October 09, 2014

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Research finds online Alzheimer's tests to be "unscientific and inaccurate," life expectancy in the U.S. is at an all time high, and "Surviving Grace" goes to Indianapolis (read more). 

Must reads

  • An October 8, 2014 Sun-Sentinel article reported that a recent evaluation of online Alzheimer's tests found them to be "unscientific and inaccurate." According to the article, "Researchers based at the National Core for Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia evaluated 16 online tests. Two independent panels of experts recruited for the study said that the tests examined fall short in several important ways...Most of the sites are "poor" or "very poor" in their ability to diagnose Alzheimer's disease based on current scientific understanding. The tests are often unreliable, which means that taking them on different days could lead to different results. This means that day-to-day ups and downs in fatigue or nervousness could throw off the test results."
  • An October 8, 2014 Washington Post article reported that "Life expectancy for Americans born in 2012 is 78.8 years — a record." According to the article, "That’s about six months longer than the mortality rate for those born in 2010 and 2011...People are most likely to die of heart disease and cancer. Other leading cases are chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, unintentional injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia and kidney disease. However, suicide ranked No. 10. With 12.6 suicides per 100,000 deaths, suicide is at its highest rate since 1987, when it was 12.8 per 100,000."
  • An October 8, 2014 Indiana Business Journal article highlighted the November 14th reading Trish Vradenburg's play "Surviving Grace" in Indianapolis. According to the article, "Vradenburg, a former writer for such TV shows as "Designing Women" and "Family Ties," has become a leading advocate for Alzheimer's research. The play, which promises to mix humor with its inherent drama, is based on her experience as a caregiver for her mother. It's being co-presented by USAgainstAlzheimer's (which Vradenburg co-founded) and Eli Lilly and Co."