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.

Head clash: Footballers and administrators have been warned of the dangers of concussions. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

MEDICAL experts have said Australian football codes must investigate the long-term impact of head injuries and concussions.

Concerns are intensifying over the potential for concussions to cause long-term harm after autopsies on brains of American National Football League players showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), two Australian researchers say.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease with similar symptoms to early onset dementia.

Players of Australia’s three major football codes regularly sustain concussions, raising concerns about possible brain damage, cognitive impairment and mental health problems, the researchers say in an article published on the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) website today.

The University of Tasmania’s Frederic Gilbert and the University of Queensland’s Bradley Partridge say there is an urgent need to investigate the cumulative effects of head traumas over long periods by tracking athletes’ playing history and recording head injuries.

They say the research would require the co-operation of all three codes – Australian rules, rugby league and rugby union – and the findings could prove controversial.

"This research may raise uncomfortable questions about how head injuries are managed but it is crucial for the football codes to facilitate such research to ensure the safety and future welfare of their players," the article said.

Reducing the risk of concussive impacts was even more important in amateur leagues to protect vulnerable young players, Dr Gilbert and Dr Partridge said.

In an editorial in the MJA, director of neurosurgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Andrew Kaye, said athletes, referees, administrators, parents and coaches all had a responsibility to learn about when it was safe to play again after injury.

Prof Kaye, a board director of AFL club Hawthorn, said the AFL and NRL had developed their own concussion guidelines in line with the Zurich consensus statement, considered world’s best practice.

However, he said there was a danger that links between CTE and the playing history of American footballers and ice hockey players had been overstated.

Media interest had centred on a handful of reported cases, some of which involved a family history of dementia and illicit drug use, he said.

"Critically, the detection of pathological change in the brains of former athletes does not necessarily support a causal relationship with their sporting careers or history of head impacts," he said.

All three medical experts said the use of protective headgear was problematic in sport as athletes altered their playing behaviour, with some American footballers using their helmets as "weapons". 

When Surang Janyasing was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago she was devastated. The 55-year-old mid-ranking police officer knew that the disease cannot be cured, and that she would be on medication for the rest of her life, with the probability of deteriorating health.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s include stiffness of the muscles, shaking and slowness of movement. It mainly affects the way the brain coordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body.

Patients with Parkinson’s have a tendency to isolate themselves and are easily exhausted. The effects of the disease plunged Ms Surang into depression.

“I think of my Parkinson’s as a disease of snobbishness. my body was very stiff, I couldn’t turn to see anyone who called me from behind, and my face was grim from depression. I didn’t have the heart to chat with anyone,” Ms Surang says. “People who weren’t close to me thought that I was a snob.”

Since then Ms Surang has taken three types of medication four times a day. However, she noticed that she wasn’t getting any better. Finally Ms Surang left her job so she could care for her 90-year-old mother. Parkinson’s has made caring for her mother more difficult, and she started to worry what would happen if her symptoms worsened.

But her life changed rapidly after she joined a Thai dancing class organised by a physical therapist who was researching ways to help Parkinson’s sufferers improve their quality of life.

Dr Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

In a dance class on the day of our interview, Ms Surang was lively, dancing with a radiant glow of happiness on her face. Her movements were smooth and close to those of a normal person. Along with Ms Surang, her seven classmates were also moving with the music. some were moving awkwardly and slowly, others had helpers to prevent them from falling. Only one or two were moving as smoothly as Ms Surang.

This group comprises patients from Chulalongkorn Hospital. they were carefully selected to join a programme, which formed part of the doctoral thesis of Surasa Khongprasert, a PhD student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Sports Science.

Twenty-eight patients participated in the research, all from the Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s and Related Disorders, run by director Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

Fourteen were selected to learn Thai dance while taking medication, while the rest received only the medication. There were three dancing classes held over a period of four years. each lasted three months, and were four or five months apart from each other. The last class was almost a year and a half ago, but the patients still meet from time to time to dance and chat.

The programme started in 2008, when Ms Surasa was looking for a topic for her thesis, and traditional Thai dance caught her attention. She found that the symptoms of Parkinson’s _ such as stiffness and difficulties in movement _ might be helped by the postures and movements of Thai dance.

“I thought it would be a good form of exercise. However, it was not enough to be the topic for a doctorate degree thesis, so I searched for other factors that could enhance the importance of my study,” Ms Surasa says.

There are 108 postures considered as the basic movements of Thai dance, called Tha Mae Bot or Ram Mae Bot in Thai. Ms Surasa chose eight movements that could have beneficial effects for patients, covering muscles from head to toe.

The new PhD holder recently completed her thesis, and her research was rated as “excellent” by the professors overseeing her work. The results are quite amazing. All of the pariticipants’ symptoms improved and they saw improvements in balance, speed of movement, range of motion and ability to shift between different movements.

“Moreover, their quality of life has markedly improved, such as an increase in communication skills and while their depression has lessened,” says Ms Surasa.

TAKING a CHANCE ON DANCE: Parkinson’s sufferer Surang Janyasing has benefited from dance therapy.

The findings from her thesis might help Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand _ who have been increasing in number in recent years _ to live better lives, according to Dr Roongroj.

There are 60,000 known Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand. However, Dr Roongroj believes the number is under-reported because of poor record keeping and administrative procedures in some facilities, and there is also an unknown number of sufferers who are not properly diagnosed because of inadequate facilities and staffing in some areas.

The causes of Parkinson’s are still unclear, but interactions between genetic weaknesses and exposure to environmental factors are widely believed to be the main causes. Pesticide exposure is believed to be an especially important environmental risk factor.

The recent report, “A National Registry to Determine the Distribution and Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease in Thailand: Implications of Urbanisation and Pesticides as Risk Factors for Parkinson’s Disease”, suggested that urbanisation and exposure to pesticides may both be risk factors for the disease in Thailand. The two central provinces of Chai Nat and Sing Buri have the highest prevalence of Parkinson’s and are also reported to use the most pesticides.

What concerns Dr Roonroj the most is Thailand’s greying population _ the rise in the elderly population and decline in the proportion of children and teenagers. since Parkinson’s is more common among those over the age of 50 that might result in a spike in the number of sufferers.

Parkinson’s is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that occurs when the neurons within the brain responsible for producing the chemical dopamine become impaired or die. Dopamine is essential for the smooth control and coordination of the movement of voluntary muscle groups. once approximately 80% of the brain’s dopamine-producing cells no longer function, the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to appear.

“There are four subtle early signs of the disease that should not be overlooked _ permanent loss of smell, chronic constipation, depression and REM

[rapid eye movement] sleep behaviour disorder, or para-somnia. There are reports worldwide indicating that these signs can predict the disease 20 years before the symptoms are clearly seen,” Dr Roongroj said.

But even with the onset of these symptoms, misdiagnoses occur and that can result in the loss of precious time in tackling the disease at an early stage. Ms Surang was also diagnosed with spinal stenosis and was subjected to neck surgery.

“But it didn’t have any affect on my symptoms, so I was transferred to the neurology department to be tested for Parkinson’s,” Ms Surang said.

Once the symptoms of the disease are present, a sufferer’s quality of life declines. The most obvious symptoms are movement-related; these include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking. Later, cognitive and behavioural problems may arise, with dementia commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease. Other symptoms include sensory, sleep and emotional problems.

THEORY INTO PRACTICE: Left, Surasa Khongprasert’s research for her doctoral dissertation led to an innovative breakthrough in Parkinson’s treatment.

That’s why exercise is essential for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Medication alone cannot increase body strength to better control the body’s movements, but there are many forms of exercise that can help, such as walking, cycling on a static bike and stretching.

In other countries, ballroom dancing and Tai Chi are being used to help sufferers, and many reports clearly state the benefits when patients participate in certain exercise regimens.

Many researches also point out that music with a lively rhythm helps patients in guiding their movements.

“And, in Thai dance with the music, there are a lot of rhythms of variable or frequency as well. so, we think that Thai dance is a good idea in combination with stretching and balancing exercises, and rhythm guidance. so we developed these classes for the patients,” said Dr Roongroj.

Ms Surasa also pointed out other advantages of traditional Thai dance. besides it being a low impact exercise it can help stretch and move small joints such as finger and toe joints, wrists and also palm muscles with its different postures. and it is also able to help improve balance and prevent joints stiffening.

“Patients have to learn to shift their weight to the rhythm, and traditional Thai dancing can improve a body’s balance and prevent joint stiffening. Sufferers can do just one Thai traditional dance movement, but get the same physical benefit as doing two or three physical therapy-based exercises.”

For example, traditional movements such as Prom-See-Na and Nok-Yoong-Fon-Hang can increase movement around shoulder joints and wrist areas as well as helping to stretch flexor muscles. Sod-Soi-Ma-La exercises the fingers, especially the thumb and index finger.

And Thai dance requires a lot of toe tilting and the movement of legs to the front, side and back which increases leg flexibility.

Ms Surasa’s research has now been completed. The class has been over for months. However, Ms Surang and her friends still meet up once a month to review their progress. Ms Surasa has also given them songs so that they can dance at home.

However, many say they feel better in a class. “I feel a bit lonely when I do it alone at home,” Ms Surang says.

“However, I have my one-year-old nephew to cheer me up while I’m dancing at home. he loves the songs and tries to move along.”

Currently, Ms Surasa and her two advisers, Dr Roongroj and Vijit Kanungsukkasem, the dean of the School of Sports Science at Chulalongkorn University, are trying to publicise the dance programme so it can be used by Parkinson’s sufferers across the country.

Posters with Thai dance postures are being distributed to physical therapy units, and a story about the programme was also published in a local health magazine.

With the hope that her findings can improve the lives of Parkinson’s sufferers, Ms Surasa says she will try to publicise the benefits of Thai dancing as widely as possible.

Visit chula-parkinsons.org for more information.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVES :Ms Surasa with some of the patients whose lives have been improved by her novel ideas on dance as physical therapy for Parkinson’s sufferers. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FACULTY OF SPORTS SCIENCE, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY

About the author Writer: Busaba Sivasomboon Latest stories in this category:

Two-time Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon is among 300 retired players or spouses suing the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain disease symptoms they claim were suffered on the job.

McMahon, the ex-Chicago Bears star, has been outspoken on the issue and believes the league went so far as to conceal information related to concussions.

“We knew what was going on with pretty much every other part of the body,” McMahon said on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, per ProFootballTalk.com. “We knew there was going to be a chance for injury. But we didn’t know about the head trauma. and they did, and that’s the whole reason for this lawsuit. … They knew about it and they didn’t tell us. That’s like looking in your face and lying to you. Flat-out lying.

“Short-term memory is not good,” McMahon said. “I won’t remember a hell of a lot about this interview in 10 minutes.”

McMahon is part of at least four concussion-related lawsuits that have been consolidated in Philadelphia. The league has vowed to vigorously defend itself.

In a separate class-action lawsuit filed in February in federal court in new Orleans, several former Saints, including John Fourcade, are among 11 ex-players named as plaintiffs. The lawsuit says each of them has developed mental or physical problems from concussions or concussion-like symptoms.

A 2000 survey of more than 1,000 former NFL players found that more than 60 percent had suffered at least one concussion, while 26 percent had suffered three or more during their careers, according to the February lawsuit.

MOST of the local entrepreneurs have lots of complaint when the economy is down. you will always hear every corner of the streets…mahina ang benta, kukunting taong bumibili, so on and so forth… It can be difficult enough to grow, expand and maintain a healthy business in a strong economy. When…

SUS MARIAKUSINA, NAGBUSI MANEN TI NGAWNGAW NI SEN. MIRIAM SANTIAGO! Kasla gubat manen idiay senado. Di uray met napleng ti sinabonna nga abogado ti prosecution ta nagapput ti lapayagna. Iti kasta nga eksena, ania ti makunayo apo? Marespeto ngata ida? Wenno kayatmo idan a batuen iti ETAG!…

(Speech delivered by the author during the monthly general meeting of the Philippine Institute of Architects – PIA – Manila Section February 24, 2012 in Pasig City, Metro Manila)

> LICENSURE EXAMINATION. every applicant seeking to be registered and licensed as a real estate service…

(This revisit of a piece way back was triggered by an e-mail ribbing from Igorot Global Organization (IGO) president Ceasar Castro who dropped what he was doing to welcome me last October. He wondered what IGO would have in return for my sharing Ifugao jokes at its 9th International Igorot…

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ON THE balmy, almost-summer night of February 21, all roads led to the cavernous World Trade Center, bringing in hundreds of physicians from all over the country to witness a landmark event in the history of health service delivery in the Philippines.

Indeed, two giants in the…

I RECEIVED this text message a few days ago from my friend, Lito Pangilinan:

“The road to success is not straight. there is a Curve called Failure, and a Loop called Confusion; Speed Bumps called Friends; Red Lights called Enemies: Caution Lights called Family. there are Flats called Jobs…

FIRST of all, I would like to greet my beloved daughter, Ma. Gina Balweg-Sison, on her March 2012 natal day. she is travelling with her husband, Lyndon Sison, a son of the late Atty. Ambrosio Sison of the Court of Appeals. They are accompanying their sons Donyell and Gian Luc. Donyell is seeking…

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IT USED to be that we would both see and later complain of the north part of Magsaysay Avenue Baguio-bound half to be occupied by boulders, mud, debris, and garbage, which gave reason for short vehicle-length free-segments to be filled by parked cars to behemoth-sized trucks. thus, the two-lane…

DESIRING to increase mutual understanding and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and those of other countries, the late Senator J. William Fulbright introduced the Fulbright Program which is an international educational exchange program established by the U.S. Congress in…

I WAS on Facebook several days ago and there was one post from an acquaintance that really floored me. she said that she did not understand what the fuss is all about with the trees. Soon as I read that I went to her page to check where she lived. no, not to visit her and talk to her … I wanted…

WHO wouldn’t like flowers? These were the words of Atty. Damaso Bangaoet Jr. who is known as the Father of Panangbenga the first time I interviewed him about the birth and rise of the popular festival that put Baguio City back in the map after being devastated by killer quake 22 years ago.

I STOPPED watching Panagbenga years ago. And this coming week I might not watch again. Don’t get me wrong, I love flowers and sure do appreciate the art and effort put on the dancing, and not to mention the food.

WE ARE living at a time when many of our children do not believe there is such thing as consequences to their actions. Clearly, the lack of personal responsibility is very evident in a lot of ways some children nowadays conduct themselves. Adults have a responsibility to reverse this trend….

PART of the annual celebration of the Panagbenga and probably likewise one of the most awaited event is the Session Road in Bloom. for this year, Session Road was closed last February 27 and will last until March 4, 2012, in line with the formal closing of the Panagbenga Festival.

IT WAS only two weeks ago that I was blabbering about the joys of commute with my daughter Gelai, when we took the bus to Manila to visit our relatives in Antipolo. I did not have a change of heart that easily, and I still do look forward to long commute whether through public or private…

A MONTH from now, the 9th edition of the Asia-Oceania Epilepsy Congress (AOEC) will be held. this installment will be hosted by our country at our nation’s capital. It is in this same congress when it was held in Nagano, Japan nearly a decade ago that I started becoming more active in the lives…

“IF EVER our situation is going to be improved, no novel will do it and no poetry nor story. It will be done by scientists, by technology, maybe by some good politicians. Literature stirs the mind but does not direct it.” thus wrote Isaac Singer in his essay Literature is the Memory of Humanity…

HUMANKIND since time immemorial had the penchant for risk. from the time cavemen began ganging up on beasts to serve as food for the table, man gambled everything there is to gamble under the sun. It comes as no surprise then that right at this very moment, wheels are turning to fully implement…

THE weekend parades have ended!

You hear this and that. some express their delight. Others are ho-hum.

“AKO na naman ang magiisip,” you raise your voice out of nowhere. He stops walking while you continue a few steps more. He looks at you, puzzled. you stop and look back at him, annoyed. “Ako na naman ang magiisip kung saan tayo kakain. Ako na naman ang magiisip kung saan ang ganito, kung anong…

I GOT this reminder from Katedral Baguio early morning of Wednesday last week that had me thinking about my Christian faith as an indigenous person (IP) while visiting the pine forest hereabouts.

Beginning with the Spaniards, the spread of Christianity in the Cordillera may have started…

REPUBLIC Act no. 9485, or the Anti-Red Tape Act, was enacted to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape and preventing graft and corruption. The signing into law of the Anti-Red Tape Act in 2007 confirms the government’s effort to…

RAISE your hand if you want to join the bandwagon of pedestrians who get rankled at this particular lane right before the overpass at Tiong San, Harrison (not to mention other areas where inefficient traffic rules are unbridled). The installation of traffic lights is suppose to pave the way for…

West Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) January 16, 2012

Céllan is a promising fix for Australia’s rapidly expanding obesity epidemic. the World Health Organization (WHO) found 67 percent of Australian adults are either overweight or obese. Clinical studies of the active patented ingredient in Céllan found overweight users lost 12.7 kg and 17.5 cm off their waist in just 10 weeks without changing their diet or exercise habits. Céllan is unique in that it also treats symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome, a disorder associated with obesity driven by insulin resistance and inflammation that increases risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and dementia. the patented African Mango extract in Céllan is clinically proven to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as reduce levels of proinflammatory cytokines.

Céllan Chief Scientist Michele Noonan commented, “Céllan is the most effective stimulant-free weight loss supplement available in Australia. hopefully Céllan can provide a solution for Australians struggling with weight loss and health issues.”

16 Bottles, a joint venture between engage:BDR and businessman Michael Amiri, has successfully sold Céllan in United States, Canada and the United Kingdom before expanding its global reach to Australia. Céllan is available in Australia at yourcellan.com/au. 16 Bottles is also launching its second product, Coleanse, in Australia at: startcoleanse.com/au.

President of 16 Bottles commented, “There is nothing on the market like Céllan in Australia. we expect to be the top-selling diet supplement soon after launching.”

Céllan features patented Irvingia gabonensis extract and also contains powerful fat burner epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea. EGCG is a natural catechin that clinically increases fat burning up to 33% at the dose found in Céllan without the side effects of caffeine. other ingredients include niacin, vitamin C and an antioxidant-rich berry blend of blueberry extract, blackberry extract and raspberry ketones.

Connect with other Céllan users worldwide on Facebook at facebook.com/myCellan and Twitter at twitter.com/myCellan.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9077074.htm

From Stagg High School to Candlestick Park, football gave George Visger a life filled with cheers and glory. But long after the roar of the crowds faded, it was what football had taken away that would end up haunting him.

George Visger can calmly discuss the holes in his head, the concussions he sustained and the brain damage he suffered over the course of his football career, but his eyes well up with tears when he explains how the neurological effects have impacted his family.

The 53-year-old Stockton native reveled in the glory years at Stagg High School in the 1970s. he played in the Orange Bowl with the University of Colorado. he even won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, but old thrills offer little consolation for all he and his loved ones have endured.

“Until just a couple years ago, I never hesitated … In a heartbeat, I’d do it all over again,” Visger said. “In the last two years, what it’s done to my family relationships … you can have it all. honest to God, it’s not worth what it’s done to my family.”

As a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive tackle, Visger wanted to strike fear into the hearts of quarterbacks, not his wife and children. This isn’t how he envisioned life when he reached the NFL in 1980, but his career was over and his future altered by the time the priest arrived to administer last rites as Visger lay comatose following emergency brain surgery at Stanford Medical Center in 1982.

He has had countless concussions and nine brain surgeries. he was hospitalized after the first concussion, which occurred during a practice drill while playing youth football in Stockton.

His last major concussion occurred when he was knocked unconscious on the first play of his NFL career, but he said trainers gave him smelling salts to help him finish the game.

Three decades later, Visger is estranged from his wife and living in cheap motels while seeking help for traumatic brain injuries that cause symptoms such as dementia, memory loss and mood swings. he suffers from hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid inside the skull which leads to brain swelling. he also has early signs of frontal lobe dementia and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Hydrocephalus nearly killed him, but CTE is what he fears most.

CTE is a progressive degenerative disease found in a growing number of contact-sport athletes, including football players. there is no known cure. For now, CTE can only be formally diagnosed postmortem, but doctors are certain Visger has the disease.

“There’s no question about it,” said San Joaquin County coroner and chief medical examiner Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who was working in Pittsburgh in 2002 when he became the first to find the disease in football players. “George has CTE. he has loss of memory, mood fluctuations, impaired cognitive functioning. Almost like a bipolar disorder, he loses his temper for very minor things and has violent tendencies like yelling at his kids. the signs are there.”

Autopsies revealed CTE in professional wrestler Chris Benoit and numerous NFL veterans, including Mike Webster, Andre Waters and Dave Duerson. Benoit, Waters and Duerson all committed suicide. the disease also has been found in high school and college football players who’ve committed suicide.

“George is not alone,” said Bob Visger, George’s brother. “You see these guys from the NFL now that have dementia and they’re committing suicide. a lot of them don’t know who they are or what they’re doing, and I think that scares the hell out of George.”

Hyperbaric oxygen has given George Visger hope and some symptomatic relief. he often undergoes 90-minute treatments at the Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic of Sacramento, treatments he is asking the NFL to make available in every locker room.

As Visger eases his enormous frame into a narrow glass tube, Dr. Kenneth Stoller, president of the International Hyperbaric Medical Association, explains that these treatments have been used for decades to treat decompression sickness and other ailments. Treating brain injuries with hyperbaric oxygen is a relatively new practice with studies showing mixed results, but doctors say Visger’s brain scans have improved dramatically while undergoing treatments over the past two years.

Stoller said the highly-pressurized oxygen improves brain function by revitalizing mitochondria in brain cells. he estimated that NFL teams could have oxygen chambers installed for $200,000, adding that players would gain short- and long-term benefits.

Visger already has endured numerous personal, professional and medical complications. he works as a wildlife biologist, serving as an environmental consultant on construction projects throughout the region, but he became deeply depressed earlier this year after losing a job and encountering financial difficulties.

Visger and his wife, Kristi, who declined to be interviewed for this story, recently lost their Grass Valley home in a short sale. they have been married for 15 years, but Visger said their relationship has changed in recent years.

Kristi still teaches in Grass Valley, but she and the children, Jack, 12, and Amanda, 14, are living with her mother in Sacramento while Visger stays at a nearby Motel 6.

“It kills me,” he said. “I can’t even see my family except just a few hours a day now and then, and then I’m out the door. It’s nuts.”

Visger said he has never physically harmed his family. he admits he can be “very intimidating,” but said he has been more mild mannered since starting hyperbaric oxygen treatments.

“I didn’t know it, but for years, the nights I came home, Kristi would stay at school working late sometimes with the kids because they weren’t sure who was coming home,” Visger said. “They said either the Gentle Giant or Maximum George. I had no idea they called me Maximum George.”

Visger knew he needed help after going to see his doctor in July 2009.

“He asks me how things are going, and this is just ingrained in your head when you’re a ballplayer: ‘How you doing?’ I’m doing good. I’m fine.’ And my wife, the first sentence out of Kristi’s mouth was – she bursts into tears – ‘Oh, my God, the kids and I are afraid when George comes home at night.’ … This just knocked the wind out of me.”

Three months later, on a referral from his doctor, Visger went to Newport Beach with his wife and son to see Daniel Amen, a physician, psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist. Amen conducted one of the largest brain imagining and rehabilitation studies to date on former professional football players. His examinations revealed brain damage in 113 of 115 living NFL veterans who took part in the study.

Amen said Visger’s brain scans showed considerable damage, mostly to his prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe. a healthy brain shows full even, symmetrical activity.

“When you look at George, you see all these holes. the holes are areas of low activity and low blood flow in his brain,” Amen said. “We were worried about his memory, judgment, impulse control, decision making, headaches, and there were concerns his wife had. His brain was not healthy. he showed some very significant low levels of activity.”

Visger’s memory of the past 30 years exists mostly in pocket-size notebooks he carries everywhere. he has hundreds of them, filled cover to cover with meticulous daily records of his travels, activities and interactions. Without them, he would be lost.

In an online blog for football veterans, Visger wrote: “After reading what I did last week 3-4 times, I know what I did even if I don’t really remember doing it.”

The short-term memory loss doesn’t stop Visger from recalling details from his childhood. he remembers playing youth football for the 1970 West Stockton Bears with Jack Cosgrove and Pat Bowe, both of whom went on to the NFL, and Von Hayes, who played major league baseball. he talks about the 1975 Stagg team, which went undefeated, achieved a No. 5 national ranking and referred to itself as “The Family.” he says he’ll never forget the night the locker room doors swung open during an emotional pregame speech by late coach Bob Mattos, and in walked star running back Freddy Douglas, equipment bag in hand, just four days after his father was murdered.

“I can remember this kind of stuff very vividly,” Visger said. “Don’t ask me what I did yesterday.”

Despite his difficulties, Visger has remained remarkably functional as a biologist and as an outspoken advocate for injured players. he studies his medical conditions and has stayed abreast of worker’s compensation laws since fighting the 49ers for medical expenses.

Visger has argued on behalf of injured players in court and in Congress, and has taken his advocacy to the airwaves on the CBS Evening News, CNN and National Public Radio. he will speak at the Santa Clara County Brain Injury Conference on Feb. 25.

“I’m the poster child for this thing,” Visger said. “By the grace of God, I’m still functioning and able to communicate, and maybe this is what I’m supposed to be doing to help change this whole thing somehow.”

He spent his second season in the NFL on injured reserve but was with the team when Joe Montana led the 49ers to a dramatic 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

Four months later, at age 22, Visger had his first brain surgery after developing hydrocephalus. he celebrated his 23rd birthday recovering in the intensive care unit at Stanford Medical Center.

The shunt surgeons inserted to drain excess spinal fluid away from Visger’s brain failed eight months later. In May of 1982, he slipped into a coma and was given last rites before undergoing the second of two emergency brain operations performed just 10 hours apart.

He recovered and went back to school to earn a degree in biology from Sacramento State University, but he continued to experience sleeplessness, projectile vomiting and seizures. he once suffered a 50-minute grand mal seizure while sitting in a lecture hall.

Visger lived like this for years, but eventually the behavioral symptoms began to take a toll on those he loves.

“Kristi told me that she hates what football has done to her life,” Visger said. “When we first met, it was a big deal … ex-49er, blah, blah, blah, blah. She’d have me come in and talk to her students; show them my ring. now, she can’t even stand it.”

This isn’t how Visger envisioned his life.

He wanted to make enough money in the NFL to retire in good health after five years. he wanted to buy his parents a home, planned to build a cabin in the woods in Alaska and dreamed of the day his son would follow in his footsteps on the football field.

“Jack was just cranked up to play football, and I couldn’t wait for him to play,” Visger said. “He was about 10 the first time we went down to Amen’s clinic. … we walked out of that meeting, and Kristi looked at me and said, ‘Jack will never play football.’ Jack looked up at me and I looked at him – and I had all my brain scans in my hand – and I said, ‘Partner, I can’t argue with your mom. You’re not going to play. It’s not worth it.’ “

Contact reporter Jason Anderson at (209) 546-8283 or . Visit his blog at recordnet.com/sportsblog.

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6 Jan 2012 10:45 AM EST

-by Molly C. Braswell, Staff Writer; Image: Bryan Fischer (Image Source: Queerty)

The Focal Point host, Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association and conservative extremist Bryan Fischer said on his show that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not the source of causing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

“The reason that HIV was invented as the cause of AIDS was a way to get research money,” Fischer said. “That’s how you get big bucks. That’s how you get research grants to fund your laboratories and your research. if AIDS is caused by behavior, then there’s no money in that because you just tell people, ‘Hey, stop doing the behavior.’”

Fischer interviewed (via telephone) Peter H. Duesberg, Ph. D., of the University of California, Berkley, on his show Tuesday. Duesberg is the author of the book Inventing the AIDS Virus. He claims that recreational drug use by the homosexual male population is the cause of most AIDS symptoms.

“what I know as AIDS is what, like, abnormal diseases pneumonia, diarrhea and dementia in 20 to 30-year-old men and women in the U.S., in Europe, in Asia and even a few that fit that definition in Africa use recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin, amphetamines,” Duesberg said. “in the U.S., the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) even reports that intravenous drug use is half of all AIDS patients. The rest of the other half is male homosexuals… but it’s the ones who have… hundreds, thousands of sexual contacts in a short period of time.”

Fischer cited basketball star Magic Johnson as a prime example that HIV does not cause AIDS. He noted that Johnson has been living with the syndrome for more than 20 years after his diagnosis was “confirmed.”

Duesberg also mentioned on the program that he wasn’t talking about “you’re all-American male homosexuals from next door.”

Follow Molly on Twitter @Molly_AMNY

Sadly, the dramatic changes that occur just before and after nightfall can, in some ways, be loosely compared to the words penned in folklore and fiction when “unsuspecting victims” experience unwelcomed transformations and do uncontrollable acts they normally would not do during the day. They may feel remorseful about these the next morning while others may not recall their actions at all.

Many of those who are not familiar with Sundowner’s per se simply know their loved ones have a difficult time at night and, depending on the severity, the symptoms can unfortunately prevent needed, restful sleep for the individual and their caregivers. after my husband and I began hearing about, and even witnessing, similar patterns in those we are close to, we began to research these mysterious metamorphoses and were surprised, not to mention tremendously relieved, to find this was not only recognized as a specific condition but may be, to some degree, treatable depending on the individual.

Much of our personal research suggests one should first be aware of what the sufferer is doing or eating that could be triggers for the negative behavior as well as become very familiar with their medications and their possible side effects. As it relates to treatments we learned that in addition to certain vitamins, herbs, supplements and prescribed drugs, there are some other creative activities that can be tried. one of these is keeping the person busy doing things they find enjoyable. Something as simple as folding clothes, playing games or performing repetitive tasks they may have done earlier in life can be quite beneficial to relieve stress, which is thought to be one of the possible triggers for those afflicted. Our physician’s assistant said these can also be useful diversions when the unpleasant symptoms start to surface in the evening.

Trying to keep the day-to-day activities as consistent as possible can be extremely beneficial. one certified nursing assistant we spoke with recently said that she and her patient’s wife would pack the husband’s lunch daily. then he would “go off to work” to a spot on the back porch where he would replace door knobs, taking them off and putting them back on again. He was in a safe environment, doing something he was good at and staying busy, which we were told is especially important to those who were quite productive in their younger years.

In addition, receiving proper sunlight may combat the depression that sometimes accompanies or could possibly exacerbate this condition. If natural sunlight is not an option, light boxes that mimic sunlight have been reported to be effective. these can also reset the individual’s internal clock if they have their days and nights reversed. Exercise and social activities such as visiting with friends or family can be therapeutic for some folks as well.

We read that nursing homes have experienced positive results in allowing trained animals to interact with patients, and some have found aromatherapy, music or sounds like ocean waves, singing birds and the like to be quite soothing. Hand holding or hand massage treatments have also been used to calm agitation, but these are not effective for those who show signs of anger or violence.

Of course our experience is limited to our personal research and circumstance; therefore, anyone concerned about this topic should seek the advice of their doctor and/or healthcare professional. Even though there is still much to be learned about Sundowner’s, it was comforting to realize the disorder has a name, and there are folks out there with firsthand experience to offer. the Internet and the library were also wonderful resources regarding what is known as well as how to make the best of the situation. one of the most refreshing books we found on the topic of Alzheimer’s is “Finding the Joy in Alzheimer’s: Caregivers Share the Joyful Times” by Brenda Avadian.

The role reversal of becoming a parent to one’s parent or spouse can in some ways be more daunting than being a parent to one’s actual offspring; therefore, relying on whatever support system that is at one’s disposal can be invaluable. If “it takes a village to raise a child” it will surely take a “sympathetic neighborhood” to cope with this challenge. To those who feel a sense of responsibility, trying to courageously handle the experience alone can quickly become overwhelming. Therefore, accepting assistance from trusted friends and family as well as guidance from objective, trained professionals can be so helpful. Maintaining a positive and proactive attitude in keeping with the philosophy that everything happens for a reason can transform the journey from hopelessly agonizing into a life lesson that may someday benefit others.

Even though every situation and person is different, in many ways we as individuals are still quite similar. we all want an enriched quality of life as we travel through it; and with the proper information, support, attitude and faith, hopefully the uncontrollable and the mysterious won’t prevent those affected from embracing and relishing the precious, sweet time spent together.

Jenny Waisner teaches computer classes at Davidson County Community College.

Brought to you by: Mercy Hospital Copyright ©2010. the Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com all rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  

The countdown to Thanksgiving is coming to a fast end, so today we focus on some final details to help illuminate your family feast.

You’ll find recipes for dressing; gravy; breads; wine recommendations; a festive, seasonal punch for this time of year; and a healthy option for your leftovers.

Once the feast is prepared, it’ll be time to exhale, reflect and do as the holiday suggests and give thanks for all you have and those you love and reflect on how each made it to your respective feasts. Reminiscing inevitably brings laughter, and maybe even a few tears will ensue. Memories make so much of who we are and what motivates us.

Life’s triumphs are impossible without tragic challenges. among the most serious is Alzheimer’s disease, and November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. the Oklahoma chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers support at no cost to the 74,000 who struggle with the disease.

The Oklahoma chapter has a goal to raise $1 for every Oklahoman with Alzheimer’s through the “74,000 Reasons to Give” campaign. the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation and the Jean I. Everest Foundation pledged a combined $74,000 as part of a matching gift campaign, so any gift is matched dollar for dollar and makes double the impact.

As part of our Thanksgiving countdown, I visited Touchmark at Coffee Creek retirement community for a lesson in bread making. Touchmark at Coffee Creek includes all levels of senior care, including a memory-care unit for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Bread making is part of the therapy for residents, and I was lucky to join six cheerful ladies for a lesson in making pumpkin bread.

Touchmark Enrichment/Wellness Director Cathy Bird said cooking is part of cognitive stimulation therapy, which is meant to exercise the brain.

“We assign different tasks to each person,” Bird said. “It can be as little as pouring or measuring ingredients, while some help others complete tasks.”

Bird said the more an activity is part of residents’ lives, the better chance they have of drawing a memory. thus, cooking is ideal as it is a part of everyday life for most.

Dr. Robert Winningham, of Western Oregon University, wrote in the Journal of Mental Health and Aging, “If older adults can maintain their cognitive ability, they will require less care and possibly delay or even eliminate the need to go to a nursing home. Cognitively stimulating activities may also postpone symptoms of dementia, which could also delay the need for more intensive care.”

Winningham gave these examples of cognitive stimulation:

Looking at a magazine.

Visiting with friends.

Developing a new hobby.

Taking different routes to frequent destinations.

Going dancing or taking a dance class.

Learning a foreign language.

Cooking new recipes.

Watching Emily Gardner, Naomi Rother, Sue Smith, Betty Jones and Florence Clary in action was inspiring but also bittersweet. my father died with virtually no memory thanks to Alzheimer’s disease. It’s an incredibly tough road for family but nothing compared with what it must be like for the victim. I watched as my father’s memory gradually slipped away over several years, leaving him finally with nothing.

It’s a reminder without sentiment to be thankful for your health most of all. It’s also a reminder to be thankful for those such as the folks at Touchmark who have dedicated their careers to caring for our loved ones in need. and for doctors who’ve dedicated their careers to finding ways to combat memory-loss diseases.

What is life without challenge and failure? Heaven. But heaven can wait as we’ve all got some living to do. From the most helpful to the most helpless, our experiences — positive and negative — serve to inform the future.

Be thankful you’ve got a part in this ongoing narrative, even if you’re still trying to refine your role. We’ve all been there or will be someday.

No matter where in the world you are Thanksgiving Day, whether you’re eating white meat, dark meat or dim sum at the Grand House, remember we’re all in this together.

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