period of slow cognitive decline. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., showed that the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimers disease could be predicted years in advance by a combination of factors, including age, presence of particular forms of the ApoE gene and performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Meanwhile, colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., showed that the blood protein A-beta-42, which normally increases, declines with the development of MCI, and drops further with Alzheimers disease, suggesting it may provide a useful clinical marker for identifying onset of MCI and the transition to Alzheimers disease.

Use of statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs, were shown by a six-state consortium of researchers to be associated with a slight decrease in the rate of cognitive decline among the elderly, although not in those who had already developed dementia. These results suggest that statins may favorably influence the course of Alzheimers disease early on in its progression.

Stroke Statins also figured favorably in a study of recovery from stroke, conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Patients taking statins had significantly better function three months after a stroke compared to those not taking them.

Chlamydia infection and its association with stroke was examined by collaborators from Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control. They showed that Chlamydia infection increased stroke risk in both men and women independent of other known risks, including high blood pressure and smoking. This suggests that treatment of infection may help lower the risk of stroke.

Elevated blood levels of homocysteine are also associated with increased risk for stroke. Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine presented data showing such levels are also seen in adults who have not had clinical strokes but whose
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Contact: Marilee Reu
mreu@aan.com
651-695-2789
American Academy of Neurology
14-Apr-2003

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