March 01, 2018

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A February 26, 2018 Go Local Prov article focused on Rhode Island’s work to combat Alzheimer’s disease, termed by Lt. Governor Dan McKee one of the ‘biggest epidemics in medical history.’ The state has secured grants to update their five-year plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders by the end of 2018, and provide a road map for the state, municipalities and the health care system to confront AD. In particular, the updated plan must address the needs of older woman and aging veterans. The article references and pulls data from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s 2017 issue brief, “Veterans and Alzheimer’s Meeting the Crisis Head On.” VeteransAgainstAlzheimer’s was launched last year as a UsA2 network to raise awareness about the impact of Alzheimer’s as an urgent health issue for veterans.


MUST READS

According to a February 28, 2018 Reuters article, the European Medicines Agency plans to help pharmaceutical companies win approval for novel Alzheimer’s drugs targeting people with early-onset AD. The new guidelines follow in the footsteps of US Food and Drug Administration, which is now encouraging testing new drugs on at-risk patients, before symptoms appear, and the potential use of biomarkers.


A February 28, 2018 EurekAlert! release highlighted a free online tool, the Alzheimer Prevention Trials Web study, from the Keck School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Cleveland Clinic. With a goal of recruiting at least 200,000 participants, the website helps older people monitor their brain health, and directs those with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease into clinical trials focused on dementia prevention. Participants take a 20-minute brain test every three months. If cognitive health declines and the risk of developing AD increases, they can join a nearby clinical trial.


RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A February 28, 2018 UT Southwestern Medical Center article focused on a new study, which examined the long-term effects of head injuries, and found that concussions and other traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease an average of two-and-a-half years earlier. The study relied on autopsy-confirmed cases of AD and analyzed 2,100 instances of traumatic brain injury, with loss of consciousness greater than five minutes. Scientists speculate that inflammation occurs in the brain which may set the stage for the later development of neurodegeneration.


LIFESTYLE

A February 20, 2018 NewsMax Health article looked at ordinary food and drink which helps fight Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies have shown that blueberries can improve cognitive abilities. Other brain-boosting foods include strawberries, coffee, tea, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and maple syrup, amongst others.


DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

A February 28, 2018 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article spotlighted “The Missing Peace,” a combined work of three Pittsburgh-based dancers/choreographers. Each short piece addresses the concept of loss, inspired by the themes of Alzheimer’s, suicide and identity. The dances seek to raise awareness, and offer hope and comfort. “What Remains,” by Mr. Sanders, is inspired by his own experiences with Alzheimer’s disease. “I’m now more in tune with how I feel and how other people have been affected. I think talking about it and sharing our experiences is really important and also really healthy,” said Sanders.


REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS 

A February 28, 2018 WBOI 89.1 article reported that Indiana University’s School of Medicine is launching a multi-state clinical trial, Longitudinal Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LEADS), to examine early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Funded by $7.6 million from the NIH, the study hopes to recruit more than 400 participants and will incorporate a network of 17 sites. According to study lead Dr. Liana Apostolova, “A goal of the study is to define new genetic risk factors, why do these people get it so early, obviously its genetics, its environment, but we’ll find new genes, it’s important.” 


EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Join the FDA public workshop, “Patient-Focused Drug Development: Developing and Submitting Proposed Draft Guidance Relating to Patient Experience Data” on March 19, 2018 from 1-5pm. It will focus on topics related to developing and submitting proposed draft guidance on patient experience data by an external stakeholder. FDA will then publish a draft guidance on this topic, required by the 21st Century Cures Act, by the end of FY 2018.