USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A July 15, 2019 USA Today broadcast segment, hosted by Maria Shriver, showed what millennials are doing to combat Alzheimer’s disease now. Shriver interviewed The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s (YMAA) Founder Nihal Satyadev and other youth leaders, including comedians Seth Rogan and Lauren Miller Rogan. “Lifestyle really has to be viewed as a medicine in and of itself,” said Satyadev, who exercises, meditates, eats well and gets sufficient sleep. YMAA is an UsAgainstAlzheimer’s coalition partner.

MUST READS

According to a July 15, 2019 STAT News Health article, several research groups gave new results on various experimental blood tests to screen for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias at the annual AAIC conference in Los Angeles. The goal is to develop an inexpensive, non-invasive test that can be applied at regular check-ups. According to the article, “…A screening test could be as close as three years away. What good will that do without a cure? An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last year found that most Americans would want to know if they carried a gene tied to a disease even if it was incurable. “What people want most of all is a diagnosis” if they’re having symptoms, said Jonathan Schott of University College London. “What we don’t like is not knowing what’s going on.””

MUST LISTEN

In a July 13, 2019 MPR News radio segment, Jon Hamilton interviewed participants of a Banner Alzheimer’s Institute research study, both before and after they received their APOE E4 status, one of the strongest indicators of Alzheimer’s disease risk. Study participants are required to know their status and meet with genetics counselors. According to Banner’s Jessica Langbaum, “People are remarkably brave in stepping forward to participate in the study. This is a big life decision for people to learn this information. There are family considerations, there are emotional considerations and there are insurance implications or considerations that people should think about before learning this information.”

ALZ TECH

A July 16, 2019 Yahoo!Finance article spotlighted the release of results at AAIC from a research study by NetNoggin® about the use of Intelligent Assistive Technologies (IATs) for people with Alzheimer's disease and MCI. The goal is to determine technology needs in order to improve patient and caregiver quality of life. According to NetNoggin CEO Diana Conger, “Primary and secondary research have taken steps towards understanding technology within Alzheimer's disease. However, our netnographic analysis has allowed us to understand not only what patients and caregivers are currently adopting, but also what they need, providing opportunities to improve patient and caregiver quality of life using technological solutions.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A July 14, 2019 Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal article spotlighted a new Alzheimer’s Society photography exhibition, “Dementia Care: The Crisis Behind Closed Doors,” in Westminster, which depicts the human costs of dementia. At the exhibition, Members of Parliament met with people affected by dementia. “We urge the next Prime Minister to make addressing the dementia crisis an urgent priority. The injustice of people battling to get the care they so desperately need, while also battling the devastating effects of dementia, must be addressed now,” said Sally Copley of the Alzheimer’s Society.