RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An April 2, 2020 Imaging Technology News article focused on the role of low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in treating Alzheimer’s disease. West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute researchers led a clinical trial focused on opening the blood-brain barrier to potentially allow in disease-modifying therapies. “Different techniques have been attempted to open the blood-brain barrier, but a lot of those techniques have adverse effects or are general. To open it in one specific area of the brain is a challenge and that is something that this technology overcomes,” said study co-author Rashi Mehta, MD.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

An April 2, 2020 Hindawi article looked at who is most and least likely to get genetic testing to determine Alzheimer’s disease risk. A new study found that 60% of Saudi Arabians surveyed are willing to take a genetic test indicating risk, and that married people are more likely to get tested than their non-married counterparts. According to the article, “Surprisingly, when the researchers analyzed the responses, they found that people with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease were less likely to accept genetic testing, despite the potentially increased disease risk for such people.”

CAREGIVING CORNER

In a March 27, 2020 Being Patient videoDr. Dylan Wint of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health talked about how caregivers can recognize signs of COVID-19 in people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, why people with dementia are more susceptible, and what to do about it. According to Wint, “It is important to look for other features in illness in general—decrease in appetite, less thirst or more thirst. Anything that looks like a fever—so that can be sweating, breathing faster, reduced energy, reduced interactivity—those can all be symptoms of this or other conditions… So be vigilant…”