MUST READS

A November 17, 2017 The New York Times Sunday Review article focused on the new wave of people concerned about Alzheimer’s, “those grappling with the looming threat of the disease rather than the disease itself.” Because of home genetics tests, we have access to more information about our potential future health, but does that mean we can prevent AD? People who learn they have high risk worry about being denied insurance and long-term disability care, as well as social stigma. But on the positive side, it could also “create an army of “pre-Alzheimer’s” patients clamoring for breakthroughs in treatment.”

A November 16, 2017 St. Louis Public Radio article looked at potential consequences of cutting the National Institutes of Health 2018 budget. According to Michael Kinch of the Center for Research Innovation in Biotechnology and the Center for Drug Development at Wash U, "The American population is growing older and fatter. And we are confronting diseases like metabolic diseases and Alzheimer’s [disease] at a rate that we haven’t before and we are unprepared from a standpoint of the pharmaceutical industry to adequately address these." 

A November 16, 2017 WBIR 10 News (NBC) video segment and article spotlighted the story of Jenny Coburn, a participant in the national IDEAS study (Imaging Demetia Evidence for Amyloid Scanning). A brain amyloid PET scan showed she has evidence of Alzheimer's disease, but her neurologist, Dr. Monica Crane, is guiding lifestyle changes in the hopes of curtailing progression into AD. “Keep it up. Keep cutting out the soda and continue your incredible exercise and I think you’ll do exceptionally well. You were brave enough to actually get the scan. I think that’s the inspiring story is that you can take control. And, I do believe you won’t progress because you’ve made so many life changes,” said Crane.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A November 16, 2017 ESPN article reported that the NFL Players Association is investing in the Dementia Discovery Fund, whose mission is discovering and developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, especially those related to dementia. According to Ahmad Nassar of the NFL Players union, "Our investment fits with our strategy of supporting research into new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent common injuries in current and retired NFL players, which has included previously supporting projects to slow and reverse the accumulation of Tau protein in the brain, which leads to CTE."