Monday, August 28, 2006

OHSU Scientists Say FreeCell Can Be Adapted To Spot Early Signs Of Dementia. A popular, computer-based card game is helping Oregon Health & Science University researchers monitor cognitive changes in the elderly, a new study shows.Scientists with the OHSU Oregon Center for Aging & Technology, or ORCATECH, found that a Solitaire-like game called FreeCell, when adapted with cognitive performance assessment algorithms, may be able to distinguish between persons with memory problems and cognitively healthy seniors. [click link for full article] [Alzheimer's News From Medical News Today] 6:00:13 AM    comment [] Low Literacy Increases Risk Of Death And Misunderstanding Of Medical Consent Forms. Literacy at less than a ninth-grade level almost doubles the five-year risk of mortality among elderly people, regardless of education, socioeconomic status, or health, according to a study led by a researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center."From a public health standpoint, this has important implications," says lead author Rebecca Sudore, MD, a staff physician at SFVAMC and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. [click link for full article] [Seniors / Aging News From Medical News Today] 5:59:41 AM    comment [] Allergies Linked To Parkinson's Disease. Researchers from Mayo Clinic have discovered that allergic rhinitis is associated with the development of Parkinson's disease later in life. Findings will be published in the Aug. 8 issue of the journal Neurology. "The association with Parkinson's disease is increased to almost three times that of someone who does not have allergic rhinitis," says James Bower, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and lead study investigator. "That's actually a pretty high elevation. [click link for full article] [Parkinson's Disease News From Medical News Today] 5:59:10 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2006 Norman G. DeLisle, Jr.. Last update: 9/1/2006; 5:54:24 AM.