USA2 SPOTIGHT

Join our next Alzheimer's Talks on Tuesday, November 20, at 1:00pm (EST) as we speak with Scott Lewis from Biogen, who will describe current Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic techniques, and what we might expect in the future. We will also hear from Melissa Bianchi from the law firm Hogan Lovells discussing how families might prepare for an early-stage AD biomarker confirmation. 

A November 13, 2018 Parade article spotlighted five family caregivers in honor of November as National Family Caregivers Month. One profiled caregiver is UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Advocate and Author Loretta Woodward Veney. Veney’s mother has Alzheimer’s disease, which inspired her to write “Being My Mom’s Mom,” to speak to African-Americans about the grief of dementia.

A November 13, 2018 Everyday Health article referenced a new comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease risk reduction program from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic (APC) at Weill Cornell Medicine. The paper lays-out guidelines of a workable method for doctors to personalize AD risk management. According to Clinic Director Richard Isaacson, MD, “Most people think of Alzheimer’s as an older person’s disease, but it start in the brain 20 to 30 years before symptoms, When someone is diagnosed with dementia due to Alzheimer’s, they may have had the disease for 30 years.” Isaacson is an Advisor to the AD-PCPRN (National Alzheimer's & Dementia Patient & Caregiver-Powered Research Network), a UsA2 initiative.

PROFILES IN COURAGE

A November 12, 2018 Today article spotlighted “Jeopardy!” Host Alex Trebek’s brush with Alzheimer’s disease. According to Trebek, “…I went to be tested for early Alzheimer’s. The first time they tested me they said, 'It doesn’t look good.' Then we did more testing and they said, 'You’re okay. No need to worry.’’”

CLINICAL TRIAL SPOTLIGHT

(ICYMI) A November 1, 2018 Mass Device article focused on digitizing processes such as informed consent (“e-consent”) for clinical trials in order to to streamline studies, rapidly collect quality data and reduce costs. According to the article, “Using e-consent systems during the enrollment process can reduce the cumbersome activities associated with paper-based consent documents, leading to more efficient patient enrollment and quicker study start-ups.”

LIFESTYLE

A November 13, 2018 Medical Xpress article looked at effects of music and meditation in older adults experiencing cognitive decline and memory loss. A study from the West Virginia University School of Public Health found they may alter certain biomarkers of cellular aging and Alzheimer's disease. According to the article, “Following completion of the 3 month intervention period, the meditation group showed significantly greater increases in a key beta amyloid peptide (Aβ40) than did the music group. Rising beta amyloid levels were correlated with improvements in memory and cognitive function, as well as with those in mood, sleep, and quality of life at both 3 and 6 months; these positive associations were substantially more pronounced in the meditation group.”