Insulin Being Tested to Treat Alzheimer's

According to the Archives of Neurology, persons with Alzheimer's disease showed improvement to their memory function when treated with intranasal insulin.  Scientists had previously noted a connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's.  This study was conducted for a short period with a small group of people, so it is too soon to know if insulin could be a beneficial treatment for Alzheimer's.

Science Daily reports on the clinical trial here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912164014.htm

 

The Alzheimer's Association actively seeks volunteers for clinical trials.  More information at:  http://www.alz.org/research/clinical_trials/find_clinical_trials_trialmatch.asp

 

Of Mice and Men(tal Ability)

A 2012 study suggests cancer drug bexarotene may be useful in treating Alzheimer's.  Recent tests on mice have shown improved mental ability after treatment.  Bexarotene's effect on the human brain will be studied.

Bexarotene is a so-called orphan drug because so few people use it.  Currently, it is only prescribed for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which is relatively uncommon.

However, it is too soon to get our hopes up. In the past few years, two drugs believed to have the potential to aid Alzheimer's patients were researched.  Both Dimebon, an antihistamine medication, and semagacestat, which was specifically developed for Alzheimer's, initially showed promise but failed in clinical trials.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6075/1503.abstract

 

GPS for Grannies

Two years ago I wrote about GPS technology being available in shoes for Alzheimer’s patients who might wander.  

It seemed like a wonderful idea, despite several issues--

The patient had to be wearing the shoes

Limitations of GPS technology

Expense of the shoes and the monthly monitoring service

Now a new and greater problem has come up:  the shoes  apparently are not being made any more.

A possible alternative is a Keruve wristwatch. I haven't tried them but you can check them out at http://www.keruve.com/

Wandering is a serious problem. The patient is not having a pleasant stroll; he or she is probably agitated and frightened and may become injured or worse.

The Mayo Clinic estimates more than 60% of Alzheimer’s patients wander at some time.

Locking doors may not help unless the lock is a deadbolt with the key removed. Although solving the wandering problem, this increases the danger if there is a fire or other emergency in the home.

 

Artist Records Alzheimer's Battle with Self-Portraits

Artist William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1995, and from the time of his diagnosis until 2001, he documented his decline with a series of self-portraits.  Utermohlen passed away in 2007.

View some of these amazing and poignant renderings and read about Ultermohlen's life at http://williamutermohlen.org/index.php/homepage

A Huffington Post article with 7 of his self-portraits is here http://huff.to/1wWAZFl

 

NICOTINE PATCHES IMPROVE MEMORY

A six-month study was performed with elderly patients who had mild memory issues.

One half of the group of 74 were given nicotine patches while the other half received placebos. Not only did those using the nicotine patches have improvement, the other group worsened.

The results were enough to encourage researchers to plan further studies.

More information at: http://bit.ly/1nTpbPm