June 27, 2016

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

 

USA2 SPOTLIGHT 

A June 25, 2016 Huffington Post opinion piece by Jason Resendez, director of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Latino Network, highlighted the the growing impact of Alzheimer’s on communities of color and the growth of the millennial caregiver. According to Resendez, “Despite these odds, millennials are rising to the caregiving challenge. While often depicted by the media to be self-absorbed and smart phone addicted, many feel they had a choice in taking on a caregiving role and do so because of their close ties to their family. This is clearly a resilient and resourceful community, two traits necessary in the fight against Alzheimer’s.”

A June 24, 2016 Journal Sentinel article highlighted a recent production of “Forget Me Not” a play produced by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s African American Network. According to the article, “Garrett Davis wrote the play in memory of his grandmother, who died of the disease, and in tribute to family members who cared for. His Forget Me Not Project hopes to increase the number of African Americans participating in clinical trials related to Alzheimer’s.”

A June 20, 2016 MariaShriver.com blog post by Dr. Daniel Potts, a founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Clergy Network, highlighted the work and commitment of Lynda Everman and Don Wendorf. According to Dr. Potts, “In the realm of Alzheimer’s and dementia, stories rarely have happy endings, and it’s hard to peer through the daily darkness to any shimmer of distant light. But Lynda and Don had the courage to keep their candles burning, and now lift their unified flame of service and advocacy, fueled with hope and compassion…Thanks, Lynda and Don, for embracing hope and each other, the mission for cure and care, and for sharing your “room here on earth” with all of us. Your Help Stamp OUT Alzheimer’s motto says it well: “Together We Can — and Will — Make a Difference!” #ENDALZ #cultureofcompassion.”

Webinar Tomorrow: June 28th, 12:00pm EST - 1PM EST - Alzheimer's and Dementia PPRN: Opportunities for Collaborations in PCORnet | Join WebEx meeting here (Meeting number: 733 558 176 | Meeting password: 1234) Join by phone: 1-855-244-8681 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada) 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada) Access code: 733 558 176


MUST READS

A June 27, 2016 Bloomberg article reported that “Most Alzheimer’s drugs targeting brain-cell-killing tau are as much as a decade behind amyloid therapies.” According to the article, “Most drugs targeting tau are years—or even a decade—behind amyloid therapies in terms of clinical trials. Biogen has two drugs targeting tau nearing human trials. For now, its focus is on an amyloid-removing medicine called aducanumab. But in a preliminary trial last year, only some of the doses tested slowed cognition loss, raising questions about the drug’s effectiveness.”

A June 26, 2016 CBS News article reported that “Pat Summitt's family saidSunday that the last few days have been difficult for the former Tennessee women's basketball coach as her Alzheimer's disease progresses.” According to the article, “Amid reports of Summitt's failing health, her family issued a statement asking for prayers and saying that the 64-year-old Summitt is surrounded by the people who mean the most to her. It also asked for privacy.”

A June 25, 2016 San Diego Tribune article profiled UC San Diego’s deep bench of biomedical researchers tackling diseases like Alzheimer’s and brain mapping. According to the article, “During a 2011 meeting near London, the group began sketching out the Brain Activity Map, an effort to map the working brain. The plan highlighted the need to develop better tools. Greenspan and five other scientists turned the idea into a formal proposal. To the surprise of many, the Obama administration transformed the basic idea into a national initiative in 2013, and gave it an unwieldy name: Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN). The plan called for the government, industry and the science community to spend about $1 billion on BRAIN over a decade. UC San Diego hustled to become part of it. So did the Salk Institute, which committed $28 million.”