USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A June 24, 2017 NPR radio segment and article focused on the Alzheimer’s journey of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Board Member and author, Greg O’Brien, who was diagnosed with early onset eight years ago. According to O’Brien, “You don't die of Alzheimer’s. You die of everything else. But first, you live with it all. Alzheimer's is not your grandfather's disease.”

A June 23, 2017 The Hill opinion piece by LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s Executive Director, Jason Resendez, urged Congress to stand by people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. The Senate’s new draft bill (H.R. 1628), the American Health Care Act, proposes a drastic restructuring of Medicaid with cuts that could force states to reduce medical coverage for many, with tremendous consequences for low-income Americans struggling with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Data shows that one in four living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia rely on Medicaid coverage over the course of a year, and nearly 80% of Medicaid beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s live below the poverty line.

MUST READS

A June 23, 2017 CNN opinion piece by Marisol Bello, Content Strategy and Development Director for the Center for Community Change, appealed to the Senate to vote against any health care plan that decimates funding for Medicaid. Last week, the Senate proposed $800 billion in Medicaid cuts, which would negatively affect Bello’s grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease and needs long term care. 4.6 million seniors who receive Medicare also receive Medicaid for long-term care, which pays for nursing homes, home health aides, personal care and family caregiving. 

A June 23, 2017 Dezeen article spotlighted industrial design students at Pratt Institute who created home products for people with Alzheimer’s disease. “Design for the Mind” project is intended to aid or assist in everyday tasks, or help avoid complicated or confusing situations, and was one of the winners of the Editors' Awards at this year's ICFF, part of the NYCxDesign festival.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A June 23, 2017 Science Daily article highlighted levetiracetam, an anti-epileptic drug that could have a beneficial effect on people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with AD have an increased risk of epilepsy and seizure-like activity in the brain has been linked to cognitive decline.

A June 23, 2017 Science Daily article reported on the Alzheimer's Caregiver Study out of the University of California San Diego which suggests that going for a walk, reading, listening to music and other enjoyable activities can reduce blood pressure for elderly caregivers of spouses with Alzheimer's disease. Caregiving is stressful, with an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and death. The study focused on associations between stress, coping, and cardiovascular risk in AD caregivers.