USA2 SPOTLIGHT

Join UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s in “Courageous Conversations on Brain Health.” These two events in Chicago on Wednesday, April 25th will engage a panel of Alzheimer’s and brain health experts. The first event is at the Women’s Athletic Club downtown from 11:30am-1:30pm, and the second at Neiman Marcus at Northbrook Court from 5:30-7:30pm.

MUST READS

An April 5, 2018 Medical News Today article reported that a new study from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain on mice with Alzheimer's found that prolonged exposure to caffeine was linked to increases in behavioral symptoms of AD such as anxiety and neophobia (fear of unfamiliar objects or situations). The effects of caffeine consumption may not be so beneficial for people who have Alzheimer’s, although previous research suggested that coffee has the potential to lower the risk of AD and other dementias. Also covered by Science Daily, Business Standard and others.

MUST LISTEN

The first series of the Being Patient Podcast featured Brian Kursonis. "When Brian was in his early fifties, he knew something was wrong. He would frequently blank out at his computer screen at his office job processing retirement plans, then a bad case of vertigo forced him to seek medical help. It took a year before Brian was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. In these episodes, Brian takes us on his journey of being diagnosed, navigating the healthcare system, and becoming a passionate advocate for the rights of people with the disease."

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An April 4, 2018 The Tyee article spotlighted 90-year-old neuroscientist Dr. Patrick McGeer, who has been studying Alzheimer’s disease for almost 30 years. Since the 1980’s, he has been a proponent of the view that neuroinflammation causes damage to brain cells, which in turn results in AD. According to the article, “Further research by McGeer and others established that NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) — like aspirin and ibuprofen — could reduce the number of Alzheimer’s cases below the rate to be expected in a given group. But there was no effect unless the NSAIDS were administered well before the members of the group were statistically likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Once diagnosed, Alzheimer’s wasn’t affected by NSAIDS.”

DISPARITIES SPOTLIGHT

An April 5, 2018 National Council on Aging (NCOA) blog post spotlighted a National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) roundtable to address misconceptions surrounding Hispanic older adults and “reframe the story of what it’s like to grow old in America.” According to Anna Maria Chávez of NCOA, “There are many factors that affect a person’s ability to age well, so it’s critical to see each person as an individual, not as a stereotype. Just like the rest of the population, Hispanic older adults are living longer—which is both a gift and a challenge. We should not label them as a monolithic population.” NHCOA is a coalition parter of LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s. 

ALZ TECH

According to an April 2, 2018 ABC 27 WTXL broadcast segment and article, a new grant from The Pilot Club of Tallahassee will be used by The Alzheimer's Project to buy Project Lifesaver bracelets, a GPS tracking system that alerts caregivers if someone with AD has wandered off. Recovery time with the bracelets is around 30 minutes. "It really depends on the individual. Not every Alzheimer's patient is going to wander, nor is every child with autism going to wander. So, we really have to look at their history, what their behavior has looked like, and then make a determination if they need a bracelet or not,” said The Alzheimer’s Project CEO Debbie Moroney.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

An April 3, 2018 The John A. Hartford Foundation blog post by President Terry Fulmer focused on an Age-friendly NYC initiative panel, led by the office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, and the New York Academy of Medicine. According to Fulmer, “The issue in front of us is how we can spread and scale our work in a reliable way so older patients get the right care in the right place at the right time. NYC Health + Hospitals has a deep understanding of the need to be an Age-Friendly Health System. They are showing us that spread and scale is indeed possible.”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Registration is now open for the 2018 n4a Aging Policy Briefing and Capitol Hill Day. April 18-19, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The briefing will bring together stakeholders from across the country, key Administration officials, Members of Congress and their staff, and other experts to hear details about ongoing Administration plans for vital federal programs serving older adults, and learn from national experts on breaking aging and health care policy issues in Congress. Register here.