MUST READ

An April 23, 2019 Medical Express article reported that a team of neuroscientists led by Florida Atlantic University's Brain Institute looked into a fundamental Alzheimer’s disease riddle, “Is amyloid precursor protein the mastermind behind Alzheimer's disease or is it just an accomplice?” In a new study, they genetically disrupted the interaction between cholesterol and amyloid precursor protein. According to study author Qi Zhang, PhD, “Our study is intriguing because we noticed a peculiar association between amyloid precursor protein and cholesterol that resides in the cell membrane of synapses, which are points of contact among neurons and the biological basis for learning and memory.” Also covered by Science Alert.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to an April 24, 2019 Technology Networks article, German researchers have characterized progenitor cells in zebrafish into eight sub-populations, utilizing “single cell sequencing.” The progenitor cells allow the fish to regrow brain cells lost due to injury or illness. The researchers then created a fish model of amyloid accumulation to help identify new candidate target molecules for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. “Zebrafish and mammals are related in evolution… We can learn from investigating the molecular pathways and cellular interactions in zebrafish and harness this knowledge to better understand how regeneration can be boosted in mice and eventually in humans,” said researcher Caghan Kizil. Also covered by Medical Express.

ALZ TECH

An April 24, 2019 Medical Express article focused on the Sea Hero Quest gaming app, which gathers data about how the brain works in relation to spatial navigation. Researchers compared how people who are genetically pre-disposed to Alzheimer's disease play the game versus those who are not, and found they could distinguish between the two groups. According to lead researcher Professor Michael Hornberger of the University of East Anglia, “Current diagnosis of dementia is strongly based on memory symptoms, which we know now are occurring when the disease is quite advanced. Instead, emerging evidence shows that subtle spatial navigation and awareness deficits can precede memory symptoms by many years. Our current findings show that we can reliably detect such subtle navigation changes in at-genetic-risk of Alzheimer's disease healthy people without any problem symptoms or complaints.”

HUMAN INTEREST

An April 23, 2019 People article announced that producer and NYPD Blue and Deadwood creator David Milch has Alzheimer’s disease. He believes his own father had AD as well. Milch has continued to work with HBO since his diagnosis. “We treasure our relationship with David Milch, a beloved and long-standing member of the HBO family. We honor David’s privacy and stand by his side in every way as he faces this challenge,” said an HBO network rep.

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY

(ICYMI) An April 11, 2019 Daily Mail article spotlighted the Music Memory Box kit, which helps people with memory issues connect with their loved ones and their past. The box is filled with memorabilia and significant music to elicit memories and foster connection. Monica Garrity’s husband Steve, who has dementia, uses the prototype box. “I think it’s a wonderful idea if people can’t communicate or can’t speak, and it’s a way of connecting. Chloe [Meineck], who designed the box, all hats off to her for a very simple thing, but very emotive. I’m just very grateful we were given the opportunity to have use of one of them.”