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Discovery could lead to way to curb spread of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s diseases

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Research at Washington University in St. Louis could lead to a way to stop the spread of diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Clumps of corrupted tau protein are seen outside a nerve cell. Scientists have identified a receptor that lets these clumps enter the cell, causing the spread of the corruption. (Photo courtesy; Washington University).

Clumps of corrupted tau protein are seen outside a nerve cell. Scientists have identified a receptor that lets these clumps enter the cell, causing the spread of the corruption. (Photo courtesy; Washington University).

Researchers including a doctoral student have identified how a corrupted type of protein spreads through the brain potentially causing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and other brain-damaging disorders.

Neurology Professor Marc Diamond says the finding could be huge in battling those diseases.

“By understanding this mechanism it has opened up new possibilities to target these diseases with a completely different type of experimental strategy than has been used in the past.”

That protein attaches to cells via a particular receptor, in a process Diamond says would not take much to interrupt.

“You can take a small molecule that’s drug-like and that will block this process by interfering with the binding of these toxic aggregates with the cell surface.”

Unfortunately, Diamond says, there isn’t a drug to be used yet.

“None that we know of. There are drugs out there that have some of the properties that you’d want to see but in terms of a drug that would be safe to be given chronically and would get into the brain, there are none currently.”

Diamond says work will continue at the University to develop such a drug.

He adds, the findings could similarly help in fighting diseases in animals, such as that commonly called “mad cow disease.”

“The mechanisms that we are talking about here … the original ideas that we developed in my lab that we started testing about ten years ago were derived from understanding of what occurs in animals … those sorts of veterinary disorders could also in theory be treated by the same approach.”

The study can be found online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Researchers say MRI scans effective in catching early Alzheimer’s

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Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis say they have found another way to detect Alzheimer’s disease early.

Two methods of early detection of Alzheimer’s are moving closer to being approved for clinical use. One requires an injection, and the other, a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. Washington University researchers say they have shown that brain scans could be just as effective and less invasive.

Associate Professor Beau Ances says in fact it involves a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan, which is a type of MRI scans that allow a person to just sit back and relax.

“All we’re doing is asking the individual to lie quietly, keep their eyes open and just be naturally thinking there and we can see functional connections within the brain.”

The scan tracks the rise and fall of blood flow in different regions as patients rest in the scanner. The resting data can be used to assess connections between regions of the brain to look for signs of Alzheimer’s.

Ances says fact that the scan allows an individual to be relaxed is significant.

“If you have someone that is, say, significantly more impared, it would be hard for them to do a functional task because they may get a little bit worked up, but as long as they can just it quietly in the scanner and they don’t move a lot, we can see similar kinds of functional networks without them doing any tasks.”

He says catching Alzheimer’s early can allow treatment to slow its advance.

“We may be able to stave off the progression for a number of years and that would have a huge economic benefit to society, as well as help these individuals in treatment.”

Ances says it will be some time before the method could be used in practice, but he thinks it will become the preferred option for patients.

“If you ask people what would you like to have … unless you have a pacemaker, certain kinds of metal or if you’re claustrophobic, it’s pretty easy to do.”

The findings have been published in JAMA neurology.

Woman with Alzheimer’s goes missing in St. Louis area

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Deborah Lynn Rawlings, 60, is missing, according to a press release sent out by The Alzheimer’s Association.  She has been gone for more than four days and was last seen the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 17, walking south on Highway 61/67 near Herky Horine Road in Pevely, Mo.

Pevely missingRawlings suffers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and is without her medications.  Rawlings was traveling on foot and had little or no money on her.  Along with authorities, there are currently seven different search teams looking for Rawlings. The association says she might seem confused, but should still be able to give her name and address if asked.

Rawlings is white, stands about 5 feet 2 inches and weighs about 140 pounds. She was last seen carrying a purple backpack and wearing a blue T-Shirt, blue denim shorts, and a light-gray hooded sweatshirt.

If anyone has information about her, they should call the Pevely Police Department at 636.475.5301. If she appears to be injured in any way, call 911.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that wandering can put an individual’s safety in jeopardy. More than 60 percent of those with dementia will wander, and if a person is not found within 24 hours, up to half of individuals who wander will suffer serious injury or death. The association urges family members of Alzheimer’s victims to enroll in the MedicAlert Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return program, a nationwide identification program designed to assist in the return of those who wander and become lost.

Signs of wandering behavior
A person may be at risk for wandering if he or she:

  • Comes back from a regular walk or drive later than usual
  • Tries to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work
  • Tries or wants to “go home” even when at home
  • Is restless, paces or makes repetitive movements
  • Has a hard time locating familiar places like the bathroom, bedroom or dining room
  • Acts as if doing a hobby or chore, but nothing gets done (moves around pots and dirt without actually planting anything)
  • Acts nervous or anxious in crowded areas, such as shopping malls or restaurants

Tips to reduce wandering
If you live with or care for a person with dementia, here are a few tips to help you reduce the risk of wandering:

  • Move around and exercise to reduce anxiety agitation and restlessness
  • Ensure all basic needs are met (toileting, nutrition, thirst)
  • Carry out daily activities, such as folding laundry or preparing dinner to provide daily structure
  • Reassure the person if he or he feels lost, abandoned or disoriented
  • Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause disorientation, such as shopping malls
  • Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors
  • Control access to car keys (a person with dementia may not just wander by foot)
  • Do not leave someone with dementia unsupervised in new surroundings

 Pevely missing 2

For more information or support call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline, at 800.272.3900 or visit www.alz.org/stl.

Washington University the hub of worldwide trial of potential Alzheimer’s drugs (AUDIO)

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A worldwide study is about to begin of three drugs researchers hope will prevent Alzheimer’s disease. It is being orchestrated at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The areas where the most Alzheimer’s plaques typically form are highlighted in red and yellow above. (Courtesy; Tammie Benzinger, MD, PhD, Tyler Blazey)

The principal investigator in the trial is Doctor Randall Bateman. He says three drugs have been selected.

“The goal of the trial is to use these drugs to counteract the biological effects of Alzheimer’s disease in these individuals.”

The people in the study have inherited mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer’s. The study will see whether any of the drugs prevent a loss of cognition in those people.

Bateman says work with two of the drugs will start right away.

“Those are antibodies which target a protein which is believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease in these individuals. That protein is called amyloid beta. Each of the antibodies acts in different ways and attacks different kinds of this protein to try to counteract the effects to treat the disease. A third compound is targeting the production of this amyloid beta protein, and it’s being proposed and is likely to start likely after the trial starts.”

Bateman says the first part of the study will last about two years. In the best case scenario, one or more of the drugs would have a significant impact and help the cognition of patients.

“In that case, we would support and have already discussed with the regulatory agencies the possibility of registering that drug for use by the population. That could happen any time there is a signal that comes up. Our expectation is that’s likely, if it were to happen, to occur within the five-year period of the trial. That being said, if the drug had a really miraculous effect on cognition it could be earlier than that.”

The trial will be conducted by the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit (DIAN TU) at Washington University School of Medicine. Bateman says the strategy of this trial is different from most, that might test a single drug for effectiveness against a disease…

AUDIO:  Doctor Bateman explains how this story will be conducted, 1:31

Bateman says Alzheimer’s research has come a long way to be able to do this trial.

“It’s quite an exciting time in Alzheimer’s disease (research) where we now have the tools that we can look into the brain and see the changes of Alzheimer’s disease in real-time, as it’s happening. It’s those tools which have enabled and powered the possibility of being able to design and carry out this kind of an effective trial structure.”

See more at the University’s website.

Treasurer’s office reaching out to older Missourians about unclaimed property

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The state treasurer hopes a new outreach effort will get more unclaimed property back in the hands of the Missourians it belongs to.

The State Treasurer’s Office catalogs a wide variety of unclaimed property, such as this jewelry. (Photo courtesy, Missouri State Treasurer’s Office.)

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel says a lot of the nearly 700 million dollars in unclaimed property his office oversees belongs to older Missourians. So, his office is reaching out to that population through partnerships with AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Whether it’s Alzheimer’s or ageing in general, life does get complicated and having caregivers that have the tools to help you along in that process is really important. Unclaimed property is just a small piece of what it takes for someone who’s going through Alzheimer’s. It’s a small piece of their financial situation that they may need to put in order in addition to their own emotional life, too, but it is an important piece.”

Zweifel says his office has found that many older Missourians and their caregivers are confused about unclaimed property, so much of the focus of the partnership will be on education.

“We’ve already begun … the process of educating their volunteers that are on the ground throughout the state, and then finally developing educational materials that become part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s presentations, become part of AARP volunteers’ speeches, so that unclaimed property is something that they look to immediately as a place for resources.”

Click here to learn more about the Treasurer’s Office’s unclaimed property division.

Zweifel says the goal is also to educate Missourians on how to keep their belongings from winding up in unclaimed property.

“We have organizations like Alzheimer’s Association and AARP that are already giving lessons for caregivers and giving experiences for those that are aging on how to prevent this from happening. It could be as simple as developing a living will or living trust. It could be as simple as naming beneficiaries on all your accounts … persons whom you trust.”

Zweifel says such steps not only prevent having unclaimed property, but they can help in keeping financial affairs in order.