Folic acid and dementia link - take your folic acid!! (sm)

1 hour, 53 minutes ago

Lack of folate, also called vitamin B-9, may triple the risk of developing dementia in old age, according to a study published Tuesday.

Researchers in South Korea measured naturally occurring folate levels in 518 elderly persons, none of whom showed any signs of dementia, and then tracked their development over 2.4 years.

At the end of the period, 45 of the patients had developed dementia, including 34 diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, said the study, published by the British Medical Association's Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

When the researchers, led by Jin-Sang Yoon of Chonnam National University in Kwangju, South Korea, remeasured folate levels, they uncovered a strong link with the dementia.

Even after other factors were taken into account -- including age, disability, alcohol consumption, weight change -- "the onset of dementia was significantly associated with an exaggerated decline in folate," the researchers concluded.

Folate and folic acid, another form of the compound, are essential for the creation of new cells in the body.

The compound occurs naturally in leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, lettuces, dried beans and peas and in certain fruits.

An study published last year in The Lancet showed an improvement in short-term memory, mental agility and verbal fluency among persons over 50 who took a daily dose of 800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. The US recommended daily dose is 400 mcg.

Taking folic acid before conception and throughout the first trimester helps a mother ensure that her child will not develop certain brain and spinal cord defects, including spina bifida, according to previous research.

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Hi all. I just want to start off by saying that whenever I post on here I always get kind responses, and I may not always get a chance to say thank you. Wanted to let you know that I do appreciate it.

Here is my latest challenge. I have an uncle who is in his early 70's who I believe is in the early stages of vascular dementia. I grew up watching my grandmother, his mother, go through the stages of this horrid disease. I have a pretty good grasp of what we are up against. Thing is, I was a child when my grandmother started her decline, and boy things are different when you are an adult. I honestly don't know where to turn, who to ask for advice, what to do next.

Here is what complicates the situation. My uncle is divorced, has been for some time. He has no children. He has three sisters, my aunts, living. One is in her 80s, one is two hours away and not in great health, and the third is 12 hours away. The oldest cannot help, given her age, the one that is two hours away has told me that she really doesn't know what to do and that we are pretty much on our own, and the one that is 12 hours away would probably be the most able to help, but she is 12 hours away and has issues with her own family.

It gets a little more complicated. My uncle is a hoarder. He also has been notoriously bad about managing his finances for many years. His house is in a very bad state of disrepair. He is at the stage where he really needs someone to look over him, not live with him but maybe go in once or twice a week and help him with bills, meds, etc. However, his house is so bad that I truly fear it is going to fall down around him.

My questions: I know that he needs help, but I also know that he has to ask for that help (up to a certain point, which would be where we would then go to court and ask for a conservatorship). He is not at that stage yet. If something happens to him, no one has legal medical proxy, he does not have a will, he does not have an advanced directive. We have talked to him about the importance of doing this, but he does not want to listen, even though he admits he needs to do something. He also has not been formally diagnosed. I think he is afraid to get confirmation that he is suffering from the same disease as his mother. How do we help him? What should we do? What is the procedure here? I honestly am at my wit's end. I don't want to pressure him into making a will and other legal documents and have him thinking that we are wanting anything. I don't want his stuff. It is his. But something has to be done. I want him to be taken care of when the time comes.

What I joked about was the possibility of my getting it. Unlike my mother who refused to accept her diagnosis and turned a blind eye to it, I accept that it is a possibility in my life. Sure, I joke about losing my car keys, losing my glasses, even writing notes to my 5 yo child (who cannot even read a note about LTC, duh), but I hope to keep my sense of humor, even if this dialouge is testing that patience more than my life circumstances are.

I could pick you apart right now for your insensensitivity, but I chose to feel sorry for your lack of neuroprocessing abilities and will let it go. Next time you see a sign to commit a random act of kindness, I suggest you not waste the opportunity to build up your karma bank.

i've been letting my hair grow out for almost a year and a half. i've always worn my hair very very short, easy to take care of. but with the help of my hubby giving me encouragement, i have hair that just touches my shoulders now. i have naturally wavy/curly hair, thick. i have layers in mine and after i get out of the shower, i put some mousse in it and let it air dry. if i dry my hair with a dryer, i turn into a big frizz ball. i bought a hair magazine with pictures in it and there are some really good articles in there for the different hair types. they recommend you don't wash your hair every single day, because that can dry out your hair. good luck!

I so looked forward to the premiere episode, and about 15 minutes before it came on, I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open, as bad as I wanted to. So I Tivo'd it and will watch tonight. Will check back with you tomorrow.

The snow started coming down Sunday, it's oh, Wednesday, and we still haven't plowed out our driveway. Two neighbors have actually called to make sure we're okay--isn't that just the sweetest thing?! They can't fathom that no one would need to leave the house. We don't even go out much in good weather but it's really easy to tell when no one leaves the house when there's snow on the ground....especially a foot and a half of it!

Gotta do something about it soon though. I'm sure the mailbox is gettin' all filled up with bills and whatnot, but I'm kinda diggin' it being outta sight and outta mind.

Here's some more from them. I clicked on Gardasil Vaccine Reports on the CDC website.

Gardasil was tested in over 11,000 women in the United States and around the world, and found to be safe and effective in preventing serious HPV-related diseases. These studies showed that in women who have never been infected by HPV types 6, 11, 16 or 18, the vaccine is highly effective, both in preventing precancerous lesions that often develop into cancer of the cervix, vagina, and vulva, and in preventing genital warts often caused by these HPV types.

This vaccine is an important cervical cancer prevention tool that will potentially benefit the health of millions of women. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 die from this disease in the United States. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, causing an estimated 470,000 new cases and 233,000 deaths per year.

Based on the review of available information by FDA and CDC, Gardasil continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks.

CDC has not changed its recommendations for use of Gardasil. FDA has not made any changes to the prescribing information for how the vaccine is used or to the vaccine�s Precautions. In addition, FDA routinely reviews manufacturing information, and has not identified any issues affecting the safety, purity and potency of Gardasil.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102800029.html