USA2 SPOTLIGHT

The November, 2017 NEHI (Network for Excellence in Health Innovation) newsletter salutes UsAgainstAlzheimer's during National Alzheimer's Awareness Month for their urgency and momentum in advocacy to fight Alzheimer’s disease. NEHI honors the legacy of UsA2’s Co-Founder Trish Vradenburg, who passed away earlier this year, and calls-out UsA2’s leading role on the Alzheimer's XPRIZE Team.

MUST READS

A November 27, 2017 The Washington Post article and photo essay spotlighted the story of Jiji, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and his cat, Kinako, who provides comfort and companionship on what can be a lonely journey. Jiji’s granddaughter, Akiko DuPont, a freelance photographer and finalist in the 2017 Bob and Diane Fund grant, documented the relationship. According to DuPont, “Alzheimer’s is a disease that brings sadness and loneliness because of its hollowness. We often focus on the difficult times, but in that hollowness there are points of light that are moments of pure joy, however ephemeral they may be. There are special moments that sprinkle down like warm snowflakes, always melting at different rates.”

According to a November 27, 2017 UCLA Newsroom article, a new study led by UCLA bioengineering and published in ACS Central Science finds that cutting mitochondria (the parts of cells that provide energy) into smaller units could eventually be used to help address diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. “This is a very unexpected result — no one thought these molecules would have a split personality, with both personalities necessary for the biological function. The multifunctional behavior we identified may be the rule rather than the exception for proteins,” said study lead and Bioengineering Professor Gerard Wong.

MUST WATCH

A November 28, 2017 Today article and video segment showed the story of Setsuko Harmon, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Her daughter, Christine Stone, has been documenting and sharing video about her mother on social media to raise awareness about AD. According to Stone, “I only video the good moments, I don't video the bad moments, and there are plenty of bad moments.”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

(ICYMI) A November 2, 2017 United States Postal Service post announced the new Alzheimer’s Semipostal fundraising stamp. The dedication ceremony will be at 10am, this Thursday (November 30) at Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center Atrium in Baltimore. The event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required. Watch the livestream on Facebook. Pre-order your stamps here.

A Foreign Affairs Committee post highlighted an upcoming Subcommittee Hearing, "A Global Update on Alzheimer's Disease." November 29, 2017 at 2pm. According to Chairman Smith, "Today, 47 million people in the world live with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and this number is estimated to grow to 131 million by 2050 as populations age. This hearing is intended to examine the existing and potential options for prevention and treatment of this often devastating disease.”