• SfN: Amyloid Oligomers—Not So Elusive, After All? Part 2
• The Merck researchers also showed data suggesting that ADDL binding to cultured primary hippocampal neurons leads to an increase in phosphorylated tau in those neurons several hours later. This dovetails with data presented by Sally Frautschy and Greg Cole’s group at University of California, Los Angeles. These investigators infused an antibody against the Aβ1-15 epitope into the brains of Tg2576 mice and showed that this experimental passive vaccination reduced not only the levels of Aβ oligomers but also of phosphorylated tau and active GSK3β, one of the kinases known to phosphorylate tau. In subsequent in-vitro and cell-based experiments, Aβ42 oligomer preparations activated GSK3β. The A11 antibody, which recognizes Aβ oligomers but not monomers or fibrils, counteracted that activation. Furthermore, Frautschy showed that CNS infusion of Aβ oligomers stimulated GSK3beta activation and caused cognitive deficits in the Morris water maze, which were blocked by specific GSK3 inhibition. Taken together, these findings strengthen an emerging realization that Aβ oligomers act upstream of tau, and suggest that this might happen in part via GSK3β. They also imply that if a safe and effective vaccine against oligomeric Aβ could be found, it might have an indirect effect on the tau arm of AD pathogenesis, as well. (For summaries of similar experiments by other groups, see ARF SfN tau series and ARF SfN intraneuronal Aβ series.)
• Greg Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine, and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and two of his research projects were cited June 18 in a special edition of Newsweek about the future of medicine. Cole uses mice models to study the potential Alzheimer’s-fighting benefits of docosahexenoic acid, or DHA – an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water fish – and curcumin, the yellow pigment found in curry spice. The curcumin research also is cited in the May 2005 edition of Consumer Reports, the July 12 USA Today and the July 26 Lexington Herald Leader.

1.  “7 Ways to Save a Brain” (Newsweek)
2. “Quieting a Body’s Defenses” (Newsweek)
3.  “Disease Fighting Flavors” (Consumer Reports)
4. “These Spices Add More Than Flavor” (Lexington Herald Leader)

• Heavy coverage continued in February focused on research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine, and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, that found curcumin – the yellow pigment in curry spice – administered to genetically altered mice can block and break up amyloid plaques that lead to Alzheimer’s. Coverage included the Feb. 2 San Francisco-based India Post, Feb. 8 Manila (Philippines) Times, Feb. 7 Newsweek international edition, Feb. 24 KTLA-Channel 5 news, Feb. 15 Miami Herald, Feb.22 Wichita Eagle, Feb. 9 West Palm Beach Post, Feb. 11 Toronto Star.  John Ringman, assistant clinical professor of neurology, and his work on an ongoing human clinical trial at the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center were featured in the KTLA report. Sally Frautschy, associate professor of neurology, is cited in Newsweek’s report. Earlier coverage located during February included the “Small Doses” column in the Jan. 16 Riverside Press Enterprise, the Jan. 23 Lab Business Week, Jan. 22 Mental Health Law Weekly, Jan. 22 Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, Jan. 19 Biotech Week. Jan. 19 Physician Law Weekly, Jan. 18 Life Science Weekly, Jan. 18 Science Letter, Jan. 17 Health & Medicine Week, and Jan. 17 Pain & Central Nervous System Week.

1.  “Diet and Genes”
2.  “Curcumin Named as Potential Alzheimer’s Weapon”
3. “Have Curry and Prevent  Alzheimer’s”
4. “Curcumin May Help Fend Off Disease” (Cox News Service)
5. “Med Watch” (Miami Herald)
6. “Health Briefs” (Wichita Eagle)

• A number of media featured new research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. His latest published research finds that diets high in docosahexenoic acid, or DHA -- an omega-3 fatty acid found in relatively high concentrations in cold-water fish -- dramatically slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease in mice. Coverage included Newsweek Online on March 29, Health Day and Betterhumans on March 23, Web M.D. on March 22, and United Press International, Indo-Asian News Service, Medical News Today and KABC-Channel 7 on March 25. Web coverage included Yahoo News, Forbes, Washington Times, New Kerala, Health24 (South Africa), World Peace Herald, Hindustan Times (India), Khalsa News Network (India), Express Newsline (India), Keralanext (India), WebIndia123, NetIndia123, NPI Center (Canada), RedNova, Florida Today, Health Central (U.K.) and Health Scout.

1.  “Fight Alzheimer’s with Fatty Fish” (Newsweek)
2. “Fish Oil Holds Promise in Alzheimer’s Fight” (Health Day)
3. “Omega-3 Fat Fights Alzheimer's Protein Buildup” (Better Humans)

• The March 20 Toronto Star, March 21 London Free Press and March 24 Miami Herald report on research by Gregory Cole, professor of medicine and neurology, and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, on the potential health benefits of curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry spice.

1. “Spice Rack Doubles as Medicine Cabinet” (Miami Herald)
2. “How About Some Indian Take-out” (London Free Press)

 

• An article in the March 7 edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution references research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology, that explained the association between insulin?]resistant Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

1. “New Data Connects Two Diseases”

• An article in the April 5 Wichita (KS) Eagle cites research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, that finds curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry spice, can block and break up amyloid plaques in mice. The article appeared originally in the Miami Herald. In addition, Cole appeared April 10 on the CFRA Radio program “Sunday House Call.” He discussed his recent findings showing that docosahexenoic acid, or DHA – an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water fish – dramatically slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

1. “Go Ahead, Take Your Medicine, It’s Delicious”

• MedIndia.com published a story June 2 on research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine, and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, in which docosahexenoic acid, or DHA – an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water fish – dramatically slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

1. “Fish Is Good for Alzheimer’s Patients”

• The MedIndia (India) and 50Connect (U.K.) Web sites published a story June 2 on research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, that finds docosahexenoic acid, or DHA – an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water fish – dramatically slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Sally Frautschy, co-investigator and assistant professor in residence of neurology, also was quoted in the 50Connect article.

1. “Fish is Good for Alzheimer’s Patients”
2.  “Maintain Your Brain”

• Bellaonline published a report on research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, that shows curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry spice, dramatically slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

1. “Curry Shows Promise in Alzheimer’s Prevention”

• The Jan. 17 edition of TIME Asia features research led by Gregory Cole, associate professor in residence of neurology and medicine, that found curcumin – the yellow pigment in curry spice – administered to genetically altered mice can block and break up amyloid plaques that lead to Alzheimer’s. Additional coverage appeared in the Jan. 6 Pak Tribune (Pakistan), Jan. 9 Daily Times (Pakistan),Jan. 15 Vancouver Sun; Jan. 16 Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun and Times Colonist (Victoria, BC); and Jan. 17 Omaha World-Herald and KCAL-Channel  9 news. ScienCentral distributed a science news television segment on the research to the nation’s ABC and NBC affiliates on Jan. 13. Television coverage nationally included CFLN-IND (Orlando, FL), CNEWS9 (Albany, NY), KAIT-ABC (Jonesboro, AR), KAMC-ABC (Lubbock, TX), KARK-NBC (Little Rock, AR), KBAK-CBS (Bakersfield, CA), KCEN-NBC (Waco, TX), KCPQ-FOX (Seattle-Tacoma, WA),  KCTV-CBS (Kansas City, MO),  KDBC-CBS (El Paso, TX), KDEB-Fox (Springfield, MO), KDFW-Fox (Dallas, TX), KENS-CBS (San Antonio, TX), KEZI-ABC (Eugene, OR), KFOX-Fox (El Paso, TX), KFVS-CBS (Paducah, KY), KGO-ABC (San Francisco), KGTV-ABC (San Diego, CA), KGUN-ABC (Tucson, AZ), KGW-NBC (Portland, OR), KHBS-ABC (Fort Smith, AR), KHQ-NBC (Spokane, WA), KHQA (Quincy, IL), KING-NBC (Seattle-Tacoma, WA),  KINT-Univision (El Paso, TX), KITV-ABC (Honolulu, HI), KLAS-CBS (Las Vegas), KLRT-Fox (Little Rock, AR), KMBC-ABC (Kansas City, MO), KMGH-ABC (Denver, CO), KMIZ-ABC (Columbia, MO), KMOV-CBS (St. Louis, MO), KNSD-NBC (San Diego), KNXV-ABC (Phoenix, AZ), KOAT-ABC (Albuquerque, NM),  KOCO-ABC (Oklahoma City, OK), KOLD-CBS (Tucson, AZ), KOLO-ABC (Reno, NV), KONG-CABLE (Seattle, WA), KOSA-CBS (Odessa-Midland, TX),  KOVR-CBS (Sacramento), KPNX-NBC (Phoenix, AZ), KPSP-CBS (Palm Springs), KRCR-ABC (Chico-Redding, CA), KREM-CBS (Spokane, WA), KRIV-FOX (Houston, TX), KRON-IND (San Francisco), KSAT-ABC (San Antonio, TX), KSAZ-Fox (Phoenix, AZ), KSTP-ABC (Minneapolis, MN), KSWO-ABC (Wichita Falls, TX),   KTRK-ABC (Houston, TX), KTUL-ABC (Tulsa, OK), KTVO (Ottumwa, IA),  KTVX-ABC (Salt Lake City, UT),  KWBA-WB (Tucson, AZ), KWCQ-NBC (Quad Cities, IL-IA),  KVIA-ABC (El Paso, TX), KVUE-ABC (Austin, TX), KXAS-NBC (Dallas, TX), KXLY-ABC (Spokane, WA), KXTV-ABC (Sacramento), KXXV-ABC (Waco, TX), KZTV-CBS (Corpus Christi, TX), WAAY-ABC (Huntsville, AL), WBBH-NBC (Fort Myers, FL), WBBM-CBS (Chicago), WBRC-Fox (Birmingham, AL), WBRZ-ABC (Baton Rouge, LA),  WCFT-ABC (Birmingham, AL),  WCIA-CBS (Champaign, IL), WCNC-NBC (Charlotte, NC), WCPO-ABC (Cincinnati, OH), WCSC-CBS (Charleston, SC), WCVB-ABC (Boston, MA), WEAR-ABC (Mobile, AL), WEWS-ABC (Cleveland, OH),  WFAA-ABC (Dallas, TX), WFLD-Fox (Chicago), WFMY-CBS (Greensboro, NC),  WGN-WB (Chicago), WGNO-ABC (New Orleans, LA),  WHAS-ABC, (Louisville, KY), WHIO-CBS (Dayton, OH), WJBF-ABC (Augusta, GA), WJHL-CBS (Tri-Cities, TN-VA), WJW-FOX (Cleveland, OH), WJS-Fox (Cleveland, OH), WKYC-NBC (Cleveland), WKRN-ABC (Nashville, TN), WLOS-ABC (Greenville, SC), WLS-ABC (Chicago), WMAR-NBC (Baltimore, MD), WNEP-ABC (Wilkes Barre, PA),  WNYW-Fox (New York), WOAI-NBC (San Antonio, TX), WOKR-ABC (Rochester, NY),  WORK-ABC (Rochester, NY), WPHL-WB (Philadelphia, PA), WPLG-ABC (Miami, FL), WPMI-NBC (Mobile, AL), WPVI-ABC (Philadelphia, PA), WPTZ-ABC (Fort Wayne, IN), WROC-CBS (Rochester, NY), WRTV-ABC (Indianapolis, IN), WSNV-NBC (Nashville, TN), WSOC-ABC, (Charlotte, NC), WSPA-CBS (Greenville, SC), WSVN-FOX (Miami, FL), WTG-ABC (Toledo, OH), WTAE-ABC (Pittsburgh, PA),  WTAJ-CBS (Johnstown, PA),WTEN-ABC (Albany, NY), WTHR-NBC (Indianapolis, IN),  WTVM-ABC (Columbus, GA),  WTNH-ABC (Hartford, CT), WTTE-Fox (Columbus, OH),WTVQ-ABC (Lexington, KY), WTVR-CBS (Richmond, VA),  WXIN-FOX (Indianapolis, IN), WXIS-Fox (Cincinnati, OH), WTAE-ABC (Pittsburgh, PA), WTVY-CBS (Dothan, AL), WTXL-ABC (Tallahassee, FL),  WUPW-Fox (Toledo, OH), WZTV-Fox (Nashville) and WZVN-ABC (Fort Myers, FL). Web coverage included Alzheimer’s Association, Immortality Institute, Life Extension, Your Health Matters Today, United Advocates for Children of California, Science a Go-Go, Network of Care for Mental Health (San Diego County), News Trove, A1 Affordable Health Insurance, Prevent Disease, Bio, On Call, Digis Networks, Medline Plus, U.S. Guides, Tumeric-Curcumin, WTOP Radio (Washington, D.C.), MDLinx, China Gene Net (China), Apria Health Care, Sweet Chariots, Utah Independent, Atmedica News (Hong Kong), Science Blog, Science Daily, Institute of Food Technologists, News.com (Australia). In addition, Cole’s earlier research investigating curcumin as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant are cited in a  Jan. 12 Mail and Guardian Online article (South Africa).

1. “Food for the Brain” (TIME Asia)
2. “Medical Minute: Curry and Protein Screening” (Capital News)
3.  “Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s Disease” (Pak Tribune)
4. “Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s” (Daily Times)
5. “Masala a Day Keeps the Doctor Away” (Mail & Guardian)
6. (General Web Coverage)

• Numerous media reported Dec. 29-31 about UCLA-Veterans Affairs mouse research that found curcumin -- the yellow pigment in curry spice – helps block and break up the amyloid plaques common to Alzheimer’s disease. The research was led by Gregory Cole, professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Coverage included United Press International, Asian News International, Los Angeles Times, CBS Radio Network, Reuters Health, KCBS-Channel 2, KTVT-CBS (Dallas), WMAQ-NBC (Chicago), The Evening Standard (London), Die Presse (Germany), Daily Mail (London), The Express (U.K.), Daily Telegraph (Australia), the Herald Sun (Australia), Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany) and Web MD. Additional coverage included Earth Times, e-Diets, Red Nova, Hard Beat News, New Kerala (India), Hindustan Times (India), Hindustan Times (U.K.), Medical News Today (UK), Elites TV, Better Humans, NPI Center (Canada), Science Blog, Net India, Web India, Innovations Report (Germany), Food Navigator (France), News Target (Taiwan), and Nutra Ingredients (France).

1.  “Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s” (Reuters)
2. “Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s Disease (Web MD)
3. “Is This the Answer to Alzheimer’s” (Daily Telegraph)
4. “Curry Pigment May Help in Treating Alzheimer’s” (LAT)
5. “Haldi Helps Fight Alzheimer’s” (ANI)
6. “Curry Compound Fights Alzheimer’s (Better Humans)
7. “Curry to Cure Alzheimer’s (Hindustan Times – U.K.)

• Gregory Cole, professor of medicine and neurology, and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Center, and his research on diet and Alzheimer's prevention, was cited in a series of articles on memory published Dec. 5-6 in Newsweek and on MSNBC.  His team found that mice fed a diet high in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA performed better on memory tests and had reduced levels of amyloid plaque in their brains. The September 2004 issue of Science Magazine also published a feature article on the team's findings, as did the Flint (MI) Journal on Dec. 27. 

1. "Food for Thought: Can Diet Protect Memory?"
2. "Good for the Heart, Good for the Brain"
3. "Will a Filet a Day Keep the Neurologist Away?"
4. “One fish, two fish: Rating more ‘brain food’ helps ward off Alzheimer’s”

 

A number of regional television stations featured UCLA research that explains the link between Alzheimer’s and Type 2 diabetes, and demonstrates the ability to manipulate levels of the protective IDE protein through diet. The research was led by Gregory Cole, professor of medicine and neurology and associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. TV stations airing reports Dec. 10-14 included KONG-Cable (Seattle, WA), WEWS-ABC (Cleveland, OH), WTAE-ABC (Pittsburgh. PA), WKRN-ABC (Nashville, TN), WKRC-CBS (Cincinnati, OH), KSTU (Salt Lake City, UT), WVEC-ABC (Norfolk, VA), WHIO-CBS (Dayton, OH), KHGI-ABC (Lincoln, NE), KOSA-CBS (Odessa, TX), KSWO-ABC (Wichita Falls, TX), WTVY-CBS (Dothan, AL), WGNO-ABC (New Orleans, LA), KVUE-ABC (Austin, TX), KWSO-ABC (Wichita Falls, TX),  WJXX-ABC (Jacksonville, FL), KVUE-ABC (Austin, TX), Web coverage included About Alzheimer’s, Keralanext (India), Yahoo! News, Lifescan, Diabetes News, Alzheimer’s Support and Life Extension.