The affliction is called celiac disease. It is a reaction to gluten, a protein most commonly found in wheat but also in rye and barley as well. It turns up in pasta and crackers as well as bread. It can surprise you in meat sauces, ice cream, medications, and cosmetics.

It is far more than a wheat allergy. In fact, it is not an allergy at all but an autoimmune disease.

Your immune system attacks the gluten and harms your small intestine when you eat wheat, rye or barley, according to the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA). The result is a damaged intestine that makes it difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients you need to be healthy.

It can pop-up in your life almost any time. Sometimes, children show signs of gluten intolerances. Many times, a person is well into adulthood before it is diagnosed.

“Celiac disease is something you are born with, but it is often not diagnosed until later in life,” said Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, of the New York University School of Medicine.

“I think that older people are being diagnosed much more often,” agreed Mark DeMeo, MD, head of a Celiac Clinic at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a specialist in gastroenterology and nutrition. “We are basically more cognizant of it.”

The disease is found equally in men and women, the two experts agreed. However, women are more likely to be diagnosed because they are more persistent about learning why they are ill, Dr. DeMeo noted.

Millions Suffer From Celiac Disease

More than two million people in the United States have celiac disease, which is about one in 133 people, according to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse of the National Institutes of Health. In addition, the inherited potential for celiac may lurk in about one in 22 people, although they may not produce any symptoms.

Sometimes, viruses or infections can damage your immune system and cause celiac. The length of time a person was breastfed and the age a person started eating foods containing gluten might be factors as well—studies show the longer a baby is breastfed, the lower the chance of him or her developing celiac disease.

While genetics is a key factor in determining whether you have or will have celiac disease, “there needs to be another trigger,” Dr. DeMeo said. Stress or surgery can bring it on.

Georgiana Vines fits those criteria. When she learned she had celiac disease, she was 67, a widow and a cancer survivor.

How To Diagnose It

Diagnosis is done via blood tests and, if positive, biopsies of tissue from the small intestine.

Vines had been losing weight and was anemic.

“I was sent to a gastroenterologist by my oncologist because of the anemia,” the Knoxville, TN, resident said. “I also had suffered the weight loss during the illness and death of my husband, but no one seemed concerned about it because my weight was normal for my height and body size.”

Vines had a colonoscopy two years earlier, so the gastroenterologist did not believe she needed another but did do an endoscopy—a procedure in which a tube is inserted in the body for visual inspection. Indications were that she had celiac disease; blood work confirmed it.

“Others tell me they’ve had the blood work first and then confirmation from the endosocopy,” Vines said.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

“Because celiac has so many different symptoms and can act differently in different people, it often goes undiagnosed for years,” Dr. Rajapaksa said. “So it is important to be checked for it if you are not feeling well, especially because we now know that this is a relatively common disease in the U.S.”

Following are some of the symptoms listed by the ACDA and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Gas, bloating, abdominal pain
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Unexplained iron deficiency
• Anemia
• Bone or joint pain or arthritis
• Bone loss or osteoporosis
• Depression or anxiety
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
• Seizures
• Missed menstrual periods
• Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
• Canker sores inside the mouth
• An itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.

Symptoms may vary according to your age and the amount of damage to your small intestine. It’s possible to have the disease for ten or more years before it is diagnosed. People with celiac disease may not have any symptoms but can still develop complications of the disease over time. Long-term complications include malnutrition, which can lead to anemia, osteoporosis, liver diseases, and cancers of the intestine.

People with celiac disease tend to have other diseases in which the immune system attacks the body’s healthy cells and tissues. They include diabetes, thyroid disease, liver disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with celiac disease should also get the pneumococcal vaccine due to decreased spleen function which typically fights this infection, and they should have a repeat biopsy about 3-4 months after starting a gluten-free diet to assure improvement/resolution.

There are some patients who are diagnosed via screening and confirmed with biopsy that still remain asymptomatic. These patients, although they feel fine eating gluten, can develop nutrient deficiencies, increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers, increased chance of developing other autoimmune diseases, and mothers with celiac that do not adhere to the diet have greater risk of delivering preterm infants.

A study by Jonas F. Ludvigsson, MD, at Orebro University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden, concluded that celiac sufferers have an increased risk of bone fracture. There are indications that are particularly true for postmenopausal women above 50, according to a study by Michael Davie, MD, consultant physician and director of research at the Charles Salt Centere for Osteoporosis and Bone Disease in Shropshire, United Kingdom, and his colleagues.

No Cure, But Relief Possible

Can anything be done to cure celiac, other than sticking to a restricted diet? “No,” Dr. Rajapaska said. “Just diet. Although people are working on treatments, they are just in the research phase right now.”

There is no way to prevent celiac, Dr. DeMeo said. “It happens.”

“I was frightened,” Vines said, when her doctor told her the blood work confirmed the disease.

“I asked him what he was going to do about this. ‘Send you to a nutritionist,’ he said. ‘Is that all?’ I asked. He said ‘yes,’ and I hugged him. As a former cancer patient, it was reassuring to know that diet was the prescription.”

For most people, following a gluten-free diet will stop the symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage so the villi in the intestine can absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, and prevent further damage. Improvement begins within days of the diet change, with full healing in an adult may take several years. Watching one’s diet becomes a lifetime commitment. Family members of those with celiac disease should be screened as well since they are at an increased risk of also having the disease.

Balanced Though Limited Diet

Instead of wheat flour, use potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, or bean flour. Buy gluten-free bread, pasta, and other products. An increasing number of retail grocery stores carry them. Organic food stores also are sources. Check on-line for gluten-free products.

Eating out is possible, although it can be a challenge. Ask your server or chef if they have a gluten-free menu. If not, ask about ingredients. Order your meal accordingly.

Vines is careful to ask for gluten-free foods when eating out. On a recent cruise, she found sufficient gluten-free foods, including tasty bread. Her waiter noted that the chefs baked gluten-free bread for several passengers who could not eat wheat.

“More and more restaurants are aware of this disease,” Vines said. “Some, particularly Italian restaurants, have gluten-free menus. Others are prepared to substitute dishes.”

It’s Not Just Food

Check product labels and talk with your pharmacist. Even your prescribed medications and lipsticks may contain gluten.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), which took effect in 2006, requires food labels to clearly identify wheat and other common food allergens in the list of ingredients. FALCPA also requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop and finalize rules for the use of the term “gluten-free” on product labels.

            – Susan S. Stevens

Resources:

• American Celiac Disease Alliance: www.americanceliac.org
• American Dietetic Association’s Celiac Disease Nutrition Guide: www.eatright.org
• Dr. Mark DeMeo: http://rush.photobooks.com/directory/profile.asp?dbase=main&setsize=10&last=demeo&Submit=Search!&pict_id=0005890
• Dr. Jonas F. Ludvigsson: http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=16569&a=44710&l=en
• Dr. Michael Davie: http://www.rjah.nhs.uk/consultants.aspx?id=79
• National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse: www.celiac.nih.gov and
• http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/
• National Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/facts/nutrition/FoodAllergenFactSheet.pdf
• Dr. Roshini Rajapaska: http://www.med.nyu.edu/people/rajapr01.html

Widening the Use of a Cholesterol Drug May Come With Risk

AstraZeneca, makers of the popular statin Crestor, are aiming to market their drug as a preventive measure for millions of people who do not have cholesterol problems. But experts say this may not be a healthy move. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, but they may not be as safe a preventive medicine as previously believed for people who are at low risk of heart attacks or strokes. Recently published evidence indicates that statins could raise a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 9%. Crestor may now be prescribed for apparently healthy people if they are older — men 50 and over and women 60 and over — and have one risk factor like smoking or high blood pressure, in addition to elevated inflammation in the body. A study found that taking Crestor resulted in a 55% reduction in heart attacks, 48% reduction in stroke, and 45% reduction in angioplasty bypass surgery. However, critics say that in real world terms this means 500 people would need to be treated with Crestor for a year to avoid one usually survivable heart attack. And at $3.50 a pill, the cost of prescribing Crestor to 500 people for a year would be $638,000 to prevent that one heart attack. Some doctors also say this will turn healthy people into patients, committing them to a lifetime of medication.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/business/31statins.html?pagewanted=1&tntemail1=y&emc=tnt

Alzheimer’s

Fighting Alzheimer’s With Games

A new project, the Cognitive Fitness and Innovative Therapies, or CFIT, is trying to see if the onset of Alzheimer’s can be delayed, perhaps indefinitely by keeping people at risk for the disease intellectually and physically fit with quizzes and other cognitive challenges. Participants in the program follow an exercise regimen and a meal plan based on the Mediterranean diet, and control blood pressure and cholesterol. A recent study published in JAMA showed that people who exercised more and followed the Mediterranean diet more closely had a 35% to 44% lower risk compared with those who didn’t follow these regimens. There are also social activities at the center, since one of the risk factors for cognitive decline isn’t having friends, like a Wii station where people can join in games. People are also encouraged to take on increasingly difficult brain challenges to improve cognitive function. It’s recommended that people begin efforts to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in their 50s, and even if someone is destined to get the disease, delaying its onset for even a few years could dramatically improve quality of life.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703416204575145921517534304.html

Breast Health

Bone Strengthening Drug May Reduce Spread of Breast Cancer

Results of a new study suggest that Zometa (zoledronic acid) may reduce the spread of breast cancer by preventing chemotherapy-related bone loss. Chemotherapy speeds up bone turnover, which releases bone-derived growth factors that can promote tumor growth in breast cancer patients. The study looked at 120 women undergoing chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. It found that among women who had no tumor cells in their bone marrow at the start of the study, 87% of those in the zoledronic acid group were free of tumor cells at three months, compared with 60% of those who received chemotherapy alone. After one year, the rates were 40% and 33%, respectively. The study also found that zoledronic acid prevented chemotherapy-related bone loss.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/31/bone-strengthening-drug-guards-against-spread-of-breast-cancer.html

General Health

The Bigger the Smile, the Longer Your Life?

A new study published in the journal Psychological Science has linked the size of smiles with longevity. Researchers looked at smile ratings of baseball players and compared that with data from deaths. They found that longevity ranged from an average of 72.9 years for players with no smiles (63 players) to 75 years for players with partial smiles (64 players) to 79.9 years for players with big smiles (23 players). Positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental well-being. And big smiles are more likely to reflect true emotion than partial smiles. Previous research has also shown that people who smile a lot are usually happier, have more stable personalities, more stable marriages, better cognitive skills and better interpersonal skills.

Click here to read the full Los Angeles Times article: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-capsule-20100329,0,4042521.story

Congress Approves Public Initiatives to Prevent Disease and Encourage Healthy Behavior

These new initiatives are an effort to counter sedentary lifestyles, smoking, and eating high-fat, high-calorie foods. Some of these include requiring chain restaurants to provide nutrition information on their menus and a new federal trust fund to pay for more bicycle paths, playgrounds, sidewalks and hiking trails. There are also some provisions to reduce the toll of preventable diseases, including allowing more access to cancer screenings, which will result in catching cancers earlier when they’re more treatable. The law will also entitle each Medicare beneficiary to an “annual wellness visit,” in which a doctor can assess the patient’s condition, check for signs of Alzheimer’s disease and draw up a “personalized prevention plan” with a screening schedule for the next 5 or 10 years. The Secretary of Health and Human Services said these initiatives have immense potential to “save lives and to save money.”

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/health/policy/05health.html?ref=health

First of all, do not let your surprise or relief concerning any diagnosis stop you from asking your doctor questions. Learn everything possible about your condition. If you don’t have the presence of mind to ask the questions when you see your doctor, call with queries later.

Here are ten questions to ask that will both make your visit to the doctor go more smoothly, and help insure better health down the road.

The first six are suggested by Amy K. Anderson, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for JustANumber.com and WebEd. Dr. Anderson is board-certified in internal medicine and is a practicing physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

1. Are any changes to my current medications necessary? Can I stop taking anything, etc.? “I think it’s good to reassess a patient’s medicine list on a routine basis, but often a doctor just keeps meds going without reevaluating their necessity,” Dr. Anderson said.

2. Are there any illnesses to which I may be predisposed, either due to my lifestyle or for genetic reasons?

3. Are there any vaccines I should receive at my age? “Certain vaccines need to be given in adulthood–tetanus every ten years, pneumovax at age 65, a vaccine for shingles at 60 ,and flu vaccine yearly–and these can sometimes get overlooked at a routine physical” or other examination, Dr. Anderson noted.

4. What are the risks and benefits of (fill in the blank)? “This is useful for just about any procedure, medication, or recommendation that a doctor gives a patient,” Dr. Anderson said. “It’s extremely important that both the doctor and patient are on the same page regarding expected outcomes and possible failures of any treatment offered.”

5. May I have copies of my test/lab results? “This usually requires filling out paperwork to authorize releasing the records, but the more information a patient has about his or her medical history, the easier it will be to seek second opinions or if she needs to move, etc. and get new doctors,” Dr. Anderson explained.

6. Do you commonly treat my illness? “This is especially important for a specialist because they frequently only focus in one specific area, and if they don’t see the particular disease that a patient has on a regular basis, they may not be the ideal doctor for that patient and may refer the patient to another specialist,” according to Dr. Anderson.

Irene O’Neill, MD, of Munster, IN., trained in internal medicine and currently working in occupational medicine, suggested three more questions.

7. If I have to be admitted to the hospital, will you be the one taking care of me? “Some doctors only see their patients in the office and transfer the care of their hospitalized patients to a hospital specialist or ‘hospitalist,’” Dr. O’Neill said.

8. How necessary is that test? “Because we live in such a litigious society, doctors tend to be very thorough in working up problems,” Dr. O’Neill said. “If you don’t have insurance, or have a high deductible, your doctor needs to be aware of this. Be frank with the doctor and let her or him know your insurance and/or financial situation. The doctor usually can prioritize the tests and comfortably rule out serious problems with fewer tests.”

9. Is there a generic medicine available to treat my problem? “With some of the newer drugs costing $5-to-$10 a pill, only people with good insurance can afford them,” Dr. O’Neill said. “Generic does not mean inferior. They are strictly regulated. Because generics have been on the market for such a long time there are no surprises, unlike with some of the newer drugs that are suddenly pulled from the market because of new findings.”

Last, but not least, comes a question from Elaine Fantle Shimberg of Tampa, FL, an award-winning author of 22 books about taking care of your health.

10. If you need surgery, ask your doctor how many procedures of this type the doctor has performed and what were their outcomes?

Dr. O’Neill also advises you to check websites to get more information about your diagnosis.

“There are some preferred websites,” Dr. O’Neill said. “If you are diabetic, the American Diabetic Association is a good place to start. If you have heart disease, you should check out the American Heart Association Web site. If you are seeing a specialist, the physician may be able to steer you to the better sites for your condition. The more you know about your illness, the better choices you will make.

“Ask yourself, ‘What can I do in terms of my lifestyle choices to improve my outcome?’ The more you take charge of your health, the better the outcome. Often, a change in lifestyle is more effective than the medicine the doctor is prescribing,” Dr. O’Neill stated.

If your changes include over-the-counter supplements, do consult with your doctor, Dr. O’Neill advised.

“Not all supplements have been proven to do what they claim,” Dr. O’Neill concluded. “There usually are studies that have attempted to objectively evaluate those claims. Your doctor may be aware of which supplements have been shown to be beneficial, and which have not.”

– Susan S. Stevens

Resources:

• Amy K. Anderson, MD: www.justanumber.com/contributors/
• Elaine Fantle Shimberg:  www.elainesbooks.com
• American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org
• American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

Social Networks Are a Source of Support for the Chronically Ill

For many fighting chronic illness, the Internet becomes a lifeline. Beyond finding information on their illness, people can build relationships and get the support they need to keep going. From blogs to discussion groups, social networking allows people who are homebound with illness to continue to engage with society, and some call that lifesaving. Others use the Web to find practical tips about living with their disease or disability that doctors and family members, having not lived with it themselves, cannot provide. So, for those battling chronic illness, the Internet can not only provide invaluable information, but can open the door to whole new social life. Some of the larger patient networking sites are PatientsLikeMe, HealthCentral, Inspire, CureTogether and Alliance Health Networks.  

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25disable.html?ref=health

Osteoporosis

Combat Bone Loss With…Tequila?

Not quite, but Mexican researchers have found that agave, a substance from the plant used to make tequila may help fight osteoporosis and other diseases. Fructans—nondigestible carbohydrates consisting of molecules of fructose—are found in abundance in agave, artichokes, garlic, onions and chicory. This study found that mice that were fed agave fructans absorbed more calcium from food, excreted less calcium in their feces, and had a 50% increase in levels of a protein associated with the build-up of new bone tissue. Results suggest that supplementing your diet with agave fructans could help prevent bone loss and improve bone formation. Tequila, however, won’t help because the fructans turn into alcohol when agave is processed into tequila.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/bones-joints-and-muscles/articles/2010/03/23/tequila-plant-may-help-fight-bone-loss.html

Heart Health

When Is High Blood Pressure a Good Sign?

Swedish researchers report that high blood pressure is a good indicator of long-term survival for people admitted to an intensive care unit because of chest pains that indicate a major heart problem. Scientists say even dangerously high blood pressure could indicate patients with better cardiovascular reserves; that those patients who can produce a very high response may have less severe disease or a more intact neuro-hormonal system. But this is not to say the high blood pressure should be ignored. The study found that those who were treated for their high blood pressure before being released did better. This study indicates that those patients hospitalized with blood pressure below 128 need to be followed more closely.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/heart/articles/2010/03/23/when-heart-is-in-crisis-high-blood-pressure-a-good-sign.html

Breast Health

More Exercise, Less Eating May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Up to a third of breast cancer cases could be avoided through exercise and diet, researchers announced at European breast cancer conference in Barcelona. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that 25% to 30% of breast cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more. According to a 2006 British study, obese women are up to 60% more likely to develop any cancer than normal-weight women. Many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen, a hormone produced in fat tissue. Experts suspect that the more overweight a woman is, the more estrogen she’s likely to produce, which could in turn fuel breast cancer. They believe that even in slender women, exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more fat into muscle. The American Cancer Society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity 5 or more days a week to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032500200.html?sub=AR

Exercise

An Hour a Day to Keep Pounds at Bay

New research has just been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggesting an hour a day of moderate exercise is necessary to prevent weight gain. The study found that less active women were much more likely to gain 5 pounds or more than the most active women. It also found that overweight and obese women tended to be less active than the healthy-weight women, and overall their physical activity was insufficient to help them control their weight. Women consistently engaging in 60 minutes a day of moderate exercise gained less than 5 pounds in 13 years. The most common activity for women in the study was walking. Researchers determined 30 minutes of more vigorous exercise like running or jogging was equal to 60 minutes of walking. And other studies have shown that physical activity can be accumulated in short bouts of at least 10 minutes each. Researchers emphasize that getting even 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is beneficial for lowering the risk of heart disease, some types of cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-03-24-preventweightgain24_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

History Is Made With Healthcare Reform

The House approved legislation Sunday night that will extend insurance coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans and improve the coverage of those with insurance. And for the first time, the American Medical Association is supporting a plan for government-orchestrated healthcare reform after having denounced earlier proposals as dangerous experiments in “socialized medicine.” Republican politicians still argue against what they call a government takeover of medicine. Using phrases like “death panels” and “pulling the plug on granny,” some see the new legislation as dependency on the federal government and the death of freedom. In any case, some notable aspects of the new bill include requiring most Americans to acquire health insurance, helping cash-strapped individuals and families purchase it through government-operated insurance marketplaces called exchanges, increasing Medicaid enrollment by almost 50%, and imposing regulations on private insurers that would prevent them from denying someone coverage based on preexisting conditions. Far from perfect, the new plan is a step toward bringing coverage to those who need it most.

Click here to read the full Medscape Today article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/718911

AMA Supports New Healthcare Legislation—for the Most Part

Considering the healthcare status quo unacceptable, the American Medical Association supports the new healthcare bill, saying people live sicker and die younger if they receive all their medical care in the emergency room. The American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics also support the new healthcare legislation, which just passed the House Sunday night. However, the AMA still finds fault with the bill. Foremost among its criticisms is its lack of a permanent repeal of Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula, which will result in a pay cut for physicians this year. The group also voices its disagreement on penalties for physicians who do not participate in Medicare’s Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and regulations that would effectively ban physician-owned hospitals.

Click here to read the full Medscape Today article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/718909

Health Screening

Are We Being Overtreated?

According to an article in the Washington Post, Americans are getting too many medical tests. A New England Journal of Medicine study suggested that too many patients are getting angiograms and the American Cancer Society cast doubt on routine PSA tests for prostate cancer. This is in addition to the recent guidelines limiting mammograms and PAP smears for women under a certain age. Some doctors, however, argue that these screenings can improve survival chances and that saving even a few lives is worth the cost of routinely testing tens of thousands of people. On the other hand, some say doctors too frequently practice defensive medicine, ordering tests or procedures to protect themselves against lawsuits. Adding to the increase in screenings are patients who they themselves demand routine tests. Patients who want avoid getting tests they really don’t need are advised to thoroughly discuss testing with their doctors, including their individual disease risks, general pros and cons of testing, and possible harms a particular test may cause.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031201083.html

Obesity

Obesity Is a Problem, So Why Don’t Doctors Talk to Their Patients About It?

Doctors know how critical a problem obesity is, but they have a hard time talking to patients about it. A new report just released by the STOP Obesity Alliance suggests that both doctors and patients are frustrated with the conversations they’re having about weight. While most doctors know it’s their responsibility to help their patients lose weight, they often don’t know what to say because they have little or no training in weight management and nutrition. This often hurts patients, because just being told they’re overweight does little good if they don’t know how to lose it. Dr. William Bestermann Jr., medical director of Holston Medical Group in Kingsport, Tennessee, says the dialogue needs to be ongoing. For patients to be successful in weight loss, their doctor should monitor their progress, offer encouragement and coach them throughout the process.

Click here to read the full New York Times story: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/doctors-and-patients-not-talking-about-weight/

Diabetes

Eat More Brown Rice to Combat Diabetes

A new research study analyzing data from 39,765 men and 157,463 women has found that people who ate 2 or more servings of brown rice per week were 11% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving of brown rice per month. Researchers say that replacing 50 grams/day (about a quarter cup) intake of white rice with the same amount of brown rice was associated with a 16% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas the same replacement with whole grains as a group was associated with a 36% lower diabetes risk. Brown rice is rich in fiber and vitamins, but the process that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. So whenever possible, enjoy the benefits of whole grains by choosing brown rice over white.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2010/03/03/whole-grains-take-a-bite-out-of-type-2-diabetes-risk.html

Click here to read more about the benefits of brown rice: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=128

Diet’s Effect on Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have found that eating more fruits and vegetables and healthful grains was associated with a longer survival time after ovarian cancer, as was eating just vegetables. A lengthier survival was associated with eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, as well as yellow vegetables. Less healthful meats like red meat were associated with a shorter survival time. There was no connection between survival time and white meats, such as chicken, and fish, but there was more risk associated with the consumption of milk and milk-based foods. Although this study doesn’t determine why eating these foods can increase survival, it does serve to increase awareness of the effects of diet and spur future research.

Click here to read the full Los Angeles Times article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/diet-may-play-a-part-in-ovarian-cancer-survival-rates.html

Heart Health 

The Healthy Side of Coffee

A series of new studies shows that drinking coffee is generally safe for the ticker. One study has determined that coffee drinkers appear to have a lower risk of hospitalization for abnormal heart rhythms. This study looked at 130,054 members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who were hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances. It found that the risk for atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) was 18% lower for those who reported drinking four or more cups of coffee a day. The study didn’t offer any reason why coffee might reduce heart rhythm problems, however. A second study found that there’s no indication that coffee causes atherosclerosis, the thickening of blood vessel walls that can lead to heart attacks and other problems. And a third study, which compared 359 post-menopausal women newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 359 women without the disease found that women who drank four or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 56% lower risk of developing the condition than those who did not drink coffee. One report did find a link between drinking coffee and high blood pressure, but the effect was called “modest” and scientists say more research is called for to clarify these findings.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2010/03/02/coffee-is-generally-heart-friendly.html

End-Of-Life Care

What’s Right at the End Is Not Clear Cut

Critics argue that resources are being wasted on aggressive end-of-life treatment that’s obviously futile. But in a new article in the New England Journal of Medicine, two doctors say that in the real world, the issue is far from clear. Aggressive resuscitation efforts are common because there are some situations where futile care can be appropriate and other situations where emotions come into play—especially when it comes to children or a doctor’s own grandparent. Some doctors say that when they engage in aggressive and often violent CPR they’re treating the family at that point. But, Dr. Norman Fost, a pediatrician and ethicist at the University of Wisconsin, says that “is a perversion of what medicine’s for.” Others say that while there needs to be rational decision-making and limits need to be set, they can’t just set aside their emotions.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23life.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Obesity

The Link Between Fat and Inflammation

Obesity can be the trigger for many diseases, like diabetes. But why do some people remain metabolically healthy when they’re overweight and some don’t? New research has shown that inflammation could be a trigger. For some, their fat cells function properly and they remain healthy. For others who gain weight, the inflammation the immune system normally uses to fight infection sits inside fat tissue then spreads to harm blood vessels and spur insulin resistance. One study has found that when salsalate (one of the oldest anti-inflammatories from the aspirin family) was added to regular diabetes medication, it helped poorly controlled Type 2 diabetics lower their blood sugar substantially. Other research is trying to determine what sparks the inflammation in the first place. Results suggest fat tissue primes macrophages (immune cells that cluster inside fat tissue) to be switched on by a boost in fatty acids, starting the inflammation cycle. Continued research in this area could lead to more targeted treatments for the ills caused by obesity as well as anti-inflammatory therapies for diabetes.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-02-fat-inflammation_N.htm

Diabetes

Aggressive Diabetes Treatment May Not Be the Best Treatment

Results of a three-part federal study have just been released and they showed that adding drugs to aggressively lower blood pressure and blood-fats did not prevent heart problems, but caused harmful side effects in some cases. These studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involve people with Type 2 diabetes. For one portion of the study, 5,500 diabetics who also had high blood pressure or cholesterol were given a statin (cholesterol-lowering drugs sold as Lipitor and Zocor). Half were also given a drug called Tricor, which lowers blood fats called trigylcerides while boosting “good” cholesterol, with the other half receiving a placebo. Results showed that both groups had similar rates of heart attacks and strokes. And TriCor seemed to help men but appeared to possibly harm women, by raising the chance they would suffer a heart problem compared to women taking the placebo pill. When it came to blood pressure, intense treatment did not reduce the number of heart attacks, although it prevented more strokes, a less common problem. And side effects were greater with the intense treatment. Experts say diabetics should focus on healthy diets and lifestyles, and take tried-and-true medicines recommended by their doctors.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/14/AR2010031400779.html

Everything in Moderation

We’ve all heard of the “super foods.” But should your diet be solely made up of those “perfect” health boosting foods?  According to dieticians and nutrition scientists, adhering to a rigid dietary regimen is not a good thing. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition compared one diet including foods from 18 different botanical families and another covering only 5 families. The researchers concluded that only the diverse diet “induced a significant reduction in DNA oxidation.” Essentially, smaller amounts of many phytochemicals (chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants that may affect health) may have greater beneficial effects than larger amounts of fewer phytochemicals. Researchers say variety gives you wider exposure to beneficial effects scientists may not yet even be aware of and limit your exposure to possible toxins, such as toxins in some mushrooms. So, in the case of your diet, variety truly is the spice of life.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2010/02/23/why-an-all-superfoods-diet-is-a-mistake.html

Arthritis Risk

Assessing a Higher Arthritis Risk

A new study shows that inactivity and being overweight, particularly in women, may account for the high prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations (AALs) in Americans. This study, which was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, directly compared health differences associated with the prevalence and risk factors for arthritis and AAL between the United States and Canada. The study used data from a survey in which 3,505 Canadians and 5,138 Americans responded. Results showed that in the United States, the estimated prevalence of arthritis was higher (18.7%) than in Canada (16.8%). And in both countries, those who were physically inactive were more likely to have arthritis and AAL. Results suggest that the higher incidence of arthritis in American women may be due to a higher incidence of obesity and inactivity in those women and that public health messages promoting healthy weight and physical activity should also include messages about the possible risk for arthritis.

Click here to read the full Medscape article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717668

Mental Health

Could a Hospital Stay Increase Dementia Risk?

A group of researchers from the University of Washington and the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill found that elderly people who were hospitalized for a critical illness had a higher risk of dementia. Of the senior citizens who were hospitalized for a noncritical illness, 40% were more likely to develop dementia than their counterparts who were never hospitalized. For those who experienced critical illnesses, that risk was more than double. Researchers aren’t quick to blame the hospital. They say the increased risk may be due to the illness that sent them there. The results of this study are being published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Click here to read the full LA Times story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/hospitalization-cognitive-decline-dementia-risk.html

Breast Health

Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Result in Less Access to Mammograms

If you recall, those new breast cancer screening guidelines recommended that women at average risk for breast cancer should start having mammograms every two years at age 50 instead of annual screenings starting at age 40. Since those guidelines were published, access to mammograms for women ages 40 to 49 has decreased in some states. A survey conducted by the Avon Foundation for Women has found that respondents from a fourth of the areas surveyed reported changes in their states’ early detection programs for breast and cervical cancer. Respondents said that the guidelines as well as other factors, including budget cuts, have resulted in fewer women having mammograms or the elimination of early breast cancer screening programs for women younger than 50 offered through state-administered breast cancer screening programs. Some of those states that have made changes include California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. Some doctors are concerned that some women are using the new guidelines to put off breast cancer screening despite family history or risk factors.Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/02/23/access-to-mammograms-drops-after-guidelines-change.html

Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Not So Beneficial for Older Women

According to a new study, women older than 40 are unlikely to see much benefit from a cervical cancer vaccine. The vaccine for HPV is recommended for women aged 9 to 26, and a study was undertaken to see whether older women would be protected as well. The study, which was published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that the rate of newly detected infections dropped with age — to 13.5% in women 42 and older, from 35% in women 18 to 25. Scientists say that although cervical cancer is more prevalent in older women, it develops decades after the initial infection with a carcinogenic virus. And since older women get fewer infections, the benefit of the vaccine is limited.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/health/research/02prev.html?ref=health

1. Breaking News on Brittle Bone Disease
   
2. Top Five Misconceptions about Bone Diseases
3. Vitamin D and Osteoporosis: Prevent Bone Disease

Women age 45 and beyond take note: osteoporosis is the most common form of bone disease; it occurs at a rate 60% higher in women than men, leaves bones weak, brittle and at risk of breaking. With knowledge and preventative steps you can hold it at bay.

Here are some of the other types of bone disease that can affect women:

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: This disease, known as brittle bones disease, is passed down from parent to child through genes. It causes bones to be brittle and break under light conditions, such as from the impact of a mild fall. Not only are these people at risk of developing weak, easy-to-break bones, they also are at risk of developing weak muscles, brittle teeth, a bent spine and hearing loss. The disorder causes these effects by limiting the production of collagen, a protein that strengthens bones.

Paget’s Disease: This disease causes bones to grow too large, which makes them weak and brittle. Larger bones require more calcium and collagen to remain strong, and there will be an insufficient supply in the body. The cause of the disease is unknown. People Paget’s disease often experience pain, broken bones or damaged cartilage in the joints. Men are more likely to have Paget’s disease than women, and typically experience symptoms in their legs, pelvis, skull and spine. It occurs most typically in one or a group of bones, but never over the whole skeleton.

Bone Cancer: Because cancer can occur in the bones, it is considered a bone disease. The three types of bone cancers are Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma. Oseosarcoma starts in the growing bones of young people, mainly ages 10 to 25. Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of the cartilage and doesn’t begin developing until a person has reached age 50. Ewing’s Sarcoma develops in the nerve tissue of the bone marrow. It tends to develop in younger people once chemotherapy treatment for a different type of cancer has occurred.

Good News for Nappers

Preliminary results from a new study show that an afternoon nap can make you smarter. Napping is likened to rebooting a computer to make it work smoother. The study found that after taking part in a memory exercise, the nappers performed 10% better than those who stayed awake. Researchers also found that people’s ability to learn declines about 10% between noon and 6 p.m. normally, but the nappers were able to negate that decline. It’s important to sleep long enough to give the brain an opportunity to go through various cycles of sleep, people in the study napped for 100 minutes. Scientists say napping may be valuable for students and for people struggling with memory issues because of aging. Other recent research has suggested that sleep can help you think more creatively, have better long-term memory, and preserve important memories, so nap on!

Click here to read the full U.S. News and World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2010/02/21/afternoon-nap-might-make-you-smarter.html

Hypertension

Pay More Attention to High Blood Pressure

According to a new report by the Institute of Medicine, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is not treated aggressively enough and is not enough of a priority for the government. The second leading cause of death, hypertension is relatively simple to treat and prevent, yet one in three adults has it and the numbers are rising. Often called “the silent killer” because of its lack of symptoms, it triggers more than one-third of heart attacks, is a leading cause of strokes and kidney failure, and plays a role in blindness and even dementia. The report mentions simple ways to curb high blood pressure: cut dietary salt, eat more potassium, exercise, and lose 10 pounds. And the institute urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to push doctors to better treat hypertension, and to work with communities to make it easier for people to live the healthy lifestyles that can prevent it.

Click here to read the full USA Today story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-22-blood-pressure_N.htm

Diabetes

The Avandia Question

With the ongoing debate over the safety of Avandia (a drug for diabetes that may increase the risk for a heart attack), patients are left wondering whether they should keep taking it or not. Physicians urge patients to stay on whatever medicines they are taking until talking things through with their doctors. Skipping or dropping treatment altogether could worsen their diabetes. Dr. Zacharey Bloomgarden, editor of the Journal of Diabetes and a clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, says he won’t put new patients on Avandia, given the controversy surrounding the drug, but he has advised patients doing well on the drug to stay on it.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal story: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/02/23/avandia-what-should-patients-do/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Health+Blog%29&mod=smallbusiness

Stroke Prevention

Smoking May Affect the Risk for a Transient Ischemic Attack

Smokers may be at greater risk for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) at a younger age versus nonsmokers. Results of a retrospective study showed that smokers who sought emergency treatment for a TIA were more than a decade younger, on average, than nonsmokers (age 56.7 versus 72.2). A transient ischemic attack is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours, and is considered a warning sign that a stroke may occur in the future. It’s caused by a disruption of blood flow to the brain, which is usually caused by a blood clot, or thrombus. According to Bruce Obviagele, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles, the reason smoking appears to be related to age at presentation for TIA and not for stroke might have something to do with the clot. He says that the kind of TIAs you see in smokers might be different from the kind of TIAs or stroke in people who don’t smoke or used to smoke, because those clots are friable, or “crumbly,” and quickly dissolved.

Click here to read the full Medpage Today article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASA/18661?utm_content=GroupCL&utm_medium=email&impressionId=1267089776285&utm_campaign= DailyHeadlines&utm_source=mSpoke&userid=220600

Weight Loss

Eat Slowly to Cut Calories

Researchers have found that eating too fast leads to eating more calories. According to a new study, people who took 30 minutes to eat ice cream versus 5 minutes, released more hormones that made them feel full. In a 2008 study in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, people consumed roughly 10% fewer calories if they slowed down rather than gobbled their food. And in a study in the British Medical Journal, those who ate quickly until full had triple the risk of being overweight. By giving yourself time to feel full, you could end up eating less than if you rush your meals.

Click here to read the full New York Times story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23real.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Weight Loss Is Harder for Middle-Agers

According to USA Today, passing the 10-pound weight loss mark is more difficult for people over 50. Research shows that hitting that wall is common, with most people dropping about 5% to 10% of their starting weight in the first 3 to 6 months. After that initial loss, losing weight takes more sacrifice. Scientists say that one reason it’s difficult to drop more and keep it off is that there’s a cascade of biological responses designed to return dieters to pre-diet levels. A hunger hormone called ghrelin increases, and a fullness hormone called leptin decreases. Essentially, your body is keeping you from losing weight. Other factors may include lower overall levels of physical activity, deeply entrenched poor eating habits, and changes in sex hormones. For women, scientists have found that they have lower metabolisms after menopause than before. And if that weren’t bad enough, there is evidence that a lack of estrogen increases appetite and can cause specific cravings for certain foods, especially carbohydrates and fats. Experts say to lose weight you need to restrict calories, 1,200 to 1,500 a day for women, and exercise. It’s important to keep track of caloric intake, because they say most people are eating much more than they think. They also point out that after you lose weight and become smaller, you need fewer calories to maintain your smaller body. So, if you’re stuck on that plateau, don’t get discouraged. Just try and try again.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-03-01-WLCstubbornweightloss01_CV_N.htm

Fitness

Chronic Illness Sufferers May Find Peace in Exercise

Living with a chronic illness brings anxiety and worry, but according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, exercise has been shown to reduce that anxiety. The study looked at 3,000 sedentary people with chronic illnesses, who were still able to exercise for 30 minutes at a time. It found that exercisers were able to reduce their anxiety by 20%. This was true for every health problem, including cancer, depression, heart disease, fibromyalgia, except multiple sclerosis. Previous research has shown exercise effective in lifting depression, but there had been little attention paid to its calming effect.

Click here to read the full LA Times story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/anxiety-exercise-chronic-conditions.html

Click here to read the full study in the Archives of Internal Medicine: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/170/4/321?home

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for more than 60% of all cases. Individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty thinking clearly and remembering names, events, and new information. In addition, they may suffer from apathy or depression. Progression of the illness impairs a person’s ability to control moods, emotions, language, and physical body functions. Simple daily tasks such as walking to a nearby grocery store, making a cup of tea, or taking a bath become unachievable.

Every 70 Seconds

Every 70 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, the Alzheimer’s Association reports. According to the association’s 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, more than 5.3 million Americans live with this brain illness, and the number of Alzheimer’s sufferers age 65 and above will reach 7.7 million by 2030. Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

Statistics show that a greater number of women than men will develop this form of dementia, because women tend to live longer than men do.

Although in recent decades scientists have made significant strides in the search for causes of the disease and ways to prevent it, there still is no cure or way to slow down the progress of illness once it is diagnosed.

Alzheimer’s Association Chief Medical and Scientific Officer William H. Thies, PhD, listed several risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s Disease over which we have little control: age, family history, and genetics. 

However, there are some risk factors we can affect.

“Other risk factors include lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, isolation, and diet high in saturated fat and low in vegetable matter,” Dr. Thies said.

Larry Sparks, PhD, senior scientist and head of the Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Research at the Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, AZ, more then 20 years ago decided to look into a possible connection between heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Sparks’ research results indicate that people suffering from high blood pressure and coronary artery disease may be at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

Jeremiah Kelly, MD, associate professor of medicine at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago, cited a variety of factors.

“Studies show that the presence of vascular risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and smoking, increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Kelly said. “ Data recently published by the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center show that cerebral infarctions (strokes) commonly co-occur with Alzheimer’s Disease and independently contribute to the likelihood of dementia.  These findings make it clear how important it is for health care providers of older adults to carefully identify and actively address vascular risk factors in order to reduce an older person’s risk of developing dementia.”

Cholesterol Link?

Some scientists also have hypothesized that high levels of cholesterol may play some role in Alzheimer’s disease development. However, this question remains highly debatable and requires further research. 

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance produced by the liver and is released to the bloodstream to be “transported” to different organs to make vitamin D and certain hormones, build cell membranes, and help to digest fat. Even though the human body generally produces enough cholesterol, additional cholesterol may be added to the body by eating such common foods such as egg yolks, meat, poultry, shellfish, and milk and other dairy products. An excess of cholesterol may cause atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls) or coronary or carotid artery disease.

“Data suggest that if a person has an elevated level of cholesterol during midlife years, it increases the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Theis said. “But we also have some data showing that cholesterol-lowering medications are not useful for treating people who already have Alzheimer’s disease”—meaning the time to treat for cholesterol is before Alzheimer’s develops, to help head it off. “It looks as though cholesterol may have a long term effect,” he said

The scientist also indicated that numerous studies were conducted linking high levels of cholesterol to heart disease, so this led to clinical trials with the goal of preventing heart disease. No trials have been done to show whether lowering cholesterol can prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but cholesterol lowering treatments can help with other forms of dementia which are often overlapping in the same patient.

Better to Act Than React

Even though the higher risks of getting Alzheimer’s disease begin at age 60, scientists suggest developing healthy lifestyle habits as early as possible.

“Only five percent” of Alzheimer’s sufferers, Dr. Sparks said, “had genetically predetermined conditions. If somebody wants to be healthy in their sixties, they should start taking care of their health earlier”. Although not genetically predetermined, people do carry genes which make them more susceptible to poor lifestyle choices.

The Alzheimer’s experts unanimously spoke about the importance of finding ways to stay physically active such as regular visits to a gym, swimming, hiking, and bike-riding—but noted even less extreme measures can help.

“Physical activity should become a part of life,” Dr. Theis advised. “It does not mean that a person should have to dress up and go to the gym, because if the person does not like going to the gym, he/she is not going to do it on a long term basis. It is perfectly fine if someone would rather take a walk.”

Data also shows the impact of smoking on this disease. An analysis of 19 studies showed that elderly smokers have a significantly increased risk of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and any type of dementia.

The another important component of staying healthy and minimizing risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease is to choose a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Foods of animal origin usually are high in saturated fat. Obesity in midlife is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s in late life.

Dr. Kelly suggested focusing on maintaining healthy blood vessels to prevent getting cardiac disease and strokes as a way to head off Alzheimer’s. “We know that atherosclerosis, which causes heart disease, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease, is caused by inflammation,” Dr. Kelly said. “We also know that Alzheimer’s disease is partly caused by inflammation.”

As a way of avoiding Alzheimer’s it is recommended to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels in the blood. If any of these parameters fall out of the norm, it is best not to ignore it and discuss the situation with your doctor.

Dr. Sparks suggests drinking purified water, as his research indicates a possible link between copper found in drinking water, high cholesterol levels, and increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

While taking care of the body, it is important not to forget the mind, too. Dr. Thies recommends regularly finding a free hour to learn something new, to tackle a puzzle or a crossword and enjoy time with family members or friends involved in any mind- inspiring activity.

“It is important to stay mentally active in a social environment,” Dr. Thies said. Staying in touch with friends is especially important for patients’ diagnosed as being in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease–it helps them reduce isolation and avoid depression.

“It is important to realize that Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic illness and people will live with it for a significant amount of time,” Dr. Theis concluded. “All things we have suggested will have a lot of benefits.”

            –Gabija Steponenaite

Resources:

• Alzheimer’s Association: http://www.alz.org
• Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures
• http://www.alz.org/national/documents/report_alzfactsfigures2009.pdf
• Dr. Jeremiah Kelly, http://www.rush.edu
• Dr. Larry Sparks: http://www.bannerhealth.com
• Dr. William H. Thies, http://www.alz.org