In 2002, the Alzheimer's Association and Peter D. Hart Research Associates conducted a survey. Among the findings:
* 95% of Americans say Alzheimer's disease is a serious health threat
* 57% worry they'll get the disease
* 68% believed more funding is needed to help treat and/or prevent Alzheimer's
* More than four in 10 Americans know someone with Alzheimer's
* Nearly 1 in 5 has someone in their family with the disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, there are several medications now available, including Aricept, Razadyne (formerly Reminyl), and Namenda, which can improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
Approximately 4.5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease. But in the next few decades, that number is expected to skyrocket by 350% as America's baby-boomers age.
The earliest symptoms -- memory difficulties and problems with abstract thinking -- can be vague and are tough to pinpoint. Researchers admit the key to developing better treatments is a more thorough understanding of what leads to Alzheimer's and the overall ability to diagnose it earlier. Currently, an "official" diagnose of Alzheimer's is made by ruling out other possible causes for the cognitive decline.
Drinking Cabernet Sauvignon may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to new animal research.Reporting in the November issue of the FASEB Journal, researchers observed the effects of feeding the red wine to mice with Alzheimer's disease-type brain changes.
Compared to mice that received ethanol or water, the mice that were given Cabernet Sauvignon experienced significantly reduced Alzheimer's disease-type brain deterioration of memory function.
The researchers, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, found Cabernet Sauvignon's benefits were due to its ability to prevent the generation of proteins that cause plaque build-up in the brain, which is the main characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
"This study supports epidemiological evidence indicating that moderate wine consumption, within the range recommended by the FDA dietary guidelines of one drink per day for women and two for men, may help reduce the relative risk for AD clinical dementia," researchers Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti and Dr. Jun Wang said in a prepared statement.
The study findings will also be presented Oct 14-18 at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, in Atlanta.
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