USA2 SPOTLIGHT 

A May 13, 2016 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s news statement announced the launch of its bold We Won’t Wait campaign to bring to light the economic injustice that women face when they experience Alzheimer’s either as the patient or the caregiver. According to the statement, “The campaign is the first-ever effort to define Alzheimer’s as both an economic as well as a health-related injustice against women, and it is the organization’s next phase in its successful work over the last four years fighting for a cure through a woman’s lens.”

Today's Alzheimer’s Talks: Diane Rehm will be stepping away from the NPR microphone after the November election – but not from her passionate advocacy. She'll join us on Monday, May 16, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss her experience as a caregiver and spouse, which she writes about in her new book, On My Own. Sign up here.

MUST READS

A May 15, 2016 The Guardian article reported that “Six in 10 surveyed by Alzheimer’s Society say they fear being diagnosed with dementia would mean ‘life is over’.” According to the article, “Alzheimer’s Society believes fears about a dementia diagnosis might put people off going to see a doctor, thereby denying patients the opportunity of getting the best treatment and support.”

A May 14, 2016 NPR.org article reported on reviving memory through deep brain stimulation. According to the article, “Right now, deep brain stimulation is used primarily to treat Parkinson's disease and tremor, for which it's approved by the Food and Drug Administration. DBS involves delivering electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain through implanted electrodes. The technique is also approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder and is being looked at for a number of other brain disorders, including depression, chronic pain and, as in Lozano's work, dementia.”

A May 14, 2016 MedicalDaily.com article reported that “Alzheimer's disease patients with more tau protein in the brain face greater risk of cognitive decline.” According to the article, “A new study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, however, suggests existing disease markers may have been partially misdirected. Most Alzheimer’s studies focus on an accumulation of the protein amyloid beta, the study authors said, while their findings point to another protein, tau, as potential early sign of mild cognitive impairment — a risk factor for Alzheimer's and dementia.”

A May 13, 2016 NHS.uk article highlighted issues with a Mail Online article that reported “Scientists have identified a new cause of devastating neurological conditions.” According to the article, “The Mail Online's headline, "Scientists discover new trigger for devastating brain diseases", is not accurate and the quality of its reporting is poor. The study in question was a review, meaning it brought together research already published. There is no new laboratory or human study involved here, which isn't most people's idea of a "discovery”.”