USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A World Dementia Council blog post by UsA2’s Chairman George Vradenburg spotlighted the new global partnership being launched by the World Economic Forum and the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease (CEOi) to combat Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. According to the post, “CEOi conducted interviews with 30 people in companies and organizations on their views about the most significant needs and gaps that a coordinated global effort should address… The creation of this new coordinated multi-stakeholder global initiative is yet another reason why I believe that 2020 will be a turning point year in the history that will be written about the eradication of Alzheimer’s.” CEOi is convened by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

According to a February 26, 2020 Medical News Today article, Tokyo Medical and Dental University researchers looked at neuronal death in people with Alzheimer’s disease and MCI, as well as AD mouse models. They utilized the pSer46-MARCKS biomarker to detect dying neurons at different disease stages and found to their surprise that there was more neuronal death in the people with MCI than those with AD. They believe a protein called YAP is responsible. According to the article, “Interestingly, the researchers found the missing YAP trapped inside clumps of beta-amyloid — the deposits that have the most well-known association with Alzheimer’s disease. This finding may change how scientists think about Alzheimer’s disease.”

MUST READS

A February 27, 2020 Forbes article recalled data from a new report of Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurer claims. The report found that Alzheimer’s disease and early-onset dementia increased by 200% among commercially-insured Americans between ages 30 to 64. “The increase in early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s diagnoses among a generation who typically wouldn’t expect to encounter these conditions for several decades is concerning, especially since there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Vincent Nelson of Blue Cross.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A February 26, 2020 Being Patient article focused on the link between obesity, aging and Alzheimer’s disease. A new study from Concordia University took the stance that obesity is akin to premature aging based on its link to a plethora of diseases, including AD and cognitive decline.  According to the article, “The researchers examined over 200 papers that reported the effects of obesity on every part of the body, all the way down to the cellular level. They concluded that the health impact of obesity is so vast that it mirrors that of aging: complete with impaired genomes and mitochondrial function, a weaker immune system and chronic inflammation.”