MUST READS

A June 25, 2019 Managed Care article referenced the June 25, 2019 STAT piece by science journalist Sharon Begley speaking of an “Alzheimer’s cabal” which has stymied research into non-amyloid-based hypothesis of the disease such as inflammation and infection. According to the article, “The gist of Begley's 4,500-word story is that those and other ideas (and the scientists who tried to advance them) have been squelched in myriad ways by an agenda–setting ecosystem that includes NIH grant review, the pecking order of scientific publications, speaker selection at scientific meetings, and the funding choices of biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Begley quotes George Perry, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas–San Antonio as saying that scientists who didn't go along with the amyloid hypothesis  “became roadkill on the highway to nowhere.””

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A June 23, 2019 Healthline article looked at the link between people who survive cancer and a reduced risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive decline. Results from a new study found that cancer survivors might have certain biological and social characteristics that protect them from AD. “Sometimes by looking more closely at a result that doesn’t seem to make sense at first, we can learn something really new… If we can identify the common biological mechanisms, we might be able to take advantage of that mechanism to reduce Alzheimer’s and dementia risk,” said lead study author Dr. Monica Ospina-Romero from the University of California San Francisco.

CAREGIVING CORNER

A June 21, 2019 UVA Today article spotlighted the work of University of Virginia Computer Science Professor Jack Stankovic, who is developing a smart healthcare system, via a grant from the National Science Foundation, supporting in-home caregivers. The system will monitor, in real-time, caregivers’ stress levels and send a text to their smartphone, as needed, suggesting ways to settle down such as yoga, listening to relaxing music, reading or meditating, based on their own preferences. The system monitors voice fluctuations to detect rising stress levels such as changes in pitch, tone, volume and frequency. “We want to make the system as passive as possible, to not be an intrusion, but instead to improve the daily life of the caregiver, and, likewise, the person they are caring for,” said Stankovic.

FINANCE

According to a June 25, 2019 Yahoo! Finance article, a new Medicare Claims Study found that families and state Medicaid programs are burdened with the majority of costs associated with Alzheimer's disease, not Medicare. The report, “The Real-World Medicare Costs of Alzheimer's Disease: Considerations for Policy and Care,” supports the case for better AD diagnosis, treatment and care, which could lead to lowered costs. “This study highlights the importance of more efficiently integrating Medicare and state Medicaid programs to improve patient outcomes when it comes to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. We encourage the establishment of more support services for caregivers of Alzheimer's and dementia patients, which have been shown to save money for patients and their caregivers,” said Susan Peschin of the Alliance for Aging Research.

FAITH SPOTLIGHT

A June 21, 2019 Richmond Free Press article spotlighted the Alzheimer’s disease caregiver support group held monthly at Southeast Christian Church, an evangelical megachurch in Louisville, KY. Many support groups are held in faith-based locations, as people may feel more comfortable sharing with other caregivers in a congregational setting. A 2018 report found that nearly half of all caregivers for older adults are caring for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. According to the article, “One woman, whose father had died the month before, struggled to figure out what she might do next. Others spoke of family division over a mother’s dementia. A woman said she fixed her mother’s hair and then took a photo of her mom. She then shared the photo with her brother, who can’t handle visiting their mom. At least that way he could see how she looks.”