USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A May 30, 2017 Alzheimer’s Speaks radio segment, hosted by Lori La Bay, featured UsAgainstAlzheimer’s/A-List leaders Meryl Comer, Ginny Biggar, Terry Frangiosa and Greg O’Brien. They spoke about their tough journeys, how everyone can learn and grow through their individual dementia journeys, and how how crucial every voice is in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

MUST READS

A May 30, 2017 The Florida Times-Union guest column by John L. Ward, Professor Emeritus, University of Florida’s School of Art and Art History, explored the impact of climate change on human health. Carbon pollution raises global temperature, increases asthma, heart attacks from hardened arteries (20% higher in more polluted areas), and recent research indicates possibly degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. A new group, the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, is bringing attention to the growing threat and pushing for action.

A May 30, 2017 U.S. News article spotlighted the consequences of sustained sleep deprivation, which spurs the brain to begin “eating” neurons and synaptic connections. The microglial cell, meant to destroy old and worn out cells via a process called phagocytosis, proved very active with sleep loss. Such overactivity could mean brain disorders. "We already know that sustained microglial activation has been observed in Alzheimer's and other forms of neurodegeneration," said Michele Bellesi, Researcher at Marche Polytechnic University, Italy.

DISPARITIES SPOTLIGHT

A May 30, 2017 Courier-Journal article spotlighted the Memory Sundaycampaign, kicking off on Sunday, June 11th, encouraging members of African-American churches to start conversations about Alzheimer's disease by incorporating the topic into sermons, giving presentations or handing-out materials downloaded for free from the Internet. The goal is to “get African-American churches talking about and educating our community about Alzheimer’s. We still have a culture of silence" that keeps people from seeking treatment or even seeking a diagnosis "until it’s too late,” according to Pernessa Seele, founder of The Balm In Gilead, working to improve African-American health.

CAREGIVER CORNER

According to a May 30, 2017 Forbes article, the near future will hold a caregiving environment rich in technology to help people stay in their homes, with an emphasis on human connection to counter the negative health effects of social isolation on older people. As the population of older adults is growing, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is on the rise. “There’ll be a handful of profound demographic shifts” — among them, a boomer generation with fewer children than their parents — “that will alter our capacity for caregiving. That will create great need and demand for alternate solutions,” said Ken Dychtwald, Founder and CEO of the research and consulting firm, AgeWave, and a 2016 Next Avenue Influencer in Aging.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

A May 30, 2017 McKnight’s article focused on the Long Term Care Community Coalition’s Dementia Care Advocacy Toolkit, with resources and tools to improve care. “Approximately 40% of people who reach age 65 will need nursing home care at some point,” according to Richard Mollot, the Coalition’s Executive Director. “The majority of those residents are people with dementia.” Find the toolkit here.