USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A December 7, 2019 Shifting Margins blog post by Bishop Kenneth L. Carder looked to lessons learned by students at his recently completed “Dementia through a Pastoral Lens” seminary class. Among other insights, students shared the following, “People with dementia are full members of the church and not mere objects of charitable ministry.” “People lose their memories only if they lose community, for memory is held in community, not simply in our brains.” And, “The vulnerable belong at the center of the church’s life and mission and not on the margins.” The students received special stoles from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocates Lynda Everman and Don Wendorf, as part of their “Stolen Memories” initiative. Bishop Carder contributed two articles to UsAgainstAlzheimer’s “Dementia-friendly Worship: A Multi-faith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy and Faith Communities.”

MUST READS

A December 11, 2019 Medical Xpress article spotlighted research on how our DNA changes as we age, and its relationship to developing Alzheimer’s disease. In a study on triplets, where two developed AD and one did not, scientists found that DNA ages as the body ages. “The latest genetics research is finding that the DNA we die with isn't necessarily what we received as a baby, which could relate to why two of the triplets developed Alzheimer's and one didn’t. As we age, our DNA ages with us and as a result, some cells could mutate and change over time,” said senior paper author Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva of University of Toronto.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A December 12, 2019 BioSpace article announced that the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund has awarded in excess of $100 million to date for Alzheimer’s disease research, since its inception in 2004. Funded projects include work on penetrating the blood-brain barrier and large-scale human genome screening. According to Fund lead Tim Armour, “For 15 years, our Board of Directors of Cure Alzheimer's Fund has remained committed to allowing and encouraging the researchers we fund to follow the science and explore high risk / high reward hypotheses. Today, there is great momentum and new discoveries. We are honored to have been the recipients of the generosity of more than 45,000 donors who have made this research possible.”

A December 11, 2019 Medical News Today article highlighted new research from Rockefeller University looking at a transport mechanism failure linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Proteasomes break down proteins such a beta-amyloid, however, failure to transport the proteasomes where they are needed may be party to the protein build-up seen in AD. “Our work suggests that it really starts with a local defect in proteasomes, resulting in the failure to degrade proteins that are critical for nerve function,” said senior studies author Professor Hermann Steller.

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

A December 8, 2019 Radio Times article spotlighted BBC One’s “Elizabeth is Missing,” a TV drama based on a novel, focused on a woman who has Alzheimer’s disease. Oscar winner Glenda Jackson depicts Helen, the story’s narrator, whose past and present seem to be melding into one. According to the article, “If anyone is qualified to pass judgement on how the adaptation compares to the book, it’s author Emma Healey, who attended the recent BBC screening. Asked for her thoughts on the Jackson drama, she tearfully described it as “incredible,” before adding: “I’m so moved.””