MUST READS

A July 27, 2019 Los Angeles Times article spotlighted baseball reminiscence therapy for people with dementia and their caregivers, led by members of the Los Angeles chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research. Sessions are designed to elicit moments of clarity through a connection with baseball, where participants talk, sing and play. “Baseball is a game of storytelling; it’s the heart and soul of the sport. Everyone has baseball stories, everyone has baseball memories. These people grew up during the game’s golden age, so it seems like such a natural fit,” said [Jon] Leonoudakis, who brought the program to Los Angeles.

A July 27, 2019 The Week article looked at how understanding episodic memory in animals may help lead to Alzheimer’s disease treatments. Until recently, researchers believed only humans form episodic memories, but it is now accepted that all mammals do. According to the article, “This brave new paradigm of episodic memory in animals has implications that go far beyond our understanding of animals' inner lives and behavior. Rats' impressive performance on memory tests means that they might have a lot to teach us about Alzheimer's — including how to treat it more effectively. “What's most debilitating in Alzheimer's patients is episodic memory,” [neuroscientist Jonathon] Crystal [Indiana University] said. “So we're trying to develop models in rats that more closely mimic that.””

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A July 26, 2019 Forbes article spotlighted Swiss biopharmaceutical company AC Immune’s positive results on their Alzheimer’s disease (liposomal therapeutic anti-Abeta) vaccine clinical trial of ACI-24, on people with Down syndrome. The drug is also being evaluated in people with mild to moderate AD. It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that specifically target Abeta proteins to prevent plaque accumulation and boost clearance. According to the article, ““This is the first vaccine targeting Abeta that has been tested in the Down syndrome population,” she [AC Immune Lead Prof. Andrea Pfeifer] said, adding that she believes studying the Down syndrome population is critical for developing successful treatments for everyone with Alzheimer’s, since it permits testing potential Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics in a more homogeneous group, earlier in the course of development of Alzheimer’s symptoms than would otherwise be possible.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A July 28, 2019 Breaking Israel News article reported on a new international study, “Exposure to Genocide and the Risk of Dementia,” which found that Holocaust survivors’ risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is 1.21 times higher than those who did not endure the Holocaust. This research may be relevant to people who survived other crimes against humanity. “There is a need to closely monitor the cognitive decline in a high-risk population that has experienced extreme and continuing trauma in general and Holocaust survivors in particular. Prolonged stress situations are a risk factor for dementia,” said Professor Stephen Levine of the University of Haifa. 

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Join in the Help for Alzheimer’s Families live chat webinar, “Updates from Leaders in Alzheimer’s Research & Caregiving.” Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate for Home Instead Senior Care Lakelyn Hogan shares highlights from this year’s AAIC, including what’s new from leading Alzheimer’s researchers, doctors and advocates in dementia and caregiving research. Tomorrow, July 30, 2019 at 1pm (EST). Send your live questions during the chat, or ahead of time to: [email protected].