Dementia

...ba href=/dementia/a/b, or senility-like symptoms, that accompany the disease.

Programs that would be eliminated if Congress approves the president's budget include: * Federal-state matching grants for community services.

These grants, currently funded at $13 million and administered by the Administration on Aging, provide funds to states to develop innovative and cost-efficient services to Alzheimer's sufferers and their caregivers, especially underserved minorities and those in rural areas.

* Safe Return Program.

Nearly 60 percent of people with Alzheimer's will wander and if they are not located within 24 hours they are at risk of death.

This U.S.

Justice Department program, administered by the Alzheimer's Association, has proven successful in helping police and fire departments locate wanderers.

It costs a modest $800,000 a year.

* 24/7 Contact Center.

This $1 million-a-year program, operated by the Alzheimer's Association, provides round-the-clock support and assistance to thousands of individuals every week, including education, crisis assistance and referrals to local community programs and services.

* Brain Health Program.

This new initiative, jointly run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alzheimer's Association, at a cost of $1.6 million this year, is developing a plan to encourage improved brain health through lifestyle changes.

It grew out of research which suggests that a heart-healthy lifestyle, including diet and exerci...

...ba href=/dementia/a/b in elderly people is being tested, with results due in 2008.

In addition to oily fish, which contain long chain Omega 3 fats, shorter chain Omega 3 fats found in some plant oils are also thought to be good for health.

But the review found no effect of either kind.

The findings, by researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of East Anglia, are published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal.

The authors say the findings do not rule out the possibility that Omega 3 fats have an important effect.

Current UK guidelines advising people to eat more oily fish should continue, but the evidence should be reviewed regularly, they say.

The British Heart Foundation speculated that the puzzling finding could be linked to mercury levels in fish, a possibility raised by the authors.

Mercury is harmful to health and builds up in oily fish in waters contaminated with the metal.

Mike Knapton, director of prevention and care at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Until now medical research has demonstrated a benefit from Omega 3 fats.

More research is needed to establish why some studies have shown a slightly increased risk associated with eating very high amounts of oily fish, which is possibly related to mercury levels.

"The current Food Standards Agency advice for most people is to eat no more than four portions of oily fish a week.

This is still sensible advice.

It is worth remembering that eating lots of one type of food is rarely best for your healt...

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