MUST READS

A February 20, 2020 The New York Times article [log-in required] examined the question of whether or not to get genetic testing to assess risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The answers seems to be different for every individual and vary from expert to expert. According to the article, “I spoke to half a dozen experts, and none was in favor of genetic testing, except in unusual circumstances… Several experts recommend that people concerned about their Alzheimer’s risk get a baseline set of neuropsychological tests, followed by repeat tests if and when they start experiencing worrisome symptoms.”

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to a February 20, 2020 National Institute on Aging article, a new research model based on adult rhesus monkeys is looking at the origins of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Researchers created a model of sporadic AD in order to study the prefrontal cortex. According to the article, “The study showed that rhesus monkeys may be a good model for studying the early synaptic dysfunction of Alzheimer’s disease, the authors concluded. Further research could determine if the model is useful for studying tau, another harmful protein in Alzheimer’s, and for exploring the mechanism underlying oligomer accumulation in Alzheimer’s.”

OPINION

A February 19, 2020 Los Angeles Times op-ed by UC San Diego Associate Neurosciences Professor Hector M. González warned about the coming Alzheimer’s tsunami, especially for Latinos, who are at heightened risk for developing AD. According to González, “My colleagues and I studied more than 6,300 Latinos across the U.S. and found that nearly 10% of middle-age and older Latinos — those between ages 50 and 86 — met diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment, which is considered a transitional stage between healthy cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease.”

FINANCES

A February 18, 2020 Yahoo! Finance article reported that the ADDF (Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation) invested in Precision Molecular (PMI), which develops imaging biomarkers and theranostics, to develop innovative ways to image neuroinflammation implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. "Imaging agents such as the one being developed by PMI are essential to advancing our ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s and to develop new therapeutics. The ADDF is pleased to support this important work and we look forward to seeing the results of ongoing clinical studies,” said ADDF lead Howard Fillit, MD.