UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES 

Alzheimer's Talks: Neuroscientist Dr. Jeffrey Iliff and his team have been at the forefront of research on how the brain clears waste and what it may tell us about how Alzheimer’s develops. This month on Alzheimer’s Talks, he’ll join us to share his groundbreaking research on the possible links between sleep and Alzheimer’s. Join us on Tuesday, August 16, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET for a fascinating conversation about this exciting research. Sign up here.

MUST READS

An August 10, 2016 blog post by the National Hispanic Council on Aging, a LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s Coalition member, underscored the importance of Latinos in clinical trials. According to NHCOA, “Generally, invitations to participate in clinical trials are in English, which my limit the participation of Latinos who are limited English proficient. Moreover, Dr. Cruz stresses that cultural factors may also discourage Latino participation in clinical trials.”

An August 10, 2016 Huffington Post article asked the question: “Why aren’t the needs of the nation’s 34 million caregivers front and center?” in the 2016 presidential election. According to the article, “There is probably not another segment of the population as large and drowning in quiet desperation as our country’s 34 million unpaid family caregivers. Yet their needs have barely been discussed on the national stage of this presidential election. Why is that? Maybe it’s just that caregivers don’t have any time left on their hands to organize protest marches or come up with Twitter hashtags to keep their situation front and center in Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s headlights. But come November, don’t be surprised if the nation’s family caregivers rise up and speak in one voice.”

An August 10, 2016 Science Daily article reported that University of Cambridge “Researchers have discovered a gene signature in healthy brains that echoes the pattern in which Alzheimer's disease spreads through the brain much later in life.” According to the article, “The findings could help uncover the molecular origins of this devastating disease, and may be used to develop preventative treatments for at-risk individuals to be taken well before symptoms appear.” Also reported on by The Guardian. 

An August 10, 2016 San Francisco Chronicle article reported that “San Francisco police officers who responded to a physical altercation between two residents of an elder-care home handcuffed a woman who has Alzheimer’s disease and little ability to communicate before taking her away in a patrol car over the objections of the home’s staff, records show.” According to the article, “The decision last month to place 72-year-old Carol King, who suffers from dementia, under an involuntary “5150” psychiatric hold alarmed the facility and the woman’s son — and raises questions about the role police often play in situations that involve complex health care, experts said.”

RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

The Verge: New imaging method shows how genes activate in the living brain

EurekAlert!: Treatment option for Alzheimer's disease possible

EurekAlert!: New PET scan tracer allows first imaging of the epigenetics of the human brain

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT 

A new video interview from PhRMA highlights the innovative work of Biogen to address neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s.  According to the description, “For those diseases where there are no treatments available, the potential impact to improve patients’ lives inspires researchers every day.”