Month: April 2016

Documentary Personalizes Alzheimer’s Research and Clinical Trials

Posted on by Helderberg
The latest in a recent spate of books and movies that have brought Alzheimer’s to a broader public, a new NOVA documentary ow explores what it takes to go from basic research to treatment trials. In her film “Can Alzheimer’s Be Stopped?” three-time Emmy award and AAAS Science Journalism award-winning producer Sarah Holt tells the story of Alzheimer’s research. Her film conveys the challenges and staggering cost of research and personalizes the emotional toll Alzheimer’s takes on patients, caregi...
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Research holds promise for Alzheimer’s diagnostic blood test

Posted on by Helderberg
University of Otago researchers have discovered a promising new marker that could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease—and all that might be required is a simple blood test. The researchers have discovered that a small number of a large class of molecules called microRNAs—found in both the human brain and blood—are exceptionally good at detecting Alzheimer's disease. Before this work began, blood plasma microRNA had been shown to reflect various disease processes, and specific microRNAs were ...
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What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Posted on by Helderberg
Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and also the most common cause of dementia.   Dementia refers to a number of symptoms that include loss of memory (especially short-term memory) as well as problems with the use of language.  Further symptoms include difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. The disease is caused by a build-up of proteins in the brain. ‘Plaques’ and nerve ‘tangles’ are formed and these impact on the connections between nerve cells in the brain, eventual...
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Dr Chris Verster | Psychiatrist

Posted on by Helderberg
Dr Chris Verster (MBChB, MMed, FC Psych, M Phil in Applied Ethics) has been practising as a psychiatrist since 1997 and currently works part-time in Somerset West.  He practises as a general psychiatrist (adult and old-age) and has special interests in dementia and sleep disorders.  His further interests include medical ethics. Chris is also a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, and a member of the Bioethics Colloquium at the Department ...
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