How nicotine patches could slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease

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Researchers have found the use of nicotine patches could prevent the deterioration of brain cells and slow down the progress of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists, whose results were published in the 'Neurology' journal, said the results of a trial on 74 patients with mild cognitive impairment suggested the patches could "slow mental decline".

Nicotine patches slowly release the chemical into the bloodstream and are used by smokers who are trying to quit, in order to get the familiar "hit" of nicotine.

However the scientists found the nicotine played a key role in activating nerve cells which are important for memory and learning.

The people involved in the study, which was carried out at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, showed an increased attention span and mental function.

Dr Paul Newhouse, who led the study, said: "People with mild memory loss should not start smoking or using nicotine patches by themselves, because of the harmful effects of smoking and a medication such as nicotine should only be used with a doctor's supervision."

'But this study provides strong justification for further research into the use of nicotine for people with early signs of memory loss."

"We do not know whether benefits persist over long periods of time and provide meaningful improvement."

Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "This looks promising. We hope it can help in developing therapies."

How to prevent senile dementia

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The Alzheimer's Association reported that as of July 2009, over 5.3 million Americans suffer from dementia. Senile dementia is a progressive mental decline seen in adults over 65 years of age. It is not a normal part of aging and is not a specific disease. Causes of dementia are many; the condition affects thinking, memory, communication and behavior. Prevention is possible by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.

1Be examined by your doctor annually. Certain types of dementia are treatable and even reversible.

Step 2Avoid unhealthy habits like smoking or excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.

Step 3Exercise at least 1 hour 3 times a week. In a memory special report entitled, "Guarding Your Memory," published in May of 2009 by Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Sam Wang said that physical exercise is the single most important thing people can do to protect their brains and guard their memory.

Step 4Eat a healthy diet. The Mediterranean diet is ideal. A study published in the August 12, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association in volume 302, pages 627-637, reports that eating a Mediterranean-type diet and engaging in higher physical activity are independently associated with reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of senile dementia.

Step 5Stay... read all of How to prevent senile dementia

Does Smoking Marijuana Help Prevent Dementia? Part 2

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Results

Despite the dearth of publications on the topic of marijuana, only one small study met the above criteria but the data were presented in such a poor fashion that the scientists could not extract any meaningful data for analysis.

The single study data was not only insufficient but the results showed no effects of marijuana on individuals with dementia. Analysis of the data found that marijuana did not improve behavior, symptoms of dementia nor did it improve mental performance or cognition. The conclusion was that more randomized double-blind placebo controlled trials are needed to determine whether marijuana is clinically effective in the treatment of dementia.

Conclusion

To date, there is......read more of Does Smoking Marijuana Help Prevent Dementia

Does Smoking Marijuana Help Prevent Dementia? Part 1

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

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Over the past few years, scientists have discovered the presence of a cannabinoid organization and the recognition of specific cannabinoid receptors in our brains. A lot of work has been done to determine why this system is present in our brain, how it works, and what it does. No one knows for sure what is the exact role of cannabinoids in our brain, but some experts believe that they may play a role in regulating production of other neurotransmitters and help prevent or worsen brain injury or delay deterioration of neurons. Deterioration of neurons is a common feature in several types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and for this reason, many scientists are wondering if cannabinoids may be clinically useful in the treatment of the individuals. Recent experimental evidence does reveal that cannabinoids may help in interrupting processes that lead to development of Alzheimer’s dementia.

To determine whether cannabinoids or marijuana is clinically useful in the treatment of dementia, Cochrane registry reviewed several health data studies. The data looked at all randomized controlled trials, which have assessed the efficacy of marijuana at different doses in people with dementia.,,,read more of Does Smoking Marijuana Help Prevent Dementia