The
February 2003 issue of the Archives
of Neurology, one of the Journal of the American Medical Association/Archives
publications, features a series of research findings providing new
insights on possible risk and protective factors regarding Alzheimer's
disease (AD). These important reports include investigations of dietary
fats, antioxidants, and estrogen, as well as possible genetic factors.
The
reports are based on research supported by the National Institute
on Aging (NIA), which leads the Federal Government's effort to
conduct and support research on AD and on aging generally. The NIA
is part of the National Institutes of Health at the U. S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
Scientists
from the NIA are available to discuss these findings or Alzheimer's
disease research more generally. The media also may find NIA publications
and other resources of value in their reporting at http://www.alzheimers.org.
The Institute's newest publication, Alzheimer's
Disease: Unraveling the Mystery,
includes a wealth of information on AD and on current avenues of research,
as well as detailed and informative illustrations that can be downloaded
for media and public use.
The
research reported in the February 2003 Archives
of Neurology includes:
Dietary
Fats and the Risk of Incident Alzheimer's Disease –
Lead author, Dr. Martha Clare Morris, Rush Presbyterian/St. Luke's
Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues. Research suggests that high
intake of unsaturated, unhydrogenated fats may be protective against
AD, while consuming saturated or trans- unsaturated fats may increase
risk.
Antioxidant
Vitamin Intake and Risk of Alzheimer Disease – Lead author,
Dr. Jose A. Luchsinger, Columbia University, New York, and colleagues.
Research suggests that neither dietary, supplemental, nor total intake
of carotenes and vitamins C and E was associated with a decreased
risk of AD.
Estrogen
Levels Do Not Correlate With Improvement in Cognition – Lead
author, Dr. Leon J. Thal, University of California at San Diego, and
colleagues. Report of treatment trial of Premarin in postmenopausal
women with hysterectomy finds no association between elevated estradiol
and estrone levels and cognitive functioning after 2 months or 12
months of treatment.
Higher
Estrogen Levels Are Not Associated with Larger Hippocampi and Better
Memory Performance – Lead author Tom den Heijer, Erasmus
Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and colleagues, including
Dr. Lenore Launer of the NIA -- Authors conclude that their data,
from the large population Rotterdam Study, does not support the hypothesis
that higher levels of endogenous estradiol in older women and men
are associated with larger hippocampal volume and better memory performance.
Incidence
of Alzheimer Disease in a Biracial Urban Community – Lead
author, Dr. Denis Evans, Rush Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical
Center, Chicago, IL, and colleagues. Researchers report that Apolipoprotein
E e4 allele, a specific genetic factor, led to increased risk of AD
in whites but not blacks.
Functional
Transitions and Active Life Expectancy Associated With Alzheimer Disease
– Lead author, Dr. Hiroko H. Dodge, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA, and colleagues. This study presents active life expectancy
as a clinically useful new way to measure the effects of AD. The authors
find that AD greatly
shortened total life expectancy similarly in men and women, who also
spent more years with greater disability.
For
more information on AD, the public and media may visit the NIA website,
as mentioned above, at http://www.alzheimers.org.
The general public may also call the ADEAR Center toll free at 1-800-438-4380
for information and publications. The media may contact the NIA Office
of Communications and Public Liaison at 301-496-1752.
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