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Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Have a safe and happy holiday.

Sense Of Smell And Alzheimer's

A recent study has found that a person's sense of smell may be an indicator of whether someone with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) will later develop Alzheimer's disease.

Sense of smell appears to be affected early on in the progression of Alzheimer's.

The researchers in the study narrowed the list of smells down to the following 10:

Strawberry, smoke, soap, menthol, clove, pineapple, natural gas, lilac, lemon and leather.

For more information, click on the full articles below.

Links:

Alzheimer's Association: Inability To Smell May Be Early Warning For Alzheimer's.

Reuters: Smell Test May Predict Alzheimer's - U.S. Study.

Tips For The Holidays

With the holidays coming up, I want to direct your attention to tips from the Alzheimer's Association for making the most of the season.

Read them here.

Impact Of California's Passage Of Proposition 71 For Stem Cell Research

The passage of California's Proposition 71 has started a snowball effect.  Other states are now playing catchup by proposing their own investments in stem cell research.  There is expected to be a lot of competition for the top researchers.  No one wants to be left behind.

From an article in the Houston Chronicle by Todd Ackerman:

Since the passage of the California initiative, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has announced plans to invest $375 million in stem cell research over the next 10 years; acting New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey has announced plans to expand the state's stem cell efforts, which include a recently inaugurated $50 million institute; and an Illinois official has proposed a $1 billion, 10-year stem cell initiative funded by a tax on cosmetic procedures. Other states, from New York to Massachusetts to Florida, are said to be exploring state initiatives or major fund-raising campaigns.

This kickstarted an industry that seemed to be waiting around for someone else to take the initiative.  Things should now really start to get interesting.  Here's hoping people stay focused, honest and that the reality will live up to the potential.

Links:

Houston Chronicle: Texas losing ground in stem cell research.  Other states are sidestepping federal limits on what some call medicine's future.