Serum leptin is not altered nor related to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Low plasma leptin levels can be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) but the relation of leptin with disease progression in clinical AD is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between serum leptin concentrations and cognitive decline in clinical AD.

Methods: Serum leptin levels were analyzed in 295 non-obese subjects including healthy controls (n = 65), patients with subjective memory complaints (n = 99), patients with AD (n = 100), and patients with vascular dementia (n = 31).

[Colorectal cancer screening in the Netherlands: which faecal occult blood test?].

The Dutch Ministry of Health has instructed the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to prepare a national screening programme for colorectal cancer. The RIVM put the immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) for the programme out to public tender, after which a panel of experts recommended the FOB Gold test. This is surprising since previous studies favoured the OC Sensor test and the FOB Gold test has never been used in the Netherlands.