The clock is ticking: The first National Alzheimer’s plan sets a deadline of 2025 to finally find effective ways to treat, or at least stall, the mind-destroying disease.

The Obama administration finalizes the landmark national strategy on Tuesday, laying out numerous steps the government and private partners can take over the coming years to fight what is poised to become a defining disease of the rapidly aging population.

But some of the work is beginning right away.

Starting Tuesday, embattled families and caregivers can check a new one-stop website – alzheimers.gov – for easy-to-understand information about dementia and where to get help in their own communities.

The National Institutes of Health is funding some major new studies of possible therapies, including a form of insulin that’s squirted into the nose.

“These actions are the cornerstones of an historic effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. she was announcing the steps Tuesday at the NIH.

The first National Alzheimer’s plan comes as the world’s top Alzheimer’s scientists are gathered at the NIH this week to debate what research needs to be given priority in order to meet that ambitious 2025 deadline. they said it may be time to start testing potential therapies differently, before people have full-blown Alzheimer’s symptoms, when it may be too late to help.

“There’s a sense of optimism” thanks to some new discoveries, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told scientists at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit on Monday.

But, “we need to figure out exactly where is the best window of opportunity” to battle back Alzheimer’s, Collins said. he noted that cardiologists don’t test cholesterol-lowering drugs on people already near death from heart failure.

It’s clear that Alzheimer’s quietly brews in the brain, killing off cells, for 10 years or more before symptoms appear, Dr. Reisa Sperling of Harvard Medical School told the meeting. she called that time period an important opportunity to try to stave off the disease, at least postponing the memory loss and other symptoms.

Already, 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Barring a research breakthrough, those numbers will rise significantly by 2050, when up to 16 million Americans are projected to have Alzheimer’s. already, it’s the sixth-leading killer, and there is no cure. Treatments only temporarily ease some symptoms.

Beyond the suffering, it’s a budget-busting disease for Medicare, Medicaid and families. Caring for people with dementia will cost the U.S. $200 billion this year alone, and $1 trillion by 2050, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates. even that staggering figure doesn’t fully reflect the toll. Sufferers lose the ability to do the simplest activities of daily life and can survive that way for a decade or more. Family members provide most of the care, unpaid, and too often their own health crumbles under the stress.

So the National Alzheimer’s plan, required by Congress, takes a two-pronged approach: focusing on future treatments plus help for families suffering today.

“There is a reinvigorated focus on this disease,” Donald Moulds of HHS told The Associated Press.

Among the first steps:

-A planned $8 million study of an insulin nasal spray that pilot-testing suggests could help Alzheimer’s. It’s based on growing evidence that diabetes and Alzheimer’s are related, damaging how the brain is fueled. The insulin nasal spray can reach the brain without affecting blood-sugar levels.

-Also, NIH was contributing $16 million to an international study of whether a treatment targeting amyloid, Alzheimer’s hallmark brain plaque, could prevent the disease. The study will include people at highest risk, genetically, of the disease, including Americans and a unique group in Colombia.

-The government will begin offering training to doctors and other health providers on the best ways to care for patients and their families.

Beyond the initial steps, the plan lays out ways that federal and state governments plus private and nonprofit organizations can collaborate to battle Alzheimer’s – from improving early diagnosis to creating more resources to help families with long-term care of their loved ones at home.

continued…… cancel her appointment to discuss treatment options. how early(age wise) is it possible for a female to get cervical cancer and what are the symptoms?

any other informative information about cervical cancer is appreciated as well.

Extremely unlikely. it takes several years after infection of the Human Papilloma Virus to take hold and then the abnormal cells have to mutate into cancer. This all takes time. Cervical cancer screening is typically recommended starting three years or more after first sex, or starting at age 21 to 25. Recommendations for how often a Pap smear should be done vary from once a year to once every five years, in the absence of abnormal results. Guidelines vary on how long to continue screening, but well screened women who have not had abnormal smears can stop screening about age 60 to 70.
Of course you can cancel your appt with the doctors but why would you, Cancer is a life threatening issue and is the number one priority in your life after your diagnosis. you don't just blow off your appointments with your oncologist.
Here is a wikipedia link with much more info on the topic, good Luck!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_ca…

Prostate Problems: a men’s health problem many men are reluctant to confront

Prostate Problems: a men’s health problem many men are reluctant to confront

For most men an enlarged prostate means years of annoying and some times embarrassing symptoms, often not bad enough to treat with surgery but bad enough to mean a lifetime of swallowing pills.

Hopefully most men get a blood test and/or a physical examination for prostate cancer some time in early middle age.  by the time men reach 50 – or earlier if they are experiencing a reduced flow of urine or there is a history of prostate problems in the family – they should be on their way to the Doc for a digital examination.   And no, a digital examination does not mean the Doctor uses some sort of electronic gadget.

A prostate examination should be a priority for middle aged men even if no symptoms are present.

If the typical symptoms of an enlarged prostate are not present it does not necessarily mean there is no cancer.  This is why it is important for men to have a prostate check even if they think they do not have a prostate problem.

A digital examination will very quickly determine if the prostate gland is enlarged but even if the prostate is enlarged it is not necessarily cancerous as most enlarged prostates are due to a non cancerous enlargement.  if a mans prostate is found to enlarged then it is likely the Doctor will arrange for a blood sample to be tested for Prostate Specific Antigens –  the PSA test. unfortunately the tests for prostate cancer are well known to be unreliable with both false positives and false negatives common and a blood test that gives a high ‘PSA” score (Prostate Specific Antigens) does not necessarily mean that cancer is present as a high PSA count can be temporarily caused by:

1: recent sexual activity2: Some physical activities may also cause a temporary blip in the PSA score3: Aging  (PSA levels increase as men age)4: Inflammation or infection of the prostate or urinary tract5: Benign or non cancerous enlargement of the prostate6: Obesity

There is a normal and natural level of Prostate Specific Antigens so men always have some showing in the test.  Your Doctor will discuss the test result with you but if the test scores over about 5 there may be some cause for a follow up. unfortunately PSA test results are not 100% reliable in indicating the presence of cancer and can vary due to age and other factors so do not panic if  the test result is a little high. I know one man who had an alarmingly high PSA result and was later found not to have prostate cancer.  it is therefore possible to have a blood test that indicates a possibility of prostate cancer and yet have no symptoms and no cancer.

A High PSA Score indicates Further Testing is Needed

If your blood test indicates a high PSA score then the Doctor will most likely arrange for a biopsy where a small sample of the prostate gland is taken via the anus for further analysis.  This involves a small tool being inserted in the anus which makes a serious of small punctures through the bowel and into the prostate gland to take tissue samples of the prostate.  This sounds painful but men who have experienced the procedure report it is pretty much a non event with just a sharp minor sting that doesn’t cause any significant pain or discomfort.  the anticipation is reported to be worse than the reality. the results of this test is likely to show there is no cancer as most men do not have or do not develop prostate cancer even if the prostate is enlarged.

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are usually incredibly annoying and can cause a sudden urge to urinate frequently. the swollen gland does not allow the bladder to completely empty as it squeezes the urethra and restricts the flow of urine just like squeezing a garden hose can restrict or stop water flowing through it.   an enlarged prostate is usually the problem of middle-aged men and the swelling of the prostate makes passing urine difficult and in the very worse cases, impossible.  If a complete blockage occurs urgent medical treatment is necessary.

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate

Usually the symptoms become so annoying before a total blockage is experienced that treatment is sought long before it gets to this stage.  an enlarged prostate usually means the bladder is never emptied completely resulting in the frequent sudden urge to urinate and annoyingly, this often happens not long after previously urinating.  Usually the flow of urine is reduced to a very weak stream and there may be difficulty in getting started.  when the symptoms get bad the urine flow may be not much more than a dribble.  the urge to urinate can be so sudden and strong at times it can cause involuntary small discharges of urine and frequent waking in the night.  Sleep patterns are interrupted and fatigue result which result in some pretty unhappy men who are not only tired but have to try and manage their frequent need to urinate.

Left untreated, any difficulty in passing urine can lead to bladder and other problems so it is important to seek medical advice even when the symptoms are moderate.  about 45% of men can expect to start developing benign prostatic hyperplasia by their late forties with symptoms increasing in severity as they age.  Treatment with a drug is usually satisfactory for most men with mild symptoms although it does not entirely deal with the problem.  if the problems passing urine becomes unmanageable then surgery is often necessary and there are a several surgical techniques available now to improve the flow of urine.

I have more information about prostate issue and also about a diet for better prostate health on my health blog.

Ian MillerHealth Writer

Incoming search terms for the article:

, enlarged prostate, , prostate

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5. THE DOCTOR IS IN: be aware: Men can get breast cancer, too

MONTREAL — Jennifer Madar is in the third trimester of her pregnancy, meaning she’s on the priority list of people who should get the H1N1 vaccine this fall, according to public health authorities.

But the 35-year-old Montreal woman isn’t so sure about rolling up her sleeve for a flu shot.

"I’m going to have to get a little bit more informed about it," she said. "It’s a new vaccine and I’m kind of reluctant, because you never know about possible side effects. I’m just worried about the things that they might discover down the line."

Madar, who says she got the traditional flu vaccine three years ago when she had twins, isn’t alone in her misgivings about the H1N1 vaccine. A U.S. public opinion survey released last week found that only 40 per cent of parents said they will get their children vaccinated against the H1N1 virus, while 54 per cent indicated they would give their kids the regular seasonal flu shot.

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? It’s rapidly becoming the question of 2009.

This week saw media reports of studies suggesting that getting the seasonal flu shot makes people more susceptible to H1N1 – unpublished data that influenced Ontario’s decision to delay its seasonal flu shots.

In a poll of more than 2,000 Hong Kong health workers, researchers discovered that during the height of the global swine flu panic in May, less than half were willing to get inoculated.

Acknowledging the public skepticism about the upcoming H1N1 vaccination campaign, Canada’s obstetricians and gynecologists are mounting an information blitz aimed at pregnant women. Posters and fact sheets are being sent to hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices. Physicians are being told to provide advance prescriptions to pregnant women for the antiviral drug Tamiflu that could be filled at the first sign of H1N1 symptoms.

All of this is predicated on the fact that H1N1 is a relatively new strain and has killed a disproportionately higher number of young people than the seasonal flu. What’s more, the World Health Organization has declared an H1N1 pandemic and has warned that a second, perhaps deadlier, wave of infections is imminent this fall.

The doubts about the H1N1 vaccine arise from the perception that it’s being rushed into production and foisted on the public without being tested sufficiently, that it might not be effective, and that it might not even be necessary since the virus has so far proved to be less severe than anticipated.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that Canada has decided to use an adjuvant or immunity-boosting chemical in the vaccine, while the United States has opted for one composed wholly of dead fragments of the H1N1 virus.

Canada has also ordered 1.8 million doses of unadjuvanted swine flu vaccine for pregnant women and children under the age of three.

Experts readily concede that the H1N1 vaccine is being rolled out with great haste, but argue they have no other choice as they brace for a second wave of the pandemic. Usually a new vaccine for a disease like hepatitis can take five years before it’s approved.

"We’re fast-tracking the approval of this vaccine and for obvious reasons, because we are on the threshold of a pandemic, if we’re not already in it," said Karl Weiss, a microbiologist at Montreal’s Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.

"we have already accepted the vaccine not having the full results. I agree that it has to be fast-tracked. You have to put it in the global context. This is not what we usually do, and there are certain questions for which nobody has the answer."

Two weeks ago, GlaxoSmithKline unveiled results of a preliminary study of its vaccine, noting that a single dose confers almost 100 per cent immunity from H1N1 three weeks after vaccination. The results were from a clinical trial involving 130 healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 60.

A study of this size is useful to spot any immediate danger signs with a new vaccine, but the world will only learn the full range of possible side effects once hundreds of thousands of people are inoculated.

"nothing serious will happen out of nowhere," Weiss said. "But there is the potential that after you’ve given it to 100,000 people, you might see three cases of liver issues, let’s say, which is more than you would expect for something like this. at that point, people would have to take a decision."

Weiss says he’s certain about one thing: those who have confirmed cases of H1N1 should not get the vaccine. That’s because their immune systems could overreact horribly.

Richard Schabas, the medical officer of health for Ontario’s Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and a longtime critic of the World Health Organization, said people shouldn’t worry about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine.

"I’m not particularly concerned about the risk profile of the vaccine," he said. "We’ve been producing influenza vaccine for many years. It’s a very safe vaccine."

What Schabas finds fault with is the recommendation by public-health authorities to vaccinate every man, woman and child in Canada against H1N1. he also takes issue with the decision to add the adjuvant, saying that has probably delayed the delivery of the vaccine by several weeks, raising the possibility that many people will get the shot only after a second wave hits.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal took a similar position about the adjuvant in an editorial last month.

"Having enough vaccine for every Canadian would make more sense if the pandemic virus were highly virulent for large proportions of the population," the editorial concluded. "But given current evidence, it seems a poorer choice than providing coverage to high-risk groups as early as possible."

Schabas contends that it’s mostly Canadians who suffer from pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, morbid obesity as well as heart and lung disease who should get vaccinated.

"for the general population who don’t fall into these categories – healthy people are at a very low risk of H1N1," he said. "I’m not saying that pregnant women shouldn’t be immunized, but to describe them all as a high-risk group I think misrepresents the data."

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate – there are no clear answers. But for Weiss, that’s the whole nature of medicine, weighing risks against benefits.

"we live in an environment in which people would like to have a 100 per cent guarantee that everything is safe and good," he said. "But we can’t do that. there is some uncertainty.

"there is no guarantee that this vaccine will be 100 per cent efficient. But chances are it’s going to work."

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

If you have an odd array of symptoms that simply won’t go away, and your doctor can’t give you answers, you may need to learn about adrenal fatigue symptoms and treatment. Adrenal fatigue affects many people, and it often goes overlooked or misdiagnosed. this is because adrenal fatigue isn’t recognized in the medical community as a real, legitimate condition. this is unfortunate because adrenal fatigue is real, and for those who suffer from this condition, it can greatly impact their lives. If you think you may have adrenal fatigue, you should make it a priority to educate yourself concerning adrenal fatigue symptoms and treatment.

Before we go further, it is important that you first understand the purpose and function of the adrenal glands. the adrenal glands are two very small glands that are located just above each kidney. They are responsible for the production of certain hormones to help the body handle levels of stress. When these glands become tired and worn down, they do not function properly, and the body is unable to perform at its greatest ability. If your adrenal glands are not functioning properly, you may be seeking information about adrenal fatigue symptoms and treatment.

Adrenal fatigue has a variety of symptoms, and unless you know of this condition, you may not think to put them together as being related to one thing. a few of these symptoms include excess fatigue and sleepiness, digestive problems, PMS, frequent infections or sickness, weight gain, back and neck pain, a feeling of being in a haze or a fog, and cravings for sugar or sweets. If you have any of these symptoms, you may have adrenal fatigue.

If you suspect that you have adrenal fatigue, you may want to be aware of adrenal fatigue symptoms and treatment before discussing your suspicions with your doctor. since adrenal fatigue is not typically treated by mainstream physicians, you may want to find a doctor who practices natural or holistic medicine in addition to modern medicine. He or she will combine conventional and natural treatments to give you the best for your adrenal gland as well as your overall health.

For adrenal gland health, you should be sure to begin taking a daily multivitamin. there are also some herbal treatments available that will aide in relieving the adrenal glands of excess stress. Do some research, and you will soon learn all that you need to know about adrenal fatigue symptoms and treatment.

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MS sufferer from Great Kingshill calls for change to policy on cannabis drug

3:25pm Tuesday 23rd November 2010

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a 66-YEAR-OLD who suffers from multiple sclerosis has called for a cannabis-based drug to be prescribed by the NHS in Buckinghamshire.

Sativex, an oral spray designed to reduce pain, has taken 11 years to develop and was first licensed by NHS in June this year.

The move was widely welcomed by MS sufferers and campaigners, but it was decided that NHS Buckinghamshire, the county’s primary care trust, would not routinely prescribe the drug.

it was labelled a “low priority” and not cost effective in July, leaving Great Kingshill resident Peter Bridger disappointed.

The dad-of-four had been on a trial for Sativex for four years, but came off the drug 18 months ago when the trial ended.

he said: “It really really worked. as soon as I came off it my waterworks went haywire and I had to be fitted with a pipe through my tummy.

“It helped with the spasms, the bladder problems, the pain and the dizziness – that’s four of the main five symptoms.”

NHS Buckinghamshire does fund Sativex, but only in exceptional circumstances.

it said it welcomes an application by Mr Bridger for his case to be considered by a funding review panel.

Mr Bridger said he will prepare an application, but believes the drug should be routinely proscribed. it costs £11-a-day to buy privately.

The MS Society shares this view and Dr Jayne Spink, a director of the charity, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by enquiries from people across England who are struggling to access the treatment; it’s clear it’s subject to a postcode lottery.”

“The reality is that people with MS living in this area face a complicated and time consuming process to get Sativex, where as people in other parts of England are using and benefiting from the drug now.”

NHS Warwickshire is one primary care trust which does prescribe it.

Mr Bridger, a former engineer, believes there is a stigma surrounding cannabis, which may have affected the thinking of the NHS in Bucks.

he said: “It’s the fact it’s made from cannabis and all the feeling that provokes, there’s a fear of it and that gets in the way of the science.”

Jenny Murray, a spokesman for NHS Buckinghamshire, said: “We are committed to carefully considering each case and processing funding requests as quickly as possible, paying particular attention to the evidence of safety and effectiveness of the proposed treatment and the individual circumstances of the patient.”

She said if sufficient information is provided for the panel, decisions about funding cases take no longer than six weeks.

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