January 29, 2013
Throughout my years of visiting senior living communities and working with families, some of the most heartbreaking moments come from watching a family member struggle with watching a loved one slowly slip away because of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Eli Lilly's experimental Alzheimer's treatment was ruled a failure in two earlier trials. But when investigators combined solanezumab's data from both tests, they discovered that cognitive declines were slowed by 34% among patients who started out with mild symptoms. Based on those results, solanezumab has been selected for a federally sponsored study for people who have not yet suffered significant memory loss.
In an effort that is hoped to boost memory and reverse cognitive decline, surgeons at Johns Hopkins hospital recently placed a pacemaker-like device into the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's disease. The implanted device provides deep brain stimulation via low voltage electrical charges and has been used in patients with Parkinson's disease. The first-of-its-kind operation could lead to a new treatment protocol, according to experts.
In an effort that is hoped to boost memory and reverse the mental slide of Alzheimer's sufferers, surgeons placed a pacemaker-like device into the brain of a patient in the early stages of the disease. The November operation was the first of its kind in the United States.
September 21, 2012
Today marks World Alzheimer's Day. And it's as good a time as any to reflect on the damage this fatal disease is spreading.
