MUST READS

A February 7, 2019 Scientific American article took another look at the growing case for transmissible Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that amyloid can potentially be transmitted on surgical equipment. The research team who led the original Alzheimer’s transmissibility studyrecently found that amyloid and tau were able to survive in biological samples stored for decades. According to the article, “Since Alzheimer’s Disease is so common, and we have not (to my knowledge) been looking for Alzheimer's caused by surgical or other medical procedures that access eye or neural tissue -- particularly in patients for whom the appearance of Alzheimer’s would not be surprising -- is it possible that we are underestimating the transmission potential of this disease, and that such events are less rare than we would guess?”

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A February 7, 2019 Quartz article reported that a team of researchers compared the brains of nine people who died from Alzheimer’s disease to nine healthy brains from people who died of heart disease, lung disease or cancer. The study generated 24,000+ data points showing some of the changes in the brain that result from AD. They found that cerebellum were “drastically different.” The study authors speculate that “…Rather than being ‘spared’, the [cerebellum] is affected in a different way to other brain regions and that, given it shows little pathology, these changes may reflect some level of active protection.”

A February 6, 2019 Science Daily article looked at hibernating Syrian hamsters for clues to better treat Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers measured metabolic changes both before and after hibernation and found that a group of lipids, long-chain ceramides, which could help prevent oxidative damage to the brain, were highly elevated in the hibernating animals. The largest metabolite change was for phosphatidic acid, which activates an enzyme that phosphorylates tau. According to the article, “The Syrian hamster is an excellent model to study substances that could help protect neurons, the researchers say.”

MUST WATCH

A February 7, 2019 The Denver Post video showed a moderated panel, led by The Denver Post’s Jessica Seaman, with some of Colorado’s leading Alzheimer’s disease experts. The panelists include Amelia Schafer, Dr. Jonathan Woodcock and Dr. Hillary Lum. They discuss what families can do after a diagnosis, potential genetic risks and the toll the disease takes on loved ones. 

FINANCE

A February 7, 2019 CNBC article looked to findings from a new study from Merrill Lynch and Age Wave about end-of-life planning. Only 18 percent of people 55 and older have a will, a living will and durable power of attorney in place. According to the article, “Create an advance health-care directive. Also known as a living will, this document outlines your wishes if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury… Say you are on life support. Instead of a loved one making the agonizing decision whether to end all life-saving measures, your wishes would be specified in a legal record.”

CAREGIVING CORNER

A February 6, 2019 KXII Fox News 12 broadcast video spotlighted the interactive “Alzheimer’s: A Caregivers Workbook to Take Control,” by Alzheimer's specialist, author and certified forensic nurse Lori Janacek. “I’ve been working with Alzheimer’s patients and their families for over ten years and I have developed some really cool techniques working with different nursing aids and different nurses over the years and their hands-on approaches. And these techniques work. When it comes to them refusing meds, refusing to get in the shower, dressing difficulties, these methods really work.  So I’m very proud of it,” Janacek.