USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A July 17, 2018 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s statement from Chairman George Vradenburg applauded the launch of the new Diagnostics Accelerator. A $30 million investment from Bill Gates is fueling the project, in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, the Dolby family and the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation. According to Vradenburg, “The Diagnostics Accelerator complements our Biomarker Consortium Initiative and Brain Health Ecosystem Project, which emphasizes the need to modify the health care system to prioritize brain health and detect disease onset early in the disease progression. Improving brain health and overcoming diseases like Alzheimer’s will require more than finding drugs that can treat people whose brain diseases have progressed to the point that they cause debilitating symptoms.”

MUST READS

A July 20, 2018 Business Wire article reported that Genentech (Roche) will present new data about its Alzheimer’s disease pipeline, including crenezumab and gantenerumab (both in Phase III clinical trials), at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago this month. According to Sandra Horning, MD, “The range of data that Roche and Genentech are presenting at AAIC is a testament to our commitment to bring new treatments to help the many millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease.”

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A July 20, 2018 News Medical Life Sciences article looked at non-invasive LIPUS therapy to improve cognitive dysfunction. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound waves applied to the whole brain improved blood vessel formation and nerve cell regeneration in mice when utilized three times a day for 20 minutes. Clinical trials are underway.

PROFILES IN COURAGE

A July 19, 2018 Orlando Sentinel article spotlighted the story of Susie and Scott Plakon (state representative, R-Longwood). Susie is in the final stages Alzheimer’s disease at age 57 and her husband, Scott, has been open about their experience. Scott helped to defeat an attempt to defund memory disorder centers in Florida and co-sponsored a bill to establish another. According to Scott, “When things happen, you wonder what’s God purpose is in all of this. What’s going on here? But look at all the good things that have happened: The funding I’ve been able to get, speaking at the Alzheimer’s Association convention, the memory centers, Alzheimer’s month, all of this stuff that’s been able to do. That’s Susie inspired.”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Join-in the “Six Pieces of the Puzzle: Creating a Dementia Competent Community” live webinar with Teepa Snow. August 1, 2018 at 7pm (EST). The webinar will discuss the critical areas of knowledge and skills that enable community businesses and public service agencies to adequately include and support people living with dementia. Register here.