March 08, 2018

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

MUST READS

A March 7, 2018 National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging blog post put out a call for ideas in creating a national strategy enhancing recruitment and retention of Alzheimer’s disease study participants. To develop the “National Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Research Recruitment and Participation,” the NIA needs the help of stakeholders to formulate the strategy and assist in implementation. Utilizing the IdeaScale crowdsourcing platform, the NIA seeks public comment on ideas generated by working groups, as well as novel ideas.


RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

A March 6, 2018 Nightingale article focused on the advent of high-throughput metabolomics, analysis of blood metabolites to identify new metabolites for Alzheimer’s disease and late-onset dementia risk prediction. According to the article, “Pronounced decline in cognitive performance is a key feature characterizing all neurodegenerative diseases, with clinical and epidemiological evidence suggesting a relationship between cognitive function and a number of metabolic aberrations. Associations of low blood concentrations of branched chain amino acids have not been previously reported for the risk of dementia. The findings may possibly indicate that weight loss and dietary intake may play a role in dementia risk, pointing to branched chain amino acid levels as important early markers of mild cognitive impairment.”


INDUSTRY UPDATE

A March 8, 2018 CNBC article looked at the current state of Alzheimer’s disease treatment and prevention. A new report by Dr. Jeff Cummings of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health documents the failure of Alzheimer's disease treatments to-date. Despite the 99.6 percent AD drug failure rate, Cummings remains optimistic that it is just a matter of time until successful drugs are developed. At the same time, more doctors are beginning to pursue non-pharmacological alternatives, focusing on lifestyle elements such as diet, exercise and sleep. According to Cummings, “We need a larger repertoire of targets. The amyloid hypothesis has not yielded success. Looking beyond the two proteins, particularly beta-amyloid, is extremely important.”


DISPARITIES SPOTLIGHT

An article in Discovery’s Edge, Mayo Clinic’s Research Magazine, featured the work of Mayo neuroscientist John Lucas, PhD, who is engaging an African-American community in New Town (Jacksonville), Florida in addressing dementia. The study will involve Alzheimer’s outreach efforts, and include focus groups, community groups and community members. According to Lucas, “Our goal is to explore an innovative model for raising awareness and providing sustained education and support, both for patients and for those who are providing care for their loved ones with dementia… Our hope is that this collaborative program, guided by community self-assessment and self-direction, will be more impactful and have a more sustained benefit than the traditional outreach model of raising Alzheimer’s awareness through community lectures and presentations.”


VETERANS SPOTLIGHT

According to a March 7, 2018 Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers post, the Congresswoman joined other Representatives to introduce the Medical Improvement of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND) Act of 2018. The bill directs the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to establish Alzheimer’s disease research including exploring the connection between Down syndrome and AD, education and clinical centers. “I want America to lead the world in medical innovation, and our veterans deserve the best possible care through the VA. This bill will allow the VA to continue the important research they do, while requiring that research to include this important connection to the 21st chromosome. This research can open the door for new breakthroughs,” said McMorris.


MUST LISTEN

A March 7, 2018 Michigan Radio “Stateside” segment welcomed Jim Mangi and his daughter, Charlene. Jim was the primary caregiver for his wife of 44 years, Kathleen, who has Alzheimer’s disease. She now lives in a memory care unit. They hope sharing their story will help other caregivers.


DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

The Leisure Seeker” feature film opens in theaters tomorrow, starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland. The couple embarks on a road-trip in their vintage camper as Sutherland’s (character’s) mind is failing him in the early stages of dementia. The film is inspired by Michael Zadoorian’s novel.