USA2 SPOTLIGHT

In an August 27, 2019 WFYI interview, Isiah Seibert spoke with journalist, author and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocate Greg O’Brien about the stigma of having Alzheimer’s disease. According to O’Brien, “My journey is not about me. No one should really care about me. I'm a journalist just like you. We're telling the story, reporting the story. It's trying to get people to focus on the disease, the inaccuracy of the stereotype of the disease, and building a critical mass to try to get people out and realize that we really have to stop this… Early diagnosis is so important. Don't be afraid. Maybe that's one of the important things to say here. Anyone who is having a problem, please don't be afraid to have a clinical test. That's the most important thing we're talking about today.”

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An August 27, 2019 Medical Xpress article spotlighted research which found that high maternal fat consumption (in mice) during gestation produced offspring with lower levels of amyloid-beta and tau, both major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, and improved synapse function, which plays a key role in learning and memory formation. “Our findings suggest that, to be effective, Alzheimer's disease prevention probably needs to start very early in life, during gestation. Diet at this specific life stage can have critical, but underestimated, long-term impacts on brain health,” said Dr. Domenico Praticò of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

An August 22, 2019 Medical Xpress article looked at the correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and a mutation in the ATXN1 gene which causes a condition called SCA1 (spinocerebellar ataxia type 1). SCA1 involves a loss of coordination and balance, including learning and memory difficulties. ATXN1 also regulates the behavior of an enzyme that increases the risk for AD. “The idea that the same protein will cause one neurodegenerative disease in a 'gain' situation, and cause vulnerability to another neurodegenerative disease in a 'loss' situation, is fascinating,” said neurogeneticist Huda Y. Zoghbi, MD of Baylor College of Medicine.

YOUTH FOCUS

An August 24, 2019 Fox 26 News article featured the work of 19 year-old Kumaran Akilan, who developed an app to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A smartphone outfitted with a lens attachment allows an image of the retina to be taken and sent for diagnosis, for around $200. The teen was named to Governor Gavin Newsom's Alzheimer's Prevention and Preparedness Task Force. “I have a family history of Alzheimer's. My grandpa's older brother had Alzheimer's disease. He was in a very severe state when he passed away. It's not just a degenerative disease, it's also a financial disease. It's really expensive,” said Akilan.

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY

An August 26, 2019 Fox 59 article spotlighted the push in Indiana, by CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, for 1,000 people to become a “Dementia Friend” during the month of September, which is Global Alzheimer’s Awareness month. According to the article, “Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia… CICOA partners with more than 15 area agencies on aging throughout the state to educate people about dementia, reduce stigmas surrounding it and implement practical changes that create more welcoming environments for those affected by it.” Get more information on becoming a Dementia Friend here.