June 01, 2017

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A June 1, 2017 The Washington Post article provides a very extensive perspective on the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s on communities of color, specifically African Americans. Older African Americans develop AD at a higher rate than any other group of older Americans and are about twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to develop it or other forms of dementia. According to George Vradenburg, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Co-Founder, “When Trish and I started USAgainstAlzheimer’s, we wanted to start a movement, a mobilization to find out why women, blacks and Latinos are disproportionately affected.” African Americans are nearly invisible in clinical AD trials, accounting for only 3 to 5% of trial participants. The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, led by John R. Dwyer Jr., has the goals of decreasing the time of trials and increasing enrollment of African Americans and other underrepresented groups. “The GAP sites pride themselves on having a trial or study for everybody,” said Dwyer.

MUST READS

A May 31, 2017 Futurism article focused on a new study at the University of Amsterdam which revealed that the perirhinal cortex is responsible for general-level navigation — such as traveling between neighborhoods and districts. These findings may help us understand how we navigate our environment. According to the study, “the lack of this capacity is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.” Alzheimer’s specialists could eventually develop treatment strategies for those specifically affected by wandering if they focus therapy on this area of the brain. 

A May 31, 2017 EurekAlert! article spotlighted a new study, from Keck Medicine of USC, suggesting that cognitive tests are able to detect early Alzheimer's in people without symptoms. "There are new imaging methods that can identify neuropathological brain changes that happen early on in the course of the disease. The problem is that they are not widely available, can be invasive and are incredibly expensive. I wanted to see whether the cognitive tests I regularly use as a neuropsychologist relate to these biomarkers,” said study lead, Duke Han, PhD, Associate Professor of Family Medicine (clinical scholar).

According to a May 24, 2017 National Institute on Aging/NIH post, the Sharing History through Active Reminiscence and Photo-Imagery (SHARP) study in Portland, OR, combines walking, social engagement, and reminiscence to help promote cognitive health in older African Americans. Underpinning the study is design of an intervention that is culturally relevant, engaging, and celebratory, according to SHARP project leader, Raina Croff, PhD. “We intentionally developed a program that draws on the strengths of the community,” she said.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A May 31, 2017 Medical Xpress article reported findings from researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, published in Science Translational Medicine, offering new insights into the interplay between the immune system and the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study looks at the role of complement C3 - a molecule involved in the immune response that is elevated in AD, and indicates that "synaptic refinement" or synapse loss, which occurs early in AD, is associated with cognitive decline. According to Cynthia Lemere, PhD, of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at BWH, "We think that in later stages of the disease, it's not necessarily the plaques but the immune system's response to them that leads to neurodegeneration."

CAREGIVER CORNER

According to a June 1, 2017 Next Avenue article citing statistics from a new survey from the Alzheimer’s Association, of the 15 million Americans caring for a loved one with dementia, two-thirds feel isolated or alone. 90% of AD caregivers said their number one challenge was emotional stress. The survey was conducted to highlight Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June.

ALZHEIMER'S IN THE MEDIA

A May 31, 2017 Rolling Stone article highlighted an interview with Ashley Campbell, daughter of country music legend, Glen Campell, who has late stage Alzheimer’s disease. According to Ashley, "My dad is currently living in a beautiful memory care facility, and he is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s… He's just happy every day, smiles, he enjoys life and he enjoys being around people – and he loves a good piece of cake."