New Tool Helps Predict Alzheimer’s Risks - Reuters

CHICAGO—U.S. researchers have developed a checklist that can accurately predict whether a person over 65 is at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease within six years.

The checklist of risk factors like slowness of mind or movement predicted about half the cases of dementia that developed in a group of elderly people over a six-year period, the researchers reported in the journal Neurology on May 13.

An estimated 26 million people globally have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The disease starts out with mild memory loss and confusion but escalates into complete memory loss and an inability to care for oneself.

Researcher Deborah Barnes of the University of California, San Francisco, said having a tool that can predict the risk of developing Alzheimer’s could help doctors keep an eye on patients and help companies develop drugs to treat the early stages of the mind-robbing disease, which has no cure and few effective treatments.

“This new risk index could be very important both for research and for people at risk of developing dementia and their families,” Barnes said in a statement.

The tool consists of a 15-point scale of several well-known risk factors for Alzheimer’s—advanced age, low scores on tests of thinking skills, and having the ApoE4 gene, which raises the genetic risks of developing it.

It also includes some lesser-known risk factors, such as being underweight, having a history of heart bypass surgery, not drinking alcohol, or being slow to do physical tasks like buttoning a shirt.

People with a score of 8 or higher are considered at high risk of developing dementia within the next six years.

To develop the index, the team studied 3,375 people with an average age of 76 and no evidence of dementia. Over six years, 480 of the people developed dementia.

The researchers then looked to see which factors best predicted who would develop dementia.

When they evaluated the same group using the checklist, they found 56 percent of those with high scores had developed dementia within six years. That compared to 23 percent with moderate scores and just four percent with low scores.

Overall, the index correctly classified 88 percent of the participants.

Barnes said the risk index would need to be confirmed by other studies. Her team is also looking to see if a simpler version could be as accurate.

Last Updated
May 29, 2009

Benefits of Asparagus

Figure 1 Three types of asparagus on a shop display, with white asparagus at the back and green asparagus in the middle. The plant at the front is Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, is commonly called wild asparagus.

This is a very good article on Asparagus..known to cure Cancer..
Kindly go through the same.

Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article,entitled, `Asparagus for cancer ' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979.

I will share it here, just as it was shared with me: ' I am a biochemist,and have specialized in the relation of diet to health for over 5 years.

Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R.Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project. We have accumulated a number of favourable case histories.

Here are a few examples:-

Case No. 1,
A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin ' s disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.

Case No. 2,
A successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.

Case No. 3,
A man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971, he was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is back at his regular business routine. *

Case No. 4,
A woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by asking specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.

I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of Material Medica ' , edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania , stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones.

We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records.. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good 20news and help us to gather a large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy. For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh.

I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives.

* * PROCEDURE:
1) Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy t make a puree, and store in the refrigerator.

2) Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening.

Patients usually show some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.

As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can prevent ' . Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste wit breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold.

For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last blood survey, taken=2 0by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink...

As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theorie about cancer. Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and inacting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance.

The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good.. It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body ' s most potent anticarcinogens and antioxidants.