June 12, 2017

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A June 9, 2017 PR Newswire article spotlighted the June 8th BrightFocus Foundation awards dinner in Washington, DC honoring Alzheimer’s and vision diseases scientists and activists. George Vradenburg and Trish Vradenburg (posthumously), the co-founders of USAgainstAlzheimer's, received the BrightFocus Award for Public Leadership. "We are driven by a fierce sense of urgency to find cures for the devastating conditions people fear most—loss of sight and loss of mind.  With the world's population aging so rapidly, it is more important than ever to change the trajectory of these diseases," said BrightFocus Foundation President and CEO, Stacy Pagos Haller. 

Come to Chicago tomorrow, Tuesday, June 13, 2017 for Surviving Grace. From UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Co-Founder, Trish Vradenburg, her quasi-autobiographical play was produced at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Off Broadway at the Union Square Theater in New York City. The touching and funny story tells the story of Trish’s mom, Bea Lerner, and her battle with Alzheimer’s. With Diane Rehm, Loni Anderson, Marilu Henner and Mike Ditka at the Mary Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

MUST READS

A June 12, 2017 Scientific American article focused on impaired smell, potentially caused by neurotransmitter dysfunction, which is one of the earliest and most common symptoms of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Nearly all of those diagnosed with moderate to severe forms of Alzheimer’s have odor identification issues, and it is especially useful for forecasting the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to full-blown AD. Problems with smell are common in the general population and do not always indicate a higher risk of developing either disease.

A June 11, 2017 Boston Globe article reported that as people live longer and remain healthier, many are staying in the workforce beyond traditional retirement age. Toby Sandler, age 66, still works part-time and worries her savings won’t last considering the longevity and Alzheimer’s that runs in her family. Fewer companies now offer health insurance benefits to retirees, which makes people less likely to retire before they qualify for Medicare. Under the right conditions, work can have positive physical and cognitive benefits, and some studies have linked it to a reduced risk of dementia.

MUST LISTEN

A June 12, 2017 WKSU’s Exploradio radio segment with Jeff St.Clair looks in new directions to find the root causes of Alzheimer’s. He speaks with Christine Crish, a researcher at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, working to figure how bone loss is related to Alzheimer’s.

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

A June 12, 2017 Alzheimer’s News Today article spotlighted new information on Anavex 2-73, which prevented further decline in Alzheimer’s patients’ mental capacity in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. The drug addresses the misfolded proteins involved in AD. In preclinical-trial studies, Anavex prevented, stopped and even reversed Alzheimer’s. It was also evaluated as an add-on therapy to Aricept, the current standard of care for the palliative treatment of AD.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A June 8, 2017 The Jerusalem Post article spotlighted new research from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot finding that the orderly activation of microglia, the brain’s unique immune cells, could be the basis for future treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Microglia activities, including waste disposal without harming adjacent healthy neurons that retain important information, are well balanced in young healthy individuals but might become a disadvantage in aging and under certain neuropathological conditions. The researchers employed advanced single-cell genomic sequencing technology – a “genetic microscope” – to fully sequence the genetic material of single cells, allowing them to identify the unique function of these immune cells.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Sign-up for the 2017 North American Dementia Conference from the Dementia Action Alliance. June 25-27th in Atlanta, GA. Baby boomers and younger generations of people living with dementia are changing the culture of dementia globally. They are speaking out about the need for better understanding of living with dementia. Register here.