CAREGIVING CORNER

Take the Diverse Elders Coalition’s (DEC) “Caregiving Community Survey,” offered in multiple languages, with more coming soon. DEC advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in racially and ethnically diverse communities, educates through in-person trainings, webinars and multimedia resources, and shares stories of elders of color and LGBT elders to ensure these voices are included in the public narrative on aging.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An April 16, 2019 GeekWire article reported that University of Washington researchers created a synthetic peptide to stop the formation of toxic amyloid beta protein clusters, which is a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In human brain cells grown in culture, the molecule blocked the oligomers from forming even larger clusters. According to research author Valerie Daggett, “Amyloid beta definitely plays a lead role in Alzheimer’s disease, but while historically attention has been on the plaques, more and more research instead indicates that amyloid beta oligomers are the toxic agents that disrupt neurons.” Also covered by Medical News Today. 

BRAIN HEALTH

An April 15, 2019 Genetic Literacy Project article focused on the MIND diet, which helps to slow cognitive decline in seniors through dietary changes highlighting brain protective foods that combat the causes of dementia-related diseases. Participants who rigorously adhered to the diet experienced a 53 percent decreased risk of developing AD, and those who moderately followed it experienced a 35 percent decreased risk. The MIND diet study is based on a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, which are (collectively) highly effective in reducing blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL cholesterol, and lowering risk for heart failure and stroke.

FAITH SPOTLIGHT

An April 10, 2019 National Catholic Register article spotlighted the “Rainbow Choir,” a group of Belgian seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, who traveled to the Vatican to perform for Pope Francis. According to the Pope, “I think that the fact of putting together our frailties and mutually accepting them is the most beautiful ‘hymn,’ the harmony most pleasing to God, a ‘rainbow’ — not of perfections, but of imperfections!... Perhaps some of them have lost their memory, but they are the symbol of the memory of a people; they are the roots of our homeland, of our humanity. They are the roots, and the young must go there to take the sap from the roots, to carry civilization onwards.”

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An April 15, 2019 WTOL 11 broadcast segment focused on the “Awakening Minds Art” educational program offered by the University of Findlay’s Occupational Therapy department. Artworks are on display by Sandy and John Errett. Sandy has Alzheimer’s disease, and the work contextualizes how families deal with AD. “What this process has done is helped us take a look back at where we’ve been in life, and where we’re at now, and then plans for the future,” said John.