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Show nal cancerpatients who had voluntarily allowed a chemicaltracerto be attached to actively dividing cells, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in LaJolla, Calif., found evidenceofrecentcell division in the part of the brain called the hippocampusin every personstudied. “We've also learned that the brain is muchmore‘plastic,’ or malleable, than we’d ever thought,” says David Amaral. “It is constantly interacting with the environmentand adjusting the wayit continued or Alzheimer’s disease? Addiction: A Brain Disease N THE LAST DECADE, we've revolutionized is not just a lot of drug use,” says Alan Leshner,director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “It’s literally a disease of the brain.” “Drugs hijack the mind by hijacking the brain,” he explains. “Scientists haveidentified molecules in the brain associated with every major drug of abuse.” They've also found that all drugs have common effects on dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved @ Memory loss ¢ Asking repeated questions @ Trouble using words Whensigns like these begin to affect everyday life, they may not be a part of normal aging. Theymaybe signs of Alzheimer's disease, an incurable, progressiveillness that robs patients andtheir families ofa lifetime of memories. All drugs—trom alcohol to cocaine— change the brain in protound ways, in the experienceof pleasure. “Alcohol, heroin, cocaine,nicotine, marijuana—ail modify dopamine function in similar ways,” says Leshner. “initially, people take drugs because they like what it does to their brains, but over time something happens. All of a sudden, you're taking drugs not because you like them but because you must. This compulsion is the essenceof all addiction.” Symptoms can be treated, but Leshner warns, “Addiction is not like strep throat. It doesn't go away. Drugs change brain cells in profound, long-lasting ways.” PARADE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 21, 1900 PAGE 1! Today, however, the outlook for manyis becoming more hopeful. ARICEPT® is a clinically proven, once-a-dayprescription medicineavailable to treat symptoms in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Already, over 625,000patientsin the United States have begunARICEPT® therapy. ARICEPT® is well tolerated, but some people doexperiences Je effects like nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue, and los of appetite. Inclinical studies, the ts were generallymild, temporary, and went awaywith continued ARICEPT” use; 2%of people taking ARICEPT experiencedfainting. Onlya doctor can evaluate symptoms such as forgetfulness and diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Speak to a doctorésdzy about the benefits of ARICEPT?” in treating Alzheimer's lisease. one b-DAY (donepezil HC] Topay s TREATMENT For ALZHEIMER S DISEASE To learn more,call toll-free today. LEEE-D99-D616ecet.55 Please 808 adttional important product informabon onaccompanying page. |