All AAN Press Releases

Study: Teen Years May Be Critical in Later Stroke Risk

ababb@aan.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:00:00 GMT

The teenage years may be a key period of vulnerability related to living in the "stroke belt" when it comes to future stroke risk, according to a new study published in the April 24, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

More people have strokes and die of strokes in the southeastern area known as the stroke belt than in the rest of the United States. So far, research has shown that only part of the difference can be explained by traditional risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Previous studies have shown that people who are born in the stroke belt but no longer lived there in adulthood continue to have a higher risk of stroke, along with people who were born outside the stroke belt but lived there in adulthood.

The current study looked at how long people lived in the stroke belt and their ages when they lived there throughout life to see if any age period was most critical in influencing future stroke risk.

Data came from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national random sample of the general population with more people selected from the stroke belt. The study involved 24,544 people with an average age of 65 who had never had a stroke at the start of the study, with 57 percent currently living in the stroke belt and 43 percent from the rest of the country. The study tracked each person's moves from birth to present, with some people moving into or out of the stroke belt. The participants were then followed for an average of 5.8 years. During that time, 615 people had a first stroke.

After adjusting for stroke risk factors, only living in the stroke belt during the teenage years was associated with a higher risk of stroke. People who spent their teenage years in the stroke belt were 17 percent more likely to have a stroke in later years than people who did not spend their teenage years in the stroke belt. Across all age periods, living in the stroke belt increased the risk about two-fold for African-Americans compared to Caucasians.

"This study suggests that strategies to prevent stroke need to start early in life," said study author Virginia J. Howard, PhD, of the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "Many social and behavioral risk factors, such as smoking, are set in place during the teenage years, and teens are more exposed to external influences and gain the knowledge to challenge or reaffirm their childhood habits and lifestyle."

The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 26,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

More Evidence Suggests Eating Omega 3s and Avoiding Meat, Dairy Linked to Preserving Memory

ababb@aan.com — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 GMT

The largest study to date finds that eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, chicken and salad dressing and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities. However, the same association was not found in people with diabetes. The research is published in the April 30, 2013, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Since there are no definitive treatments for most dementing illnesses, modifiable activities, such as diet, that may delay the onset of symptoms of dementia are very important," said Georgios Tsivgoulis, MD, with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Athens, Greece. Tsivgoulis is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Data came from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national sample of the general population. For the study, dietary information from 17,478 African-American and Caucasian people with an average age of 64 was reviewed to see how closely they adhered to a Mediterranean diet. They were also given tests that measured memory and thinking abilities over an average of four years. A total of 17 percent of the participants had diabetes. Seven percent of the participants developed impairments in their thinking and memory skills during the study.

The study found that in healthy people, those who more closely followed the Mediterranean diet were 19 percent less likely to develop problems with their thinking and memory skills. There was not a significant difference in declines between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, the Mediterranean diet was not associated with a lower risk of thinking and memory problems in people with diabetes.

"Diet is an important modifiable activity that could help in preserving cognitive functioning in late life," said Tsivgoulis. "However, it is only one of several important lifestyle activities that might play a role in late-life mental functioning. Exercise, avoiding obesity, not smoking cigarettes and taking medications for conditions like diabetes and hypertension are also important."

The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

To learn more about Alzheimer's disease, visit http://www.aan.com/patients

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

MS May Not Be As Rare As Thought in African-Americans

ababb@aan.com — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Contrary to a widely accepted belief, African-Americans may have a higher rather than lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than Caucasians, according to a new study in the May 7, 2013, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Our population-based study is the first of its kind to look at this question. The belief (that African- Americans have a lower risk of developing MS) was based on evidence that was problematic," said study author Annette Langer-Gould, MD, with Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif., and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the study, researchers examined the entire database of more than 3.5 million members of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan over a three-year period and identified 496 people with newly diagnosed MS. This type of study, which is termed population-based, is considered a more accurate way to determine disease risk than to examine only those people who attend a specific clinic or hospital.

The study found that African-Americans had a 47 percent increased risk of MS compared with Caucasians, while Hispanics and Asians had a 58 and 80 percent lower risk than Caucasians.

Sex differences in MS risk were also highlighted in the study. The higher risk in African-Americans was found in women only whereas the lower risk for Hispanics and Asians was found in both sexes. African-American women had triple the risk of MS compared to African-American men.

African-Americans made up 21 percent of those with MS, while they made up only 10 percent of the total study population. Caucasians made up 52 percent of those with MS, compared to 38 percent of the total population. A total of 23 percent of those with MS were Hispanic, compared to 40 percent of the total population. Asians made up 3 percent of those with MS, compared to 9 percent of the population.

"One explanation for our findings is that people with darker skin tones have lower vitamin D levels and ultimately, an increased risk, but this would not explain why Hispanics and Asians have a lower risk than Caucasians," said Langer-Gould. "About 19,000 people per year, or 250 people per week, will be diagnosed with MS in the US alone. These numbers highlight the need for more minorities to be included in MS studies, so that we can fully understand how race may play a role in developing the disease."

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National MS Society.

To learn more about MS, please visit www.aan.com/patients.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

Actor John O'Hurley Hosts New AAN Epilepsy Video

ababb@aan.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Television actor and "Dancing with the Stars" winner John O'Hurley is the host of Epilepsy: A Guide for Patients and Families, the latest free patient education DVD and guidebook produced by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and its foundation, the American Brain Foundation. This valuable resource answers important questions for people with newly diagnosed epilepsy and their caregivers.

Free copies of the DVD and guidebook can be ordered by calling (800) 879-1960. In addition, the guidebook can be downloaded for free at http://patients.aan.com/go/videos.

Among his many credits, John O'Hurley played J. Peterman on "Seinfeld," hosted "Family Feud," and was a popular contestant on "Dancing with the Stars." His knowledge of epilepsy is personal, as O'Hurley's sister died of epilepsy at age 16. He has also worked on behalf of The Epilepsy Foundation.

Expert advice to help people and their families understand epilepsy is presented by Gregory D. Cascino, MD, professor of neurology and chair of the Division of Epilepsy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Daniel Hoch, PhD, MD, neurologist and epilepsy specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Both Cascino and Hoch are Fellows of the American Academy of Neurology.

The epilepsy DVD and accompanying guidebook provide an overview of the disease and its causes, how it is diagnosed and treatments available. The kit also includes a seizure diary form and helpful tips on living well with epilepsy.

The video will be broadcast in several television markets: Chicago WBBM/Channel 2 - Saturday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m. CST; Houston KHOU/Channel 11 - Saturday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m. CST; Boston WBZ/Channel 4 - Saturday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. EST; Atlanta WGCL/Channel 46 - Sunday, May 19, at 12:30 p.m. EST; San Francisco KPIX/Channel 5 - Sunday, May 19, at 4:00 p.m. PST

To obtain your free DVD or for more information, please contact the American Academy of Neurology at (800) 879-1960 or memberservices@aan.com.

View the video at http://www.youtube.com/aanchannel or http://www.youtube.com/CureBrainDisease.

Epilepsy is diagnosed in an estimated one out of every 26 people in the United States.

Epilepsy: A Guide for Patients and Families is a presentation of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation and is sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

About the American Academy of Neurology

About the American Brain Foundation

The American Brain Foundation, the foundation of the American Academy of Neurology, is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that funds the most crucial research to cure brain disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Brain disease affects more than 50 million people in the United States alone. In moving toward its vision, the American Brain Foundation's goal is to reduce the prevalence of brain disease 50 percent by 2040. Learn more at https://www.curebraindisease.org/. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion)

Sunovion is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic products that advance the science of medicine in the Psychiatry & Neurology and Respiratory disease areas and improve the lives of patients and their families. Sunovion, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. More information about Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is available at https://www.sunovion.com.

Skin Cancer May Be Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

ababb@aan.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

People who have skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new research published in the May 15, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The link does not apply to melanoma, a less common but more aggressive type of skin cancer.

The study involved 1,102 people with an average age of 79 who did not have dementia at the start of the study. The participants were followed for an average of 3.7 years. At the start of the study, 109 people reported that they had skin cancer in the past. During the study, 32 people developed skin cancer and 126 people developed dementia, including 100 with Alzheimer's dementia.

People who had skin cancer were nearly 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who did not have skin cancer. Of the 141 people with skin cancer, two developed Alzheimer's disease. The association was not found with other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia.

Study author Richard B. Lipton, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, said the reason for this possible protective effect of skin cancer is not yet known. "One possible explanation could be physical activity," he said. "Physical activity is known to protect against dementia, and outdoor activity could increase exposure to UV radiation, which increases the risk of skin cancer."

Lipton said biological factors including genetic factors likely also play a role, as physical activity does not reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease to the extent found in the link between skin cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

The findings do not mean that people should stop taking measures to avoid skin cancer, Lipton said. "People should continue to wear sunscreen, avoid the sun during midday and wear clothing to protect their skin," he said. "The hope is that these results help us learn more about how Alzheimer's develops so we can create better preventive methods and treatments."

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, Einstein Aging Study, and National Cancer Institute, Albert Einstein Cancer Center.

To learn more about Alzheimer's disease, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.