USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An October 28, 2019 Milken Institute news release highlighted a new Milken report, “Reducing the Cost and Risk of Dementia: Recommendations to Improve Brain Health and Decrease Disparities,” in collaboration with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, AARP, and Bank of America, just released at this week’s 2019 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit in Washington, D.C. The report highlights the disproportionate affect of dementia on women, and contains detailed recommendations and goals for communities to improve brain health, reduce disparities and overcome dementia. “Brain health broadens the fight against Alzheimer's to include everyone and is the key to defeating stigma, increasing early detection, speeding up research -- and ending this disease. This new look by the Milken Institute offers important recommendations and actions to help move us to an optimal system of brain health care in this country,” said UsA2 Founding Board member Jill Lesser.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An October 29, 2019 Cosmos Magazine article referenced new research out of the University of Southampton (UK) on the links between tau protein and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers say that tau build-up may not be not harmful, but the cellular processes tau disrupts kill neurons. Therefore intervening early in the accumulation stage could potentially halt disease progression. Also covered by EurekAlert!

An October 28, 2019 Forbes article looked at new research presented at Neuroscience 2019, in the quest for earlier detection and improved outcomes, about the connection between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, “…The typical Western diet, high in fat and carbohydrates, leads to “decreased brain insulin signaling” and eventually impaired memory in mice genetically prone to Alzheimer’s. Insulin signaling is key to how the brain monitors and manages insulin release to balance blood sugar. Previous research has found a link between damaged insulin signaling and the development of Alzheimer’s.”

MUST LISTEN

An October 21, 2019 WBUR 90.9 radio segment spotlighted the role of blood sugar in Alzheimer’s disease, as people with diabetes are at increased risk of developing AD. Jon Hamilton speaks with Washington University’s Dr. David Holtzman about the connection. “The risk for dementia is elevated about twofold in people who have diabetes or metabolic syndrome. But what's not been clear is what's the connection?… If we can figure out what diabetes is doing to increase risk, maybe that would lead us to new targets - drug targets or treatment targets… There's many reasons to get it back under control, but this is certainly one of the reasons.”

POLITICS

An October 22, 2019 Congresswoman Maxine Waters press release urged increased spending for Alzheimer’s disease research at the National Institutes of Health. Waters and Congressman Chris Smith wrote, “The Senate provided a $350 million increase in funding for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a total appropriation of $2.818 billion in FY 2020 for Alzheimer’s Disease including Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)….The Senate also provided $10 million for the implementation of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406) in FY 2020, which was passed by Congress last year with strong bipartisan support….We therefore urge you to accede to the Senate’s proposed funding levels for these two critical accounts and provide at least $10 million for the BOLD Act and a total of $2.818 billion for Alzheimer’s Disease including Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) in FY 2020.”