Tag Archives: Dementia

Medical, Research, Science

Flu jab offers hope in fight against dementia

FLU VACCINE

Intro: Having vaccine for six years in a row cuts risk of developing incurable illness by 14%

HAVING the flu vaccine every winter could significantly reduce the risk of dementia, a study suggests.

The jab lowered the chances of developing the incurable condition by 14 per cent.

But the analysis by scientists says it seems to work only when patients have had it for at least six years in a row.

Researchers believe the vaccines – given to tens of millions in the UK last winter – gradually strengthen the ageing immune system to the point where it can prevent the underlying damage in the brain that causes dementia.

Britain faces an epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia because of an ageing population.

Alzheimer’s Scotland estimates that by 2031, there will be between 102,000 and 114,000 people in the country with dementia.

There has been no major breakthrough in treatment for decades – but now scientists believe vaccines such as the flu jab could play an important part in decreasing the surge in patients.

Researchers from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in the US tracked nearly 70,000 individuals aged 60 or over. They monitored how many had an annual flu vaccine and whether they subsequently developed dementia.

The findings, first published in the journal Vaccine, showed little difference between those who had received no jab and those immunised annually for the previous four or five years. But once they got to six years or more, the risk dropped by an average of 14 per cent. Scientists said there is no suggestion that catching flu causes dementia. Instead, the benefit comes from having a vaccine later in life.

Animal studies suggest vaccinations such as the one for flu increase the activity of immune system cells in the central nervous system that are responsible for repairing damage that can lead to dementia.

The study says: “Flu vaccines could be a cheap, low-risk intervention against dementia.”

A spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Research UK called the results intriguing, adding: “Understanding why this is the case is an important avenue for further research.”

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Health, Medical, Research

New Alzheimer’s drug offers hope to sufferers

DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

THE first new pharmaceutical drug for Alzheimer’s in almost two decades has won approval in the United States – raising hopes that the drug could soon be used in the UK.

Aducanumab targets the cause of the disease rather than its symptoms.

Medical and health charities have welcomed the announcement, describing its approval as a “major milestone” for the millions of people living with dementia. But scientists are divided because of the uncertainty over trial results.

The US Food and Drug Administration said there was “substantial evidence that aducanumab reduces amyloid beta plaques”. Amyloid is a protein that forms clumps in the brain that can damage cells and trigger dementia. Aducanumab works by sticking to these clumps and removing them.

However, late-stage international trials of the treatment in 2019, involving about 3,000 patients, were halted when analysis showed the drug was no better at slowing the deterioration of memory than a placebo. Following further analysis, manufacturer Biogen said the drug did work and significantly slowed cognitive decline if given in higher doses.

Biogen have not released the cost of the treatment, but analysts estimate it could cost up to £35,000 a year. Tens of thousands of Britons with a mild form of the disease could be suitable for the drug if it were to be approved here.

Professor Bart De Strooper, director the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “With no effective therapies currently available to modify the progression of this devastating condition, this is a major milestone for the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s. However, I fear the controversy and uncertainty surrounding the trials will limit the impact of this new treatment for the disease.”

A spokesperson for the research department at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It’s promising to see that aducanumab has been approved for use in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease – the first drug to be approved in nearly 20 years by the US regulatory authorities.

“We await the opinion of the European Medicines Agency and the outcome of any application made to the UK regulatory authorities, to give clarity to people with early Alzheimer’s disease in the UK. Whatever the outcome of their decision, this is just the beginning of the road to new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Another health charity, Alzheimer’s Research UK, said it had written to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock asking the Government to prioritise the fast-track approval process for the drug in the UK.

Its chief executive, Hilary Evans, said: “People with dementia and their families have been waiting far too long for life-changing new treatments.”

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Health, Medical, Research, Science

Lifestyle factors in keeping dementia at bay

MEDICAL RESEARCH

DOCTORS have identified seven lifestyle factors in middle age which have a significant influence on the risk of developing dementia in later life.

A major study suggests each of the seven elements – weight, diet, exercise, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and smoking – contributes to the chance of getting dementia.

Scientists at the University of Bordeaux tracked more than 6,600 French people from Bordeaux, Dijon and Montpellier.

The participants, who were at least 65 at the start of the study, were tested for the seven elements and then monitored for an average of eight and a half years.

For each of the seven tests that they “passed” as healthy, the risk of developing dementia over the following years went down by 10 per cent.

The scientists, whose findings were first reported and published in the JAMA medical journal, said their study demonstrates the link between cardiovascular health and the resilience of the brain.

“These findings may support the promotion of cardiovascular health to prevent risk factors associated with cognitive decline and dementia,” they wrote.

Experts in Britain say the findings from the research highlight the fact that the risk of dementia can be reduced with a healthy lifestyle.

A spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Although age is the largest risk factor for dementia, the condition is not an inevitable part of getting older and there are things we can all do to help reduce our risk.

“This large study of over 6,000 older people in France adds to a wealth of existing evidence indicating that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.

“We know that the diseases that cause dementia can begin to develop in the brain up to 20 years before symptoms show so it’s never too early to take steps to reduce your risk.

“As well as these seven aspects of healthy living, drinking within recommended guidelines and staying mentally active and socially engaged have also been linked to better brain health in later life.”

Dr Doug Brown, chief policy officer at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Of all the diseases in the UK dementia is now the biggest killer, so exploring potential factors which could reduce the risk of developing this devastating condition is fundamental to beating it.

“Taking care of your cardiovascular health… may help slow cognitive decline and reduce your risk of getting dementia.

“Although this study stopped short of examining whether participants had healthy hearts in earlier life – which might have contributed to fewer of them getting dementia in later life – everyone should take steps from an early age such as eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and heavy drinking, and exercising regularly.”

The Seven Lifestyle Factors

. Weight – Have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25

. Diet – Eat fish twice a week and fruits and vegetables at least three times a day

. Exercise – Walk more than two hours a day or take part in intensive sport more than twice a week

. Cholesterol – Levels need to be less than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre)

. Blood Sugar – Should be less than 100 mg/dL

. Blood Pressure – Should be less than 120/80 mmHg

. Smoking – Not smoking

MANY adults put off going to see their GP because they do not like being told what to do, research suggests.

Data from 4.300 Britons saw nearly one in five admit they had delayed making an appointment to avoid being lectured about lifestyle changes.

Experts say patients stay away for fear of giving away control – even when they are already showing worrying health symptoms – and warns this poses a considerable threat to public health.

The report, by experts at University College London, the University of Bedfordshire and thinktank 2020 Health, says many people also have a “fear of finding out” they are unhealthy and so avoid their doctor.

This can lead to major issues in the long term because minor problems missed at an early stage can escalate into far more severe issues. Many people – especially the rising number who know they do too little exercise or are overweight – do not report health complaints for fear of being lectured about their lifestyle.

GPs are encouraged by the NHS to ask patients about their weight and how much exercise they do, and are often given financial incentives to give weight-loss advice.

A spokesperson for 2020 Health, said: “It’s easy to think that consumers are wilfully refusing to change unhealthy habits, but the truth is, we are bombarded by conflicting health advice and mixed messages everywhere we turn.

“This is both confusing and dangerous as it can lead to important, evidence-based health information and guidance being lost or overlooked.

“Not only are lifestyle changes undermined, but the importance of getting specific symptoms checked out early are obscured.” Some 18 per cent of participants in the study – nearly one in five – said they had delayed an appointment because they were worried they might be pressured to change their lifestyle.

With 68 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women in Britain now overweight or obese, many may have reason to fear being lectured.

A quarter of participants said they had avoided a doctor because they did not want to be physically examined. A fifth said they were anxious about treatment that might be required, and another fifth were worried about the impact a diagnosis may have on family members.

The report, funded by pharmaceutical firm AbbVie, said patients who go to their doctor when they have a problem actually have a smaller impact on the NHS.

It said: “The model of the ‘good patient’ [is] one who adopts a healthier lifestyle, sees the doctor promptly if they notice what could be the early signs of illness and turns up to routine health checks and screening appointments.”

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