USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An April 7, 2015 Huffington Post article by USAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder Trish Vradenburg reviewed Greg O’Brien’s book On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s and highlighted his commitment to raising awareness of the disease. According to Vradenburg, “His life has become a strategy to hold on to as much normality as possible. We see his determination intertwined with huge chunks of humor -- the only way to get through this disease…We're honored that Greg O'Brien has chosen to work with USAgainstAlzheimer's (USA2) to help educate decision makers and the public about this horrendous disease. Greg will be the guest on our upcoming Alzheimer's Talks (a free monthly teleconference series produced by USAgainstAlzheimer's). On April 17th you will get a chance to hear from Greg about his book, why he has chosen to speak out and what we each can do to speed the path to a cure. Greg and USA2 are determined to beat Alzheimer's in his and our lifetime.”

Our next Alzheimer's Talks will be on Friday, April 17th from 3 to 4 p.m. ETand feature Greg O'Brien. Greg is the author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's, and you may have heard him on NPR's All Things Considered or in webisodes about his life produced by USAgainstAlzheimer's. Sign uphere.

MUST READS AND LISTEN 

An April 8, 2015 CNBC opinion piece by former NFL player Jack Brewer highlighted the NFL’s changing brain health landscape from a former player’s perspective. According to Brewer, “No more than 10 years ago, I played for a league where I felt the pressures both internally and externally to return to the field and keep playing no matter what. The words "concussion" and "TBI" (traumatic brain injury) were not frequently used among the medical staff. My teammates and I had no idea that seeing stars or blurred vision after a hard hit were signs of brain damage…Beyond concussions in professional sports, millions of people suffer from brain-health issues, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or traumatic brain injury. I'm sure most of us probably know a family member or loved one who has suffered from one of these. And the cost of health care for these conditions is huge: Caring for patients with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is expected to reach $226 million in 2015 and a whopping $1.1 trillion (in 2015 dollars) by 2050, according the Alzheimer's Association. But all that's changing. Recently, we've seen professional NFL athletes donating their brains toward research. Chris Borland, a 24-year-old player, retired after a stellar rookie season at the San Francisco 49ers. And Jack Miller, a star player at the University of Michigan, dropped out before his senior year — both citing concerns about concussions.”

Must Listen: An April 7, 2015 Arizona Public Media NPR segment reported on the need to address Alzheimer’s disease before it overwhelms the nation. According to the article, “It will take a heavy toll on the state’s economy and medical system, and of course on its victims – but it does not stop there. "Alzheimer’s does not just affect an individual," said Lee Ryan, a neuropsychologist at the UA. "It affects a whole network of people. It has devastating consequences for families. Caregivers, it takes an enormous toll on them.””

An April 7, 2015 The Roll Daily News opinion piece by Senator Claire McCaskill highlighted her interest in Alzheimer’s and medical research. According to Se. McCaskill, “And in St. Louis, I spoke with researchers and physicians about the importance of maintaining our county’s competitive edge in medical research for Alzheimer’s and other diseases—research that’s critical to advancements in health and wellness and to Missouri’s economy.”

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT 

An April 8, 2015 The Associated Press article (via The Miami Herald) reported that New York state is making an “unprecedented investment in care for people with Alzheimer's disease” by earmarking $50 million for expanded care services. According to the article, “The state budget approved by lawmakers last week includes $25 million this year and another $25 million next year for the expansion of services to support people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia as well as their caregivers…The money will help pay for a 24-hour helpline, support groups and training for family members who care for someone with Alzheimer's. It will also fund respite care and assistance centers around the state that diagnose and treat those with the disease.”

INSIDER PERSPECTIVES 

An April 8, 2015 BBC Health article featured the stories of three individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to Wendy Mitchell, “Retiring from her non-clinical role in the NHS has allowed Ms Mitchell more time to spend time with her family, write her blog and support the work of the Alzheimer's Society - going to conferences and taking part in medical trials. "Just being part of that research makes me feel of value. You lose a lot of feeling of value when you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's [disease].”…One of her greatest fears is not being able to recognize her two daughters."I've said to them that one day you'll come in the room and I won't know who you are, I won't know your name. "But I'm sure I'll feel that emotional connection of love that we have for each other, and [they will] always remember - that although I won't recognize them - I'll still love them.””

RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY

An April 8, 2015 NBC News article profiled Harold Ekeh, a 17-year-old aspiring Alzheimer’s researcher who was accepted to all 13 Ivy League Universities. According to the article, “Ekeh, one of five brothers, said that he wants to study biochemistry and become a neurosurgeon. He's inspired by his grandmother, who began showing symptoms of Alzheimer's when he was 11. He wants to find a cure. "There's so many researchers working for Alzheimer's disease right now and many neurogenic disorders that definitely a cure can be found soon," he said.”

An April 8, 2015 Medical Xpress article reported that “Scientists from the University of South Australia, along with colleagues from Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China, have discovered the drug Edaravone can alleviate the progressive cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's Disease.” According to the article, “Prof Zhou says lessons from failures of current clinical trials suggest that targeting multiple key pathways of the Alzheimer's Disease pathogenesis is necessary to halt the disease progression. "Edaravone can suppress the toxic functions of amyloid beta to nerve cells – it is a free radical scavenger which suppresses oxidative stress that is a main cause of brain degeneration," he says.”

An April 7, 2015 The Atlantic interview with Stephen Hauser neuroscientist and member of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues discussed a new White House report on ethical questions for the future of human brain research. According to the article, “With progress, though, comes a whole new set of ethical questions. Can drugs used to treat conditions like ADHD, for example, also be used to make healthy people into sharper, more focused versions of themselves—and should they? Can a person with Alzheimer’s truly consent to testing that may help scientists better understand their disease? Can brain scans submitted as courtroom evidence reveal anything about a defendant’s intent?”

AGING 

An April 7, 2015 The Wall Street Journal article reported that a new report from the International Monetary Fund warns that the world’s aging workforce is “weighing down global growth.” According to the article, “The IMF calculates the growth capacity of major emerging-market economies will shrink by nearly two percentage points from pre-crisis levels to an average of 5.2% through 2020, with a hefty portion of that write-down coming from China. Shrinking labor pools are a major culprit, the fund said. In Germany and Japan, for example, the working-age population is expected to shrivel by around 0.2% a year over the next five years. That problem is compounded by a labor pool that is aging faster than the number of youth entering the workforce. Read the report here.