INDUSTRY UPDATE
A November 8, 2018 BioSpace article reported that this week Eli Lilly announced it had scrapped a Phase II clinical trial for N3pG, plus BACE in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. BACE (beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) is seen as a precursor to amyloid-beta, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, “Eli Lilly certainly isn’t the first company to scrap a BACE inhibitor. In February, Merck & Co. halted its APECS Phase III clinical trial that was studying verubecestat, a BACE inhibitor for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The decision to shutter that trial was also made following an analysis from an independent data monitoring committee.” Also covered by Fierce Biotech.
SEX MATTERS
A November 8, 2018 Channel 3000 article focused on why women have a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease than men. New research looks at whether reproductive history or exposure to hormone therapy influence the risk for AD. According to Mayo Clinic Neuroradiologist Dr. Kegal Kantarci, “Certain hormonal risk factors exist, and reproductive history is an important consideration for women evaluating their Alzheimer's risk.”
DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS
A November 4, 2018 Forbes article explored whether a VR symphony experience from The Fort Collins Symphony, via an Oculus Go headset, could help people with dementia improve cognitive decline (mood, memory and attention). Research is funded by the Colorado State University Office of the Vice President for Research's Catalyst for Innovative Partnerships program, partnered with technology produced by Fort Collins VR startup Blue Penguin. Regarding the ability of live music to affect cognition, “Just stabilization after nine months, that would be really be great, we should be happy, because that's what drugs get. And we actually got a statistically significant improvement, a correlation between number of symphonies attended and degree of improvement,” said Deana Davalos, CSU Aging Clinic of the Rockies Director.
REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
A November 5, 2018 UA (University of Arizona) News article spotlighted a new Brain Imaging and Fluid Biomarkers Core of the Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Center, part of a statewide, multi-institutional consortium of research partners, funded by a multi-million dollar NIA grant. “One of the challenges that the field currently faces is that imaging and fluid biomarker techniques haven't been standardized very well. We're really working to help come up with universal standards for these markers, so they can be even more useful in identifying people at risk and in evaluating responses to treatment or prevention therapies,” said Professor Gene Alexander, Director of the new Core.
DEMENTIA FRIENDLY
(ICYMI) An October 20, 2018 IndyStar article spotlighted the Memory Cafe program at Conner Prairie schoolhouse, part of the Dementia Friends Indiana initiative. An international “dementia friendly” movement is helping to reduce stigma associated with dementia, and encourage caregivers and people with dementia to spend more time out in the community. According to the article, “While many programs exist for caregivers, not many programs exist for people who have dementia, said Sharon Kleinhelter, whose husband J.P. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s type dementia six years ago. Now that her husband’s disease has progressed, it’s difficult for her to get out of the house to attend those, she said. So she particularly enjoys attending the Memory Café, where no one minds if J.P. repeats a few of his favorite lines over and over again.”
CAREGIVING CORNER
(ICYMI) A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Blog suggests creating a caregiver contract with family members, to lay-out expectations and responsibilities to care for a parent or loved one’s senior care needs. A personal care agreement helps to ensure that family members are on the same page regarding caregiving responsibilities.