July 3, 2018

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

MUST READS

A July 3, 2018 Newsweek article spotlighted aspirin as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease by clearing amyloid beta from the brain. According to Peter Passmore at Queen’s University Belfast, “There have been suggestions that aspirin may be beneficial in Alzheimer’s disease so it is interesting to see these results in an animal model. As the authors say this finding needs a lot more research as the results are not conclusive. It will take quite a bit of further research before studies would be done in the appropriate patient group.” Also covered by New AtlasLive Science and others.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A June 29, 2018 Futurity article focused on using microRNA as a biomarker for Alzheimer disease prediction and diagnosis. MicroRNA plays a regulatory role by increasing or decreasing the number of proteins that messenger RNAs encode, and a single snippet can impact the function of many proteins in the body. According to Chen Lu of Indiana University, “Higher levels of pre-symptomatic microRNA dysregulation are significant because it strongly suggests that it may have a role in changes in the brain in later stages.” 

ALZ TECH

According to a June 28, 2018 Web MD article, robots could help care for people with Alzheimer’s disease in the near future by managing their daily living tasks, calming and helping to combat loneliness and isolation, in addition to providing respite for caregivers and data for doctors. According to Elizabeth Broadbent of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, "While a human could help with these things, the burden on caregivers of people with dementia is very high. Some people do not have a caregiver at home and caregivers often need a break during the day to get other things done. Robots can help provide extra care."  

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A June 27, 2018 Being Patient article looked at the link between dementia and B vitamins. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging at Trinity College in Dublin found that many adults over 50 are deficient in both B12 and folate vitamins. Previous research associated low B12 with brain shrinkage, and has shown that increasing B12 can slow cognitive decline in women. 

YOUTH FOCUS

A July 2, 2018 Globe Newswire news release reported that the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFOA) awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 30 high school seniors for their annual “Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship Essay Contest.” The contest asks them to “describe how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives and what they’ve learned about themselves and their families in the face of this disease.” According to AFOA lead Charles J. Fuschillo, “We were humbled by the stories these teens shared and by the courage, love and optimism each of them brought to their situation. Each of them cares about making an impact, and their eagerness to make a difference in the world and help those affected by Alzheimer’s is inspiring.” 

OPINION

A July 1, 2018 Central Maine letter to the editor by Thomas Frisk told of his trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers about their support for Alzheimer’s legislation, additional funds for research and education. Frisk writes, “The BOLD Act would provide crucial investment by establishing Alzheimer’s centers of excellence across the country to provide early diagnosis and prevent avoidable hospitalizations. I’m hopeful that The Jackson Lab right here in Maine could become one of these centers.”