USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An April 18, 2019 MemoryWell article revealed that California lawmakers are considering creating a trained Care Corps, comprised of high school or college graduates, who would spend a year providing non-medical care to seniors with cognitive impairment. Corps members would earn a monthly stipend and education grant, and family caregivers would get respite. According to The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s [YMAA] head and lead sponsor of the plan, Nihal Satyadev, “We are absolutely not ready as a country for the aging of our population. We need to be developing the appropriate workforce. Who is going to staff skilled nursing facilities, and who will be the medical directors for geriatrics? Who will be providing the direct care that we need?” YMAA is an UsAgainstAlzheimer’s coalition partner.

MUST READ

An April 22, 2019 Being Patient interview spoke with Karoly Nikolich, lead of biotech company Alkahest, which is researching “young blood” plasma transfusions for anti-aging treatments, including combatting neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. They are conducting Phase 2 human trials using a plasma fraction, GRF6019, in both mild to moderate and severe Alzheimer’s. “Our plasma fraction and small molecule candidates are inspired by and designed to target not just one particular process in the brain, but actually address the complex detrimental processes that cause age-related disease. We hope to treat Alzheimer’s disease, for example, not by focusing on one process or protein target, but on the underlying process of aging that tends to exacerbate all symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Nikolich.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to an April 22, 2019 Medpage Today article [log in], researchers found that Neurofilament light (NfL) levels in blood of Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Study participants corresponded with hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease progression. The NfL levels were linked to baseline cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (CSF), MRI measures, PET imaging and poor cognitive performance. NfL protein is released into CSF and blood when brain neurons are damaged or dying in AD and other neurologic conditions.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

An April 19, 2019 The Roanoke Times article highlighted members of the Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission, who travel throughout the state every four years on a “listening tour.” The goal is to learn how to make life easier for people with dementia, and their caregivers and family members. The comments gathered will be considered in the Commission’s four-year plan, and are helpful when lobbying for funds and policy changes. Read the draft plan here.

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An April 21, 2019 Springfield News-Sun article highlighted the “In the Moment” program at the Springfield Museum of Art (OH) for people with dementia, and their families and caregivers. Attendees can both view and create art. “The families who came to our first event really, really enjoyed being with their loved ones in a place they don’t have to worry about distractions. Lots of people in a setting can make it tough. Families can see this difference. This is an accessible place with a lot that can be explored and enjoyed,” said curator Annette Eshelman.