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Emergency Planning for special Needs Community
	Added ›03/10/2011 2:23:04 PM

Ocean County Office of Senior Services
----- Forwarded by Jane Maloney/OSS/OCG on 03/09/2011 01:49 PM -----

Rodric Bowman <RBowman@ochd.org>

03/09/2011 01:44 PM

Subject

[** POSSIBLE SPAM **] Satellite/Webcast Program-Emergency Planning for Special Needs Communities: Answering the Call for Help

Satellite/Webcast Program-Emergency Planning for Special Needs Communities: Answering the Call for Help

The Ocean County Health Department will be hosting a satellite and/or webcast, “Emergency Planning for Special Needs Communities: Answering the Call for Help” from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., March 23, 2011 in Area D at the Health Department Building, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River.

Brief Summary:

In a rebroadcast of our highest-rated program of 2010, the March edition of Live Response will focus on emergency planning for special needs communities. Experts at West Virginia University’s (WVU’s) Homeland Security Program will discuss how to help the estimated 53 million Americans who are living with disabilities during a crisis. WVU offers a 12-hour course on this topic called, “Emergency Planning for Special Needs Communities.” It is federally funded and free to participants. Live Response will give an overview of what the course offers and define special needs populations, which include not only the visually and hearing impaired but also people who don’t speak English, for instance, and people who can no longer drive a car. The broadcast will explore the need for a functional approach in emergency planning and offer important resources. It will also cover key issues in delivering emergency communications, look at mass care provisional needs, and talk about key transportation issues to consider during an evacuation. In addition, the broadcast will address how best to assist people with special needs during recovery efforts as well as challenges for the future in emergency planning for special needs communities. There will be a new live chat with panelists during the broadcast for follow-up questions, updates, and additional information. Please join us!

Public Health professionals may register and receive continuing education credit for this program, if offered, at no cost to you. For more information, visit the New Jersey Learning Management Network by clicking here.

For questions, please contact John Clayton at 732.341.9700 ext. 7277.

What happens w/Social Security if Fed's shut down
	Added ›03/07/2011 10:43:53 AM

If you are already receiving benefits, you'll continue receiving them regardless of if or when thegovernment shuts down.The continuing resolution (CR) that Congress enacted last December in order to fund government atlast year's spending levels expired March 4. Another CR for Fiscal Year 2011 was signed into law thi past week. Come March 18 when the latest CR expires, if the FY 2011 budget remains unresolvedand lawmakers aren’t willing to approve yet another CR, then most federal workers will be furloughed without pay. That means the national parks and federal facilities will close. Passports and visas will notbe issued. New veteran's assistance and Social Security applications will go unanswered. Countless

government contractors will be idled. Basically,

everything and anyone not related to national security

or safety of human life will be halted.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, when the government shutdown the

last five days of 1995 and the first 21 days of 1996, some 800,000 federal workers were furloughed,

more than 350 national park service facilities were shuttered, the Center for Disease Control stopped

monitoring, the National Institute of Health didn't accept patients, and tens of billions of dollars worth of

government contracts (and contractors) went unpaid. So while it didn't spell the end of the world, it was

certainly chaotic and disruptive. And when it was all over, the government ended up paying contract

penalties as well as the furloughed federal workers for their time.

But don't worry: Uniformed members of armed services, the FBI, air traffic controllers, Transportation

Security Administration personnel and many others will be at work regardless of what happens come

March 4. And, of course, Social Security checks will be paid and Medicare will go forward.

Social Security & Disability Update!
	Added ›03/07/2011 10:12:14 AM

Get up-to-date information about our programs and benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov . And, if you're ready to file, Apply Online for Retirement Benefits. It's so easy!

ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS ARE A MUST

By Everett M. Lo

Social Security Administration’s Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

For years, Social Security has stressed the convenience, security, and safety of getting benefit payments electronically. Soon, direct deposit (or Direct Express) will not only be the best way to receive Federal benefit payments — it will be the only way.

That’s because the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new rule that will phase out paper checks for Federal benefit and non-tax payments by March 1, 2013.

Here is how the transition will work.

Anyone applying for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on or after May 1, 2011, will receive their payments electronically, while those already receiving paper checks will need to switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013.

Anyone already receiving their benefit payments electronically will continue to receive their payment as usual on their payment day.

People receiving benefits have the option of direct deposit to a bank or credit union account (of their choice) or into a Direct Express ^ÒDebit MasterCard ^Òcard account (a Treasury-recommended prepaid card option). You can visit www.GoDirect.org to learn more.

Social Security, SSI, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits, and other non-tax payments are included.

For most people getting monthly benefits, this won’t really be a change; already 8 out of 10 beneficiaries receive payments electronically.

Why the push for electronic payments instead of paper checks received in the mail?

· It’s safer: no risk of checks being lost or stolen;

· It’s easy and reliable: no need to wait for the mail or go to the bank to cash a check;

· It saves taxpayers money: no cost for postage and paper and printing;

· It saves you money: no check-cashing fees or bank fees; and

· It’s good for the environment: it saves paper and eliminates transportation costs.

If you still get your check in the mail, you don’t need to wait for the new rule to go into effect to enjoy the benefits of electronic payments. Please visit www.godirect.org today and begin getting your Social Security and SSI payments the safe, easy, inexpensive, and green way — electronically.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SPEED UP YOUR DISABILITY APPLICATION

By Everett M. Lo

Social Security Administration’s Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

If your disabling condition is preventing you from continuing to work, you may want to apply for disability benefits through Social Security. In most cases, doing so involves a thorough process of determining your eligibility, medical condition, and ability to work. Because we look so carefully at so many cases — more than three million each year — it can take us three to five months to determine whether you are eligible.

Processing times on that initial claim can vary depending on several factors, but primarily on:

· the nature of your disability;

· how quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical sources; and

· whether we need to send you for a medical examination in order to obtain evidence to support your claim.

There are things you can do to help speed up the process. The more information you provide up front, the less time it will take us to obtain the evidence we need — and the faster your claim can be processed.

What type of information do we need?

Any medical records or documentation you have is helpful. We can make copies of the records you have and return your originals;
The names, addresses, and phone numbers for any doctors, medical facilities, treatment centers, or providers related to your disabling condition;
The names, addresses, and phone numbers for previous employers and the dates worked for each employer;
Workers’ compensation information, including the settlement agreement, date of injury, claim number, and proof of other disability benefits awarded;
Names and dates of birth of your minor children and your spouse;
Dates of marriages and divorces (if any);
Checking or savings account number, and the bank’s 9-digit routing number, so we can deposit your payment electronically;
Name, address, and phone number of a person we can contact if we are unable to get in touch with you.

If this disability application is for a child, we need the name, address, phone number of the schools attended and any school records you can provide.

We also ask you to sign release forms that give us permission to obtain the information needed from third parties to make a decision on your claim.

The best place to start is online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability . Select “Disability Starter Kit” in the left column. There, you’ll find more information and starter kits for both adults and children.

You can apply online for disability benefits (the easiest method), or you can make an appointment by phone or in a Social Security office. The choice is yours. (For Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits, you cannot apply online, but you still can complete the Disability Starter Kit to prepare for the interview and speed-up the processing time.)

If you’re considering an application for disability benefits, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov/disability .

YOUR MARCH TO-DO LIST

By Everett M. Lo

Social Security Administration’s Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

It’s spring cleaning season! There’s no better time than now to start organizing, and getting important tasks cleared off your list of important things to do. Social Security would like to share a suggested “March To-Do List” with you.

Request your SSA-1099 online. If you receive Social Security benefits, you may need to pay taxes on a portion of your Social Security benefits. If so, you’ll need your SSA-1099, which shows the total amount of benefits received in the previous year. An SSA-1099 was mailed to you in January showing the total amount of benefits you received in 2010. If you receive Social Security and have not yet received a 1099 for 2010, or you lost the one we sent you, you can request a replacement online at www.socialsecurity.gov/1099 .

Medicare Open Season ends on March 31. If you are eligible for Medicare Part B medical insurance, but you didn’t sign up for it when you first became eligible for Medicare, you have another opportunity to apply. Open season for Medicare Part B runs from January 1 until March 31, 2011. If you miss the deadline, you will have to wait until 2012. You can learn more about Medicare by reading our electronic booklet, Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html . Or, visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov . You also can call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

March may be a busy time, but if you keep this to-do list handy, staying on top of things should be a spring breeze. For more information about Social Security programs, visit www.socialsecurity.gov .

FIGURING OUT RETIREMENT

By Everett M. Lo

Social Security Administration’s Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

For almost every American worker, Social Security is “part of the plan” for a secure retirement. If you are among the roughly 95 percent of workers in the United States who are covered under Social Security, here’s a primer on retirement coverage.

When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” toward Social Security benefits. If you were born in 1929, or later, you need 40 credits or 10 years of work to qualify for retirement benefits. No retirement benefits can be paid until you have the required number of credits. If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record. If you return to work later, you can add more credits so that you qualify.

Your benefit amount is based on how much you earned during your working career. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits. A worker with average earnings can expect a retirement benefit that replaces about 40 percent of his or her average lifetime earnings. Social Security was never intended to be your only source of income when you retire. You also will need other savings, investments, pensions, or retirement accounts to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably when you retire.

Your benefit payment also is affected by the age at which you decide to retire and begin receiving benefits. If you were born in 1942 or earlier, you already are eligible for your full Social Security benefit. If you were born from 1943 to 1960, the age at which full retirement benefits are payable increases gradually to age 67.

You can get Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced, based on your age. If you retire at age 62, your benefit would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you waited until you reach full retirement age. You may choose to keep working even beyond your full retirement age. If you do, you can increase your future Social Security benefits — up until age 70.

Choosing when to retire is an important decision, but it’s also a personal choice and one you should carefully consider. When’s the best time? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Social Security offers a list of factors to consider in the publication When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html . In addition, Social Security provides an online Retirement Estimator to get immediate and personalized retirement benefit estimates to help you plan for your retirement. The Retirement Estimator is a convenient and secure financial planning tool, allowing you to create “what if” scenarios. For instance, you can change your “stop work” dates or expected future earnings to create and compare different retirement options. If you have a few minutes, you have time to check it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator .

When you’re ready, you can apply online for retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) . Or, you can make an appointment to visit any Social Security office to apply in person.

WHAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY

By Everett M. Lo

Social Security Administration’s Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

While the Social Security program treats all workers — men and women — exactly the same in terms of the benefits they can receive, women need to know what the program means to them in their particular circumstances. Understanding the benefits to which they may be entitled may mean the difference between living more comfortably versus just getting by in their later retirement years.

One of the most significant things women need to remember in terms of Social Security is the importance of promptly reporting a name change. If you haven’t told us of a name change, your earnings may not be recorded properly and you may not receive all the Social Security benefits you are due. Not changing your name with Social Security also can delay your Federal income tax refund. To report a name change, please fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can get the form by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov , visiting any Social Security office or card center, or by calling Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778 ). You must show us a recently issued document as proof of your legal name change.

If building a family is in your plans, it’s a good idea to apply for a Social Security number for your baby in the hospital, at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. Social Security will mail the card to you. Or, you can elect to wait and apply in person at any Social Security office. However, if you wait, you must provide evidence of your child’s age, identity and U.S. citizenship status, as well as proof of your identity. Then, we must verify your child’s birth record, which can add 12 weeks to the time it takes to issue a card.

When women start receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other family members may be eligible for payments as well. For example, benefits can be paid to a husband:

If he is age 62 or older; or
At any age if he is caring for your child (the child must be younger than 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits on your record).

Benefits also can be paid to unmarried children if they are:

Younger than 18;
Between 18 and 19 years old, but in elementary or secondary school as full-time students; or
Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22).

The family of a woman who dies may be eligible for survivors benefits based on her work.

For more information about women and Social Security, ask for the publication, What Every Woman Should Know ( SSA Publication No. 05-10127) or visit our special Women’s page online at www.socialsecurity.gov/women .

Township and Schools Join Together to Host Senior Prom
	Added ›02/28/2011 3:06:16 PM

Mayor Acropolis, members of the Township Council, and Brick Township Public Schools invite Brick’s senior citizen community members to enjoy the free 2011 Senior Citizen Prom. National Honor Society students from Brick Township High School and Brick Memorial High School again come together to organize this 4^th annual event with the Township Recreation Department for a memorable evening. The 4^th Annual Brick Township Senior Citizen Prom will take place on Friday, May 6 at 6pm at Lake Riviera Middle School.

The 4^th Annual Brick Township Senior Citizen Prom will feature music by Sentimental Journey Big Band. The night is accompanied by a special dinner menu compliments of the many generous restaurants from Brick Township who donate the evening’s meal. Seniors, staff, and students are encouraged to wear prom appropriate attire and to bring their dancing shoes for musical performances and student talent. In keeping with prom tradition, students will count the submitted ballots and announce the 2011 Senior Citizen Prom King and Prom Queen before the last dance.

“This is always a great evening for everyone involved, from our staff, to the students who volunteer to the citizens who come out and enjoy the music, food and dancing,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis. “It’s the type of event that improves the quality of life and makes our community such a great place to call home.”

“The Senior Citizen Prom is a special time when generations come together and celebrate in the prom tradition. More than 60 high school students from Brick Township Public Schools exercise character education by volunteering their time to help plan and execute the Senior Citizen Prom,” said Superintendent Walter Hrycenko. “Our students and staff are passionate about co-hosting such a fun event with the Township and are looking forward to another successful prom year. “

Please RSVP your intentions to Dina Silvestri no later than April 15 at 732-785-3000. There are only 200 spots available.

Juggling languages can build better brains
	Added ›02/23/2011 3:19:24 PM

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About Alzheimer's

Treatment

Living with Alzheimer's

Did You Know...

Nearly half of all people age 85 years or older have some form of dementia.

Juggling Languages Can Build Better Brains

February 23, 2011

Adapted from Penn State

Once likened to a confusing tower of Babel, speaking more than one language can actually bolster brain function by serving as a mental gymnasium, according to researchers.

Recent research indicates that bilingual speakers can outperform monolinguals—people who speak only one language—in certain mental abilities, such as editing out irrelevant information and focusing on important information, said Judith Kroll, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Penn State. These skills make bilinguals better at prioritizing tasks and working on multiple projects at one time. "We would probably refer to most of these cognitive advantages as multi-tasking," said Kroll, director of the Center for Language Science. "Bilinguals seem to be better at this type of perspective taking." Kroll said that these findings counter previous conclusions that bilingualism hindered cognitive development.

"The received wisdom was that bilingualism created confusion, especially in children," said Kroll told attendees on February 18 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington D.C. "The belief was that people who could speak two or more languages had difficulty using either. The bottom line is that bilingualism is good for you."

Researchers trace the source of these enhanced multi-tasking skills to the way bilinguals mentally negotiate between the languages, a skill that Kroll refers to as mental juggling.

When bilinguals speak with each other, they can easily slip in and out of both languages, often selecting the word or phrase from the language that most clearly expresses their thoughts. However, fluent bilinguals rarely make the mistake of slipping into another language when they speak with someone who understands only one language.

"The important thing that we have found is that both languages are open for bilinguals; in other words, there are alternatives available in both languages," Kroll said. "Even though language choices may be on the tip of their tongue, bilinguals rarely make a wrong choice."

This language selection, or code switching, is a form of mental exercise, according to Kroll. "The bilingual is somehow able to negotiate between the competition of the languages," Kroll said. "The speculation is that these cognitive skills come from this juggling of languages."

Kroll's symposium at the meeting included distinguished language scientists who have investigated the consequences of bilingualism across the lifespan. Ellen Bialystok, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University, Toronto, was instrumental in demonstrating that bilingualism improves certain mental skills.

According to Bialystok, the benefits of bilingualism appear across age groups. Studies of children who grow up as bilingual speakers indicate they are often better at perspective-taking tasks, such as prioritizing, than monolingual children. Experiments with older bilingual speakers indicate that the enhanced mental skills may protect them from problems associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Researchers use MRIs and electroencephalographs to track how the brain operates when it engages in language juggling. They also use eye-movement devices to watch how bilinguals read sentences. When a person reads, the eyes jump through the sentence, stopping to comprehend certain words or phrases. These distinctive eye movements can offer researchers clues on the subtle ways bilinguals comprehend language compared to monolinguals.

Kroll noted that the enhanced brain functions of bilinguals do not necessarily make them more intelligent or better learners.

"Bilinguals simply acquire specific types of expertise that help them attend to critical tasks and ignore irrelevant information," Kroll said.

Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze)
	Added ›02/11/2011 3:33:44 PM

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Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Forms

The following forms can be viewed in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. PDF formatted documents contain the same text as the original printed documents. To view PDF formatted documents, you must have Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe. Click the link to download the newest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader now!

Applications for tax year 2010 are expected to be mailed to qualified residents in mid to late February 2011.

2009 Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Forms

Prior Year Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Forms

Which Form to Use
Form PTR-1 is for applicants who are filing for a reimbursement the first time (or who filed an application the previous year but did not receive a check). To print Form PTR-1 for the current year or a prior year, use the links above.

Form PTR-2 is a personalized application that is mailed only to those who received a reimbursement check the previous year. It is not the application for a Homestead Rebate.

Form PTR-2 is not available on this Web site. If you qualify to use Form PTR-2, and you have not received a personalized application:

Call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 to have one mailed to you.
E-mail your request to the Division. Please include the following information in your message: name, address, daytime phone number, name of program or form, and tax year (e.g., 2009 Property Tax Reimbursement Application, Form PTR-2). E-mail us now.

2009 Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Forms

Applications for tax year 2010 are expected to be mailed to qualified residents in mid to late February 2011.

Form	Content	PDF Size
PTR-1	2009 Property Tax Reimbursement Application	46K
PTR-1	Instructions for Form PTR-1	375K
PTR-1i	2009 Property Tax Reimbursement Income Worksheet	49K
PTR-1A	Homeowners Verification of 2008 and 2009 Property Taxes (For use with Form PTR-1)	159K
PTR-1B	Mobile Home Owners Verification of 2008 and 2009 Mobile Home Park Site Fees (For use with Form PTR-1)	197K
PTR-2A	Homeowners Verification of 2009 Property Taxes (For use with Form PTR-2) Please Note: This form can be found after the application forms at the front of the PTR-2 instruction booklet.	209K
PTR-2B	Mobile Home Owners Verification of 2008 Mobile Home Park Site Fees (For use with Form PTR-2) Please Note: This form can be found after the application forms at the front of the PTR-2 instruction booklet.	188K

Prior Year Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Forms

Form	Content	Year	PDF Size
PTR-1	Property Tax Reimbursement Application	2008	41K
		2007	190K
		2006	191K
		2005	192K
		2004	190K
		2003	210K
		2002	80K
		2001	181K
		2000	64K
		1999	69K
		1998	21K
	Instructions for the Property Tax Reimbursement Application	2008	456K
		2007	275K
		2006	187K
		2005	220K
		2004	171K
		2003	289K
		2002	106K
		2001	132K
		2000	89K
		1999	74K
		1998	136K
PTR-1i	Property Tax Reimbursement Income Worksheet	2008	52K
PTR-1i	Property Tax Reimbursement Income Worksheet	2007	67K
PTR-1A	Homeowners Verification of Property Taxes	2008	159K
		2007	29K
		2006	68K
		2005	71K
		2004	61K
		2003	80K
		2002	22K
		2001	27K
		2000	13K
		1999	19K
		1998	11K
PTR-1B	Mobile Home Owners Verification of Mobile Home Park Site Fees	2008	121K
		2007	29K
		2006	71K
		2005	73K
		2004	59K
		2003	86K
		2002	22K
		2001	27K
		2000	13K
		1999	19K
		1998	10K

Last Updated: Thursday, 12/30/10

Brain Aerobics Class meets at Town Hall on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm
	Added ›02/09/2011 10:33:23 AM

Brain Aerobics Class meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Town Hall in the Council Chambers. For more information call 732-262-1050

Info on Dry Macular Degeneration
	Added ›02/09/2011 10:28:19 AM

Skip Navigation

About Macular Degeneration

Treatment

Living With Macular Degeneration

Did You Know...

Age-related macular degeneration is a major cause of visual impairment in the U.S. For Caucasians over age 65 it is the leading cause of legal blindness.

New Discovery Points to How Dry Macular Degeneration Causes Blindness

February 7, 2011

Summary:

A team of researchers has discovered an important new clue in understanding how an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), called geographic atrophy, can lead to blindness. Currently, there are no effective treatments for the “dry” form of AMD (unlike “wet” AMD that has many treatment options). This discovery could lead to new therapies for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have geographic atrophy.

Over a tenth of the human genome is “junk” DNA that makes a product called Alu RNA. In healthy people, a protein called Dicer1 chops up these Alu RNAs. This research team found that people with geographic atrophy have lower levels of Dicer1 in particular retina cells, called RPE, so there is a buildup of the Alu RNA that then kills these cells.

The researchers have proposed and tested two ways of preventing the buildup—one adds back more Dicer1 and the other chews up the Alu RNA before it can accumulate. If these potential treatments pass a few more laboratory tests, the researchers will apply for permission to start human clinical trials.

On behalf of its donors, Macular Degeneration Research, a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, is proud to have supported Dr. Judit Baffi, a pivotal member of this research team, for this very important work.

For more details, please read the press release below from the University of Kentucky.

Retinal Photographs: Courtesy of the Ambati Laboratory/University of Kentucky

Geographic atrophy is induced by DICER1 reduction as seen in the retinal photograph (top right, blue arrowheads). This is prevented by blocking Alu RNA (top left). Flat mount pictures show that the degeneration of the RPE cells induced by DICER1 reduction (bottom right) is prevented by blocking Alu RNA (bottom left).

Photo courtesy of the Ambati Laboratory/University of Kentucky

A team of researchers, led by University of Kentucky ophthalmologist Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialized world. Their article, "DICER1 Deficit Induces Alu RNA Toxicity in Age-Related Macular Degeneration," was published online by the journal Nature on February 6, 2011.

Concurrent with this discovery, Ambati's laboratory developed two promising therapies for the prevention of the condition. This study also elaborates, for the first time, a disease-causing role for a large section of the human genome once regarded as non-coding "junk DNA."

Geographic atrophy, a condition causing the death of cells in the retina, occurs in the later stages of the "dry type" of macular degeneration, a disease affecting some 10 million older Americans and causing blindness in over 1 million. There is currently no effective treatment for geographic atrophy, as its cause is unknown.

Ambati's team discovered that an accumulation of a toxic type of RNA, called Alu RNA, causes retinal cells to die in patients with geographic atrophy. In a healthy eye, a "Dicer" enzyme degrades the Alu RNA particles.

"We discovered that in patients with geographic atrophy, there is a dramatic reduction of the Dicer enzyme in the retina," said Ambati, professor and vice chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Dr. E. Vernon and Eloise C. Smith Endowed Chair in Macular Degeneration Research at the UK College of Medicine. "When the levels of Dicer decline, the control system is short-circuited and too much Alu RNA accumulates. This leads to death of the retina."

Alu elements make up a surprisingly large portion—about 11 percent by weight—of the human genome, comprising more than 1 million sequences. However, their function has been unknown, so they have been called "junk" DNA or part of the "dark" genome. The discovery of Alu's toxicity and its control by Dicer should prove of great interest to other researchers in the biological sciences, Ambati says.

Ambati's team developed two potential therapies aimed at preventing geographic atrophy and demonstrated the efficacy of both approaches using laboratory models. The first involves increasing Dicer levels in the retina by "over-expressing" the enzyme. The second involves blocking Alu RNA using an "anti-sense" drug that binds and degrades this toxic substance. UK has filed patent applications for both technologies, and Ambati's group is preparing to start clinical trials by the end of this year.

Response from the scientific community has been enthusiastic.

"These findings provide important new clues on the biological basis of geographic atrophy and may provide avenues for intervention through preventing toxic accumulation of abnormal RNA products," said Dr. Paul Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute.

"Ambati's latest research provides important mechanistic insights in geographic atrophy, and identification of this novel pathway may result in new therapeutic targets for a major cause of blindness," said Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and Lasker-DeBakey awardee who is a researcher at Genentech.

This work has "widespread implications" for future study, said Dr. Stephen J. Ryan, president of the Doheny Eye Institute and member of the Institute of Medicine.

"The authors have opened an important line of research with real possibilities for future therapeutic intervention for patients with geographic atrophy," Ryan said.

Annual Photo Contest Deadline Extended
	Added ›02/01/2011 10:50:10 AM

Calling all photographers! The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation is hosting a contest for amateur photographers and the winning submission will be used on the cover of the 2011/2012 Parks & Recreation Brochure. The deadline for entry has been extended to The deadline for all entries is Friday, February 25, 2011.

Residents are asked to submit nature photographs that showcase the natural beauty of Brick Township. Photos with human subjects will not be considered. Only digital photographs will be accepted and may be e-mailed to contest@bricktownship.net. Photographs should be in JPG form and attached to the message.

Each digital submission should be accompanied by the photographer’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, age and number of years living in Brick Township. It should also include a brief description of the location and subject matter of the photo and one or two sentences about the photographer. There is a submission limit of 2 photos per person.

The winning photographer must certify that the photo is original and not copyright protected in any way. The photograph will become the property of the Township of Brick and may be used by the Township in the future.

For more information, call the Brick Recreation office at 732-262-1075.

10 questions for each of 3 major diseases
	Added ›02/01/2011 10:43:25 AM

Take Charge of Your Healthcare: 10 Essential Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Doctor and Patient Be proactive in managing your healthcare by having an open conversation with your doctor. Write down your questions ahead of time and don't leave the office without understanding the recommendations for your condition, your doctor's responsibilities, and your responsibilities. If you think you may have problems recording or remembering the responses to your questions, bring a friend or family member to the appointment. You can also prepare for your visit by reading educational materials on your condition, including publications provided by the American Health Assistance Foundation (www.ahaf.org).

Take along these 10 essential questions to ask your doctor, as well as the suggestions for disease-specific questions. Please feel free to choose the ones you feel best fit your situation and, of course, to add your own questions if they're not listed:

10 General Questions:

(Download in PDF format)

What do you think is causing my symptoms?

Is there more than one condition (disease) that could be causing my problem?

What tests do I need to confirm a diagnosis? Describe the test(s).

Why do I need this treatment? Are there any alternatives?

Will this treatment interact with medicines that I'm already taking?

I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?

Are there any changes that I can make to my lifestyle that may slow or prevent the progression of this disease, including diet and exercise?

How often should I be seen for follow-up care?

What is the long-term outlook in my case?

Are there clinical trials in this area that could possibly improve my situation? Do you recommend that I participate?

10 Glaucoma-specific Questions:

(Download in PDF format)

What are the risk factors for glaucoma, and do I have any?

Exactly what tests are you conducting? (View a list of these tests.)

What is my current intraocular pressure, and what is my target pressure?

Does my optic nerve already show signs of damage?

What is the best treatment option for my glaucoma, and why?

Am I a candidate for laser treatment or surgery, and if so, what kind?

What kinds of side effects can result from taking glaucoma medications? When should I seek medical attention for those side effects?

Is it safe for me to drive?

Should I be taking any special precautions at home, like modifying my diet or refraining from doing certain types of activities?

Are there any low-vision aids or adaptive devices I can use to help me better use the vision I have?

10 Macular Degeneration-specific Questions:

(Download in PDF format)

Am I at risk for developing macular degeneration?

What kind of macular degeneration do I have? How advanced is my macular degeneration?

Do I have macular degeneration in one or both eyes? If only one eye, then what are the chances that I will get it in the other eye?

Exactly what tests are you conducting? (View a list of these tests.)

What is the visual acuity in my central vision? Have I already lost any vision?

Are there certain vitamins or minerals I should take?

How can I best monitor the progression of my disease?

Are there any low-vision aids or adaptive devices I can use to help me better use the vision I have?

Could I benefit from an evaluation by a low-vision specialist? From low-vision therapy?

Is it safe for me to drive?

10 Alzheimer’s Disease-specific Questions:

(Download in PDF format)

How much experience do you have in diagnosing and treating people with Alzheimer's disease? If you haven't had much experience with Alzheimer's patients, can you recommend a specialist who has?

How can you be sure the problems I'm experiencing are really Alzheimer's and not just part of the normal aging process?

Exactly what tests are you conducting? (View a list of these tests.)

Am I taking any medications that could be making my symptoms worse?

What stage am I in now?

What changes can I expect over time in behavior and mental capabilities? How quickly will these changes occur?

Should coworkers and friends be told about this diagnosis? Do you have any advice about the best approaches to use in discussing Alzheimer's with them?

What's the best place for care: at home or in a nursing facility?

What services and support organizations for Alzheimer's disease are in my area?

What are the chances another family member will get this disease?

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