RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A March 2, 2020 Spectrum article looked at the overlap between tau, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and autism. A new study found that lowering levels of tau eases some types of autism traits in mice. According to the article, “[Tel Aviv University Professor Emerita Illana] Gozes linked certain mutations to both Alzheimer’s disease and autism. Many of these mutations are in genes, including tau, that are important in microtubules, cells that help form the scaffolding of the cell. The relationship between tau proteins and microtubules is likely to be key to Alzheimer’s disease and some forms of autism…” Also covered by Technology Networks, Yahoo! Finance, and others

According to a March 2, 2020 UCSF (University of California San Francisco) article, a blood test may soon be able to detect Alzheimer’s disease and distinguish it from other forms of dementia. No such blood test currently exists and other methods of detection are either costly or painful. Increased diagnosis could in turn translate into more potential clinical trial participants. “This test could eventually be deployed in a primary care setting for people with memory concerns to identify who should be referred to specialized centers to participate in clinical trials or to be treated with new Alzheimer’s therapies, once they are approved,” said Neurologist Adam Boxer, MD, PhD.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A March 3, 2020 Yahoo! Finance article highlighted the addition of four Swedish university hospital memory clinics to the confirmatory Phase 3 study of the drug candidate BAN2401 for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. BioArctic and Eisai’s antibody helps eliminate accumulations of misfolded amyloid beta protein, a major hallmark of AD, and reduces nerve cell damage. "We are delighted that Swedish clinics are now being included in the global confirmatory Phase 3 study of BAN2401 in patients with early Alzheimer's disease, not least because the groundbreaking research on which the drug candidate is based comes from Sweden itself," said Tomas Odergren of BioArctic AB.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

A March 1, 2020 New Hampshire Union Leader article focused on Home Instead Senior Care of Central New Hampshire’s Alzheimer’s Friendly Business Training program, a free resource about AD and other dementias. Staff learns about common behaviors and how to support people with Alzheimer’s and their families. Click here for more information.