MUST READS

A July 15, 2019 BioSpace article focused on the search for new Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, in pursuit of developing inexpensive, non-invasive, earlier and more accurate diagnostic tests. Scientists presented their research on the subject at the annual AAIC gathering in Los Angeles, ranging from plasma levels of amyloid-related peptides, to measuring alpha-synuclein and tau in red blood cells, to comparing levels of blood neurofilament light (NfL).

MUST LISTEN

A July 17, 2019 NPR Morning Edition radio segment focused on sex differences in the brain and latest thinking about why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men, currently under discussion at AAIC. New research found that the location(s) of tau in the brain is sex dependent, and women over age 60 who worked outside of the house (at some point in their life) had slower memory decline than women who had not. According to Dallas Anderson of the NIA, “Sex is such a basic variable, you'd think that we really would have nailed things down by now. But no.”Also covered by Los Angeles Times.

BRAIN HEALTH

According to a July 16, 2019 Newsweek article, a new study out of Harvard found that even moderate amounts of exercise, around 8,900 steps per day, can slow cognitive decline and brain volume loss in people at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Lowering vascular risk factors has been tied to reduced risk for AD, including managing high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and diabetes. “…This can only show us that levels of physical activity are linked to brain measures—it doesn't tell us that increasing activity would reduce your risk of getting dementia. There are ongoing trials to see if increasing activity can prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and we eagerly await these results—prevention is key…” said Dr. James Pickett of the Alzheimer's Society.

CAREGIVING CORNER

A July 15, 2019 Forbes article looked to the START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) program in the U.K., which supports caregivers for people with dementia, helping to improve their mental health. According to the article, “…Not only is the START program clinically effective for benefiting caregivers, but that the effect lasts for 6 years without increasing costs. “This is the first intervention with such a long-term clinical and possible economic benefit and has potential to make a difference to individual carers,” the [study] authors wrote.”

YOUTH FOCUS

(ICYMI) A July 10, 2019 The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement video featured teenager Emma Yang, who developed the Timeless app to aid people, like her grandmother, who have Alzheimer’s disease. She has been developing the app since the age of 12. She combined her passion with technology with her passion for helping people.