MUST READS

A January 11, 2018 The Scotsman article [subscription] looked at issues surrounding funding the search for an Alzheimer’s cure or treatment. The problem is that huge sums of money involved mean outside of Big Pharma, few institutions and governments, for that matter, have the necessary funds to pursue possible treatments. Step up billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, who recently invested $50m into the Dementia Discovery Fund, motivated by personal experience of Alzheimer’s in his family.

A January 11, 2018 Reader’s Digest article spotlighted a new medication being studied for type 2 diabetes treatment which researchers at Lancaster University realized “significantly reverses memory loss.” Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease because it can damage blood vessels which may block blood flow to the brain. According to lead researcher Professor Christian Holscher, the treatment “holds clear promise of being developed into a new treatment for chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to a January 10, 2018 Nasdaq Globe Newswire release, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFOA) urged the President to sign the RAISE Family Caregiver Act, approved by the House and Senate, to develop a national strategy to support family caregivers. They also hope the government will increase Alzheimer’s research funding to $2 billion, which is considered the minimum amount needed to find a cure or meaningful treatment by 2025. According to Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. of the AFOA, “Alzheimer’s disease is a growing national crisis, and until a cure is found, care remains essential. The millions of family caregivers who are on the front lines of this national health crisis need all the support they can get from the federal government, and it starts with having a national plan to support caregivers.”  

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A January 10, 2018 The Verge article explored “aging tech,” including connected toolkits for relatives with dementia. Some of the technology is not user-friendly or well designed. The Lili Smart toolkit includes an app for caregivers to communicate with each other and healthcare professionals, a watch and motion sensors. However, studies have shown that these approaches to make people take their pills often don’t work.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Join the American Society on Aging webinar: International Perspectives on Supporting People with Dementia and Caregivers. January 30, 2018 from 2-3pm (EST). The webinar will provide international perspectives on supporting people with dementia and their caregivers, and describe results from a survey on stigma given to people with dementia and caregivers.