USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An August 25, 2017 Diverse Elders Coalition blog post by LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s lead, Jason Resendez, spotlighted Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles (ALZGLA), which is developing culturally tailored services and outreach efforts for Latino families on their Alzheimer’s journeys. ALZGLA is part of a national effort to address the growing impact on Latino families. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), ALZGLA is presenting a one-man play, “El Cuidador,” on September 23rd at 7:30pm (PST) at El Camino College Campus Theater, and a telenovela, “Lost Memories,” on the ALZGLA website. 

MUST READS

According to an August 27, 2017 Medical News Today article, researchers from McGill University in Canada developed a new algorithm, based on machine-learning techniques and beta-amyloid imaging, to predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment up to two years before the onset of symptoms. The algorithm was created with data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, including PET brain scans, genealogical information and clinical diagnosis.

An August 25, 2017 The Wall Street Journal article (subscription only), by writer Jeremy Abbate, tells of his family’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. The author’s grandfather, grandmother and two aunts all died from AD. And now his father has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He reflects on his first awareness of Alzheimer’s in 1982, when his mother explained about his grandfather’s condition, and how today, “as the old phrase goes, we got nothing.”

MUST WATCH

An August 25, 2017 TC Palm/USA Today video segment and article focused on monthly pet therapy visits at Alzheimer’s Community Care Specialized Day Center in Stuart (FL), through a partnership with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. According to Development Coordinator Amy Bromhead, “They come alive, they just really come alive. They remember the dogs. This is someone who doesn't remember what to do with a toothbrush some days.” 

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

An August 25, 2017 Health Imaging article reported on a study finding that knowing the amyloid status of patients with symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or dementia through PET neuroimaging affects their diagnosis and alters care management. According to the study authors, “Physicians’ access to PET scan results changed the diagnosis in a direction consistent with the scan.”

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

An August 26, 2017 News Medical Life Sciences article highlighted a $5.4 million NIH/NIA grant awarded to the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center for research on ways to reduce the human and economic costs of Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of knowledge. Researchers at the Center are working on early diagnosis, interventions, clinical trials, genetic risk factors, caregiver impact and community education.