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Child Nutrition and Alzheimer's disease
Poorly nourished children appear to be at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease as compared to well nourished children. Those shorter than 5 feet have more chance of developing symptoms of cognitive impairment.

New Alzheimer's Gene Located.
A new study has located a Gene at a new place on chromosome 12. The study has shown increased risk of late onset Alzheimer's with this gene. A study conducted at university of Toronto showed that APOE gene located on chromosome 19, the one most commonly associated with late onset Alzheimer's, accounted for much, but not all, the risk in those with this disease. They also found that the gene on chromosome 12 seems to play a role in the Alzheimer's risk.
However, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis are unable to confirm this finding.

Should Alzheimer's Drive ?
Auto accidents are often a early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. This has been shown by a Scandinavian study. Driving demands rapid learning and processing of new information and split second decision-making based on newly learned material. This depends on congnitive functions that are first to go in many people with Alzheimer's disease.

Lithium to Benefit Alzheimer's
Lithum has been used for treatment of Manic depression. New research shows it may also help those with Alzheimer's disease. It is found that abnormal glutamate receptors play a role in manic depression. Since glutamate receptors are implicated in the brain cell death in Alzheimer's disease along with Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. It raises the possibility of lithium being useful in the treatment of these neurodegenerative disorders.

Homocystine linked to Alzheimer's
Researchers found high levels of Homocystine and lower levels of nutrients that reduce homocystine levels - folic acid and vitamin B12 in people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
High levels of homocystine has been repeatedly linked with cardiovascular diseases. Also, cardiovascular disease has been established as a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

Women at Greater Risk of Alzheimer's
Women are about fifty percent more prone to develop Alzheimer's as compared to men. Why women are at increased risk is not known. Post menopausal hormonal replacement can help women prevent this disease.

Large family - increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., found the risk for Alzheimer's increases 8 percent with each additional sibling. And people with five or more siblings have a 39 percent greater risk than those who grow up in smaller families, according to the new study published in the Jan. 25 Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers also found people who grow up in urban areas are more likely to get Alzheimer's while risk is lower among families who come from suburban or rural areas.
            So, why is family size linked to Alzheimer's? "Families with five or more children were more likely to be from the lower socioeconomic levels and, therefore, more likely to have poor growth rates," says lead researcher Victoria Moceri. "A poor quality childhood environment could prevent the brain from reaching a complete level of maturation. The effects of impaired development could produce a brain that is normal, but functions less efficiently."