NOTE FROM USA2 

Dear Readers - Please note that Alz Daily will be taking a brief hiatus Thursday and Friday! We wish everyone a restful Thanksgiving holiday. 

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A November 22, 2017 Morning Consult opinion piece by Alzheimer’s advocates Ian Kremer (LEAD Coalition) and Daisy Duarte (UsAgainstAlzheimer’s) gives cause for hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. “Don’t believe the naysayers. Congress has the capacity and the will to make more good things happen in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia… While the challenges are real and enormous, Congress has built momentum and is poised to change for the better both the scientific and societal landscape… Congress has done a great deal of good, but now is the time to stay focused, committed and driven.”  

MUST READS

A November 22, 2017 EarthSky article and video segment examined the discovery of pathological signs of Alzheimer’s disease in dolphins, neurofibrillary tangles and plaques, whose brains are similar to humans. It suggests the development of similar molecular machineries and pathological characteristics, including neurodegenerative diseases. The study led researchers to hypothesize that AD and diabetes are diseases of a long post-fertility life span, and longevity is one of the most relevant factors in neurodegenerative diseases.

A November 21, 2017 AlzForum article spotlighted a study from the University of Pittsburgh detailing how Aβ accumulation and hippocampal atrophy correlate with cognitive performance over an average of 12 years, in people with an average age of 86. According to study lead Beth Snitz, “We know from longitudinal studies that cognitive change often doesn’t occur linearly, however, the follow-up needs to be long enough and the assessments frequent enough to test for patterns of acceleration or deceleration over time... We are continuing to follow these oldest-old volunteers and we know biomarker status has changed for many.”

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

According to a November 21, 2017 Alzheimer’s News Today article, New York researchers started treating older people with mild cognitive impairment, who had lost their sense of smell, for Alzheimer’s before signs of the disease appeared. Loss of smell is an early sign of decreasing cognitive ability, and decreasing cognitive ability is a major risk factor for AD. They used donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, which is used to treat Alzheimer’s.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

A November 22, 2017 Los Angeles Times listing highlights a week-long cruise to Alaska for caregivers, family members with early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia, and senior-care practitioners. “Connecting Circles of Care and Building Bridges of Hope” will set sail next September. Click here for more information.