Lower Dementia Risk With the Right Diet

French researchers have been studying diet choices in people aged sixty-five and over. The result? Certain foods can help cut your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research tracked the diets of more than eight thousand people over the age of sixty-five for four years. Out of that group, 183 developed Alzheimer’s disease and another 98 developed a different form of dementia. Here are some of the study results: People who ate a diet full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids were sixty percent less likely to develop dementia than people … Continue reading →

Alzheimer’s Disease: Forgetting Your Partner

Former U.S. Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor is happy that her husband is in love with another woman. Last year, O’Connor left her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court to look after her husband John, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. John O’Connor has been slowly losing his memories to the disease for the last seventeen years. Although the O’Connors have been married for fifty-five years, John has started a new relationship with a patient at a care facility in Arizona. Experts say that it is not common for Alzheimer’s patients to start new relationships. People who suffer from the … Continue reading →

What Is Ataxia?

Ataxia is a loss of muscle coordination; there are several different types. Friedreich ataxia is a genetic condition that damages nerve tissue, resulting in a loss of coordination that worsens over time. Strength is also lost, as is sensation in the arms and legs. Limbs may be stiff, speech may be impaired, and heart function may be affected. In many cases of Friedreich ataxia, symptoms first appear in childhood or the early teenage years. A person may exhibit poor balance when walking or slurred speech. Approximately one quarter of all cases appear after age twenty-five and are classified as late … Continue reading →

What Is Lou Gehrig Disease?

The disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease is officially known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. It is also called Charcot disease or motor neuron disease. Basically, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease that damages motor neurons — the specialized cells in the spinal cord and brain stem that control muscle movement. As the disease progresses, muscle control degenerates. The initial signs of Lou Gehrig disease are subtle — minor enough that they can easily be overlooked. Early symptoms may include muscle twitching, muscle cramping, stiff muscles, or weakness. As the disease progresses, a person’s speech may become … Continue reading →

Restless Legs Syndrome: Treatment

Movement can bring temporary relief to people with restless legs syndrome. However, some cases of RLS can be controlled by finding and treating any underlying disorders, like neuropathy, arthritis, or diabetes. In patients without an underlying disorder, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Preventing restless legs syndrome symptoms: Decrease the consumption of caffeine and alcohol. Reduce tobacco use. Correct iron deficiencies with diet and supplements. Correct other deficiencies — like folate or magnesium — with diet and supplements. Maintain a regular sleep pattern. Some patients find that sticking to a regular schedule can help reduce symptoms. Others find that symptoms are … Continue reading →

Restless Legs Syndrome: Causes

In most cases of restless legs syndrome, the cause is simply unknown. Despite extensive research, there is no one cause for the disease. However, there are some common factors in many of the cases. Restless legs syndrome may run in families, suggesting a genetic form of the disorder. People with familial or primary RLS tend to experience symptoms at an earlier age. The disease seems to progress more slowly in familial RLS cases. Restless legs syndrome can develop as a result of another condition (a chronic disease like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and others); the other condition can make the RLS … Continue reading →

Restless Legs Syndrome: Overview

As many as twelve million Americans may suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS). This neurological disorder causes unpleasant creeping, crawling, burning, pulling, or itching sensations that make it difficult to relax or rest. These sensations can make it almost impossible to stay still. Restless legs syndrome can be difficult to diagnose; some experts believe that RLS is underdiagnosed and may affect more than twelve million people in the United States. Why? Because some people with mild symptoms may not seek medical assistance. Some doctors misdiagnose the problem as nervousness, stress, insomnia, muscle cramps, or arthritis. Common symptoms of RLS include: … Continue reading →

Surgery For Parkinson’s Disease

There are several different types of surgery that have been used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Brain Lesioning: a procedure where a surgeon uses a heat probe to destroy a small area of brain tissue that is abnormally active in patients with Parkinson’s disease. This produces a permanent effect on the brain; only one side of the brain may undergo lesioning at a time. Thalamic Surgery: once used for treating Parkinson’s disease; now used only for patients with essential tremor. Pallidotomy: a procedure that improves tremor, rigidity, and some other movement problems. Only one side of the brain may undergo pallidotomy … Continue reading →

Alzheimer’s Medication: Aricept

One of the more popular medications used for Alzheimer’s disease is called Aricept (generic name: donepezil). The drug has been in use in the United States since 1996 for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease; it was also approved in 2006 for use in patients with severe dementia. In people who respond well to the drug, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is delayed by six months to a year. Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This type of drug delays the breakdown of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine, which aids in the communication between nerve cells. This neurotransmitter is very important … Continue reading →

A Closer Look At Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects different parts of the brain. More than one million people in North America and more than four million people worldwide have the disease. As the general population ages, the number of cases of Parkinson disease increase. Parkinson disease is known as late onset if symptoms begin after the age of fifty and early onset if symptoms begin before the age of fifty. If symptoms appear before the age of twenty, the disease may be called juvenile onset Parkinson disease. Most cases of Parkinson disease occur in people with … Continue reading →