March 03, 2017

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A March 2, 2017 Today Show segment addressed Alzheimer’s disease, which affects more than 5 million Americans. Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager talked to Daisy Duarte, who is a full time caregiver for her mother in the final stages of Alzheimer’s, and Neurologist Dr. Rudy Tanzi (Harvard and Mass General Hospital), about the PBS documentary, “Every Minute Counts,” which explains the latest developments in the fight against AD. Daisy talks about her mom’s diagnoses, six years ago, and the effects on her family. Dr. Tanzi explains, in simple terms, how brain imaging reveals key pathology which can lead to Alzheimer’s, and can appear 10-15 years before symptoms. He highlights that diet, exercise and ample sleep can help.

MUST READS

A March 2, 2017 Economist article reported how telemedicine (healthcare via electronic communications), predictive diagnostics (using statistical methods to sift data on outcomes for patients), wearable sensors and mobile apps are transforming how people manage their health. Amazon’s Echo, a voice-driven computer answering to the name Alexa, recites life-saving instructions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation, acts as a companion for the elderly and answers questions about children’s illnesses, in addition to other healthcare skills. The aim is to disrupt an industry that has failed to deliver on the potential of digital information. Healthcare is over-regulated and expensive to innovate in, but the momentum toward a digital future is gathering pace.

MUST WATCH

A must watch ad from Hindustan Unilever (HUL), “Forgotten,” highlights the importance of caregiving and the global impact of Alzheimer’s on families. There are more than 4 million people in India with Alzheimer’s and many, like the woman in the ad, are neglected by their own families.

A February 28, 2017 Today Show segment showed Dr. Phil interviewing David Cassidy about his dementia diagnosis. Cassidy, 66, is in the early stages of the disease, and has recently stopped touring. Both his grandfather and mother died of dementia. He decided to speak out about his diagnosis amidst rumors of an alcohol relapse after slipping on stage, slurring and forgetting words to his songs.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

A March 1, 2017 MIT Technology Review article reported on the myriad of drug failures in the search for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. These failures show the extent of the crisis facing AD drugs. The dominant theory (toxic build-up of amyloid) is in question and alternative approaches have also not panned-out. A 2014 study found that in tests of 413 Alzheimer’s drugs, more than 99% showed no benefit to patients. In spite of these issues, of about 25 ongoing late-stage studies (to determine if a drug is helpful), half seek to break-up or prevent amyloid plaques. It’s possible that amyloid isn’t the cause of AD, but just a symptom, which would explain the drug failures. A new theory is that the plaques develop when the brain starts losing its ability to metabolize blood sugar (glucose), a key energy source for cells, while others believe that reducing inflammation in the brain could help.

A March 1, 2017 Bloomberg article reported on pharma’s unusually high risk tolerance on Alzheimer’s trials, where more than 100 experimental drugs have already failed, because the potential payoff is so great. Drugs that halt the progress of AD could be a market worth as much as $30 billion in the US alone. “It’s always a question -- are you throwing good money after bad?” said Birgit Kulhoff, a fund manager for Rahn & Bodmer Co. in Zurich. “If you were to be successful, it would be an extremely big market.” Alzheimer’s tests are so expensive because researchers follow patients for long periods of time and monitor them closely. A final-stage AD trial can cost more than $200 million.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A February 25, 2017 Science Daily article reported on a study by UCLA School of Nursing researchers and published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, revealing that donepezil (Aricept), a drug approved to treat people with AD, should not be prescribed for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) without a genetic test because it could accelerate cognitive decline. MCI is a transitional state between normal age-related changes in cognition and dementia, and since people often display symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease, physicians sometimes prescribe the drug.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Register for the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and QAPI Call. Tuesday, March 21st, from 1:30-3pm (EST). Learn about the Creating a Culture of Person-Directed Dementia Care project grant award. The Lake Superior Quality Innovation Network will share information about the new QAPI Written Plan How-To Guide that can assist long-term care providers with performance improvement efforts. CMS experts share updates on the progress of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes and Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI). A question and answer session will follow.