Familial Breast Cancer Doesn't Always Boost Ovarian Cancer Risk

September 20, 2005 08:41:06 PM PST

The study focused specifically on mutations in two genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Both mutations have strong ties to an increased risk for both breast cancer and ovarian malignancies.

In fact, the risk for ovarian cancer in families with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations is six- to 61-times higher than normal.

However, it's also known that up to 50 percent of families with a strong history of breast cancer don't have mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2.

In the latest study, researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City studied 199 families that experienced multiple cases of breast cancer, but whose members were not identified as BRCA mutation carriers.

During follow-up, 19 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the study group -- three times more than the expected six cases. Only one case of ovarian cancer was diagnosed -- about the same as would be found in a similar-sized group of women with an average breast cancer risk.

Reporting in the Sept. 21 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the researchers concluded that the women in the study group weren't at any increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to women without a family history of breast cancer. However, they also noted the genetic cause of up to 50 percent of hereditary breast cancer cases remains unknown.

Until publication of this study, there's been limited information to offer to families with a strong history of breast cancer as to their risk for ovarian cancer, the study authors noted.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about ovarian cancer.

Exercise May Keep You Keen

Scientists think it is, and new evidence suggests they might be right -- at least with aging mice.

The researchers, who report their findings in the Sept. 21 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, discovered that a small number of mice that exercised regularly appeared to be mentally sharper than those that were the rodent equivalents of couch potatoes.

The tests suggest that exercise helps generate new brain cells, even in mice that have reached the late stages of their lives, said study co-author Fred Gage, a researcher at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif.

Previous research has shown that younger mice placed in an "enriched environment" -- one with plenty of stimulation -- were better at learning than other mice, Gage said. The new study was designed to figure out the role of exercise.

Researchers gathered 15 mice that were "young" (3 months old) and 18 that were "old" (19 months old). Mice have an average lifespan of 26 months, so the older mice were roughly 60 to 65 years old in human terms, Gage said.

The researchers then divided the mice into different groups. Some were placed in cages with a wheel and walked two to four kilometers a day for 45 days; others had no chance to exercise. The researchers then tested the mental agility of the mice by putting them through a maze.

The older mice that exercised did a better job navigating the maze than the sedentary older mice. Apparently, exercise wakes up dormant areas of the brain that begin creating new brain cells, Gage said.

In fact, later analysis revealed that the older but active mice actually reversed their neuronal decline -- growing up to 50 percent more new neurons compared with their younger but inactive peers. These new brain cells appeared to function just as well as those grown by younger mice, the researchers add.

Years ago, scientists assumed that brain cells -- called neurons -- didn't grow after childhood; if they died, they were gone forever. But over the past several years, researchers have found evidence that neurons can regenerate after all.

It isn't clear what the new study means for people, especially older folks who might wonder if a walk around the block will help keep them sharp. For one thing, the mice happily exercised; unlike humans, they didn't ignore the running wheels -- or put them in the garage, Gage said.

"Most animals, when given an opportunity, will choose an environment that allows them to move around," he said, adding, that many people are the exact opposite.

Still, a growing body of research has linked exercise to improved mental abilities in both animals and humans, Gage said. Future research will use MRI scanners to examine what's taking place in the brain during exercise, he said.

The mental effects of exercise are indeed a mystery, said Dr. James Grisolia, a neurologist at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, especially when compared to what doctors know about how physical activity improves heart-lung function, blood pressure, muscle tone and our sense of well-being.

However, if you aren't exercising as much as you should, don't be too worried about your neurons, Grisolia said.

"Mental exercise and stimulation are even more important than exercise to prevent Alzheimer's disease in humans, so this should not be neglected," he said. "Crossword puzzles, adult extension courses, reading and other challenging 'thinking' projects can all help preserve quality of life into old age."

More information

For more on exercise for seniors, visit the National Library of Medicine.

Toll-Free Hotline Will Offer ADHD Answers

September 20, 2005 08:41:06 PM PST

Some of the nation's leading ADHD experts will host the seventh annual "ADHD Experts on Call" day, from 8 a.m. to midnight EDT. The toll-free number for callers will be 1-888-ASK-ADHD.

Information will be available in English and Spanish. Doctors, school nurses, educators and advocates will be among the experts available to answer questions about ADHD.

For people who prefer a more confidential approach, a one-on-one online forum on ADHD will be available at www.ADHDExpertsOnCall.com on the same day.

"While this program doesn't replace a physician visit, parents and adult patients can learn valuable information about ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, support groups and treatment options that can help them better understand the disorder," Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in prepared statement.

"Despite the widespread prevalence of ADHD, many parents, patients and caregivers are confused by conflicting information about the disorder, and don't know where to turn for help," said Goodman, who will be taking part in this year's ADHD Experts on Call.

The free hotline, sponsored by Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., will be hosted by celebrity carpenter Ty Pennington, of TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Pennington was diagnosed with ADHD as a child.

ADHD affects 3 percent to 7 percent (approximately 2 million) of school-age children in the United States. The disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more about ADHD.