It was mentioned on the list that some PWP also run the risk of
suffering from Alzheimers. I did a search of MedNet at Reuters and
came up with a large number of articles on the subject ( samples
shown below ) To log onto MedNet go to

http://www.reutershealth.com/news/index.html/

You will have to fill out an information sheet but access is free
after that. Use the advanced search options and enter your query.

Abnormal Glutamate Transport Linked To Alzheimer Neurodegeneration

     WESTPORT, Dec 17 (Reuters) - In patients with Alzheimer's
     disease, decreased glutamate transporter activity might be
     involved in the pathogenesis of synaptic damage.

     Dr. E. Masliah at the University of California, San Diego,
     explains in Annals of Neurology, "Deficient functioning of
     glutamate transporters might be involved in synaptic pathology
     and neurodegeneration [in Alzheimer's disease] by failing to
     clear excess glutamate at the synaptic cleft."

     Dr. Masliah and colleagues studied the brains of 16 people known
     to have had Alzheimer's disease and 7 age-matched controls who
     were "clinically and histopathologically free of neurological
     disease." The researchers assessed glutamate transporter activity
     by measurements of D- and L- [3H]aspartate binding. In addition,
     they measured synaptic loss by analyzing immunoreactivity of
     synaptophysin, "...an abundant small synaptic vesicle
     protein...levels of which have been used as an indicator of
     synaptic content in the nervous system."

     Dr. Masliah reports, "Compared to control brains, [Alzheimer's
     disease] brains displayed a 34% decrease in levels of
     D-[3H]aspartate binding, a 30% decrease in L-[3H]aspartate
     binding, and a 48% loss of synaptophysin immunoreactivity.
     Increased levels of brain spectrin degradation products
     correlated with a decrease in levels of D-[3H] and
     L-[3H]aspartate binding, and decreased levels of synaptophysin
     immunoreactivity. Levels of L-[3H]aspartate binding correlated
     with levels of synaptophysin immunoreactivity."

     The researchers write that L-[3H]aspartate uptake correlated also
     with the results of psychometric tests administered before death,
     "...indicating that damage to glutaminergic terminals plays an
     important role in cognitive dysfunction in [Alzheimer's
     disease]."

     They add, "As to the identify of the glutamate transporter
     responsible for the decrease [in] D- and L-[3H] aspartate uptake,
     future studies with antibodies that recognize specific glutamate
     transporters will be necessary to help clarify this issue."

     Ann Neurol 1996;40:759-766.



     Search Results:

     Legend: Medical News --  Health eLine --

       20-Dec-96 Occupational Electromagnetic Field Exposure Appears
       To Increase Risk Of   Alzheimer's
       19-Dec-96 Alzheimer's Risk On The Job
       18-Dec-96 Alzheimer's Blood Test Closer
       18-Dec-96 ApoE e4 Allele Linked To Risk Of Dementia In Down's
       Syndrome Patients
      17-Dec-96 Abnormal Glutamate Transport Linked
       To Alzheimer Neurodegeneration
       12-Dec-96 Polyglutamine Peptides  Linked To CNS Disorders Form Aggregates
       11-Dec-96 Drugs  Approved Quicker In U.S.
       10-Dec-96 Fortune Calls Three  Healthcare Industries 'Hot' For 1997
       09-Dec-96 Cell Defect Linked To Alzheimer's
       06-Dec-96 Dementia And The Elderly
      06-Dec-96 Alzheimer-Related Presenilin 2 Mutation Enhances Apoptosis
      06-Dec-96 Signal Pharmaceutical Licenses Signaling       Proteins From University Of
     Massachusetts
       05-Dec-96 Cephalon To File For FDA Okay of Narcolepsy Drug By
       Year's End
       05-Dec-96 APOE Genotyping May Be Useful For Dementia Management
       04-Dec-96 Caring For The Caregiver Pays
       04-Dec-96  Care For Caregivers Delays Nursing Home Placement Of
       Alzheimer's Patients
       29-Nov-96 Biochemical Similarities Between Alzheimer Disease and Down Syndrome
      Described
     27-Nov-96 FDA OKs New Dementia Drug
     27-Nov-96 FDA Approves Second Alzheimer's Drug
     27-Nov-96 Genentech, CytoTherapeutics To Collaborate On  CNS Diseases
      20-Nov-96 Olfactory Pathways Create 'Odor Images'
       20-Nov-96 Mouse Model Mimics Down Syndrome-Related Alzheimer Disease
       19-Nov-96 New Guidelines Established For Postmortem Alzheimer's Diagnosis
      19-Nov-96 Cortex Stock Soars On Study  Results
      19-Nov-96 Vertex Compound Accelerates Nerve  Regeneration In Rat Model
      19-Nov-96 Cephalon, Leo To Develop Neurologic Diseases Treatments
      18-Nov-96 Nicotine-like Drug  Shows "Impressive" Effects On Memory
      18-Nov-96 Systemic  Inflammation Induces Nitric Oxide Synthase In Brain
      18-Nov-96  New Drug Shows promise In Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease
       15-Nov-96 HIV Protein Shown To Inhibit Growth Hormone Secretion
       14-Nov-96 Gene Testing Guidelines Released
        14-Nov-96 Antibody Binding Higher In Alzheimer's
        14-Nov-96 Eye Drop Test Unreliable Indicator Of Alzheimer's Disease
        12-Nov-96  Alzheimer's Disease May Present With Biparietal Atrophy
       07-Nov-96 Link Between Alzheimer's And Autochthonous IgM On T
       Cells Noted
       05-Nov-96 Research Update From Nature Genetics
      04-Nov-96 Products Of Three "Crucial" Alzheimer's Genes Exhibit
       Specific Binding
       30-Oct-96 Protein Signals Alzheimer's
       30-Oct-96 Protein p97: Potential Serum Marker For Alzheimer's
       Disease
      29-Oct-96 Estrogen Benefits Brain And Bone
      28-Oct-96   Birth Rates Decline, Deaths Inch Up
      28-Oct-96 Estrogen Replacement Therapy May Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
       24-Oct-96 Mutant Presenilin 1 Gene Linked To Alzheimer's-Related Plaque
       24-Oct-96 Nicotine May Have  Double-Pronged Benefit In Alzheimer's Disease
       24-Oct-96 Nicotine-Memory Link Found
       22-Oct-96 Eli Lilly And Neurocrine Biosciences To Develop Obesity, Alzheimer's Compounds
       16-Oct-96  Cherokees Resistant To Alzheimer's
       15-Oct-96 Pure Ancestry,   Mixed Ancestry Influence Risk For Alzheimer's In Cherokee
       Indians
       15-Oct-96 Early Diagnosis Of Lyme Meningitis: Highlight  Of American Neurological
     Association Meeting
       15-Oct-96 Weight Loss May Predict Alzheimer's
       14-Oct-96 Weight Loss May Predict Alzheimer's
       14-Oct-96 Weight Loss In Alzheimer's Patients: New Observations Reported
       10-Oct-96 Glycosaminoglycans May Have Key Role In Alzheimer's "Tangles"
       07-Oct-96 Mice Given Alzheimer's Disease
       07-Oct-96 Alzheimer's Disease Neurofibrillary Tangles Inhibited
       In Vitro
       04-Oct-96 New Mouse Model For Alzheimer's Disease  Developed
       04-Oct-96 Differential Diagnosis Of Dementia and  Delirium Essential
       01-Oct-96 New Guidelines For Alzheimer's  Diagnosis
       27-Sep-96 HHS Issues New Guidelines For Alzheimer's  Disease, Other Dementias
      26-Sep-96 New Test For Mad Cow Disease
       26-Sep-96 Eisai Receives Approvable Letter On Alzheimer Agent
       25-Sep-96 Cultural Environment May Affect Alzheimer Disease Prevalence
       25-Sep-96 U.S. Lifestyle May Up Alzheimer's Risk
      12-Sep-96 "Alzheimer's Gene" May Be Inadequate Antioxidant
       09-Sep-96 Don't Forget Aspirin! 06-Sep-96 School HIV Prevention
       Programs Need Improvement
       06-Sep-96 Aspirin Use May Decrease  Risk For Alzheimer's
       06-Sep-96 Photocopiers Are An Occupational  Hazard








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