MUST READS

A November 1, 2018 Today article highlighted November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, and told the story of 14 year-old Hailey Corum and her mom, Robyn Forbes, who are caring for Hailey’s grandfather, who has AD. Caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia takes a heavy toll on caregivers, including children, who can be thrust suddenly into a caregiving role. NBC News special anchor Maria Shriver spoke with the women about the stresses and worries they shoulder.

ALZ TECH

An October 31, 2018 Cronkite News article spotlighted MindCrowd, an online research project to identify patterns in healthy aging, in the hopes of one day preventing dementia. It consists of a 10-minute online test, available in English, Spanish and Mandarin, which measures reaction time and memory involving word association. Since its launch in 2013, around 125,000 people have participated. The data shows differences between men and women, and among people with a college education. The goal is to screen 1 million cognitively healthy people around the world. 

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

According to an October 30, 2018 NeuroNews article, researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University discovered a new nanomaterial which can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier, enabling clear imaging of amyloid-beta plaques, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, “Once bound to amyloid-beta, the nanomaterial fluoresces and exhibits magnetic resonance properties, enabling it to be easily detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared imaging machines, which offer superior resolution and do not require an invasive radioactive trace.” Also covered by QS Wow News.

CAREGIVING CORNER

An October 24, 2018 Being Patient post by Tanya Ward Goodman, former caregiver to her father who had Alzheimer’s disease, relayed hard-won advice she would have given to her former self. Goodman draws from the old adage to ‘put on your own oxygen mask before you help your child.’ Goodman writes, “After school today, my kids will continue to tutor their grandparents in all things iPhone, my stepmother is preparing for a five-day hike and my mother is planning a bird watching road trip.  Even though we are all happy and healthy and independent, once you’ve seen the devastation Alzheimer’s can swiftly deliver, you can’t help but plan for the future. I am grateful for the time we have. I’ll put my list away for now and savor this day.”

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An October 30, 2018 The Guardian article displayed a photo essay chronicling Gladys and Jose Saroli. Gladys has frontotemporal dementia and Jose is by her side every day, caring for her, at the facility where she lives. According to the article, ““We do have a number of spouses and relatives who visit daily and support their loved ones but this is quite exceptional. It is the commitment Jose and indeed their children have also shown to supporting Gladys which is a standout for me,” says Darinka Rozanic, the manager at Moran Aged Care, where Gladys lives. “The labelling of photos to help support memories, the enthusiasm displayed for participating in activities and events and in general speaking with Gladys even when she could not. They all see the person, not the disease.””

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Register for Dementia Friendly America’s webinar, “What Your Community Needs to Know to Get Involved.” Tonight at 8pm (EST). Dementia Friendly America’s vision is that each part of community plays a role in supporting people with dementia and caregivers. Join the webinar to learn more about how you can spark an initiative in your community.