USA2 SPOTLIGHT

Listen to all our Alz Talks to learn about the latest and best in Alzheimer’s disease research on our UsAgainstAlzheimer’s website. Or listen in iTunes. Our newest podcast is about the role of tau in AD, with Professor Claude Wischik.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An October 9, 2018 WLNY CBS New York article featured the work of Gladstone Institutes researchers on a medication that could alter the Apo-E4 gene, so it has a lower chance of leading to Alzheimer’s disease. “The structure corrector rescued the human brain cells from this Alzheimer’s disease related pathology,” said team lead Dr. Yadong Huang.

SEX MATTERS

An October 3, 2018 EurekAlert! release featured The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting in San Diego, which reviewed conflicting evidence regarding the best way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, and the latest thinking on the neurodegeneration that often begins during the menopause transition. According to the article, regarding the "A Scientific Update on Alzheimer Disease and Women" symposium, “The symposium will include especially valuable insights for postmenopausal women who, compared to men, are more likely to develop Alzheimer disease during the remainder of their lifetime.”

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An October 8, 2018 USA Today post showed the trailer for “What They Had,” a new feature film starring Hilary Swank and Blythe Danner, about a woman struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. Opens October 19, 2018.

ALZHEIMER'S IN THE MEDIA

An October 9, 2018 NJ.com Health and Fitness News article told the story of Deborah Kan, who was an executive producer for the Wall Street Journal when her mother received an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Turning to the internet for answers, she was overwhelmed by conflicting information and calls Google “almost your worst enemy” when researching an illness. To these ends, Kan created Being Patient. "Nobody is taking the time to explain it in layman's terms to the average person who doesn't have a Ph.D. We are constantly delving into the information needs of our community and filling the gaps," said Kan.

FAITH SPOTLIGHT

An October 8, 2018 NYSCRC (New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition) blog post featured the “Faithful Friends Respite Care” ministry, providing respite for family caregivers to a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Diane Edwards and Cynthia Huling Hummel are certified “respite care companions.” They both have the disease in their families, and Cynthia has early-onset AD. According to the post, “Diane and Cynthia are just two faithful friends, who are trying to help to meet a need in their community.  They would say that every small act of kindness can make a HUGE difference not just to the recipients- but also to those who serve.”