December 20, 2016

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

MUST READS 

A December 20, 2016 NextAvenue.org article featured an interview with Dr. Rudy Tanzi from Alzheimer’s: Every Minute Counts, produced by Twin Cities PBS. According to the article, “The video below consists of special footage that does not appear in the documentary. Its creators have provided Next Avenue with this exclusive clip. Watch as Tanzi shares his advice to encourage brain health — and possibly decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s. No. 2 on his list of top tips will surprise you.”

A December 19, 2016 The Hill opinion piece by Dr. Ann Lam and Kristie Sullivan urged for a more patient-centric approach to defeating Alzheimer’s. According to the authors, “The path forward is two-fold. First, we must help people prevent Alzheimer's. We have known for quite some time that factors such as diet, exposure to toxins (e.g., smoking), poverty, access to health care, education, social interactions, and sex differences all play major roles in aging and the development of Alzheimer's. Indeed, some of the most encouraging news about Alzheimer's and related dementias are the recent reports that rates have declined in the UK and in older adults in the United States. Given the failures in Alzheimer’s drug development, this decline is likely driven by management of risk factors…We must turn our focus on human biology and human patients, in order to improve care and delay or even prevent this devastating disease in our aging population now.” Ann Lam, Ph.D., is a medical research specialist at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., is the vice president of toxicology with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

A December 19, 2016 American Council on Science and Health articlereported that “repeated saunas may just help fend off dementia — at least for middle-aged men.” According to the article, “Dr. Tanjaniina Laukkanen from the University of Eastern Finland and colleagues followed the health of over 2300 middle-aged men (42-60 years old at baseline) for over 20 years. They analyzed possible associations between the frequency with which the men used saunas and the risk of their developing Alzheimer's disease.”


RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

A December 20, 2016 Reuters article reported that “Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Tuesday its drug to treat psychosis in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease met its main goal in a mid-stage study.”

A December 20, 2016 News Medical article reported that “An international team led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has selected a third investigational drug to be tested in a worldwide clinical trial - already underway - aimed at finding treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease.”

A December 19, 2016 Science Daily article reported that “A rare and potent type of immune cell has been discovered around the brain, suggesting the cells may play a critical role in battling Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.”