USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A February 25, 2017 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article reported on Martin Prado’s role in taking care of his grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease.  Martin is the nephew of Daisy Duarte, the LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s advocate, who takes care of her mom with early-onset AD. Although he’s only 17, Martin decided he could best spend his time by helping his aunt in her role as primary caretaker. He moved in with them and cares for his grandmother after school every day. Daisy was genetically tested and found she has the same mutation which ensures she will develop AD. “I don’t want pity,” she says. “I want a cure.”

MUST READS

A February 26, 2017 60 Minutes segment (rebroadcast this week, original air date: November 27, 2016), “The Alzheimer’s Laboratory,” is about Antioquia, home to the largest concentration in the world of people who carry a rare genetic mutation that makes them 100% certain to develop Alzheimer’s disease. It is now the center of a multimillion dollar, NIH-backed study.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

A February 28, 2017 Reuters article reported that Roche, with Swiss biotech AC Immune, is starting a second late-stage trial of crenezumab, an investigational Alzheimer's drug. The Phase III trial will recruit 750 patients with prodromal or mild AD. "Given the recent disappointing results of other therapies, all of us in the Alzheimer's community need to redouble our efforts to combat one of society's biggest challenges," said AC Immune Chief Executive, Andrea Pfeifer. "We remain confident about the potential of crenezumab given it is distinct from other beta amyloid antibodies."

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A February 24, 2017 UBNow article reported that nuclear medicine techniques reveal critical information about the progression of the most devastating brain diseases, including traumatic brain injury. “I predict that nuclear neurology is going to become as important to neuroscience as nuclear cardiology has been to cardiology,” says Robert S. Miletich, Interim Chair and Professor, Nuclear Medicine Department, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He uses these techniques to image disorders ranging from brain tumors, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy to transient ischemic attacks, various forms of dementia and movement disorders like Parkinson’s, as well as mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. “By doing measurements on physiologic processes in all parts of the brain, we increase our diagnostic accuracy of brain disorders. Understanding these processes can also help us unravel the mystery of complex disorders from autism to Alzheimer’s disease,” Miletich said.

A February 24, 2017 R&D article reported on the "Precision Monitoring of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: Framingham Study of Cognitive Epidemiology” study. The study utilizes wearable devices and other technology to collect large troves of data from participants over time, to pinpoint potential physical changes that could be associated with cognitive decline, and yield important markers signaling the early onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Rhoda Au, PhD, Neuropsychologist and Professor, Boston University’s School of Medicine and School of Public Health, is running the e-cognitive health initiative. About 2,200 people will be participating from April 2017 until sometime in 2020. “We’re testing a lot of people who are not exhibiting traces of the disease,” Au said. This study is part of a growing field called Precision Health, focusing on medical organizations and health providers using a mix of data and healthcare analytics, to enhance health outcomes for patients by creating better care and lowering the risk of readmissions.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

The New York Academy of Science presents, “The Need to Accelerate Therapeutic Development — Must Randomized Controlled Trials Give Way?” webinar. March 15-16, 2017. The event is free but registration is required.