Eye test 'could spot Alzheimer's'

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5198602.stm

Last Updated: Saturday, 22 July 2006, 23:11 GMT 00:11 UK

Eye test 'could spot Alzheimer's

Early dementia could be detected with a simple eye test, similar to those used to test for high blood pressure and diabetes, US scientists believe. The test, developed by a team led by Dr Lee Goldstein, of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, uses a non-invasive laser to study the lens of the eye.

It checks for deposits of beta-amyloid - the protein found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease.

The procedure has worked in a trial in mice, a conference in Spain has heard.

More research is needed to show exactly how the amount of protein in the eye relates to development of dementia
Professor Clive Ballard

During the trial, a brief pulse of infrared light into the eyes of four mice with Alzheimer's and four without accurately identified which had the condition....

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[procopia]

1. But with no cure,

do I want to know?

[LeftCoast]

2. There are some medications which can help to slow the progression

Not great, but probably still better to detect early and treat it as much as possible. :shrug:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Believe it or not.... natural cox II inhibitors have been shown to

be very effective at prevention, which if taken to the logical conclusion one will realize that they also will slow the already diagnosed condition. Pycnogenol has had double blind studies done with Alzheimer's patients, but I don't understand why the results are not "in the public eye" if I can use that phrase in this thread.

Among those that have been found to be useful at prevention are:

Vinpocetine

Curcumin (in pill form)

Pycnogenol

Ginger

Tumeric

Boswellin

http://www.the7thfire.com/Pycnogenol/Usage_of_pycnogenol.htm
UNIVERSITY STUDIES

Hundreds of research studies have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature from dozens of Universities and research institutes around the world for the past 40 years. However, the compound is relatively new to physicians and consumers in North America. Nevertheless due to overwhelmingly positive anecdotal clinical results individual physicians have obtained thus far, major universities in the U.S. have already begun full-scale, double-blind research studies relating to Pycnogenol®'s effectiveness for such conditions as Alzheimer’s disease and immune system dysfunctional conditions. Also, an internationally-respected Midwest psychiatric center has started a landmark research study to document the compound's efficacy for ADD/ADHD.

[tuvor]

5. Just published today: Alzheimer's cure getting closer

AUSTRALIAN scientists may have found a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

In a world first, a Melbourne research team has developed the once-a-day pill to combat the brain disease.

Human trials of the drug start next month.

The drug, known as PBT2, was developed by the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria in partnership with Prana Biotechnology in Melbourne.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19882212-1702,00.html

[theHandpuppet]

11. This is fabulous news! Can you post it to LBN?

This kind of news needs as wide an audience as possible, Thanks for posting! :thumbsup:

[demosincebirth]

3. With no cure, I don't want to know.

[theHandpuppet]

12. I would.

I'd rather know and be able to make plans for the benefit of my loved ones.

[targetpractice]

6. This sounds promising...

Alzheimer's cure getting closer

AUSTRALIAN scientists may have found a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

In a world first, a Melbourne research team has developed the once-a-day pill to combat the brain disease.

Human trials of the drug start next month.

The drug, known as PBT2, was developed by the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria in partnership with Prana Biotechnology in Melbourne.

"It is a major breakthrough and very much a Melbourne discovery,'' said Professor George Fink, the director of the Mental Health Research Institute.

<snip>

[WePurrsevere]

7. Having been a caregiver to a loved one with this horrible disease....

I will continue to hope and pray for a cure to go along with this potential diagnostic test.

This disease robs so many of so very much.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. If you are/were a caregiver, wouldn't it have been nice to

have been informed about the following?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12117551&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Pycnogenol protects neurons from amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis.

* Peng QL,
* Buz'Zard AR,
* Lau BH.

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.

Neuronal apoptosis is one of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Morphological pathology reveals that neuronal apoptosis is associated with senile plaques containing amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in AD brains. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed to be involved in the apoptotic mechanism of Abeta-mediated neurotoxicity. In the present study, using a rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line, we investigated the effect of Pycnogenol (PYC), a potent antioxidant and ROS scavenger, on Abeta(25-35)-induced apoptosis and ROS generation. We used vitamin E, a known antioxidant agent, to verify the effect of PYC. Abeta(25-35)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells was demonstrated by: (1) a dose-dependent loss of cell viability; (2) a time- and dose-dependent increase in the apoptotic cells; (3) an induction of DNA fragmentation; and (4) an increase in caspase-3 activity and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Our data showed that a significant increase in ROS formation preceded apoptotic events after PC12 cells were exposed to Abeta(25-35). We further found that PYC not only suppressed the generation of ROS but also attenuated caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and eventually protected against Abeta-induced apoptosis. Vitamin E also suppressed cell death and caspase-3 activation induced by Abeta(25-35). Taken together, these results suggest that ROS may be involved in Abeta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. They further suggest that PYC can reduce apoptosis, possibly by decreasing free radical generation in PC12 cells.

PMID: 12117551

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=10864026&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Pycnogenol protects vascular endothelial cells from beta-amyloid-induced injury.

* Liu F,
* Lau BH,
* Peng Q,
* Shah V.

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, CA 92350, USA.

The neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are senile plaques, cerebrovascular beta-amyloidosis, neurofibrillary tangles, and selective neuronal loss. Beta-amyloid (Abeta) has been shown to cause vascular damage mediated by generation of reactive oxygen species and this damage is considered an early event in the development of AD. In this study, we determined the effect of pyenogenol, a potent antioxidant phytochemical, on Abeta-induced cellular injury. Pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were exposed to Abeta for 24 h. Cell injury was assessed by measuring cell viability with methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and by determining the release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Lipid peroxidation products of PAEC were determined by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Exposure of PAEC to Abeta resulted in a decrease in cell viability, an increase of LDH release indicating membrane damage, and an elevated level of TBARS. Preincubation of PAEC with pycnogenol significantly minimized these changes. This study demonstrated that pycnogenol can protect vascular endothelial cells from Abeta-induced injury. The data suggest that pycnogenol may be useful for the prevention and/or treatment of vascular or neurodegenerative diseases associated with Abeta toxicity.

PMID: 10864026

[WePurrsevere]

9. This study is from 2002 it looks like... even if it had been known it

would have been too late for our family member who died in 2001.

It's interesting to note though that Pycnogenol has been known for quite a long time in the alt health world as Pine Bark Extract. It's supposed to be quite good for many things, including auto-immune diseases, so it makes sense that it may be good for Alz treatment.

Thank you for posting this info... I'll pass the word about this to a friend who's husband has been diagnosed with Alz. Maybe he can benefit from knowing about this... I truly hope so.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. Please please google for this video

Targeting Neurology With Glyconutrients, they will thank you for it. This is not a dead end.