CLINICAL TRIAL SPOTLIGHT

An October 16, 2019 KOMO News ABC 4 broadcast segment highlighted researchers at the University of Washington and Puget Sound VA, who are recruiting volunteers for the MIND (Memory Improvement through Nicotine Dosing) study, which will utilize commonly-available, generic nicotine patches to try and delay or treat memory issues associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. “If it is administered through the skin, it helps with memory loss and attention problems so we think it is particularity appropriate to try it to see if it can help these patients,” said Dr. Paul Newhouse. Interested, healthy adults over age 55 can find more information on the study here.

HUMAN INTEREST

In an October 16, 2019 Detroit Free Press article, renown skater Tony Hawk opened-up about his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. According to the interview, “I think that over the last couple years, I was always looking for glimpses of recognition. And now, I don’t seek that so much. I just accept that. I enjoy that she’s still here and I can spend some time with her… I have three siblings, two older sisters and an older brother. We share the costs and we are lucky that we can afford it. It would be nearly impossible for any one of us to be her caretaker.”

SEX MATTERS

An October 16, 2019 End Alz Now article spotlighted the work of Heather Bimonte-Nelson, PhD of Arizona State University, who is studying the link between memory loss and menopause. According to the article, “It has long been thought that the uterus has no function outside of pregnancy. Dr. Bimonte-Nelson and her team are debunking that theory.” “Our recent study results show that a female’s reproductive organs have value beyond pregnancy. When we removed the uterus but kept the ovaries, the rats experienced memory impairment, especially when having to remember numerous items of information,” said Bimonte-Nelson.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

An October 15, 2019 U.S. News article looked at best ways to treat behavioral changes that may accompany dementia such as depression, mood swings, aggression, or not recognizing loved ones. A new study from Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital-Unity Health in Toronto found that non-drug treatments may be the best medicine to alleviate these symptoms, including massage, outdoor activities, exercise, music therapy and cognitive stimulation. “It's important to prioritize the use of non-medication based treatment as much as possible. Caregiving is hard. People are doing the best they can with the time and resources they have. We need to raise awareness and advocate for more financial resources to support these types of interventions,” said study author Dr. Jennifer Watt.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An October 15, 2019 Medscape article focused on a new blood test, plasma Aβ42/Aβ40, which detects amyloid, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. This test, developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, could aid in early detection and eliminate the need for invasive lumbar punctures and expensive PET scans. “We think that most drug trials for Alzheimer's disease have failed because they have started treatment too late. The major utility of [plasma amyloid detection] would be in identifying people early for drug trials,” said Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD.