USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A September 6, 2018 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s statement from UsA2 Chairman George Vradenburg referenced the report by Eli Lilly and Company and Avid Radiopharmaceuticals finding that flortaucipir, a Positron Emission Tomography imaging agent, demonstrated positive results in a Phase III clinical trial. According to Vradenburg, “New insights about how Tau protein tangles affect the progression of Alzheimer’s disease give hope to people living with Alzheimer’s – and the people who care for them. There is a pathway to a cure, and we will find it. I applaud the participants in the trial for their contribution to accelerating a cure.”

LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s Lead Jason Resendez participates in the upcoming roundtable, “Gay and Graying—Why Older LGBTQ Adults Are Worried About Future Health Care, Housing, and Social Support.” Friday, September 7, 2018 in Palm Springs, CA. By 2035, the number of adults age 65 and older is projected to outnumber children under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history. Learn about top concerns of older LGBTQ adults regarding long-term care needs, and what communities and the housing and health-care industries can do now to prepare for an aging LGBTQ population.

ALZ TECH

An August 27, 2018 Being Patient article looked at assistive technology to benefit people with dementia and their caregivers. Colgate University college student Leda Rosenthal researched technologies to benefit her mom, who has dementia, and her dad, as caregiver. According to the article, “Eventually, Rosenthal [Leda’s dad] said Leda found that assistive technology is often more beneficial to caregivers than to dementia patients, since caregivers can use the technology with their loved ones, who may be too far advanced in the disease to find the technology helpful.” Leda formed the company, Alz You Need, to help caregivers find assistive technology.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

According to a September 4, 2018 The Citizen article, researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) created a nasal spray, made from an antibody that effectively targets amyloid-beta, for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. “If we can slow down the progression of the disease, we can dramatically improve the quality of life for patients, as well as extend their lifespan,” said Lead Researcher Professor Stefan Weiss. There are plans to initiate phase one clinical trials with 30 to 50 volunteers who have AD.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

A September 4, 2018 The Carroll News article looked to lessons learned at the “Signs & Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease” seminar series sponsored by Commonwealth Senior Living. According to seminar presenter John Mathis, “It’s always the spouse who will notice (symptoms) before the person,” said Mathis. “A person will start to notice but they usually won’t admit it right up front. There’s been only a couple cases I’ve seen where an individual realized something is wrong and takes drastic steps to prepare. Huge leaps ahead of everyone else. That’s a really brave thing to do. Most everyone gets scared and withdraws. That’s where spouses can really help.”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Join the 2018 NIH Regional Seminar on Program Funding & Grants Administration event in San Francisco in October, 2018. The seminar is designed to demystify the application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight current areas of special interest or concern, in particular for people new to working with the NIH grants process. Register here.