Latest news with #AlzheimersAssociation
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
West, Darlene 1930-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
Darlene West, 95, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Gower Convalescent Center. She was born May 28, 1930, in St. Joseph, daughter of Violet and Clarence Halpain. She graduated from Benton High School, class of 1948, and St. Joseph Junior College. She married Billy West on June 3, 1950. Darlene spent many years as a homemaker and later worked with St. Joseph Beauty University, Seitz Foods and Librarian at Missouri Western State College. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Billy West; son, Randy West; twin sister, Arlene Messner; and siblings, Norman Halpain, Myrna Turner, David Halpain; and grandson, Ryan Reno. Survivors include children, Mark West, Rhonda Fitzmaurice (Mark Grable), all of St. Joseph and Scott West, of Grant City, Missouri; grandchildren, Shannon, Brandon, Amy, Chad and Whitney; and 12 great-grandchildren. A Graveside Service and Interment will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Westlawn Cemetery in DeKalb, Missouri. Memorials are requested to the Alzheimer's Association. Online condolences, obituary at As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who was ‘top dog' at this year's Corgi World Championship?
This weekend, about 100 corgis competed for the ultimate 'wagging' rights at the 2025 Corgi World Championship. The annual event took place at Emerald Downs in Auburn and benefits the Alzheimer's Association. Advertisement The race will air on ESPN Ocho later this year. There were nine heats with a dozen dogs in each. The winners qualified for the Championship Heat. Gustave the Girl Dog became 'top dog' for 2025, winning over champions from the past three years. 'Alicia & Dustin from Seattle have a VERY fast Corgi,' the racetrack shared online. You can watch the final heat here.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Eating just 4 ounces of common food each week cuts Alzheimer's risk by 40%
Older adults who eat two eggs a week may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study claims. Researchers from Boston, Washington DC and Chicago found that the presence of several nutrients, particularly choline in the breakfast staple can help lower the risk of the progressive disease. Choline is an essential nutrient for liver development, healthy brain development, muscle movement, maintaining nervous system health and metabolism. While previous research has suggested that eating eggs may support cognitive performance, this new study has been able to find that the choline in eggs can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's-related dementia by 40 percent. Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of plaques created by protein cells in the brain, which damage and kill cells. But now, scientists believe that choline can protect the brain cells from decay and damage, therefore reducing a person's risk of developing the disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and primarily affects people over the age of 65. More than 7.2 million adults among that age bracket in the US are currently living with the condition, and over 100,000 die from it each year. The Alzheimer's Association warns that nearly 13 million Americans may be affected by 2050. While there is no clear cause of the disease, experts believe that cases of Alzheimer's are set to increase in the future due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation. To find the link between consuming eggs and the potential decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer's, the researchers analyzed data from 1,024 dementia-free people. The participants were asked to fill in a well-known food frequency questionnaire developed at Harvard University that captures their typical diet over the previous year, including how often they ate eggs. Once completed, they were followed by the researchers for nearly seven years and underwent yearly assessments for signs of Alzheimer's dementia. The scientists divided these participants into four groups based on how often they consumed eggs: less than once per month, one to three times per month, once per week and two or more times per week. The volunteer's answers as well as the data from their cognitive tests were then evaluated using various statistical models. Along with the 1,024 living participants, another 578 participants donated their brains for research after death. These brain samples allowed the scientists to assess whether egg intake was related to the presence of dementia-related markers. It remains unclear if all the deceased participants were suffering from dementia prior to their death. Results showed that people who ate eggs at least once a week had a lower rate of clinical Alzheimer's diagnosis than those who ate them rarely. Specifically, those who ate eggs once-a-week or two-or-more-times-per-week groups had about half the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia compared to those who consumed eggs less than once a month. Participants who ate eggs more frequently also had significantly higher average choline levels over time. While this observational study did not expand on how choline can decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 40 percent, the scientists theorized that it's overall protective effect may play a critical role in protecting brain cells from damage. Choline is a nutrient essential for producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that maintains the brain's memory and learning capacity. It also plays a significant role in maintaining and protecting the structure of cell membranes in the brain. Previous studies have shown that low choline levels in the blood are associated with increased levels of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain - both of which are the main culprits in the development of the Alzheimer's. The plaques and tangles form when amyloid proteins misfold and stick together, forming sticky clumps (plaques) and when tau proteins twist and get tied up (tangles). These toxic buildups block brain cells, or neurons, from sending signals properly. Over time, this can impair brain functioning and lead to memory and muscle decline. If it persists, this disruption can cause permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease. As the disease progresses, patients may lose the ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them. However, the researchers believe that regularly consuming eggs can maintain choline levels in the body, which in turn can help maintain brain cell health and prevent the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Even though the liver produces choline in small amounts, experts say that it is necessary to consume food items such as egg yolks, fish, soybeans and legumes to maintain the required levels of the nutrient in the body. According to the National Institute of Health, adult women (above the age of 19) need to consume about 425 milligrams of choline per day while adult men need to consume 550 mg of the nutrient every day. One large hard boiled egg has about 147 mg of choline while half a cup of roasted soybeans contain about 107 mg of the nutrient. On the other hand, three ounces of pan-fried beef liver contains about 356 mg of choline while three ounces of cooked fresh cod merely has 71 mg of the nutrient.
Medical News Today
14-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
What are the different types of dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that result in a loss of memory, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. There are many different forms of dementia, and they occur due to changes in certain brain regions. Dementia is a general term that refers to a group of conditions that result in a progressive decline of brain functioning. These conditions can cause problems with memory, thinking, language, mood, emotions, and the ability to perform daily typically occurs due to changes in the brain that impact nerve cells or neurons, damaging a person's cognitive abilities. This article explores five different types of diseaseAccording to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for roughly 60% to 80% of cases of dementia in the United are still unsure of the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease. However, it likely relates to changes in the brain, such as shrinking of certain regions, inflammation, and blood vessel damage that results in problems with memory and thinking indicates that many different factors, such as genetics and lifestyle behaviors, contribute to Alzheimer's disease. However, age is the biggest risk factor for the condition, with most people developing Alzheimer's disease at 65 years of age or disease progresses in stages, with worsening symptoms. Common symptoms can include:memory problemsthinking and reasoning difficultieslanguage problemsmood changesvision and hearing changesVascular dementiaVascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society. It describes a form of dementia that occurs due to restrictions in blood flow to the brain. Inadequate blood flow can damage and eventually kill cells in the brain, resulting in a decline in thinking skills. People over the age of 65 are more likely to develop vascular experts refer to conditions that interrupt the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. There are different types of vascular dementia that occur due to different blood supply problems to the brain. For example, vascular dementia can occur following a of vascular dementia can vary depending on the severity of blood vessel damage and the part of the brain it affects. Symptoms may be most obvious following an event that damages blood vessels, such as a stroke. For example, the Alzheimer's Association notes that post-stroke changes in thinking and perception can include:confusiondisorientationdifficulty speaking or understanding speechdifficulty balancing and walking problemsnumbness or paralysis on one side of the face or bodyCommon early signs of damage to blood vessels in the brain may include:impaired planning and judgmentuncontrolled laughing and cryinginability to pay attentionimpaired function in social settingstrouble finding the right wordsLewy body dementiaLewy body dementia is the third most common form of dementia. It occurs due to brain deposits of a protein known as alpha-synuclein, or Lewy bodies. There are two types of Lewy body dementia: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease are currently unsure why Lewy bodies develop in the brain, or exactly how they cause dementia. However, the Alzheimer's Society notes that these protein deposits appear to disrupt the typical functioning of nerve cells, interfering with communication between brain body dementia usually develops over many years. These protein deposits can develop in the brain for a long time before a person presents with symptoms. Although it is possible for younger people to have Lewy body dementia, it usually begins at age 50 or older. Symptoms of Lewy body dementia can include:changes in thinking and reasoningmemory lossvisual hallucinationsproblems staying awakesleep disruptionParkinsonism, such as slow movement, tremors, or rigidityFrontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a form of dementia that tends to occur at a younger age than other dementias. Roughly 60% of people with FTD are 45 to 64 years old. The condition was formerly known as Pick's disease, but health experts changed the name to reflect the brain areas the disease impacts. The Alzheimer's Association notes that while researchers do not fully understand the cause of FTD, many people with this form have proteins, known as tau and TDP-43, inside the nerve cells in their brain. The buildup of these proteins damages the neurons and eventually causes cell deathAccording to the Alzheimer's Society, there are two main types of FTD. Behavioral variant FTD describes when damage occurs to the frontal lobes. These lobes are present behind the forehead and help with processing information. As such, behavioral variant FTD can cause symptoms with behavior and progressive aphasia FTD refers to damage to the temporal lobes. These lobes are present on eitherside of the head and help with the understanding of speech. As such, damage to the temporal lobes can cause difficulty with language. This can cause symptoms like difficulty formulating words in a sentence, or affect a person's dementiaIn some cases, people may develop multiple types of dementia. This is known as mixed dementia. When an older adult develops dementia, it is likely due to a combination of different types, rather than just a single type. According to the Alzheimer's Society, roughly 1 in 10 people with a diagnosis of dementia may receive a diagnosis of mixed it can be difficult to diagnose mixed dementia, as a doctor is likely to base their diagnosis on the main type of disease they think is present and causing symptoms. The Alzheimer's Association notes that a combination of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia is the most common such, there is no fixed set of symptoms for mixed dementia. The symptoms a person experiences can vary depending on the type of dementia they The treatment a person receives will depend on the type of dementia they have. Currently, there is no cure for dementia. However, treatments are available to help slow the progression of the may include a combination of medications and non-medical treatment, such as therapies and person-centered care. These treatments may help to improve or stabilize memory, thinking skills, and behavioral can also help address other issues that may affect everyday tasks, such as problems with mobility, speech, and swallowing.»FIND CARE:Find a dementia specialist in your area is an umbrella term for conditions that cause a gradual decline in thinking processes, such as memory, problem-solving, and speech. There are many different forms of dementia, which develop for different reasons. Some common types of dementia include Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia occurs due to changes in the brain that damage and kill nerve cells. This results in a variety of symptoms, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and problems with language and who suspects themselves or a loved one is experiencing dementia should speak with a healthcare professional.
Medscape
14-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
At-Home Alzheimer's Testing Is Here: Are Physicians Ready?
Given the opportunity, 90% of Americans say they would take a blood biomarker test for Alzheimer's disease (AD) — even in the absence of symptoms. Notably, 80% say they wouldn't wait for a physician to order a test, they'd request one themselves. The findings, from a recent nationwide survey by the Alzheimer's Association, suggest a growing desire to predict the risk for or show evidence of AD and related dementias with a simple blood test. For consumers with the inclination and the money, that desire can now become reality. Once limited to research settings or only available via a physician's order, blood-based diagnostics for specific biomarkers — primarily pTau-217 and beta-amyloid 42/20 — are now offered by at least four companies in the US. Several others sell blood-based 'dementia' panels without those biomarkers and screens for apolipoprotein (APOE) genes, including APOE4 , a variant that confers a higher risk for AD. The companies promote testing to all comers, not just those with a family history or concerns about cognitive symptoms. Test prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on whether they are included in a company membership, often designed to encourage repeat testing. Blood draws are conducted at home or at certified labs. Buyers don't need a prescription or to consult with a physician after receiving results. Knowing results of such tests could be empowering and may encourage people to prepare for their illness, Jessica Mozersky, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at the Bioethics Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, told Medscape Medical News . A direct-to-consumer (DTC) test also eliminates potential physician-created barriers to testing, she added. But there are also potential harms. Based on results, individuals may interpret everyday forgetfulness — like misplacing keys — as a sign that dementia is inevitable. This can lead them to change life plans, rethink the way they spend their time, or begin viewing their future negatively. 'It creates unnecessary worry and anxiety,' Mozersky said. The growing availability of DTC tests — heralded by some experts and discouraged by others — comes as AD and dementia specialists continue to debate whether AD diagnostic and staging criteria should be based only on biomarkers or on criteria that includes both pathology and symptomology. For many, it raises a fundamental concern: If experts haven't reached a consensus on blood-based AD biomarker testing, how can consumers be expected to interpret at-home test results? Growing Demand In 2024, the number of people living with AD passed 7 million. A recent report from the Alzheimer's Association estimates that number will nearly double by 2060. The demand for testing also appears to be rising. Similar to the findings in the Alzheimer's Association's survey, a small observational study published last year showed that 90% of patients who received a cerebrospinal fluid AD biomarker test ordered by a physician said the decision to get the test was 'easy.' For 82%, getting results was positive because it allowed them to plan ahead and to adopt or continue healthy behaviors such as exercise and cognitive activities. Until now, blood biomarker tests for AD have primarily been available only through a doctor. The tests measure beta-amyloid 42/20 and pTau-217, both of which are strong biomarkers of AD. Some other blood-based biomarkers under investigation include neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). As reported by Medscape Medical News , the FDA approved the first blood-based AD diagnostic test in May. The Lumipulse G pTau 217/Beta-Amyloid 1-42 is for the early detection of amyloid plaques associated with AD in adults aged 55 years or older who show signs and symptoms of the disease. But it is only available by prescription. Quest Diagnostics tested the DTC market in 2023, promoting a consumer-initiated test for beta-amyloid 42/40 that had previously been available only through physicians. It was not well-received by clinicians and ethicists. The company withdrew it later that year but continues to sell beta-amyloid 42/20 and pTau-217 tests through physicians, as does its competitor Labcorp. Today, at least a handful of companies in the US market AD biomarkers directly to the public: Apollo Health, BetterBrain, Function Health, Neurogen Biomarking, and True Health Labs. None of the companies have disclosed ties to pharmaceutical or device companies or test developers. What Can Consumers Get? Some companies direct customers to a lab for blood sample collection, whereas others send a technician to customers' homes. The extent of biomarker testing and posttest consultation also vary by company. Apollo Health customers can order a 'BrainScan' for $799, which includes screens for pTau-217, GFAP, and NfL. Buyers get a detailed report that explains each test, the result (in nanograms per liter) and optimal range (ng/L) and potential next steps. A pTau-217 result in the normal range, for instance, would come with a recommendation for repeat testing every 2 years. If someone receives an abnormal result, they are contacted by a health coach who can make a physician referral. At Function Health, members pay $499 a year to have access to hundreds of tests and a written summary of results by a clinician. All of its 'Brain Health' tests, including 'Beta-Amyloid 42/40 Ratio,' pTau-217, APOE, MTHFR, DNA, and NfL, are available for an additional undisclosed charge. BetterBrain has a $399 membership that covers an initial 75-minute consultation with cognitive tests, a 'personalized brain health plan,' and a blood test that is a basic panel without AD biomarkers. A $499 membership includes all of that plus an APOE test. A pTau-217 test is available for an additional undisclosed fee. At Neurogen Biomarking, which started in January, a consumer orders an at-home test kit, and a phlebotomist comes to their home for a blood draw. The consumer then fills out an online cognitive assessment. Test results are reviewed by a board-certified neurologist and discussed with the consumer via a virtual visit. If the person is at low-risk, they are given some educational material. Those at higher risk are referred to Neurogen's 'team of specialty-trained neurologists' for continuing care. Testing costs were not provided by the company. Consumers can order 'Beta-Amyloid 42/40' for $749 and pTau-217 for $229 directly through True Health Labs. No consultations or services are offered. DTC Testing Raises Alarms It's unclear where DTC tests fall in terms of regulation. The FDA does not usually review at-home tests for low-risk medical purposes but will generally do so for diagnostics that are for higher-risk conditions 'to determine the validity of test claims,' according to the agency's website. Consumers, however, don't usually have easy access to information on biomarker tests' sensitivity, specificity, or other characteristics that would be used by clinicians or regulatory authorities to assess a test's validity. The lack of regulation of consumer-initiated AD testing is one issue cited by critics of at-home tests, including the Alzheimer's Association. 'None of these tests have been scientifically proven to be accurate,' the association noted in a statement, adding that 'the tests can have false positive results, meaning that individuals can have results saying they have dementia when in fact they do not.' 'For these and other reasons, the Alzheimer's Association believes that home screening tests cannot and should not be used as a substitute for a thorough examination by a skilled physician. The whole process of assessment and diagnosis should be carried out within the context of an ongoing relationship with a responsible and qualified healthcare professional,' the statement said. The association also said that biomarker tests should not be ordered — even by physicians — for asymptomatic individuals. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) does not have a position on DTC tests for AD biomarkers, a spokesperson told Medscape Medical News . In a 2021 paper on ethical considerations for diagnosis and care, an AAN committee said that biomarker testing could be clinically useful for some symptomatic patients, but testing asymptomatic individuals is 'recommended solely in a research setting' because of potential harms 'and the absence of interventions capable of favorably altering the natural history of the disease.' Eric Topol, MD, chair of the Department of Translational Medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, is bullish on the potential for blood-based biomarker tests. In a blog post, he called the pTau-217 biomarker 'one of the most exciting advances in neurology for decades, giving us a new opportunity to accurately predict and potentially prevent (or at least substantially delay) mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's.' But, wrote Topol, who is the former editor in chief of MedscapeMedical News , 'I don't think these biomarkers are going to be useful in people at low risk.' He wrote that testing should not be used by people who are 'cognitively intact' or to tell someone they have pre-AD. 'More work needs to be done to determine whether lowering one's pTau-217 will alter the brain plaque progression and be seen as a disease-modifier,' wrote Topol. The Risks of Knowing Some people don't want to know their biomarker status. In a study in May in JAMA Network Open , Mozersky and colleagues reported that while 81% of a group of cognitively normal participants in a longitudinal study of dementia said they wanted to see results, only 60% ultimately opted to get results after testing. Participants said they did not want to know because they didn't want to become a burden on their family or that they felt fine; others had concerns about whether the tests were accurate. That low number 'surprised us,' said Mozersky. 'Our study certainly suggests that when you're really faced with knowing, that your answer is more likely to possibly be no,' she added. DTC companies tell buyers that results could motivate them to change their lifestyle to reduce their future risk for AD and dementia. But some participants in Mozersky's study said they didn't want to know their status because there were no preventive treatments. Test results weren't seen as 'actionable,' she said. Some studies have shown a degree of fatalism in individuals after receiving a test result, whether it's positive or negative. A group of Israeli researchers studied responses of people given PET scans to detect beta-amyloid. Before testing, all participants said they were motivated to adopt lifestyle changes to fight dementia. However, after testing, both those who had elevated beta-amyloid and those who did not reported a much lower desire to change their lifestyle. Those with normal scans probably felt relieved, wrote the researchers. The group with abnormal scans was too small to fully understand their reaction, they wrote. Concerns about insurance coverage might also deter potential test-takers. Overall, 44% of those responding to the Alzheimer's Association survey said they were worried that insurers might not cover healthcare costs in the future if they had received a positive test earlier. Respondents also worried about test accuracy, the cost of testing, and whether a positive test might lead to a prohibition on some activities, like driving. What About the Doctors? The DTC companies promise buyers that results will be private and won't be shared with insurers — or with clinicians. And that raises another issue for many who are concerned about the lack of a physician intermediary with at-home testing. 'You remove the opportunity for clinicians to both review the result and figure out how to interpret it before it's communicated to the patient,' Jalayne J. Arias, JD, a bioethicist and associate professor of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences at Georgia State University, Atlanta, told Medscape Medical News . Many in the field have been 'thinking really carefully about how do we provide guidance to clinicians about biomarker testing,' she said. 'Those issues are just heightened when we put it into a direct-to-consumer model,' Arias said. Arias — who with colleagues published an analysis of potential insurance issues with biomarker tests in JAMA Neurology — said that prohibitions against discrimination based on preexisting conditions means that most likely, health insurers could not use testing data to deny coverage or increase premiums. But, she said, 'there are some question marks around the discrimination risks.' This is especially true for people seeking long-term care, disability or life insurance, she added. If a test result is not documented in a medical record, it's not clear whether the individual has an obligation to disclose the result to an insurer, said Arias. Given all the unanswered questions about how results should be interpreted, to whom the results should be disclosed, and when and how to have discussions with patients, 'it's hard for me to imagine that we're quite ready for a direct-to-consumer' test, Arias said. Mozersky noted that Washington University has a financial stake in C2N Diagnostics, which makes the PrecivityAD — biomarker tests for AD. Arias reported having no conflicts of interest.
