on 20-21 June 2013 at Oxford University, UK in collaboration with the Global Coalition on Aging.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Oxford University and the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) concluded on Friday, 21 June 2013 aone-day expert consultation on "Unlocking Global Collaboration to Accelerate Innovation for Alzheimers Disease and Dementia.
Aimed at providing input to the OECD action agenda for Alzheimers disease and dementia, the consultation brought together the highest level of global experts across health, economics, public policy, business, biotechnology and beyond.
JPND was represented on the conference programme by Prof. Martin Rossor,Vice-Chair of the JPND Scientific Advisory Board whopresented in the session entitled From Bench to Bedside: meeting the needs of patients, academia , and industry.
The consultation’s timing is aligned with UK Prime Minister David Camerons recent recognition that dementia is fast becoming the biggest pressure on care systems around the world. Thats why were using the G8 to bring together health ministers, clinical researchers and healthcare companies. he said If the brightest minds are working together on this then weve got a greater chance of improving treatments and finding scientific breakthroughs. Ive said before that we need an all-out fight-back against dementia that cuts across society. Now we need to cut across borders and spearhead an international approach that could really make a difference.
The global scale of the pending healthcare-economic crisis mandates a bold forward looking action plan to harmonize a multi-nation attack on the problem," noted Zaven Khachaturian, recognized at the meeting as the ‘Chief Architect’ of Alzheimer & Brain Aging research in the United States, now the President of the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by 2020. He indicated the urgent need for a "multinational strategic goal for reducing the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other chronic brain disorders by 50 percent within a decade" thus urging the OECD to "identify the framework conditions to accelerate multi-national collaborative R&D."
George Vradenburg, Chairman of USAgainstAlzheimer’s and convener of the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s, called for new attention, resources, commitment and collaboration to defeat Alzheimer’s disease. In his keynote speech, coined "The Oxford Accord," he called for G8 leadership equivalent to the G8 Summit that created the HIV/AIDS Global Fund.
Consultation experts presented their views for proactive public policy and an OECD role in supporting actions to: promote broad-based partnerships; identify incentives, frameworks and infrastructures for enhanced international data sharing; leverage big data as strategies to advance our understanding of Alzheimers disease, improve care, promote global exchange of good practice and move toward cure and even prevention.
Clickhere or at the link below for the conference programme and presentations. The JPND presentation is availablehere or at the second link below:
JPND highlighted as global partnership to tackle issues associated with the ageing ‘timebomb’
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The entire edition of the magazine can be viewed at the link below (JPND article on p124-125).
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Interferon-Beta Aids Balance and Movement in Mice With Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7
The first in vivo trial of the use of interferon-beta in a mouse model of the group of fatal, neurodegenerative diseases known as spinocerebellar ataxia has shown that its use can significantly improve their physical condition and control symptoms.
Researchers in France and the US believe that their results show that a clinical trial in humans is merited.
More information at the link below:
A report of the first year of the UK Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia has been published
The achievements against the three main areas of the challenge are described, with progress reports from the three Dementia Challenge Champion Groups on: 1. Driving improvements in health and care. 2. Creating dementia friendly communities. 3. Better dementia-related research.
Also, Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that a G8 dementia-specific summit will be held in the UK in September 2013, allowing health and science ministers, international leading experts, senior industry leaders and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to achieve more coordination and collaboration on dementia R&D globally.
More information at the links below:
A number of recent systematic reviews relevant to JPND diseases are highlighted below
Click on the titles to access the abstract of the review:
The association between vitamin D and cognitionDeep brain stimulation (DBS) and its effects on swallowing function in Parkinson’s disease (PD)Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostic Accuracy in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Synthesis of Existing Evidence
Discovery reveals how an important protein helps translate learning into memory
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (Gladstone Institutes) have deciphered how a protein called Arc regulates the activity of neurons providing much-needed clues into the brains ability to form long-lasting memories.
These findings, reported in Nature Neuroscience, also offer newfound understanding as to what goes on at the molecular level when this process becomes disrupted.
Latest figures show that in 1990, 3.68 million people had dementia in China and by 2010 this number had risen to 9.2 million
The international study, led by the University of Edinburgh and published in The Lancet, reviewed almost 90 public health studies that included the health information of almost 350,000 people in China.
