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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: koan who wrote (171739)	7/15/2009 10:45:23 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 361390

Alzheimer’s Study Finds Memory May Decline Before 60 (Update1) By Anne Ferrer July 15 (Bloomberg) -- People carrying a gene linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease have a higher risk of subtle memory loss as early as their 50s, far sooner than mental decline shows up from normal aging, a study found. Tests given to 815 research participants in Arizona found 317 people carried one or two copies of the gene, known as apolipoprotein E or APOE e4. Memory tests given over five years showed participants with two copies of the gene had a higher risk of memory changes beginning in their 50s compared with those who didn’t carry the gene. People with one gene copy showed a higher risk of mental decline in their 60s, said the study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Normal aging can cause mild memory loss typically as people reach their 60s, 70s or later. The APOE e4 gene is a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and may account for half of all cases known as late-onset after age 65, the researchers wrote. The findings suggest that people with the APOE e4 gene experience more rapid memory loss and reduced learning efficiency than others in their age group, said lead study author Richard J. Caselli of the Mayo Clinic Arizona. “This study moved the bar to a younger age range,” said Caselli, a neurologist and chairman of the neurology department at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Scottsdale. The findings may lead to more preventive measures, aimed at younger people who show these signs of memory decline but haven’t yet been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he said. Gene Common An estimated 5.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from Alzheimer’s, a progressive disease that destroys brain cells and is the fifth-leading cause of death among individuals ages 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The APOE e4 gene is known to increase the risk of late- onset Alzheimer’s disease and how that happens is not yet understood. APOE e4 occurs in about 40 percent of all people who develop the illness later in life and is present in about 25 to 30 percent of the population, according to the National Institute on Aging. The researchers recruited mentally normal subjects, who were divided into groups of non-carriers, carriers with one copy of the gene and carriers with two copies of the gene. Those who had suffered from a stroke, head injury or a serious, active psychological problem were excluded. During the follow-up 15 subjects were barred because they met published criteria for some form of dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Age Factor The participants who were carriers were generally younger than those who did not carry the gene. A majority of subjects were older than 50, creating a lopsided study population, the researchers said. “It gave us power in the 50’s age range, but not with earlier groups,” Caselli explained. Bill Thies, head of the Alzheimer’s Association, said the study may prove useful for efforts directed to slowing disease development. “While it’s not the first study to illustrate early cognitive changes in APOE carriers, it is one of the more comprehensive,” he said. “This study is important as we develop a disease-modifying drug because it helps us pick an age range to focus on.” To contact the reporter on this story: Anne Ferrer in New York at aferrer1@bloomberg.net Last Updated: July 15, 2009 18:46 EDT

To: koan who wrote (171739)	7/15/2009 10:47:59 PM
From: SiouxPal	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 361390

The dominos are falling into Obama's line....Senate Panel OKs Plan To Revamp Health Care System huffingtonpost.com