July 23, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

A political push needed for Alzheimer's, Huffington Post live Alzheimer's feature, and the link between Alzheimer's and worms (read more).  
 
 

Must Reads

  • A July 22, 2013 Fiscal Times opinion piece by Michael Hodin urged for a "political push" to to prevent Alzheimer's. According to Hodin, "The time is ripe, so to speak, for AAIC to bring together the esoteric scientific community with leaders from politics, economics, journalism, and more. If they wish to solve one of the 21st century’s toughest problems, they need to plan for a different kind of conference in 2014. As we learned from HIV/AIDS, the scientific and medical breakthroughs need political momentum to make a real difference."
  • A July 23, 2013 Huffington Post Live webcast highlighted individuals living with Alzheimer's can boost memory and cognitive function. The webcast featured André Fenton Ph.D. Professor of Neural Science at NYU's Center for Neural Science and other experts. 
 
Research and science 
  • A July 24, 2013 Science Alert article reported on the link between Alzheimer's and a type of worm. According to the article, "The discovery of a link between a specific gene and ageing in a species of worm could reveal valuable lessons for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Low levels of the protein generated from the gene known as ‘tau’—also present in humans—not only hastens age-related changes in the brain of the worm, but also shortens the worm’s life, the University of Sydney PhD candidate Yee Lian Chew has found."
  • A July 22, 2013 Investors.com article reported on the impact of Obama's brain mapping initiative on the future of Alzheimer's research. According to the article, "Are cures within reach for brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism and post-traumatic stress? President Obama and three key government organizations say yes. The president has launched an initiative that aims to help doctors better understand how the brain works, and use that knowledge to treat these disorders. The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (Brain) Initiative will focus on finding technologies to show how individual cells and neural circuits interact."
 
Technology 
  • A July 13, 2013 Washington Post article reported on a Washington DC program that provides senior citizens with technology to prevent isolation. According to the article, "The women are two months into a pilot program that has distributed iPads and offers biweekly computer classes and home Internet service to senior citizens at risk of isolation and depression, many of whom had never been online before.The $250,000 pilot program, which started with 55 participants in Ward 2 of the District, will double when it expands to Ward 8 in August.A program of the AARP Foundation, an AARP-affiliated charity, is being administered in the city by Family Matters of Greater Washington, a social-services organization. Comcast is providing discounted Internet service, and Netgear is donating modems. So far, the 50 participants of the original group are still attending class, and not one device has been lost."