Editorial: Mind over matter?

Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 | 1:39 a.m.

Studies published this week on Alzheimer's disease have opened new and deeper insights that might lead to some form of successful treatment.

Scientists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago suggest the type of personality one has might be a key defense against Alzheimer's. The researchers said a study of 997 priests, nuns and brothers indicates that those who saw themselves as conscientious, disciplined achievers were significantly less likely to get Alzheimer's disease. Surprisingly, some of those people had brain lesions consistent with Alzheimer's but did not suffer from dementia.

"This adds to our knowledge that lifestyle, personality, how we think, feel and behave are very importantly tied up with risk for this terrible illness," study co-author Robert Wilson said. "It may suggest new ideas for trying to delay the onset of this illness."

Researcher Renee Goodwin of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, who has found connections between health and being conscientious, says a key is "having self-discipline and energy, doing the healthy things."

The understanding of Alzheimer's was further advanced when scientists at Northwestern University published a study that suggests Alzheimer's might be a third type of diabetes after finding that a toxic protein blocks insulin in the brain.

Experts were quick to say these studies are not conclusive and are just a small piece of the research being done. There is no doubt that more work is needed to understand this mysterious disease. Las Vegas will play a role in the search for answers because of the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, which is expected to open next year and will be a home for treatment and research of Alzheimer's.

It is encouraging to see researchers making progress. It gives us hope that successful treatments might be on the horizon.