How Green Tea May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?

Green Tea Benefits

Since ancient times, green tea has been a staple of daily life in Asia, and known as a healing beverage. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and reportedly contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals -- damaging compounds in the body that alter cells, tamper with DNA (genetic material), and even cause cell death. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet rays from the sun, radiation, cigarette smoke, and air pollution) also give rise to these damaging particles. Many scientists believe that free radicals contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health problems, including cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants such as polyphenols in green tea can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

Green tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India, China, Japan, and Thailand. In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners used green tea as a stimulant, diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart health. Other traditional uses of green tea include treating flatulence (gas), regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, and improving mental processes.

Green Tea and Alzheimer’s

 There is also growing evidence, backed by research studies around the world, that one of these protective compounds is effective in preventing the buildup of plaque in the brain, linked to Alzheimer's disease. This buildup of plaque, called beta-amyloid plaque, is widely believed by medical researchers to cause the nerve damage and memory loss of Alzheimer's disease.

Most of the flavonoids found in tea are "catechins", a basic form of flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants, and the catechins found in green tea contain among the highest flavonoid content of all plants. The primary catechin is called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, usually abbreviated to EGCG. EGCG is over 100 times as effective in neutralizing harmful free radicals as vitamin C.

Because oxidative damage and inflammation are significant contributors to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of tea can be a valuable tool in Alzheimer's prevention. According to one expert, Dr. Bradford L. Frank, a medical school professor, "There is now a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating that certain natural compounds, such as catechins, improve age-related cognitive decline, and are neuroprotective for Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. This scientific evidence supports the beneficial effects of green tea on cognitive function and it's uses as a natural neuroprotective substance."

EGCG seems to change potentially harmful proteins into proteins that are not detrimental to brain cells, actually converting a toxic structure into a less toxic structure. Because EGCG binds to unfolded proteins -- which are not associated with Alzheimer's -- the green tea can be considered as medication that recognizes the more troublesome proteins and converts them to harmless substances.

Dosage

Depending on the brand, 2 - 3 cups of green tea per day (for a total of 240 - 320 mg polyphenols) or 100 - 750 mg per day of standardized green tea extract is recommended. Caffeine-free products are available and recommended.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, people should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders (particularly anxiety) should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea.

People who drink excessive amounts of caffeine (including caffeine from green tea) for prolonged periods of time may experience irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness. Caffeine overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite. If you are drinking a lot of tea and start to vomit or have abdominal spasms, you may have caffeine poisoning. If your symptoms are severe, lower your caffeine intake and see your health care provider.

Possible Interactions

If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not drink green tea or take green tea extract without first talking to your health care provider:

Adenosine -- Green tea may inhibit the actions of adenosine, a medication given in the hospital for an irregular (and usually unstable) heart rhythm.

Antibiotics, Beta-lactam -- Green tea may increase the effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics by reducing bacterial resistance to treatment.

Benzodiazepines -- Caffeine (including caffeine from green tea) has been shown to reduce the sedative effects of benzodiazepines (medications commonly used to treat anxiety, such as diazepam and lorazepam).

Beta-blockers, Propranolol, and Metoprolol -- Caffeine (including caffeine from green tea) may increase blood pressure in people taking propranolol and metoprolol (medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease).

Blood Thinning Medications (Including Aspirin) -- People who take warfarin, a blood thinning medication, should not drink green tea. Since green tea contains vitamin K, it can make warfarin ineffective. Meanwhile, you should not mix green tea and aspirin because they both prevent platelets from clotting. Using the two together may increase your risk of bleeding.

Chemotherapy -- The combination of green tea and chemotherapy medications, specifically doxorubicin and tamoxifen, increased the effectiveness of these medications in laboratory tests. However, these results have not yet been demonstrated in studies on people. On the other hand, there have been reports of both green and black tea extracts stimulating a gene in prostate cancer cells that may cause them to be less sensitive to chemotherapy drugs. Given this potential interaction, people should not drink black and green tea (as well as extracts of these teas) while receiving chemotherapy for prostate cancer in particular.

Clozapine -- The antipsychotic effects of the medication clozapine may be reduced if taken fewer than 40 minutes after drinking green tea.

Ephedrine -- When taken together with ephedrine, green tea may cause agitation, tremors, insomnia, and weight loss.

Lithium -- Green tea has been shown to reduce blood levels of lithium (a medication used to treat manic/depression).

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) -- Green tea may cause a severe increase in blood pressure (called a "hypertensive crisis") when taken together with MAOIs, which are used to treat depression. Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine and tranylcypromine.

Oral Contraceptives -- Oral contraceptives can prolong the amount of time caffeine stays in the body and may increase its stimulating effects.

Phenylpropanolamine -- A combination of caffeine (including caffeine from green tea) and phenylpropanolamine (an ingredient used in many over-the-counter and prescription cough and cold medications and weight loss products) can cause mania and a severe increase in blood pressure. The FDA issued a public health advisory in November 2000 to warn people of the risk of bleeding in the brain from use of this medication and has strongly urged all manufacturers of this drug to remove it from the market.

Useful Tips

• Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins.
• The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds.
• Tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://nutrition.about.com/b/2005/09/20/green-tea-may-prevent-alzheimers-disease.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/green-tea-000255.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Green-Tea-May-Help-Prevent-Alzheimers&id=5787876

http://www.drugs.com/news/green-tea-antioxidant-may-help-prevent-alzheimer-s-12395.html

http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefit_of_drinking_green_tea

Sage as Alternative Treatment to Alzheimer's

A popular Chinese sage herb has been shown to contain similar active ingredients to compounds used in Western medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Sage Clinical Effects

Clinical, animal and laboratory studies have shown that sage can help both the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and contain the pathological mechanisms underlying this neurodegenerative condition.

Old memories
Sage contains cholinesterase inhibitor compounds that give it the ability to act in a similar way to drugs currently used to alleviate some of the effects of Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors slow the breakdown of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, thereby improving interconnectivity between different parts of the brain. By so doing they enhance cognition and memory – functions that deteriorate in Alzheimer's patients.

Two helpful acids
More importantly, compounds in sage such as carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid both help to combat the pathological processes that underlie Alzheimer's disease. Both of these compounds are strong antioxidants; carnosic acid is particularly useful as it crosses the blood-brain barrier to counteract free radical damage to the brain.

Carnosic acid
Sage also enhances the production of glutathione, one of the most important of the body's own antioxidants. Furthermore, it helps to improve circulation to the brain by dilating the middle cerebral arteries. This is a very important function as a declining blood supply to the brain exacerbates the impaired neurological function caused by other pathological processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Beats beta-amyloid
Sage also counters the damaging effects of beta-amyloid, the protein that clogs up the neural pathways in the brain and is the root cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Medicinal Plant Research Centre Research

It has taken 400 years but scientists have finally demonstrated what herbalists have long believed: sage is a tonic for the brain. Oil derived from the herb improved the memory of healthy young adults given a list of words to recall.

The Medicinal Plant Research Centre at Newcastle and Northumbria universities (both in UK) tested a group of 44 adults aged between 18 and 37. Some were given capsules containing sage oil while others received a placebo capsule of sunflower oil.

Those who took the sage oil performed consistently better, remembering more words than those who had the placebo.

Herbalists have been recommending sage since the 16th century. In 1597 John Gerard wrote: 'It is singularly good for the head and brain and quickeneth the nerves and memory.' Part of a 1652 description of sage by Nicholas Culpepper reads: 'It also heals the memory, warming and quickening the senses.' 

Other Applications for Sage

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Cognitive improvement (Grade: A)
Sage has long been suggested to improve memory. Several trials provide evidence for the use of sage. Additional study is needed to confirm these findings and determine the best dose.

Mood enhancement (Grade: A)
Sage has long been suggested to improve mood. Several trials provide evidence for the use of sage. Additional study is needed to confirm these findings and determine the best dose.

Acute pharyngitis (Grade: B)
Sage mouthwashes and gargles have been approved for use against sore throat in Germany by the German Commission E for many years. Additional study is needed comparing sage to standard therapies.

Herpes (Grade: B)
Early evidence suggests that sage extracts may be useful in the treatment of herpes skin manifestations.

Menopausal symptoms (Grade: B)
Sage has been tested against menopausal symptoms with promising results.

Lung cancer prevention (Grade: C)
Sage used daily as a spice in foods has been associated with a lower risk of lung cancer in the Mediterranean diet.

Dosing

Adults (over 18 years old)

Doses of 25-50 microliters of the essential oil have been taken by mouth one to three times daily. Single daily doses of 60 drops of an ethanolic extract of S.officinalis were used in a clinical study with benefit. 120 milligrams of sage extract and 60 milligrams of alfalfa extract (Medicago sativa) have been used daily for up to three months to alleviate symptoms of menopause. Dried sage leaf, 300 or 600 milligrams, in single daily doses have been used. A 15% spray containing 140 microliters of S. officinalis extract per dose has been applied to the skin six to nine times daily for three days.

Children (under 18 years old)

There is no proven effective dose for sage in children. However, secondary sources note that children have safely eaten sage as a spice in foods for many centuries.

Safety

Allergies

Avoid in individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to sage species, their constituents, or to members of the Lamiaceae family. Systemic allergic reactions relating to cross sensitivity have been noted.

Dust from sage plants may contain airborne microorganisms that may induce allergic reactions in farm workers and herb processors.

Sage powder should not be used for asthma. Although some formulations of sage have been reported to be useful in asthma, sage powder is not appropriate for use in asthmatic patients since it can cause bronchial reactions.

Side Effects and Warnings

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is uncontrolled in the United States. This means all parts of the plant and its extracts are legal to cultivate, buy, possess, and distribute (sell, trade, or give) without a license or prescription. If sold as a supplement, sales must conform to U.S. supplement laws. If sold for consumption as a food or drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate sales. Sage is approved for food use as a spice or seasoning in the United States and appears on the FDA's list of substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

Skin rash may occur in some patients who are exposed to the leaves.

Sage is likely safe when included in the preparation of foods as a spice for upset stomach, due to a long history of use around the world. Sage is also likely safe when used in moderate amounts as a cream applied to the skin for herpes infections.

Certain medicinal preparations or high doses of sage have been documented to induce seizures. Large amounts or prolonged use of sage leaf or ingestion of sage oil may cause restlessness, vomiting, dizziness, rapid heart beats, tremors, seizures, and kidney damage.

Some patients may exhibit increases in blood pressure during sage essential oil therapy.

When using a 15% spray containing sage extract for three days, minor dry pharynx or mild burning of the throat have been reported in some patients. Other side effects may include: cheilitis (cracking and drying of the lips), stomatitis (mouth sores), dry mouth, and local irritation.

A plant preparation that is not sterile and not free of particles should not be used in the eye since these preparations may damage the cornea.

Sage powder should not be used for asthma, since sage powder can cause asthmatic attacks.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Due to a lack of available scientific evidence, women should avoid sage supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hormonal effects are possible and could be dangerous.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs

Sage essential oil and tinctures may increase the effects of drugs used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Sage extracts may have antimicrobial effects.

Sage may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. Patients taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.

Sage may have anti-inflammatory activity. Use cautiously with anti-inflammatory medications, due to possible additive effects.

Sage may have antioxidant activity.

Use cautiously with benzodiazepines or drugs broken down by the liver. Sage may increase sedation.

Sage essential oil and tinctures can induce seizures and may enhance the ability of some drugs to induce seizures.

Sage essential oil may have estrogenic activity. Extracts of the leaves of sage may abolish hot flashes and night sweating in some menopausal women.

Use cautiously with thyroid hormones, due to possible additive effects.

Interactions with Herbs & Dietary Supplements

Sage may increase the effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) on the reduction of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, insomnia, nocturnal sweating, dizziness, headaches, and palpitations.

Sage essential oil and tinctures may increase the anticholinergic effects of drugs used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Sage extracts may have antimicrobial effects.

Some species of sage may cause convulsions. Theoretically, this might interfere with anticonvulsant drug therapy.

Sage may have anti-inflammatory activity. Caution is advised when taking other anti-inflammatory herbs or supplements, due to possible additive effects.

Based on laboratory studies, sage may have antioxidant activity.

Sage may interact with therapies that are broken down by the liver.

Sage may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using herbs or supplements that may also lower blood sugar. Blood glucose levels may require monitoring, and doses may need adjustment.

Sage essential oil may have estrogenic activity. In addition, extracts of the leaves of sage may abolish hot flashes and night sweating in some menopausal women. Caution is advised in patients taking phytoestrogens.

Sage may increase the amount of drowsiness caused by some herbs or supplements.

Sage may induce a significant increase in thyroid stimulating hormone and interact with other herbs and supplements that affect the thyroid.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.medicinal-herbs-and-spices.com/sage-benefits.html

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4212.php

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Sage-alternative-treatment-to-Alzheimer-s-drug

http://www.wellness.com/reference/food/sage-salvia-officinalis-salvia-lavandulaefolia-salvia-lavandulifolia/

http://www.aromamd.net/edu_alzheimers_dementia.pdf

Can Coffee Lower and Reverse Alzheimer’s Negative Effects?

A daily dose of caffeine blocks the disruptive effects of high cholesterol that scientists have linked to Alzheimer's disease. A study in the open access publication, Journal of Neuroinflammation revealed that caffeine equivalent to just one cup of coffee a day could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from damage that occurred with a high-fat diet.

The BBB protects the central nervous system from the rest of the body's circulation, providing the brain with its own regulated microenvironment. Previous studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol break down the BBB which can then no longer protect the central nervous system from the damage caused by blood borne contamination. BBB leakage occurs in a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

University of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Research (2006)

In this study, researchers from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences gave rabbits 3 mg caffeine each day - the equivalent of a daily cup of coffee for an average-sized person. The rabbits were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet during this time.

After 12 weeks a number of laboratory tests showed that the BBB was significantly more intact in rabbits receiving a daily dose of caffeine.

"Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky," says Jonathan Geiger, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. "High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier. For the first time we have shown that chronic ingestion of caffeine protects the BBB from cholesterol-induced leakage."

Caffeine appears to protect BBB breakdown by maintaining the expression levels of tight junction proteins. These proteins bind the cells of the BBB tightly to each other to stop unwanted molecules crossing into the central nervous system.

The findings confirm and extend results from other studies showing that caffeine intake protects against memory loss in aging and in Alzheimer's disease.

"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilize the blood-brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders," says Geiger. 

Research in France (2007)

The researchers, studying more than 7,000 older men and women living in three cities in France, found that women age 65 and older who drank more than three cups of coffee scored better on tests that measure thinking and memory skills than women who drank a cup or less of coffee or tea a day.

The results held up even after researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect memory, such as age, education, disability, medications, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. The men in the study, however, did not show the same benefits from drinking coffee as the women.

“Caffeine is a psycho-stimulant which appears to reduce cognitive decline in women,” said study author Dr. Karen Ritchie of INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, in Montpellier, France. “While we have some ideas as to how this works biologically, we need to have a better understanding of how caffeine affects the brain before we can start promoting caffeine intake as a way to reduce cognitive decline.”

“But the results are interesting,” Ritchie continues. “Caffeine use is already widespread, it has fewer side effects than other treatments for cognitive decline, and it requires a relatively small amount for a beneficial effect.”

At the start of the study, all the seniors were evaluated for thinking and memory function. None had Alzheimer’s disease or other signs of serious memory loss, such as mild cognitive impairment. They were then evaluated over the following four years.

Compared to women who drank one cup or less of coffee per day, those who drank over three cups were less likely to show as much decline in memory. Moreover, the benefits increased with age. Coffee drinkers were 30 percent less likely to score poorly on memory tests at age 65 than those who drank little or no coffee. That figure increased to 70 percent in those older than 80.

Women who drank two or three cups of coffee a day did not show any notable boosts in memory.

The heavy coffee drinkers scored particularly well in tests that measured verbal recall, such as the ability to remember particulars of a story. They did slightly better in tests that measure visual and spatial memory.

Caffeine drinkers, however, did not seem to have lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. “We really need a longer study to look at whether caffeine prevents dementia; it might be that caffeine could slow the dementia process rather than preventing it,” said Dr. Ritchie.

The researchers aren’t sure why caffeine didn’t show the same result in men. “Women may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine,” Dr. Ritchie said. “Their bodies may react differently to the stimulant, or they may metabolize caffeine differently.”

Florida Byrd Alzheimer's Institute Study (2007)

According to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, caffeine intake not only appears to protect against Alzheimer's but may actually help those who already have the disease.

Researchers at the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute in Florida have reported that five cups of coffee a day could protect humans in the same way that the caffeine equivalent appears to have in the study of mice.

In a controlled study experiment using Alzheimer's mice, one group of mice had caffeine added to their drinking water. The memory of mice, who drank the caffeinated water, was roughly similar to mice to had no Alzheimer's. Researchers also found that levels of beta-amyloid proteins reduced in mice, who drank caffeine. Beta-amyloid proteins aggregate into plaques within the brain and are present in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Some interesting results were also obtained when researchers gave caffeine to aged Alzheimer's mice who already had high levels of beta-amyloid protein in their brains. It was discovered that caffeine reduced the levels of beta-amyloid already present in the brain. This could suggest that coffee drinking is beneficial in people with Alzheimer's; for the time being this is speculation.

The therapeutic effects of caffeine over the long-term have been noted in relation to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer of the liver, colorectal cancer and suicide. Although caffeine has been suspected of causing high blood pressure the association appears stronger when caffeine is consumed via soft drinks.

University of South Florida Study (2009)

The 55 mice used in the University of South Florida study had been bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

First the researchers used behavioural tests to confirm the mice were exhibiting signs of memory impairment when they were aged 18 to 19 months, the equivalent to humans being about 70.

Then they gave half the mice caffeine in their drinking water. The rest were given plain water.

The mice were given the equivalent of five 8 oz (227 grams) cups of coffee a day - about 500 milligrams of caffeine. The researchers say this is the same as is found in two cups of "specialty" coffees such as lattes or cappuccinos from coffee shops, 14 cups of tea, or 20 soft drinks.

When the mice were tested again after two months, those who were given the caffeine performed much better on tests measuring their memory and thinking skills and performed as well as mice of the same age without dementia.

Those drinking plain water continued to do poorly on the tests.

In addition, the brains of the mice given caffeine showed nearly a 50% reduction in levels of the beta amyloid protein, which forms destructive clumps in the brains of dementia patients. Further tests suggested caffeine affects the production of both the enzymes needed to produce beta amyloid.

The researchers also suggest that caffeine suppresses inflammatory changes in the brain that lead to an overabundance of the protein. Earlier research by the same team had shown younger mice, who had also been bred to develop Alzheimer's but who were given caffeine in their early adulthood, were protected against the onset of memory problems.

Dr Gary Arendash, who led the latest study, told the BBC: "The results are particularly exciting in that a reversal of pre-existing memory impairment is more difficult to achieve.

"They provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease and not simply a protective strategy. "That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process."

The team now hopes to begin human trials of caffeine to see if the mouse findings are replicated in people. They do not know if a lower amount of caffeine would be as effective, but said most people could safely consume the 500 milligrams per day.

However they said people with high blood pressure, and pregnant women, should limit their daily caffeine intake.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "In this study on mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's, researchers found that caffeine boosted their memory. We need to do more research to find out whether this effect will be seen in people. "It is too early to say whether drinking coffee or taking caffeine supplements will help people with Alzheimer's.

Conclusion

The results, produced in the several reviewed researches are mostly promising, but just because caffeine treats memory loss in mice doesn't mean it's necessarily good for humans, says Eric Hall, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

"A human being's brain processes very differently than a mouse's brain, so the public has to be cautious," Hall said. "This is a first step, but there are a lot more steps to be done. We are hopeful, but many failed clinical trials can testify to the fact that what works in mice doesn't always work in humans."

Note that some caution with coffee drinking is still advised. Caffeine is a drug, and can be associated with increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, jitteriness, palpitations and dehydration. "For people who have irregular heart beats, hypertension, women who are pregnant or those who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine, coffee, tea or soda should be consumed in moderation."  These people should also discuss caffeine consumption with their health care provider.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/102703.php

http://www.alzinfo.org/newsarticle/templates/newstemplate.asp?articleid=239&zoneid=10

http://alzheimers.about.com/od/research/a/Coffee_Alz.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8132122.stm

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/07/06/2009-07-06_coffee_may_help_treat_memory_loss_a_major_symptom_of_al.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/06/earlyshow/main5136373.shtml