USA2 SPOTLIGHT

In a July 23, 2019 Being Patient “Perspectives” video interview, host Debra Kan spoke with journalist, author and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocate Greg O’Brien, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. They delve into his family history with AD, personal genetics, Alzheimer’s stories, and more. According to O’Brien, “This disease is about the kids. My time will come and go… I’m in this fight cause it’s taken my family. But I’m in this fight for everyone’s kids.”

In a Carlen Maddux blog post, Maddux talked with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocate Jamie Tyrone, and Dr. Marwan Sabbagh (Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health), about their new book, and Jamie’s personal story. In the wake of Jamie finding out she is at high risk for developing AD (91% susceptibility), Maddux writes, “Jamie, 49 at the time, was left cold, to say the least. As were my wife Martha and I two decades ago when we were told she has early onset Alzheimer’s. If you remember our story, the doctor breaking this news to us made Dr. Spock of Star Trek seem warm and cuddly—he was stiff, officious, and cerebral. Our world had not been turned upside down; it imploded before us. As for Jamie, she plunged into depression and feelings of isolation, intermingled with thoughts of suicide.”

MUST READS

A July 25, 2019 ARS Technica article spotlighted the use of CBD (cannabis-derived compound cannabidiol) oils to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Cureleaf’s products claim to treat AD, Parkinson’s and other ailments. But this week, the FDA sent Curaleaf a warning letter for “illegally selling unapproved drugs and making unsubstantiated treatment claims.” According to the article, “There are varying state laws and restrictions to apply, uncertain sources of CBD, poor quality controls on THC levels in CBD products, and, of course, unapproved and unsubstantiated health claims. If CBD makers want to make health claims about their products, they need FDA approval. And that would require clinical evidence.”

A July 24, 2019 Discover Magazine blog post looked at the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its connection to Alzheimer’s disease. Beta-amyloid is washed out of the brain by CSF, approximately five ounces of fluid in between the brain and skull. South Korean scientists found that lymphatic vessels at the bottom of the skull are its conduit to leave the brain. According to the article, “Scientists believe beta-amyloid accumulates and forms plaques in older people because our ability to replace cerebrospinal fluid slows down with age. And these lymphatic vessels identified in the new research contribute to the slower flow. The researchers found that the vessels were much more branched in older mice, spreading out the cerebrospinal fluid instead of channeling it straight to the lymph nodes in the neck.”

MUST WATCH

A July 19, 2019 KGW8 NBC broadcast segment followed Steve and Joni Goodwin. The couple has been married for 50 years and Steve, now age 69, has early onset Alzheimer’s disease. As the music and songs Steve wrote for Joni were slowly being lost to his AD, professional pianist Naomi LaViolette stepped in and started writing down Steve’s music. “Because of Naomi, those pieces of his soul will always be with me. I’m never going to be alone,” said Joni.