USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A September 7, 2017 Caregiver Homes blog listed the 50 best dementia books for anyone coping with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The list includes books that are bestsellers, earned high reader ratings, won awards or were written by experts and loved ones who share insights into supporting and caring for someone with dementia. UsA2 Founding Board Member Meryl Comer’s bestseller, “Slow Dancing with a Stranger: Lost and Found in the Age of Alzheimer’s” shares insights and guidance, and serves as a call to action for more research and a better understanding of the disease.

MUST READS

A September 13, 2017 Business Insider article spotlighted Bill and Melinda Gates’ "Goalkeepers" report, looking at key milestones in public health, and which issues are still most pressing. "The chronic diseases, including things like diabetes or Alzheimer's, neurological conditions, they are increasingly what the big problem is," Gates said. In developed countries, Alzheimer's and dementia rates have been on the rise for years and in the US, the numbers are projected to triple by 2050. 

A September 12, 2017 The Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) reported on efforts to redefine the way Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in research studies, including people enrolled in clinical trials. In place of relying on a doctor’s assessment of cognitive skills and symptoms, a committee convened by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association recommended using tests of AD biological markers, such as brain imaging and the measurement of substances in cerebrospinal fluid.

MUST LISTEN

A September 12, 2017 WABE 90.1 radio segment and article featured the Alzheimer's Music Fest taking place this Saturday in Woodstock, Georgia. All proceeds from the festival are donated to caretakers and their families.

A September 9, 2017 SoundCloud audio recording from the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Team posted a special briefing on the Alzheimer’s XPrize. A multi-disciplinary team of scientists, advisors and advocates joined forces to crowdsource innovations and scientific progress toward stopping Alzheimer’s. Download the full transcript. 

INDUSTRY UPDATE

A September 12, 2017 Seeking Alpha article reported on the appearance of Axovant Sciences' CEO David Hung at the Morgan Stanley 15th Annual Global Healthcare Brokers Conference. According to Hung, "So, I came to Axovant because I'm very excited about this field, Alzheimer's disease. I think it is really one of the most important diseases in medicine. If you look at just – cancer obviously another really important disease, when you look at cancer, today there are about 159 drugs approved for treatment of metastatic cancers. There's four for Alzheimer's disease. So, there's just a dramatic difference in the unmet need."