In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging of 574 men, "free" testosterone (or that which is unbound to sex hormone binding globulin) was associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Watch for a news release from the National Institute of Aging, Doug Dollemod, 301-496-1752, dollemod@nia.nih.gov.
In another study, researchers in Italy found that sex hormone binding globulin was significantly elevated in men and women with Alzheimer's disease, but total testosterone was normal.
A related editorial by Victor Henderson, MD, MS, and Eva Hogervorst, PhD, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, raises the question of whether it's men's turn for clinical trails of hormone therapy for the primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Multinational study looks at pain versus itch
In patients with atopic dermatitis, or chronic itch, normally painful stimulation (such as mechanical, electrical or heat) elicited itch symptoms rather than pain. The study showed that noxious stimuli can be perceived as itchy in patients with atopic dermatitis, and that the itch symptom can be induced in healthy subjects by conditioning with histamine.
Fat intake and its relationship to dementia explored in Netherlands study
Consumption of fatty fish and marine omega-3 polyunstaurated fatty acids were related to a decreased risk of impaired cognitive function and speed, whereas higher dietary cholesterol intake was associated with an increased risk of impaired memory and flexibility in this study involving 1,613 middle-aged subjects.
Surgery options for Parkinson's disease discussed in Patient Page
Authored by Adam Blanchette, MA, this month's "Patient Page" focuses on the results of a study in the January 27 Neurology that explores two of the most common surgical treatments for Parkinson's disease: unilateral pallidotomy and bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation, and compares the effectiveness of each surgery. The Patient Page will be available for downloading from www.neurology.org on January 27, or can be obtained in advance from AAN media relations staff.
Journal
Neurology