RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An April 10, 2019 National Institute on Aging blog post highlighted the difficulty of translating successful treatments on animal models of Alzheimer’s disease to humans. The NIA is exploring new animal models to expand research resources which naturally develop diseases common to humans. Marmosets, for example, naturally show age-related changes and pathologies linked to AD. NIH funding initiatives for marmosets, and other new models, are coming soon.

An April 9, 2019 WGBH article spotlighted a new study at McLean Hospital in Belmont which will test the effectiveness of marijuana to help calm dementia patients’ behavioral symptoms, which can include aggression, agitation, delusions and hallucinations. The family of the late real estate magnate Alex Spier, who died from Alzheimer’s disease, is funding the study. Spier, a holocaust survivor, was experiencing flashbacks to Auschwitz, and marijuana edibles helped calm him so he could sleep through the night.

SEX MATTERS

An April 9, 2019 Patch article reported that the City of West Hollywood signed onto the Women's Alzheimer's Movement 5-Step Agenda for Cities to become dementia friendly. Created by Maria Shriver, the goal is to raise awareness about women's increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and educate the public about brain health. According to Council Member John J. Duran, “West Hollywood launched its five-year “Aging in Place, Aging in Community” Strategic Plan in 2016 with a goal to increase the City and community's focus on the services, programs, and policies that promote health, independence, and civic participation across a person's lifespan.”

INDUSTRY UPDATE

An April 9, 2019 Seeking Alpha article looked at the current state of Alzheimer’s disease drug development in the wake of Biogen’s recent aducanumab failure, postulating that amyloid plaques in the brain are the effect of Alzheimer’s disease, not the cause. There are 20 current clinical drug trials targeting beta amyloid, and 200 attempts at developing such drugs have failed to-date. Biogen’s shares collapsed almost 30% after announcing the discontinuation of its trials.

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An April 9, 2019 KYOU News broadcast segment spotlighted the work of Bill Teeple, bringing music and art to residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in a memory care facility in Ottumwa, IA. “Via the music and via the painting and the art, we can communicate and connect, and it seems to make them more there, so I am really fulfilled in doing this work,” said Teeple. According to Activities Coordinator Christi Cubbe, “We have a couple of wanderers, and if they’re sitting here painting, then they aren’t up wandering. They will sit there and concentrate and paint for a while.”