NOTE FROM USA2

Alzheimer’s Daily will take a short break on Monday for President’s Day, and return on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

Take our latest “It’s Personal” A-LIST Survey and make your voice heard. The issue of fidelity to a sick spouse with Alzheimer’s is in the headlines. We invite you to weigh in and join this timely, personal and emotionally charged conversation. A-LIST is an initiative of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A February 14, 2019 Science Daily article reported that a team of scientists looked at mitophagy, the brain cells’ cleaning process, and its connection to Alzheimer’s disease. Boosting mitophagy slows accumulation of tau and beta amyloid in the brain, both major hallmarks of AD. According to study author Vilhelm Bohr of NIH, “When the cleaning system does not work properly, there will be an accumulation of defective mitochondria in the brain cells. And this may be really dangerous. At any rate, the poor cleaning system is markedly present in cells from both humans and animals with Alzheimer's. And when we improve the cleaning in live animals, their Alzheimer's symptoms almost disappear.” Also covered by Science Alert.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

According to a February 12, 2019 Science Daily article, scientists working on familial Alzheimer’s studies in the Medellin, Colombia region found a new family which carries a genetic mutation (PSEN1) for early-onset AD with roots tracing back to Africa. According to the article, “”If you really understand what are the first things that change, what might be the effects that trigger these changes, you might find a way to interfere with that pathway,” said lead author Juliana Acosta-Uribe… This second family could provide insight into, among other things, whether or not the progression of genetic early-onset Alzheimer's is similar for all people with a PSEN1 mutation or if it is family-specific.”

YOUTH FOCUS

A February 11, 2019 Stria News article interviewed longevity market entrepreneur Leda Rosenthal, Founder of Alz You Need, a digital marketplace and matching service to discover dementia assistive technology. The Q&A is part of a series with young people in the longevity market to explore their views as future leaders. According to Rosenthal, “As an industry, we need to be prepared with transformative products and technology that can bridge the gap between the substantially low number of caregivers and increasingly high number of care recipients... For paid caregivers, technology can scale their support and improve care quality.  For family or informal caregivers, technology can reduce caregiving burdens.”

PROFILES IN COURAGE

A February 5, 2019 Caring Across Generations video portrays the story of Scott Miller, father of Alzheimer’s Advocate and comedian Lauren Miller Rogen. He tells the story of his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease journey, as her caregiver since her early-onset diagnosis 13 years ago. “I thought I would die from the strain and the stress,” Miller said. 

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

A February 13, 2019 WTRF broadcast segment reported that Ohio has no plan to address its increasing Alzheimer’s numbers. Senators Steve Wilson and Kenny Yuko are sponsoring a bi-partisan bill to create a study group on a 5-10 year plan to address the issue. “Every other state in the Union has a plan on how to handle this crisis. Ohio does not have a plan. Ohio’s gonna have a plan,” said Wilson. Also covered by Spectrum News In Focus.