May 27, 2015

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

MUST READS

A May 27, 2015 The New York Times article reported that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush signaled the need for more research funding and faster drug approval to fight Alzheimer’s. According to the article, “In an email exchange with Maria Shriver, the journalist, activist and author, Mr. Bush wrote that he has been getting a lot of feedback since revealing that his family has firsthand experience with the disease. As for how he would address Alzheimer’s disease, which according to the Centers for Disease Control afflicts five million Americans, Mr. Bush called for more research funding and a faster drug approval process. “We need to increase funding to find a cure,” Mr. Bush said. “We need to reform F.D.A. [regulations] to accelerate the approval process for drug and device approval at a much lower cost. We need to find more community based solutions for care.” Beyond sharing his family’s hardship, Mr. Bush’s comments also signal that he if he runs for president and wins, he would be willing to reverse some of the spending cuts to medical research that Republicans have pushed for in recent years during budget battles.” 

A May 27, 2015 CNN Politics article reported on Maria Shriver’s outreach to Jeb Bush to support Alzheimer’s research and awareness. According to the article, “The former Florida governor, who once launched a half-billion dollar program to recruit biomedical research to the Sunshine State, has not been shy in calling for more federal dollars to address the disease that affects as many as 5 million Americas age 65 and older…It wasn't long before Maria Shriver, a leading advocate for Alzheimer's research who recently launched a campaign that focuses on educating women about the disease, wrote with some ideas. In an open letter penned for the Huffington Post, Shriver urged Bush to continue talking about Alzheimer's and make it a key issue in the 2016 presidential race. "Much like President Kennedy launched an expedition to the moon, why not launch a national expedition into the brain? Tap the best and the brightest to join you," she said, pushing for more innovation in biomedical research.” Read Shriver's letter here


RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY

A May 26, 2015 MedCity News article highlighted Google Ventures’ priorities in the life sciences space, including neuroscience research. According to the article, “Google Ventures’ stake in the life sciences is growing immensely. The firm has about $2 billion under management. Last year, it invested about 36 percent of its fund on healthcare and life sciences startups – up from 9 percent two years ago, according to the Wall Street Journal…Our aging population is falling susceptible to diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – and we’re only just scratching the surface on understanding why. Maris is excited by the potential of the brain-machine interface – incorporating AI, again, in applications like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage and “countless other applications.””

A May 26, 2015 Health Canal article reported that “A recent University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health study showed that higher education was associated with lower age-related increases of abnormal levels of tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of older adults.” According to the article, “Scientists have known that people with higher “cognitive reserve” tend to develop dementia less frequently than those with lower reserve. But they didn’t know if cognitive reserve only masked symptoms for longer or whether it was protective against the underlying disease. Cognitive reserve is usually measured by life experiences - such as years of schooling - that help the brain resist dementia. “Although it has been widely known that persons with high educational attainment are generally less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the underlying reason for this has remained elusive,” says Dr. Ozioma Okonkwo, assistant professor of medicine and the paper’s senior author. “This work demonstrates for the first time that higher educational attainment provides resilience against the deleterious effect of aging on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests a pathway through which educational attainment favorably alters lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s dementia.””


CLINICAL TRIALS SPOTLIGHT 

A May 26, 2015 Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel article highlighted useful information for individuals interested in Alzheimer’s clinical trials. According to the article, “With so many people affected by Alzheimer’s, is it any surprise that public awareness of the disease has grown, or that millions of dollars are invested every year in Alzheimer’s research? The purpose of research studies is to evaluate potential new prevention and treatment options that may treat Alzheimer’s symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you may be interested in learning about clinical research studies. Here is some information to keep in mind as you evaluate whether taking part in a clinical research study is right for you.”

A May 26, 2015 Arizona Capitol Times article reported that medical and science stakeholders from around the country gathered in Arizona to discuss the role clinical trials play in advancing the bioscience industry. According to the article, “The event began with an introduction to the clinical trial process by Mark Slater, vice president of research for Honor Health Research Institute. He said clinical trials are important because they emphasize precision, personalized medicine and teamwork. “Developing clinical trials brings patients and business opportunities into our communities,” he said. “Great innovations come through collaboration.” Clinical trials are intended to improve the efficacy of health care and help develop drugs and biomarkers that ultimately help patients…A panel of industry professionals followed Slater’s talk with a discussion on the challenges in funding increasingly expensive clinical trials. Joan Koerber-Walker, president and CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association, said the cost of clinical trials has doubled in fewer than 15 years, and federal funding for such trials is decreasing.”