June 25, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Trish Vradenburg urges women to take a stand against Alzheimer's, Vradenburg's receive service award, and crowd sourced Alzheimer's study needs volunteers (read more).

Must reads

  • A June 24, 2013 Huffington Post opinion piece by USA2 co-founder Trish Vradenburg highlighted Alzheimer's negative impact on women and WomenAgainstAlzheimer's role in raising awareness of the disease. According to Vradenburg, "Women are twice as likely as men to have Alzheimer's. Women are also twice as likely as men to be caretakers of Alzheimer's victims. Have I gotten your attention yet? We of the gentler, weaker, more adaptable sex are screwed…On the theory that women have to help themselves, we at USAgainstAlzheimer's have started a new movement, WomenAgainstAlzheimer's, to demand studies and answers. Doing crossword puzzles and taking fish oil supplements aren't the answer (though as my mom would say, couldn't hurt), but they don't solve this disease. Neither is 'hope' a strategy. To do this, we need government funding. We have to demand it. I admit that being demanding is not white-glove or perhaps ladylike, but then ladylike doesn't start a movement." 
  • A June 24, 2013 Volunteers of America post announced that USA2 co-founders Trish and George Vradenburg were awarded the organization's highest honor - the 2013 Ballington and Maud Booth Award - for their efforts to stop Alzheimer's. According to the post, "Volunteers of America presents the Booth Award each year to individuals who demonstrate distinguished service to humanity. The award is named after Ballington and Maud Booth, who founded Volunteers of America with a promise to “go wherever we are needed and do whatever comes to hand.” Previous winners include Ambassador Andrew Young, Jane Fonda and Ted Turner, Nancy Reagan and Gen. Eric Shinseki."
 
Research and science 
  • A June 24, 2013 AZCentral.com article reported that Arizona researcher Matthew Huentelman wants a million people to take a test as part of a "mass online scientific study aimed at studying memory in relation to genetics." According to the article, "The Phoenix resident is building a database to collect information and study how cognition and memory change as people age. The goal? Help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders."
  • A June 24, 2013 Daily Herald article reported on the relationship between Alzheimer's and nutrition. According to the article, "There is increasing research to suggest that the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can improve with specific nutritional interventions. A recent early study demonstrated that a fat, phosphatidylserine, improves memory and cognition in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease."
 
Human interest 
  • A June 24, 2013 New York Times article highlighted Dr. David Hilfiker's Alzheimer's blog that documents his struggles with the disease. According to the article, "I find a blog called Watching the Lights Go Out particularly compelling. Much of what we read and hear about dementia comes from family members; a firsthand account of life with Alzheimer’s disease is much rarer. We can understand why, perhaps. Some people get the diagnosis everyone dreads and withdraw in fear or shame; others can no longer summon the concentration and verbal ability to explain their experiences to others."