Must reads

• An October 24, 2013 Forbes article reported that researchers at the Fourth Annual Galien Forum highlighted progress against Alzheimer's and cancer. According to the article, "Currently, there’s no magic bullet on the horizon. However, Sperling said there’s compelling evidence that the process of Alzheimer’s begins a decade before symptoms appear. She noted that trials are underway to see if treatments in that subclinical stage can help. She also emphasized the importance of identifying at-risk patients, through genetic testing or via PET scans of the brain.Striking a broader note, Sheng said he thinks it’s likely that the mechanisms behind both brain inflammation and tau-protein toxicity play roles in the other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and ALS."
• An October 24, 2013 Wired Q&A outlined Paul Allen's plan to reverse-engineer the human brain in the pursuit of treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and other brain disorders. According to Allen, "We’re not focused on disease pathologies ourselves; we’re trying to focus on basic science. If we understand the basic science, that will help you bring treatments forward. My mother passed away because of Alzheimer’s, so I have a particular interest in helping these things move forward."
• An October 24, 2013 WebMD article reported on the link between common drug pressure drugs and Alzheimer's. According to the article, "People who take certain commonly used blood pressure medications have a significantly lower risk for Alzheimer's disease than those who don't, a new study suggests.Although it remains unclear exactly how drugs such as ACE inhibitors or diuretics might protect the brain, researchers say these new findings could lead to a better understanding of Alzheimer's and new treatments to slow or delay the progression of the memory-robbing disease."