| Antimatter detector to catch last shuttle to space By FRANK JORDANS 2010-08-25T20:48:49ZGENEVA (AP) -- A $2 billion machine that will jump-start the search for antimatter and other phenomena was loaded onto a massive U.S. Air Force plane Wednesday for the final leg of its journey on Earth before it catches the last scheduled shuttle flight into space.... hosted.ap.org |
Vitamin B could delay onset of Alzheimer's Some participants in Oxford University trial see their neurological decline reduce by as much as 50% after using vitamin B tabletsTaking daily supplements of B vitamins may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, scientists have claimed.The discovery that people in the early stages of failing memory can retain more of their mental faculties for longer if they take the tablets regularly could lead to treatments for the condition. Some participants in the Oxford University trial saw their neurological decline reduced by as much as half after using B vitamins.That breakthrough has raised hopes that the vitamins, which are sold in chemists and health food stores, could at least slow down, if not prevent, the shrinkage that affects many older people's brains.Vitamin B tablets are popular among vegans, because they shun some of the foods in which vitamin B is found – fish, meat and milk – and among sufferers of pernicious anaemia."It is our hope that this simple and safe treatment will delay the development of Alzheimer's in many people who suffer from mild memory problems," said David Smith, a professor emeritus in Oxford University's pharmacology department and co-leader of the study. About 1.5m people over 70 in the UK who suffer from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – who have a 50/50 chance of going on to develop full-blown dementia within five years – could benefit from the discovery, Smith added. But while the results were "immensely promising", it was not yet certain, he stressed, if B vitamins could slow or prevent the development of Alzheimer's. [See footnote]Healthy middle-aged people hoping to avoid dementia and older people exhibiting early signs of memory loss might now be tempted to start routinely taking the vitamins, he said. But they should not do without first talking to their doctor, as the tablets could help stimulate the growth of early-stage cancer, he warned.Chris Kennard, chair of the neurosciences and mental health board at the Medical Research Council, said the findings "bring us a step closer to unravelling the complex neurobiology of ageing and cognitive decline and hold the key to the development of future treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease."Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "These are very important results, with B vitamins now showing a prospect of protecting some people from Alzheimer's in old age. The strong findings must inspire an expanded trial to follow people expected to develop Alzheimer's, and we must hope for further success."Some 820,000 people in the UK have dementia, predominantly Alzheimer's, and their numbers are expected to soar as the population ages.Smith and his colleagues at the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing gave one group of people with MCI daily tablets comprising folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, and another group a placebo. The vitamins were chosen because they control the amounts of an amino acid called homocysteine in the blood. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to a greater risk of Alzheimer's.After two years participants' brains were examined using MRI scanners and their mental faculties assessed using tests of cognition. They found that those who had been receiving the supplements had experienced on average 30% less brain atrophy than those receiving the dummy pills. The former saw their brains shrink by 0.76% a year, while the placebo group saw theirs reduce by 1.08%. Those who started the trial with the highest levels of homocysteine experienced the greatest benefit – 50% less brain shrinkage.• This footnote was added on 9 September 2010. The study findings were published in an open-access journal, Public Library of Science ONE. A reference in the story text to vegans has been amended to make clear that fish, meat and milk are not the only foods containing significant amounts of vitamin B. Alzheimer'sAgeingNeuroscienceNutritionResearchBiologyMedical researchHealthDenis Campbellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Genetically altered salmon? It doesn't stop there By SETH BORENSTEIN and MALCOLM RITTER 2010-09-22T20:27:59ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- We've always played with our food - even before we knew about genes or how to change them.... hosted.ap.org |
Poor Prospects for New Climate Meeting There is no chance of completing a treaty to reduce emissions, few heads of state are planning to attend, and there are no major new initiatives on the agenda. feeds.nytimes.com |
Mystery Bird: Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris A flock of these African birds is known, appropriately enough, as a "deceit"Senegal lapwing, also known as the lesser black-winged lapwing or the lesser black-winged plover, Vanellus lugubris, photographed at Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, Africa. Image: Dan Logen, 8 January 2010 [with binoculars].Nikon D300s, 600 mm lens x 1.4 extender, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/200 sec.This African mystery bird is a member of a group that contains (probably) 24 species. However, this group of birds baffles ornithologists; some group them into 19 distinct genera, while others place them all into the same genus. A flock of these birds is known, appropriately enough, as a "deceit."If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |