MUST READS

A December 19, 2017 WTOP article looked at the connection between music, movement and patient care. An NIH-funded study at Wake Forest University is teaming up neuroscience and improvisational dance for people with Alzheimer’s disease, to learn if music and movement can enhance neural networks. According to Wake Forest Lead Researcher Christina Hugenschmidt, “Having a deeper understanding of how these things are affecting our biology can help us understand how to leverage resources already in our community.” 

A December 18, 2017 EurekAlert! release reported that researchers at Indiana University Center Aging Research received nearly $3 million in grants for two studies focused on helping family caregivers for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to Nicole Fowler, PhD, MHSA, “As are those who care for family members with AD, caregivers of individuals with TBI are critical to the quality of life of the care recipients. However, these caregivers experience high rates of depression and burden as well as social isolation, financial hardship and poor physical health. There is a great and growing need to address these issues."

MUST WATCH

According to a December 18, 2017 CBS Miami broadcast segment, the video game “Sea Hero Quest” is tracking players’ navigational skills and sending data to scientists to help diagnose the earliest signs of dementia. Getting lost is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the game can provide a baseline for how players navigate to help identify those most at risk. Sea Hero Quest is available to download via the iTunes App store and Google Play.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A December 18, 2017 GEN article spotlighted researchers at University of College London who identified a unique genetic profile for Lewy body dementia (LBD). LBD is one of the most common causes of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease and vascular disease. According to Senior Study Investigator Jose Bras, PhD, "Dementia with Lewy bodies accounts for 10% to 15% of dementia cases, yet our understanding of it lags beyond the more well-known Alzheimer's disease, partly because it's commonly misdiagnosed. Our findings clarify the disease's distinctive genetic signature, which should, in the future, help improve clinical trials and lead to more targeted treatments.”